Upgrade Guide
Lumix Lumix S5→Lumix Lumix GH5 II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
→
Strong upgrade
The Lumix GH5 II improves across 3 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most Lumix S5 owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the Lumix GH5 II
-
Burst rate12fps mechanical, 75fps electronic (RAW) vs 7fps mechanical, 9fps electronic (AFS)
-
Battery life900 shots (CIPA) vs ~470 shots (CIPA)
-
Generation1 year newer (2021 vs 2020)
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution20MP (down from 24MP — optimised for low light)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix S5 | Lumix GH5 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video | — | ||
| Portrait | -2.0 | ||
| Travel | +1.0 | ||
| Street | — | ||
| Wildlife | +3.0 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Sports & Action | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Lumix S5 | Lumix GH5 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,699 | £899 | |
| Released | 2020 | 2021 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 20MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K/60p 10-bit V-Log/HLG, 5.9K anamorphic, 1080p/180p slow-motion | 4K 60fps 10-bit, C4K 24fps 10-bit, live streaming | |
| Autofocus | Contrast AF (DFD Technology), face/eye detection | 225-point contrast-detect, DFD technology | |
| Stabilisation | 6.5-stop IBIS (dual IBIS with Lumix S lenses) | 5-axis IBIS, 6.5 stops | |
| Burst Rate | 7fps mechanical, 9fps electronic (AFS) | 12fps mechanical, 75fps electronic (RAW) | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~470 shots (CIPA) | 900 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 714g (body, battery, card) | 727g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification | EVF 0.76× 3.68M-dot | |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.84M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.84M-dot | |
| Mount | Leica L-mount | Micro Four Thirds | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II | 2× SD UHS-II |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See Lumix S5 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
Related buying guides
Camera family history