Panasonic Lumix S5 vs. FZ70: A Hands-On Comparison Across a Decade of Digital Imaging

Choosing a new camera is often less about the megapixels or marketing buzz and more about matching the tool to your personal photography style and budget. Having spent the last 15 years knee-deep in testing cameras for professional shoots and casual outings alike, I find one of the most interesting comparisons is between two ends of Panasonic’s lineup: the full-frame mirrorless Panasonic Lumix S5 and the modest superzoom bridge camera Panasonic Lumix FZ70. They hail from very different generations and cater to widely differing audiences, yet both continue to hold appeal for photographers on a budget who want solid performance.

In this comparison, I’ll walk you through everything from sensor and autofocus tech to real-world shooting across portrait, landscape, wildlife, and even video. Whether you’re a budding enthusiast or a pro looking for a pocketable backup, the goal is clear: unravel the strengths and weaknesses these two cameras bring to your creative table - and tell you which is worth your hard-earned dollars.

Let’s dive in.

Size, Handling, and Ergonomics: First Impressions Matter

It’s no secret that handling shapes how we shoot. I spent several days shooting side by side with each, comparing not just weight, but how they feel in hand during longer sessions.

Panasonic Lumix S5: This full-frame mirrorless sported a sleek, SLR-style body weighing in at about 714 grams - solid but not brick-like. The molded grip is comfortable for medium to large hands, and the body dimensions (133 x 97 x 82 mm) strike a good balance for handheld shooting without tiring the wrist. The magnesium alloy chassis feels robust with environmental sealing, reassuring for outdoor and travel durability - something I always appreciate when heading into unpredictable shooting spots.

Panasonic Lumix FZ70: The FZ70 is a bridge-style superzoom, chunkier at 606 grams but with a much longer lens extending from the body. It measures a bit bigger (130 x 97 x 118 mm), especially due to the built-in 20-1200mm lens. Its grip is less contoured, favoring a single-handed hold that can get tiring after extended wildlife or sports sessions. Its plastic build is less premium but keeps weight manageable given the huge zoom range.

Real-World Note: If you prize portability and prefer your gear to disappear in a medium-sized sling or backpack, the S5 edges out here. The FZ70’s bulk and longer lens barrel make it more a dedicated “camera you carry” rather than one that slips neatly into street or travel bags.

User Interface and Controls: Efficiency Counts Behind the Scenes

Once I started shooting, how the cameras interface with the user rapidly showed their priorities and target audiences.

The S5’s control layout is clearly engineered for pros and serious enthusiasts, offering customizable dials and buttons around the shutter button and on the back for quick changes. Its fully articulated, 3.0-inch touchscreen LCD (1840k dots) and high-resolution 2.36M-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) provide bright, detailed previews. I particularly liked the touch-focus and gesture-driven menu navigation, a modern convenience that speeds up shooting without fumbling through layers of menus.

On the other hand, the FZ70’s controls are basic yet functional - fewer dedicated dials and a fixed 3-inch LCD with only 460k dots resolution. Its EVF at 202k dots feels more like a novelty for framing shots in bright light than a workhorse tool. There’s no touchscreen, and the menus require more button presses to dive into.

While the FZ70’s layout suits casual point-and-shooters, I found the S5’s clubs-for-thumbs design far more satisfying when shooting in manual exposure modes or when adjusting autofocus points on the fly.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Here’s where the two cameras part ways most dramatically - imaging sensors.

The S5 sports a 24MP full-frame CMOS sensor measuring 35.6 x 23.8mm, delivering 6000 x 4000 pixels without an anti-aliasing filter. It boasts a native ISO range of 100 to 51200, expandable up to 204800. Full-frame sensors like the S5’s capture more light, offer richer colors, better tonal gradation, and superior dynamic range. This means you get cleaner shadows, controlled highlights, and higher sharpness.

In contrast, the FZ70 features a tiny 1/2.3-inch sensor (6.17 x 4.55mm) with 16MP resolution (4608 x 3456 pixels). This small sensor can’t compete in low light or high dynamic range but shines in providing massive zoom range in a compact form factor. Its max ISO tops at 3200 natively, boosted to 6400 occasionally, but noise quickly becomes an issue above ISO 800 in practical shooting.

Practical Outcomes: Images from the S5 have noticeably finer detail, better color depth, and most importantly, much cleaner noise performance at higher ISO - critical for low light or astrophotography where grain can wreck a shot. The FZ70 is fine for bright daylight and casual use where convenience trumps image purity.

Autofocus Systems: Speed Meets Precision

Good autofocus (AF) can make or break keeping pace with moving subjects or nail critical focus in portraiture.

