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 II
Phase-detect L-mount hybrid with 6K open gate and strong video tools.
$1,999
Released Jan 2023
Lumix G9 II is 8 months newer.
Wins
Lumix G9 II
Wins
Lumix S5 II
7 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- ALumix G9 II has higher Max video bit rate (800 Mbps vs 200 Mbps)
- ALumix G9 II has higher Burst (electronic) (75 fps vs 30 fps)
- BLumix S5 II has higher ISO max (native) (51,200 vs 25,600)
- ALumix G9 II has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 60 fps)
- ALumix G9 II has higher IBIS effectiveness (8 stops vs 5 stops)
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 II
134 × 102 × 90 mm
740 g (1.63 lb / 26.10 oz)
Lumix G9 II and Lumix S5 II share virtually identical body dimensions.
Lumix G9 II is 82 g lighter than Lumix S5 II.
Depth (front-to-back): 90mm Lumix G9 II · 90mm Lumix S5 II
Sensor size, to scale
Lumix G9 II
17.3 × 13 mm · Micro Four Thirds
225 mm² area
Lumix S5 II
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 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
Lumix G9 II
Max video bit rate
800 Mbps vs 200 Mbps — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
75 fps vs 30 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
IBIS effectiveness
8 stops vs 5 stops — higher is better
Burst (mechanical)
14 fps vs 9 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds Apple ProRes 422 HQ
Weight
658 g vs 740 g — lower is better
Reasons to choose
Lumix S5 II
AF low-light limit
-6 EV vs -4 EV — lower is better
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Codecs
Adds MOV, MP4
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓AF points / zones — Both 779
- ✓AF frame coverage — Both 100 %
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓RAW buffer depth — Both 200 frames
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 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 portraits, Lumix G9 II or Lumix S5 II?
Lumix S5 II scores 8.5/10 versus 6.0/10 for Lumix G9 II — 24.2MP — solid resolution.
What's the resolution difference between the Lumix G9 II and Lumix S5 II?
Lumix G9 II is 25.2 MP and Lumix S5 II 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 II have in-body image stabilization?
Lumix G9 II has 8-stop in-body image stabilization, while lumix S5 II has 5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Lumix G9 II or the Lumix S5 II?
Lumix G9 II reaches 75 fps electronic. Lumix S5 II reaches 30 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Lumix G9 II and Lumix S5 II?
Lumix G9 II weighs 658 g and Lumix S5 II weighs 740 g, so the Lumix G9 II is 82 g lighter.
Do the Lumix G9 II and Lumix S5 II record 4K video?
Lumix G9 II: 5.8K Open Gate (max), 4K up to 120p. Lumix S5 II: 6K Open Gate (max), 4K up to 60p.
Are the Lumix G9 II and Lumix S5 II weather sealed?
Lumix G9 II: Yes. Lumix S5 II: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 390 shots (CIPA) for the Lumix G9 II and 370 shots for the Lumix S5 II, giving the Lumix G9 II the edge.
How much does each cost?
Lumix G9 II launched at $1,899 and Lumix S5 II at $1,999. The Lumix G9 II is $100 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.