Upgrade Guide
Lumix Lumix S5 IIX→Lumix Lumix GH5 II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
→
Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the Lumix S5 IIX. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the Lumix GH5 II
-
Burst rate12fps mechanical, 75fps electronic (RAW) vs 9fps mechanical, 30fps electronic (6MP crop)
-
Battery life900 shots (CIPA) vs ~370 shots (CIPA)
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution20MP (down from 24MP — optimised for low light)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix S5 IIX | Lumix GH5 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Portrait | — | ||
| Landscape | — | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Sports | — | ||
| Street | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Lumix S5 IIX | Lumix GH5 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,399 | £899 | |
| Released | 2023 | 2021 | ↓ |
| 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 10-bit, C4K 24fps 10-bit, live streaming | |
| Autofocus | Phase-hybrid AF — improved over S5 with subject recognition | 225-point contrast-detect, DFD technology | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 6.5 stops | 5-axis IBIS, 6.5 stops | |
| Burst Rate | 9fps mechanical, 30fps electronic (6MP crop) | 12fps mechanical, 75fps electronic (RAW) | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~370 shots (CIPA) | 900 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 740g body only | 727g (body only) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 3.68M-dot, 0.78× | EVF 0.76× 3.68M-dot | |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.84M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.84M-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 Lumix S5 IIX and Lumix GH5 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 Lumix GH5 II against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the Lumix S5 IIX
Related buying guides
Camera family history