Canon EOS M5 vs Panasonic Lumix S1H: A Deep Dive into Two Mirrorless Titans

When I first saw the specs of the Canon EOS M5 and the Panasonic Lumix S1H side by side, it reminded me how broad the mirrorless ecosystem has become. These cameras, launched three years apart and aimed at different segments, represent very distinct philosophies of design and use cases yet share some surprising common ground.

In this comparison, drawn from hands-on testing spanning portraits in studio lighting, landscapes in the wild, and demanding video shoots, I’ll guide you through the nuances that set these cameras apart and when each might be the better choice.

Size, Feel, and Ergonomics: Handling That Makes or Breaks a Shoot

Start with the physicality: the Canon M5 is a compact APS-C mirrorless designed to balance portability with a DSLR-style grip, while the Panasonic S1H is a robust full-frame pro body built for heavy-duty video and photo gigs.

Handling the Canon M5, I appreciated its lightweight 427g frame and modest dimensions (116x89x61mm). It fits comfortably in one hand, and the grip is secure without being bulky. Ideal for travel or street photographers who value discretion and speed over sheer robustness.

By contrast, the Panasonic S1H’s substantial bulk - over double the weight at 1052g and a boxy 151x114x110mm footprint - signals its pro ambitions clearly. This is a camera meant to be held all day on a studio or location shoot, not stuffed into a coat pocket. The assured heft means it can balance heavy lenses well, but it can be fatiguing over time or on long walks.

Controls on the M5 are arranged with casual users in mind: a clean button layout with touchscreen integration lets you shift settings quickly without digging into complex menus. A minor gripe: no illuminated buttons for use in dim conditions, which adds friction for night or event photography.

The S1H, by contrast, boasts a fully professional control deck with tactile dials, customizable buttons, and an additional top LCD screen for instant exposure feedback. Illuminated buttons come in handy when working in low-light environments, a thoughtful inclusion for videographers and pros shooting in theater or concert venues.

In short, if you prize stealth and portability, the Canon M5 wins on ergonomics. If control, durability, and professional workflows are your metrics, the Panasonic S1H’s design is clearly tailored to those needs.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

The biggest hardware divergence comes from the sensor. The Canon M5 sports a 24MP APS-C CMOS sensor measuring 22.3x14.9mm, while the Panasonic S1H offers a 24MP full-frame CMOS sensor at 35.6x23.8mm.

From years of comparative sensor testing using industry-standard charts and in-field dynamic range measurements, full-frame sensors inherently deliver better signal-to-noise ratios, richer color depth, and wider dynamic range. The Panasonic’s sensor area is more than two-and-a-half times that of the M5, with notable improvements in noise control particularly at high ISO.

Looking at DXOMark scores reinforces this: the M5 records an overall of 77, with solid 23.4 bits of color depth and 12.4 stops of dynamic range - which is quite respectable for the APS-C segment. The S1H lacks DXOMark data but, based on Panasonic’s engineering pedigree and my hands-on noise tests in controlled studio shoots, it clearly excels in low light, pushing ISO up to 51,200 natively and boosting beyond 200,000 in extended modes.

In practical terms, this translates for landscape photographers into deeper shadow recoveries and smoother gradients on the S1H, while the M5 will serve well in good lighting or when working on smaller prints or social delivery.

Composing the Shot: Viewfinders and Display Interfaces

Having a clear, bright viewfinder and responsive rear screen are vital for framing and review, especially for genres like wildlife and sports.

The Canon M5 sports a 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen with 1.62 million dots. It’s responsive and great for live view framing or menu navigation. The OLED electronic viewfinder stays respectable with 2.36 million dots, offering a 100% field of view.

The Panasonic S1H outclasses here with a buttery smooth, fully articulating 3.2-inch touchscreen at 2.33 million dots. This articulating mechanism is a boon for video creators and macro shooters who often compose at odd angles. The S1H’s 5.76 million dot OLED EVF offers a significantly sharper, more immersive view with 0.78x magnification, vital for critical focusing in low light or fast action.

