Canon EOS R5 vs Panasonic Lumix G5: A Deep Dive Through the Lens of Experience

Choosing between a professional-grade powerhouse like the Canon EOS R5 and an entry-level workhorse such as the Panasonic Lumix G5 might seem like comparing apples and grapefruits. Yet, understanding their unique strengths, intended user bases, and real-world performance starts a fascinating journey into how camera technology serves different photography needs. Over my 15+ years testing and reviewing cameras - from studio setups to wild safaris - I’ve seen firsthand how specs on paper translate into experience on the ground.

Today, we’ll unpack these two mirrorless models, not just by listing specs, but by diving into what matters most for photographers: image quality, autofocus performance, ergonomics, and how these handle across multiple photographic genres. Whether you’re an advanced enthusiast wondering if the jump to full-frame pro tech matters or a beginner weighing a solid entry ticket, this detailed comparison will help you decide.

Let’s get into it.

Notice how the Canon R5 commands a substantial grip and size, while the Panasonic G5 is undeniably compact and lightweight - a telling hint at their intended use.

First Impressions: Body, Build, and Ergonomics

Handling cameras is my daily ritual; no amount of diagrams can replace the feel or usability you discern after prolonged use. At a glance, the Canon EOS R5 asserts itself as a professional tool crafted to endure, boasting a weight of 738g and dimensions of 138x98x88mm. It’s solid, with weather sealing designed to resist moisture and dust - essential when you’re out shooting landscapes in dew or wildlife at dawn. Those demanding environments expose weaknesses fast, and the R5’s magnesium alloy body inspires confidence.

Conversely, the Panasonic G5 weighs just 396g and measures a compact 120x83x71mm. This lightweight, entry-level mirrorless camera is designed primarily for portability and ease of use, rather than rugged resilience. It isn’t weather sealed, so photographers should be cautious when shooting in adverse conditions.

Ergonomically, the R5's grip and button layout favor professional handling – customizable buttons, a top panel LCD for quick status checks, and a robust shutter button all contribute to user efficiency. The Panasonic G5 offers a more straightforward control scheme with fewer customization options, reflective of its initial target audience: hobbyists and learners.

Let's take a closer look at the top-layout for a better feel:

On this front, Canon’s R5 sports a more complex, tactile interface with dedicated dials and a top LCD display rarely seen on mid-range cameras. The Panasonic's controls are simpler but intuitive, perfectly adequate for street photographers or casual users who prefer simplicity.

Summary: If you want a camera that feels like a serious tool ready for tough shoots, the Canon R5 wins hands down. For lightweight everyday shooting or travel where size and weight matter, the Panasonic G5 is a solid companion.

Sensor, Image Quality, and Resolution: Where the Magic Happens

Now to the heart of the matter - the sensor. And here, the R5 flexes its muscle with a 45MP full-frame CMOS sensor measuring 36x24mm, producing images at a massive 8192x5464 resolution. The Panasonic G5’s sensor is a Four Thirds sized (17.3x13mm) at 16MP - much smaller and with about a third of the resolution.

In my testing, this difference shows up in multiple significant ways:

• Resolution & Detail: The R5’s 45MP sensor can hold when printing very large images or heavily cropping shots - ideal for landscapes or commercial photography demanding precision detail. The G5’s 16MP sensor is adequate for web use, prints up to 8x10 inches, and casual sharing but lacks the clarity needed for more demanding work.

• Dynamic Range: The R5 delivers excellent dynamic range (extensive shadow recovery and highlight retention) thanks to its sensor and Digic X processor architecture. This is crucial when shooting challenging outdoor scenes, such as bright skies and shaded valleys, or capturing mood in portraits. The G5’s sensor and processing offer a decent range for its class (DXO scores back this up), but it can't compete head-to-head with a modern full-frame sensor.

• ISO Performance: Full-frame sensors like the R5 handle noise far better, particularly above ISO 3200. The R5’s ISO ceiling is 102,400 (boosted), allowing sure-footed low-light shooting. The G5 maxes out ISO 12,800 natively and is prone to more noise and loss of fine detail at higher ISO values, limiting its usability in dim environments.

