Panasonic
Lumix G97
Updated Micro Four Thirds hybrid with 20.3MP sensor, V-Log L, 5-axis Dual I.S. 2, and 4K video.
$849
Released Dec 2024
Panasonic
Lumix S5 II
Phase-detect L-mount hybrid with 6K open gate and strong video tools.
$1,999
Released Jan 2023
Lumix G97 is 1.9 years newer.
Wins
Lumix G97
Wins
Lumix S5 II
3 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BLumix S5 II has higher AF points / zones (779 vs 49)
- BLumix S5 II has higher RAW buffer depth (200 frames vs 27 frames)
- BLumix S5 II has higher Burst (electronic) (30 fps vs 9 fps)
- BLumix S5 II has lower ISO min (native) (100 vs 200)
- BLumix S5 II has higher ISO max (native) (51,200 vs 25,600)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
Lumix G97
130 × 94 × 77 mm
530 g (1.17 lb / 18.70 oz)
Lumix S5 II
134 × 102 × 90 mm
740 g (1.63 lb / 26.10 oz)
Lumix G97 is 4mm narrower, 9mm shorter, and 13mm thinner than Lumix S5 II.
Lumix G97 is 210 g lighter than Lumix S5 II.
Depth (front-to-back): 77mm Lumix G97 · 90mm Lumix S5 II
Sensor size, to scale
Lumix G97
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 G97
✓ 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 G97
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 130.4, 93.5, 77.4
Weight
530 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
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 134.3, 102.3, 90.1
AF points / zones
779 vs 49 — higher is better
RAW buffer depth
200 frames vs 27 frames — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
30 fps vs 9 fps — higher is better
ISO min (native)
100 vs 200 — lower is better
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 25,600 — higher is better
4K max frame rate
60 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓AF frame coverage — Both 100 %
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓Burst (mechanical) — Both 9 fps
- ✓In-body stabilization — Both support in-body stabilization
- ✓IBIS effectiveness — Both 5 stops
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
Lumix G97
Pros
- ✓20.3MP MFT sensor
- ✓V-Log L
- ✓5-axis Dual I.S. 2
- ✓Weather resistant
Cons
- –Contrast AF
- –Single card slot
- –MFT sensor
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 sports, Lumix G97 or Lumix S5 II?
Lumix S5 II scores 7.5/10 versus 2.5/10 for Lumix G97 — 30fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the Lumix G97 and Lumix S5 II?
Lumix G97 is 20.3 MP and Lumix S5 II is 24.2 MP, so the Lumix S5 II captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Lumix G97 and Lumix S5 II have in-body image stabilization?
Lumix G97 has 5-stop in-body image stabilization, while lumix S5 II has 5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Lumix G97 or the Lumix S5 II?
Lumix G97 reaches 9 fps electronic. Lumix S5 II reaches 30 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Lumix G97 and Lumix S5 II?
Lumix G97 weighs 530 g and Lumix S5 II weighs 740 g, so the Lumix G97 is 210 g lighter.
Do the Lumix G97 and Lumix S5 II record 4K video?
Lumix G97: 4K up to 30p. Lumix S5 II: 6K Open Gate (max), 4K up to 60p.
Are the Lumix G97 and Lumix S5 II weather sealed?
Lumix G97: Yes. Lumix S5 II: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 300 shots (CIPA) for the Lumix G97 and 370 shots for the Lumix S5 II, giving the Lumix S5 II the edge.
How much does each cost?
Lumix G97 launched at $849 and Lumix S5 II at $1,999. The Lumix G97 is $1,150 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.