If you want to nail eye focus in portrait sessions, or track birds darting across a tree, the S1H’s viewfinder clarity aids in that split-second accuracy. The M5 is no slouch but feels more consumer-oriented and less detailed at pixel level.

Autofocus Systems: The Crucible of Real-World Responsiveness

Both cameras incorporate hybrid autofocus with phase-detection and contrast detection points, but their implementation reflects their target audience.

The Canon M5 features a 49-point AF system with phase detection embedded on the sensor, supplemented by face detection and eye AF functionality usable in live view. For portraits and street shooting, this system is snappy and reliable, locking on faces quickly under good lighting.

However, in the field, the M5 falters somewhat with moving subjects under challenging light, like wildlife darting through dappled forest shadows or sports in overcast stadiums. Its burst rate of 9 fps helps somewhat, but focus tracking can lose consistency, especially with smaller AF arrays.

The Panasonic S1H boasts a 225-point AF system, wide coverage, and advanced tracking algorithms optimized for video and stills. It supports continuous autofocus with eye detection, though it lacks phase detection in favor of depth-from-defocus technology, which can sometimes feel less crisp on fast action.

My testing revealed that for video shooters tracking a moving subject in 4K, the S1H’s AF performed smoothly, producing minimal hunting and soft transitions - a crucial advantage for narrative videography.

Burst Rates and Buffer Depth: Catching the Decisive Moment

The M5 offers a continuous shooting speed of 9 frames per second (fps), which impresses for an entry-level mirrorless but is moderate by modern professional standards.

The S1H matches that 9 fps rate, despite packing a full-frame sensor and pro video features, a testament to its powerful Venus Engine processor.

In practice, both cameras are capable of shooting bursts that can capture peak moments in sports or wildlife but expect significant buffer slowdowns on the M5 when shooting RAW. The S1H, with dual UHS-II SD card slots, sustains longer burst sequences with higher write speeds and back-to-back video takes without interruption.

Photography in Action: Portraits to Landscapes and Beyond

Let’s break down which camera excels in common genres. I conducted side-by-side shoots during an outdoor portrait session, a mountainside landscape dawn shoot, and a city street walk.

Portrait Photography:
The Canon M5’s 24MP sensor handles skin tones with flattering warmth and good detail. Its face and eye detection is responsive in live view mode. The EF-M mount lenses offer decent bokeh with fast primes, though the smaller sensor means somewhat more depth of field at equivalent apertures than full frame.

The S1H's full-frame sensor produces creamier bokeh and more subtle color gradations. Its autofocus eye detection is precise despite lacking animal eye tracking. For studio or fashion shoots where clean tonal transitions and background isolation count, the S1H’s larger sensor pays dividends.

Landscape Photography:
Both cameras capture crisp, high-resolution images but the wider dynamic range and higher native ISO on the S1H reveal details deep in shadowed areas while retaining highlights. Weather sealing on the S1H lets you trek confidently in misty or dusty environments, a notable edge over the M5’s unsealed body.

Wildlife and Sports Photography:
Here, the Canon M5 benefits from its APS-C sensor crop factor of 1.6x, effectively extending reach of telephoto lenses. This is helpful for catching distant subjects without breaking the bank on super-tele lenses.

However, the S1H's advanced autofocus, coupled with faster shutter speeds up to 1/8000s and superior low-light performance, ultimately provides better image quality on fast-moving subjects even with longer focal lengths.

Macro and Night Photography: Testing the Limits

Although not primarily marketed as macro systems, both cameras can deliver rewarding close-up work with the right lenses. The S1H supports focus bracketing and stacking, which I found very useful for creating extended depth of field in macro shots. The M5 lacks these features, limiting in-camera assistance for macro enthusiasts.

Night and astrophotography reveal the S1H’s superior noise handling and longer exposure capabilities, down to 60 seconds minimum shutter speed with a low noise floor. The M5’s 30-second max exposure and higher noise above ISO 1600 make it less suited for intensive night sky work.

Video Capabilities: Where the Panasonic S1H Truly Shines

The Canon M5 maxes out at Full HD 1080p at 60fps, with moderate bit rates and no in-body stabilization. It’s capable of good quality amateur videos and casual content creation, especially with external microphones supported.

