Upgrade Guide
Lumix S5 IIX→Lumix G9
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Situational
One clear hardware improvement over the S5 IIX. Worth it if that specific upgrade aligns with what you shoot.
What's new in the G9
-
Burst rate20fps mechanical, 60fps electronic vs 9fps mechanical, 30fps electronic (6MP crop)
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution20MP (down from 24MP — optimised for low light)
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 IIX | G9 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -2.7 | ||
| Street | -1.0 | ||
| Travel | -0.8 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -2.4 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | -1.5 | ||
| Filmmaking | -2.4 | ||
| Documentary | -2.2 | ||
| Sports & Action | -1.8 | ||
| Landscape | -1.3 | ||
| Wildlife | -1.4 | ||
| Casual | -0.6 | ||
| Food | -1.4 | ||
| Macro | -0.7 | ||
| Architecture | -1.4 | ||
| Astrophotography | -2.3 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | S5 IIX | G9 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,399 | £549 | |
| Released | 2023 | 2017 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 24.2MP full-frame CMOS | Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 20MP | ↓ |
| Video | 6K/30p Open Gate, 4K/60p 10-bit, ProRes RAW via HDMI — V-Log, LUT support | 4K 60fps, C4K 24fps | |
| Autofocus | Phase-hybrid AF — improved over S5 with subject recognition | 225-point contrast-detect DFD | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 6.5 stops | 5-axis IBIS, 6.5 stops (6.0 stops dual IS) | |
| Burst Rate | 9fps mechanical, 30fps electronic (6MP crop) | 20fps mechanical, 60fps electronic | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~370 shots (CIPA) | 400 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 740g (body only) | 658g (body only) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 3.68M-dot, 0.78× | EVF 0.83× 3.68M-dot | |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.84M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M-dot | |
| Mount | L-mount (Leica/Panasonic/Sigma) | Micro Four Thirds | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | 2× SD UHS-II |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See S5 IIX and G9 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 G9 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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