Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,899
Released Oct 2021
Panasonic
Lumix S5 II
Phase-detect L-mount hybrid with 6K open gate and strong video tools.
$1,999
Released Jan 2023
Lumix S5 II is 1.2 years newer.
Wins
Z9
Wins
Lumix S5 II
1 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BLumix S5 II has higher Burst (mechanical) (9 fps vs 0 fps)
- AZ9 has higher RAW buffer depth (1000 frames vs 200 frames)
- AZ9 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 30 fps)
- BLumix S5 II has higher ISO max (native) (51,200 vs 25,600)
- AZ9 has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 60 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
Z9
149 × 150 × 91 mm
1340 g (2.95 lb / 47.27 oz)
Lumix S5 II
134 × 102 × 90 mm
740 g (1.63 lb / 26.10 oz)
Z9 is 15mm wider and 47mm taller than Lumix S5 II.
Z9 is 600 g heavier than Lumix S5 II.
Depth (front-to-back): 91mm Z9 · 90mm Lumix S5 II
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
Z9
149 × 150 mm
Lumix S5 II
134 × 102 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
Z9
149 × 91 mm
Lumix S5 II
134 × 90 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Z9
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Lumix S5 II
35.6 × 23.8 mm · Full Frame
847 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
Z9
✓ more lensesNikon Z
90+
native lenses available
Lumix S5 II: mount data unavailable
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
Z9
AF low-light limit
-8.5 EV vs -6 EV — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Dogs…
Codecs
Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 149, 149.5, 90.5
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B / XQD, CFexpress Type B / XQD
RAW buffer depth
1000 frames vs 200 frames — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only Z9 supports it
Reasons to choose
Lumix S5 II
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Face, Eye…
Burst (mechanical)
9 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds H.265, H.264, MOV…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 134.3, 102.3, 90.1
Card types
Adds SD UHS-II, SD UHS-II
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Weight
740 g vs 1340 g — lower is better
AF points / zones
779 vs 493 — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓Internal RAW video — Both support internal raw video
- ✓In-body stabilization — Both support in-body stabilization
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
- ✓Card slots — Both 2
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
Z9
Pros
- ✓45MP stacked
- ✓8K 60p internal
- ✓120fps stills
- ✓Pro build
Cons
- –Heavy body
- –Expensive
- –Large files
Lumix S5 II
Pros
- ✓Phase-detect AF finally
- ✓6K open gate
- ✓IBIS
- ✓Great value
Cons
- –24MP resolution
- –L-mount size
- –AF still behind Canon/Sony
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for landscape, Z9 or Lumix S5 II?
Z9 scores 9.5/10 versus 7.0/10 for Lumix S5 II — 45.7MP — excellent for prints up to 24×36".
What's the resolution difference between the Z9 and Lumix S5 II?
Z9 is 45.7 MP and Lumix S5 II is 24.2 MP, so the Z9 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Z9 and Lumix S5 II have in-body image stabilization?
Z9 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while lumix S5 II has 5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Z9 or the Lumix S5 II?
Z9 reaches 120 fps electronic. Lumix S5 II reaches 30 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Z9 and Lumix S5 II?
Z9 weighs 1340 g and Lumix S5 II weighs 740 g, so the Lumix S5 II is 600 g lighter.
Do the Z9 and Lumix S5 II record 4K video?
Z9: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p. Lumix S5 II: 6K Open Gate (max), 4K up to 60p.
Are the Z9 and Lumix S5 II weather sealed?
Z9: Yes. Lumix S5 II: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 740 shots (CIPA) for the Z9 and 370 shots for the Lumix S5 II, giving the Z9 the edge.
How much does each cost?
Z9 launched at $5,899 and Lumix S5 II at $1,999. The Lumix S5 II is $3,900 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Panasonic press materials.