Upgrade Guide
Lumix S9→Lumix S5 II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the S9. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the S5 II
-
Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
-
Battery life740 shots (CIPA) vs ~310 shots (CIPA)
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 | S9 | S5 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.9 | ||
| Street | -0.6 | ||
| Travel | -0.3 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +1.9 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | -0.5 | ||
| Filmmaking | +1.2 | ||
| Documentary | +1.0 | ||
| Sports & Action | +1.6 | ||
| Landscape | +0.4 | ||
| Wildlife | +1.2 | ||
| Casual | -0.8 | ||
| Food | -0.1 | ||
| Macro | — | ||
| Architecture | +0.1 | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.3 | ||
| Fun & simple | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | S9 | S5 II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,299 | £1,999 | |
| Released | 2024 | 2023 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 24.2MP full-frame BSI CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 24MP | |
| Video | 4K/60p (10-bit), C4K/60p, 1080p/240p | 6K/30p, 4K/60p, C4K/60p, V-Log | |
| Autofocus | Phase-hybrid AF with subject recognition | Phase-detect AF with subject/face/eye detection | |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops | 5-axis IBIS (up to 6.5-stop with OIS lenses) | |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic | 30fps electronic / 7fps mechanical | |
| Battery Life | ~310 shots (CIPA) | 740 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 403g (body only) | 740g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | None — rear screen only | 0.76" OLED EVF, 3.68M dots | |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen (touch drag AF) | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Leica L mount | Leica L-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Dual SD UHS-II |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See S9 and S5 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 S5 II against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the S9
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Camera family history