Panasonic S5 II vs Sony a1

Here is a thorough review of the Panasonic S5 II versus Sony a1, both Pro Mirrorless cameras by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the S5 II (24MP) and a1 (50MP) but both cameras have the same sensor sizes (Full frame).

Photography Glossary

The S5 II was revealed 24 months later than the a1 making them a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras have the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before we go into a detailed comparison, here is a simple view of how the S5 II grades versus the a1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 Mark II & Sony Alpha a1. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic S5 II Gallery & Sony a1 Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic S5 II offers physical measurements of 134mm x 102mm x 90mm (5.3" x 4.0" x 3.5") along with a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs) and the Sony a1 has proportions of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic S5 II versus Sony a1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the S5 II against the a1.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S5 II and a1 is 59 and 61 respectively.

More often than not, its tough to see the difference in sensor sizing purely by looking through technical specs. The graphic underneath might provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the S5 II and a1.

As you can tell, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Sony a1 to provide you with greater detail because of its extra 26 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images a bit more aggressively. The newer S5 II is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.