Panasonic
Lumix G9 II
MFT hybrid with 8-stop IBIS and 75fps stills for wildlife on a budget.
$1,899
Released Sep 2023
Panasonic
Lumix S5
Compact affordable L-mount full-frame for hybrid shooters.
$1,799
Released Sep 2020
Lumix G9 II is 3 years newer.
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Wins
Lumix G9 II
Wins
Lumix S5
4 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- ALumix G9 II has higher Burst (electronic) (75 fps vs 7 fps)
- ALumix G9 II has higher RAW buffer depth (200 frames vs 24 frames)
- ALumix G9 II has higher Max video bit rate (800 Mbps vs 200 Mbps)
- ALumix G9 II has higher AF points / zones (779 vs 225)
- BLumix S5 has higher ISO max (native) (51,200 vs 25,600)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
Lumix G9 II
134 × 102 × 90 mm
658 g (1.45 lb / 23.21 oz)
Lumix S5
133 × 97 × 82 mm
714 g (1.57 lb / 25.19 oz)
Lumix G9 II is 2mm wider, 5mm taller, and 8mm thicker than Lumix S5.
Lumix G9 II is 56 g lighter than Lumix S5.
Depth (front-to-back): 90mm Lumix G9 II · 82mm Lumix S5
Sensor size, to scale
Lumix G9 II
17.3 × 13 mm · Micro Four Thirds
225 mm² area
Lumix S5
35.6 × 23.8 mm · Full Frame
847 mm² area
3.8× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
Lumix G9 II
✓ more lensesMicro Four Thirds
130+
native lenses available
Lumix S5: 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
Lumix G9 II
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 134.3, 102.3, 90.1
Burst (electronic)
75 fps vs 7 fps — higher is better
RAW buffer depth
200 frames vs 24 frames — higher is better
Max video bit rate
800 Mbps vs 200 Mbps — higher is better
AF points / zones
779 vs 225 — higher is better
Burst (mechanical)
14 fps vs 7 fps — higher is better
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only Lumix G9 II supports it
4K max frame rate
120 fps vs 60 fps — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Lumix S5
AF low-light limit
-6 EV vs -4 EV — lower is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 132.6, 97.1, 81.9
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Codecs
Adds MOV, MP4
Card types
Adds SD UHS-I
Battery life (CIPA)
470 shots vs 390 shots — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓AF frame coverage — Both 100 %
- ✓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
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
Lumix G9 II
Pros
- ✓75fps stills mode
- ✓8-stop IBIS
- ✓Compact tele reach
Cons
- –MFT sensor
- –Smaller ecosystem
- –Video not GH-level
Lumix S5
Pros
- ✓Compact FF
- ✓Dual slots
- ✓Good video
Cons
- –DFD AF only
- –Older now
- –24MP
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the Lumix G9 II and Lumix S5 at major authorized retailers.
Panasonic Lumix G9 II
Panasonic Lumix S5
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for sports, Lumix G9 II or Lumix S5?
Lumix G9 II scores 9.0/10 versus 3.5/10 for Lumix S5 — 75fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the Lumix G9 II and Lumix S5?
Lumix G9 II is 25.2 MP and Lumix S5 is 24.2 MP, so the Lumix G9 II captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Lumix G9 II and Lumix S5 have in-body image stabilization?
Lumix G9 II has 8-stop in-body image stabilization, while lumix S5 has 5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Lumix G9 II or the Lumix S5?
Lumix G9 II reaches 75 fps electronic. Lumix S5 reaches 7 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Lumix G9 II and Lumix S5?
Lumix G9 II weighs 658 g and Lumix S5 weighs 714 g, so the Lumix G9 II is 56 g lighter.
Do the Lumix G9 II and Lumix S5 record 4K video?
Lumix G9 II: 5.8K Open Gate (max), 4K up to 120p. Lumix S5: 6K (max), 4K up to 60p.
Are the Lumix G9 II and Lumix S5 weather sealed?
Lumix G9 II: Yes. Lumix S5: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 390 shots (CIPA) for the Lumix G9 II and 470 shots for the Lumix S5, giving the Lumix S5 the edge.
How much does each cost?
Lumix G9 II launched at $1,899 and Lumix S5 at $1,799. The Lumix S5 is $100 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.