Upgrade Guide
Lumix S5 II→Lumix S1R II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the S5 II. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the S1R II
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Resolution44MP vs 24MP (+20MP)
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StabilisationImproved — 8-stop IBIS with Dual I.S. 2
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Burst rate40fps electronic vs 30fps electronic / 7fps mechanical
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Generation2 years newer (2025 vs 2023)
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 | S5 II | S1R II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.6 | ||
| Street | — | ||
| Travel | +0.1 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +0.5 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | -0.7 | ||
| Filmmaking | -0.5 | ||
| Documentary | — | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.3 | ||
| Landscape | +0.8 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.4 | ||
| Casual | -0.3 | ||
| Food | +0.8 | ||
| Macro | +0.7 | ||
| Architecture | +0.9 | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.2 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | S5 II | S1R II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,999 | £2,699 | |
| Released | 2023 | 2025 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.2MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 44.3MP full-frame BSI CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 44MP | ↑ |
| Video | 6K/30p, 4K/60p, C4K/60p, V-Log | 8K/30p (first for Lumix), 4K/120p (1.1x crop), 10-bit | |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF with subject/face/eye detection | Phase-hybrid AF (779 points) with AI subject detection | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS (up to 6.5-stop with OIS lenses) | 8-stop IBIS with Dual I.S. 2 | |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 7fps mechanical | 40fps electronic | ↑ |
| Battery Life | 740 shots (CIPA) | 350 shots (CIPA, LCD) | ↓ |
| Weight | 740g (body only) | 820g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | 0.76" OLED EVF, 3.68M dots | EVF, 5.76M dots | |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | Fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Leica L-mount | L-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II | CFexpress Type B + SD (UHS-II) |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See S5 II and S1R II 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 S1R II against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the S5 II
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Camera family history