Upgrade Guide
Lumix S1→Lumix Lumix S5
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
→
Strong upgrade
The Lumix S5 improves across 3 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most S1 owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the Lumix S5
-
StabilisationImproved — 6.5-stop IBIS (dual IBIS with Lumix S lenses)
-
Battery life~470 shots (CIPA) vs ~380 shots (CIPA)
-
Generation1 year newer (2020 vs 2019)
Unchanged or similar
-
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 | Lumix S5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.3 | ||
| Street | +0.9 | ||
| Travel | +1.0 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +0.2 | ||
| Filmmaking | — | ||
| Documentary | +0.4 | ||
| Sports & Action | -0.2 | ||
| Landscape | +0.4 | ||
| Wildlife | -0.1 | ||
| Casual | +0.7 | ||
| Food | +0.6 | ||
| Macro | +0.5 | ||
| Architecture | +0.3 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.3 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | S1 | Lumix S5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,499 | £1,699 | |
| Released | 2019 | 2020 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.2MP full-frame CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 24MP | |
| Video | 4K/60p (crop), 4K/30p (full-frame), 1080p/180p, V-Log (upgrade) | 4K/60p 10-bit V-Log/HLG, 5.9K anamorphic, 1080p/180p slow-motion | |
| Autofocus | DFD contrast-detect AF — reliable but slower than phase-detect rivals | Contrast AF (DFD Technology), face/eye detection | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 6 stops | 6.5-stop IBIS (dual IBIS with Lumix S lenses) | |
| Burst Rate | 9fps continuous with AF/AE | 7fps mechanical, 9fps electronic (AFS) | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~380 shots (CIPA) | ~470 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 898g (body only) | 714g (with battery and card) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.78× — one of the finest EVFs available | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.2" touchscreen, tilting | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.84M dots | |
| 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 Lumix S5 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the Lumix S5 against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the S1
Related buying guides
Camera family history