Upgrade Guide
Lumix S1→Lumix S5 II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Strong upgrade
The S5 II improves across 3 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most S1 owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the S5 II
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Burst rate30fps electronic / 7fps mechanical vs 9fps continuous with AF/AE
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Battery life740 shots (CIPA) vs ~380 shots (CIPA)
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Generation4 years newer (2023 vs 2019)
Unchanged or similar
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ResolutionSimilar (24MP)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | S1 | S5 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +1.6 | ||
| Street | +1.5 | ||
| Travel | +1.3 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +1.5 | ||
| Filmmaking | +1.1 | ||
| Documentary | +1.6 | ||
| Sports & Action | +2.0 | ||
| Landscape | +0.4 | ||
| Wildlife | +1.7 | ||
| Casual | +1.7 | ||
| Food | +1.2 | ||
| Macro | +0.8 | ||
| Architecture | +0.5 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.3 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | S1 | S5 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,499 | £1,999 | |
| Released | 2019 | 2023 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.2MP full-frame CMOS | 24.2MP full-frame BSI CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 24MP | |
| Video | 4K/60p (crop), 4K/30p (full-frame), 1080p/180p, V-Log (upgrade) | 6K/30p, 4K/60p, C4K/60p, V-Log | |
| Autofocus | DFD contrast-detect AF — reliable but slower than phase-detect rivals | Phase-detect AF with subject/face/eye detection | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 6 stops | 5-axis IBIS (up to 6.5-stop with OIS lenses) | |
| Burst Rate | 9fps continuous with AF/AE | 30fps electronic / 7fps mechanical | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~380 shots (CIPA) | 740 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 898g (body only) | 740g (body only) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.78× — one of the finest EVFs available | 0.76" OLED EVF, 3.68M dots | |
| Screen | 3.2" touchscreen, tilting | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | L-mount (Leica/Panasonic/Sigma) | Leica L-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Dual SD UHS-II |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See S1 and S5 II next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the S5 II against your specific genres — not just specs.
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