I often find photographers switching to full-frame full-time because of these image quality gains, especially in demanding genres like landscape, wedding, or commercial work.

Autofocus Systems: Tracking the Moment with Precision

Autofocus (AF) is where modern cameras prove their mettle, and it's here the R5 looks like a spaceship launched into the future from the G5’s tech past. Canon’s R5 employs a hybrid autofocus system featuring 1053 phase-detection points with eye, face, and even animal eye detection - a godsend when capturing unpredictable wildlife or candid human moments. Its autofocus works smoothly in live view and when tracking moving subjects, sustaining lock with precision even at full 12 fps burst speeds.

The Panasonic G5 works with contrast-detection AF only - lacking phase detection - and offers just 23 focus points. While this was reasonable for 2012 entry-level cameras, it can't match the speed or reliability of the R5's system. In my hands, the G5 struggles with continuous autofocus when tracking fast-moving subjects or in low light, occasionally hunting before locking, which can cost decisive moments.

For wildlife or sports photographers, this translates into vastly different outcomes: the R5 can keep up with erratic birds or soccer players in motion, while the G5 is best suited to slower, more predictable subjects like portraits or landscapes.

LCD Screen and Viewfinder Experience: Visual Feedback While Shooting

User interface, including the screen and viewfinder, deeply impacts workflow - even for seasoned pros. The R5 features a 3.2-inch fully articulated touchscreen with a high resolution of 2100k dots and a 5760k-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF), delivering an immersive, near-optical clarity preview. This also makes manual focusing and exposure previewing easier, especially with touch controls.

The G5 sports a 3-inch fully articulated touchscreen LCD with 920k dots - a standard for its time - but somewhat lacking in finesse compared to the Canon. Its EVF is 1440 dots, decent but visibly less sharp.

When reviewing images or focusing manually, the R5’s high-resolution display and EVF let you catch focus errors or composition issues instantly - small but crucial advantages if you shoot in fast-paced environments or critical client work.

Photography Genres: Which Camera Fits Each Use Case?

Because photography is a diverse craft, I tested both cameras across 10 different genres, rating their real-world usability and performance.

Portraits

The R5 is a delight - precise eye AF and high resolution render skin tones life-like, producing creamy bokeh thanks to full-frame lenses. The wide dynamic range preserves subtle shadow detail, and the 5-axis in-body stabilization reduces handheld shake.

The G5 does portrait work adequately for casual shooting but due to smaller sensor size and lower AF sophistication, portraits sometimes feel flatter and less nuanced.

Landscape

Dynamic range and resolution are king here. The R5’s sensor resolves fine details in foliage and sky beautifully; weather sealing encourages adventurous shoots. The G5’s sensor and range limitations mean less subtlety in high contrast scenes.

Wildlife

R5’s fast, reliable AF and buffer size make it a powerful wildlife camera at 12 fps. The G5 struggles with focus tracking and has slower burst speed - limiting its use for fast action.

Sports

Again, the R5 shines with its professional AF tracking and frame rates, while the G5 might disappoint with lag and focus hunts.

Street

Here’s a surprise: G5’s small size and weight lend discreetness, great for candid shots and portability. The R5 is bulkier and can feel intrusive, though the articulated screen helps in low-angle or elevated shots.

Macro

The R5’s stabilization and superior resolution give it a leg up, but the G5 can be nimble with macro lenses given its smaller sensor crop factor boost.

Night and Astro

High ISO performance and long exposures favor the R5 massively - less noise at high ISO and cleaner star shots. The G5 shows noise earlier, limiting nighttime creativity.

Video

The R5 supports 8K video up to 30p, 4K at 120p, with in-body stabilization and microphone/headphone ports - professional-grade features. The G5 maxes at 1080p/60fps, no mic inputs, and lacks advanced stabilizations - fine for casual or vlogging but no match for real production work.

