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Panasonic S5 vs Sony RX1R II Comparison

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Panasonic S5

24 MP | Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm) CMOS Sensor

Panasonic S5
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Sony RX1R II

42 MP | Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Sony RX1R II
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Panasonic S5 vs Sony RX1R II Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Panasonic S5, which was introduced in August 2020 is a Pro Mirrorless camera with a 24.0MP Full frame sensor whereas Sony RX1R II, which was introduced in October 2015 is a Large Sensor Compact camera with a 42.0MP Full frame sensor. As you can see, RX1R II is 5 years older than S5. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Comparing an interchangeble lens camera to a fixed lens camera is a bit tricky but we will do our best to make this a fair comparison.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Panasonic S5 and Sony RX1R II before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Panasonic S5 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2020-08-14
  • 24MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 100 - 51200 ( expands to 50 - 204800)
  • Leica L Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 2360k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 7.0fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 714g. 133 x 97 x 82 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body

Sony RX1R II Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2015-10-13
  • 42MP - Full frame BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 50 - 25600 ( expands to 102400)
  • 35 mm f2.00 Prime Lens
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • 2359k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 5.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 507g. 113 x 65 x 72 mm
  • Replaced Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R Compare

Panasonic S5 was replaced by Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 Mark II. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 Mark II vs Panasonic S5
Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 Mark II vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Panasonic S5 and Sony RX1R II compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II
Video Record Limit
Unlimited vs Limited Record clips longer than 30 minutes
Live Composite Mode
Yes vs No Excellent help for long-exposure photography
In-built Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Max ISO
51.200 vs 25.600 100% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
225 vs 25 200 more focus points
LCD Resolution
1.840k dots vs 1.229k dots 49% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/8000s vs 1/4000s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
7.0fps vs 5.0fps 2 fps faster
Battery Life
440 shots vs 220 shots 220 more frames with a single charge
Headphone Port
Yes vs No better video control
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Dynamic Range
14.5 vs 13.9 higher dynamic range
Sensor Pixel Area
35.30µm2 vs 20.43µm2 72% larger pixel area
Max Video Resolution
3840 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
Pixel Shift High-Res Mode
Yes (96 MP) vs No Increased resolution with pixel shift
4K Photo Mode
Yes vs No Extract 8MP photos from 4K Video
6K Photo Mode
Yes vs No Extract 18MP photos from Video footage
Bluetooth
Yes vs No Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
Focus Bracketing
Yes vs No Take multiple photos shifting focus point
Focus Stacking
Yes vs No Stacks photos in-camera to maximize depth of field
Post Focus Mode
Yes vs No Change focus point after taking a shot
Storage Slot
2 vs 1 Extra storage slot
Digital video stabilization
Yes vs No Stabilizes your videos in-camera
UHS Card Support
UHS-II vs none Read/Write in High Speeds
USB Version
USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) vs USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Faster Data transfer from the camera
Anti Flicker
Yes vs No Reduced uneven color and exposure under flickering light
Eye Tracking Focus
Yes vs No Autofocus system locks on the eye and tracks the subject
CHECK S5 PRICE


Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II over Panasonic Lumix DC-S5
Sensor Resolution
42 MP vs 24 MP 75% more pixels
Weight
507 g vs 714 g 207 g lighter
Color Depth
25.8 vs 25.1 higher color depth
Low Light ISO
3204 vs 2697 better High ISO performance
AE Bracketing Range
±5 EV vs ±3 EV Wide Bracketing range is useful for HDR
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Anti Alias Filter Simulator
Yes vs No Turn on Anti Alias filter effect to minimise Moire
Max Video Bit rate
50 Mpbsmbps vs 200mbps Higher bit rate for better video quality
CHECK RX1R II PRICE

Common Strengths of Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II
Wireless Connection
Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
Adjustable LCD Screen
Fully Articulated vs Tilting Flexible shooting positions
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Viewfinder
Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Electronic) Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Max Resolution
24 MP vs 42 MP Bigger prints and more details
Microphone Port
Yes vs Yes High quality audio recording option
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs Yes Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Webcam Function
Yes vs Yes Use your camera as a Webcam
Common Weaknesses of Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II
Built-in Flash
No vs No Require external flash
Panasonic S5 vs Sony RX1R II: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Panasonic S5 and Sony RX1R II side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Panasonic S5 has external dimensions of 133 x 97 x 82 mm (5.24 x 3.82 x 3.23″) and weighs 714 g (1.57 lb) (including batteries). Sony RX1R II has external dimensions of 113 x 65 x 72 mm (4.45 x 2.56 x 2.83″) and weighs 507 g (1.12 lb / 17.88 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Panasonic S5 and Sony RX1R II. Sony RX1R II is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 20mm narrower, 32mm shorter and 10mm thinner than Panasonic S5. As you can tell, actually this is not a fair size comparison since Sony RX1R II has a built-in lens but Panasonic S5 doesn't. Once you put a lens on S5, its thickness will increase significantly.