The Panasonic S1H is designed as a hybrid powerhouse: 6K Cinema-quality video (5952 x 3988) up to 24p, 4K at up to 60fps, 10-bit 4:2:2 internal recording, full V-Log support, and sensor-based 5-axis stabilization. It also includes a headphone jack for real-time audio monitoring, critical for professional-level sound recording.

In my tests filming moving subjects in low light, the S1H’s stabilization and excellent rolling shutter control help achieve buttery-smooth footage with minimal distortion. The M5 cannot compete in this realm but could be a stepping stone for vloggers not needing cinema-grade capture.

Battery Life and Storage: Practical Matters Affecting Shoot Days

The Canon M5 offers around 295 shots per charge, respectable for its class but requiring extra batteries for all-day use - especially outdoors.

The Panasonic S1H improves on this with about 400 shots, enhanced by dual UHS-II SD slots allowing for extended shooting sessions and instant backups. This is a big plus for professional photographers and videographers who cannot risk losing files or downtime swapping cards.

Connectivity and Workflow Integration

Both models feature built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for image transfer and remote control.

The M5 adds NFC support, easing quick pairing with compatible smartphones for immediate social sharing - handy for travel or street photographers on the move.

The S1H lacks NFC but integrates more fully into professional post-production workflows, supporting faster USB tethering and HDMI live output for monitoring on external displays.

Putting the Price in Perspective: What’s the Value Here?

The Canon EOS M5 launched at sub-$700, making it an attractive entry point into advanced mirrorless photography. Given its compact design, solid APS-C sensor, accessible controls, and respectable autofocus, it represents excellent value for enthusiasts prioritizing budget and portability.

The Panasonic Lumix S1H comes in at nearly $4,000 - a clear investment only feasible for serious professionals or passionate hybrid shooters. The return is top-tier image quality, extensive video features, rugged build, and operational reliability that justify the price for demanding production environments.

Canon M5 front Canon M5 screen back Panasonic S1H front Panasonic S1H screen back

Summary Scores and Final Thoughts

In synthesizing performance, handling, and value across key photographic disciplines, the Canon M5 shines as a versatile, lightweight system for portrait, street, travel, and entry-level landscape photography. It won’t replace high-end prosumer models but serves admirably in its niche.

The Panasonic S1H emerges as a formidable all-rounder with a video-centric edge, excellent for pro-level portrait studios, landscape expeditions, complex wildlife shoots, and especially video production requiring ultimate image fidelity and control.

Final Recommendations: Who Should Choose Which?

• Choose the Canon EOS M5 if:

  • You want a pocketable, friendly interface camera for travel, street, or casual portraiture on a budget.
  • You’re getting started in mirrorless and want solid image quality without lugging heavy gear.
  • You primarily shoot JPEG or small to medium RAW prints and don’t need 4K video.
  • You favor a good crop factor to extend your reach with affordable lenses.

• Choose the Panasonic Lumix S1H if:

  • You are a professional photographer or videographer requiring the highest image quality and video specs.
  • You shoot frequently in challenging conditions needing weather sealing and robustbuild.
  • You want full-frame optics, shallow depth-of-field control, and the best low-light performance.
  • Your workflow includes heavy video editing, larger print outputs, and sophisticated autofocus tracking.

Personal Verdict

Having tested both extensively under diverse conditions, I can say this: The Canon EOS M5 is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, offering charming simplicity with surprisingly solid capabilities for its price and size class. Meanwhile, the Panasonic S1H is an uncompromising beast, suited for those who measure image quality and video versatility above all else - and have the budget to back it.

If your ambitions primarily lie with stills and portability, the M5 is trustworthy and enjoyable. But if video production and large-format image fidelity form your backbone, the S1H delivers, doing so without sacrificing stills performance.

This comparison underscores something important - that even within the mirrorless family, there are vastly different tools optimized for distinct creative demands. The key is knowing which dog is a good boy for your specific needs.

Thanks for reading my thorough analysis. Should you want me to test lenses or workflow accessories with these bodies next, just let me know. Happy shooting!