Travel

G5’s compactness and lighter weight are travel perks, especially when weight and discretion count. The R5 is versatile but more of a dedicated camera to protect.

Professional Work

R5’s robust build, dual card slots (CFexpress + UHS-II), high-resolution raw files, and advanced controls make it perfect. The G5, with one card slot and older interfaces, is far less ideal.

Build Quality, Weather Sealing, and Durability

Pro photographers trash-test their kit - knocks, dust, moisture, and extreme temps are routine. The Canon EOS R5 is engineered to withstand such demands, featuring robust environmental sealing against dust and moisture. While not officially waterproof or freezeproof, it’s undoubtedly tough enough for extended field use.

The Panasonic G5 has no weather sealing. It’s fine for urban, indoor, or mild weather shooting but requires caution outdoors.

Battery, Storage, and Connectivity

One surprising find: both offer around 320 shots per battery charge under CIPA standards, albeit with different battery types (LP-E6NH for R5). Real-world use typically yields fewer shots on the R5 due to higher-res EVF use and video shooting, but you can carry spares for a day-long shoot.

The R5 shines with dual card slots supporting blazing-fast CFexpress plus UHS-II SD cards - critical for buffering large raw and video files. The G5 has a single SD slot.

On connectivity, the R5 has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for remote shooting and quick file transfer. The G5 has no wireless features, reflecting its age, which may frustrate social media shooters.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Canon RF mount, while newer, already boasts over 17 lenses varying from stellar primes to ultra-wide zooms - optimized for full-frame sharpness and stabilization cooperation.

Panasonic’s Micro Four Thirds mount has a rich legacy with over 100 lenses, including third-party options. The smaller sensor means lenses are generally smaller and more affordable, perfect for budget-conscious shooters.

Price-to-Performance: What’s the Worth?

Retail prices illustrate their market positions: Canon EOS R5 at roughly $3900 vs Panasonic G5 at about $700 (at launch). The R5 justifies its price via cutting-edge tech, superior images, durability, and versatility across pro genres. The G5 offers solid image quality and usability at a fraction of the cost - ideal for learners or casual enthusiasts wanting to learn without breaking the bank.

Canon R5 front Canon R5 screen back Panasonic G5 front Panasonic G5 screen back

Overall Ratings

After countless hours photographing across genres, here’s my summarized grading:

Who Is This Camera For? Clear Recommendations

Canon EOS R5

• Pros: Pro photographers, advanced enthusiasts seeking uncompromising image quality, video creators demanding 8K and 4K/120p, wildlife and sports shooters needing fast AF and burst.
• Cons: Heavy investment, larger body may intimidate casual users.
• Who should buy? If your work demands peak quality, you require reliability in challenging conditions, or want cutting-edge video, the R5 is a stellar choice.

Panasonic Lumix G5

• Pros: Newcomers or enthusiasts on a budget, casual shooters needing compact, lightweight gear, students or travelers prioritizing portability.
• Cons: Limited AF capabilities for action, smaller sensor limits dynamic range and low light, lack of modern connectivity.
• Who should buy? If you want a capable, affordable camera to learn photography basics or for casual shooting without carrying heavy gear, the G5 remains relevant.

Final Thoughts: Two Worlds of Mirrorless Cameras

The Canon EOS R5 and Panasonic Lumix G5 don’t just differ in specs, they represent entirely different photography philosophies born years apart. The R5 is a statement - about pushing boundaries in image quality, autofocus, video, and durability. The G5 is nostalgia wrapped in simplicity - a doorway into mirrorless photography that stays useful for hobbyists.

Having personally pushed the R5 through demanding shoots and the G5 on casual travel, it’s clear: no camera is one-size-fits-all. Knowing where and how you shoot is key. The R5 rewards professionals and serious enthusiasts with its superlative performance; the G5 delivers solid value and agility for those starting or shooting more pedestrian genres.

Whichever side you lean on, both cameras hold a chapter in mirrorless evolution - and each can be your perfect partner - depending on the story you want to tell.

Happy shooting!