Panasonic S5 vs Sony RX1R II Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Panasonic S5 and Sony RX1R II Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Panasonic S5 and Sony RX1R II.

Panasonic S5 vs Sony RX1R II Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Panasonic S5 and Sony RX1R II Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Panasonic S5 and Sony RX1R II.
Panasonic S5 vs Sony RX1R II Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Panasonic S5 and Sony RX1R II Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony RX1R II is significantly lighter (207g ) than the Panasonic S5 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Again, this comparison may not be very useful in real life as we are comparing the weight of a camera with a built-in lens to the body-only weight of an interchangeable lens camera. Once you put a lens on S5, the total kit will weigh much higher.

Weather Sealing

With its weather sealed body, we believe that S5 has a big advantage over RX1R II which doesn't provide any kind of environmental sealing.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Panasonic S5 and Sony RX1R II's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3.00".

Sony RX1R II features a Tilting only screen which is mostly only good for shooting from waist or over the head levels. On the other hand, Panasonic S5 sports a Fully Articulated screen which is more flexible and useful especially for taking Selfie shots and video.
Panasonic S5 vs Sony RX1R II: Sensor Comparison

Panasonic S5 has a 24.0MP Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Venus Engine processor. On the other hand, Sony RX1R II has a 42.0MP Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features BIONZ X processor.

Sony RX1R II's sensor provides 18MP more than Panasonic S5's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Another similarity between these two cameras is that both Sony RX1R II and Panasonic S5 sensors lack anti-alias (Low-Pass) filters. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moire occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the S5 and RX1R II sensor size comparison.

Panasonic S5 vs Sony RX1R II Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Panasonic S5 and Sony RX1R II Cameras


Panasonic S5 and Sony RX1R II have almost the same sensor size so none of them has any significant advantage over other in providing control over depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. It scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Panasonic S5 and Sony RX1R II sensors have been tested by DxO and the results show that RX1R II has a better overall score of 97, 3 points higher compared to S5's score of 94.

Model Overall Color Depth Dynamic Range Low-light ISO
Panasonic S5 94 25.1 bits 14.5 Evs 2697 ISO
Sony RX1R II 97 25.8 bits 13.9 Evs 3204 ISO
What types of Photography are Panasonic S5 and Sony RX1R II Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Panasonic S5 and Sony RX1R II for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Panasonic S5 for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Sony RX1R II for Portrait Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 42.0MP
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
No Image Stabilization
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Panasonic S5 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Sony RX1R II for Street Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.00
No Image Stabilization
35 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Panasonic S5 for Sports Photography

GOOD

Sony RX1R II for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 7.0fps
Anti Flicker feature
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
225 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Read the details
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
25 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 220 shots
35 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Panasonic S5 for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT

Sony RX1R II for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Anti Flicker feature
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
714g
Body Thickness 82mm
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Compact Body
507g
Body Thickness 72mm
Read the details

Panasonic S5 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Sony RX1R II for Landscape Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 42.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
35 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Panasonic S5 vs Sony RX1R II: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Panasonic S5 and Sony RX1R II, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Panasonic S5 and Sony RX1R II scores compare:

Panasonic S5
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #30 out of 109 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #32 out of 1257 in all Cameras
Sony RX1R II
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #4 out of 62 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #103 out of 1257 in all Cameras

Panasonic S5 has a higher Overall Score than the Sony RX1R II and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Panasonic S5
Panasonic S5
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Sony RX1R II
Sony RX1R II
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Sony RX1R II vs Panasonic S5 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II
Brand Panasonic Sony
Announced 2020-08-14 2015-10-13
Body Type SLR-style mirrorless Large sensor compact
Sensor
Type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Size Full frame Full frame
Dimensions 35.6 x 23.8 mm 35.9 x 24 mm
Area 847.28mm2 861.60mm2
Megapixels 24 megapixels 42 megapixels
Max Resolution 6000 x 4000 7952 x 5304
Max Native Light sensitivity 51,200 ISO 25,600 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 204800 ISO 102400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 50 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity 50 ISO -
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 225 25
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Leica L fixed lens
Lens Focal Range no lens 35 mm (1x)
Max Aperture no lens F2.0
Macro Focus Range no lens 14cm
Screen
Type Fully Articulated Tilting
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 1,840k dots 1,229k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution 2,360k dots 2,359k dots
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.74x 0.74x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/8000s 1/4000s
Max Electronic Shutter 1/8000s n/a
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Sensor-shift No
Built-in Flash
Max Flash Sync 1/250s 1/4000s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 7.0 fps 5.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264, H.265 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 714g 507g
Dimensions 133 x 97 x 82mm 113 x 65 x 72mm
Battery Life 440 shots 220 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 94 97
DxO Color Depth 25.1 25.8
DxO Dynamic Range 14.5 13.9
DxO Low Light ISO 2697 3204
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