The S5 employs a contrast-detection AF with 225 focus points and face detection, complete with touch-to-focus and continuous subject tracking modes. While not boasting hybrid phase-detection points like some competitors, Panasonic’s algorithm is efficient and accurate, showing surprisingly snappy AF acquisition in my testing across portrait and landscape subjects. However, it’s not quite in the league of flagship mirrorless AF systems for wildlife or high-speed sports.

The FZ70 uses a far simpler contrast-detection system with just 23 focus points, prioritizing center weighting, adequate for static subjects or careful framing. It does include face detection but lacks continuous eye or animal tracking. While the camera advertises a 9fps burst rate, in practice it can struggle to maintain accurate focus on fast action beyond mild movements.

Hands-On Use: For portraits and everyday shooting, the S5’s AF proves reliable and quick enough to keep eyes sharp. The FZ70 is better suited to casual wildlife or sports photography where ultra-precision AF is less critical.

Shooting Across Genres: How These Cameras Adapt

Let’s break down their strengths in specific photography disciplines based on real-world testing.

Portraits: Skin Tones and Bokeh Bliss

Portraiture demands pleasing skin tones, accurate eye detection, and often a shallow depth of field.

• Lumix S5: The full-frame sensor paired with Leica L-mount lenses (31 native options at last count) enables a beautiful separation of subject and background. The lack of anti-aliasing filter helps maintain crisp textures in eyes and hair, while the 5-axis sensor-based image stabilization keeps handheld portraits tack sharp. Face and eye detect AF is solid, though not cutting-edge, saving you post-session hunting for focus. Skin tones render naturally and smoothly, with expansive color gamuts thanks to Panasonic’s color science.

• Lumix FZ70: The superzoom fixed lens has a maximum aperture of F2.8 at wide and F5.9 at telephoto - not great for dream-like bokeh. Skin tones are adequate but can look a bit flat or plasticky in lower light due to sensor limitations. The built-in flash helps fill shadows but creates some harsh highlights.

Winner: S5 by a mile for any serious portraits.

Landscapes: Dynamic Range and Resolution

For landscapes, you want high resolution, good highlight retention, and ideally weather sealing.

• S5: The 24MP sensor delivers sharp files where even 100% crops reveal clean detail. Dynamic range preserves details in challenging conditions like bright skies and shadowed foregrounds. Environmental sealing proved effective during neighborhood rain showers.

• FZ70: Lower resolution and small sensor limit fine detail capture. The wide zoom is great for quick framing but images show marked noise and chromatic aberrations in complex scenes. No weather sealing means caution outdoors.

Winner: Lumix S5 wins hands down.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus and Burst Speed

For action shots, you want quick autofocus and fast continuous shooting.

• S5: 7fps continuous shooting is respectable, and focus tracking can keep up with moderate motion. However, lack of phase-detect AF limits fast capture in unpredictable wildlife or sports scenarios.

• FZ70: Boasts a 9fps burst rate but with simpler AF. Useful for backyard birds or casual sports but expect missed focus on fast action.

Recommendation: Neither is a dedicated sports camera. The S5 is better for carefully composed wildlife portraits, while FZ70 suits casual zoom needs.

Street and Travel Photography: Discretion and Versatility

• S5: Compact for full-frame and relatively light, especially for mirrorless. Silent electronic shutter and fully articulated touchscreen make it a versatile street shooter. Battery life rated at 440 shots per charge is solid.

• FZ70: Bulkier but all-in-one zoom means no lens changes or dust worries. Great for tourists wanting extended reach (20-1200mm), though fixed lens and less sensitivity mean low-light street shots lack flair.

Macro and Close-Up: Focusing Precision

• S5: With compatible macro L-mount lenses, the S5 offers excellent manual and autofocus precision and focus bracketing for stacking.

• FZ70: Has an impressive 1cm minimum focus distance, decent for casual macro snaps, though image quality is limited by sensor size.

Night and Astro Photography: Low-Light Edge

• S5: ISO 51200 native with expansion to 204800, plus detailed noise reduction algorithms, make this a solid night shooter. Long exposures up to 60s and in-body 5-axis stabilization aid star and nightscape capture.

• FZ70: ISO topping at 3200 isn’t enough for clean astro images. Longest shutter speed at 8s limits night sky options.

Video Capabilities: Quality and Connectivity

• S5: Records 4K UHD at 60p at 200Mbps in H.264 and H.265 codecs. Options include 6K photo modes and built-in microphone/headphone ports for serious shooters. USB-C charging, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth add modern workflow convenience.

• FZ70: Limited to Full HD 1080p max with AVCHD codec, no mic/headphone jacks, no wireless features. HDMI output available but not 4K - adequate for casual home videos.

Build Quality, Durability, and Battery Life

The S5’s metal, weather-sealed body really feels rugged and ready for pro daily use. The FZ70 is plastic, no sealing, suited mainly to dry conditions. Battery life is roughly comparable - 440 shots for S5 vs 400 for FZ70 - good for day trips but plan backups for extended sessions.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

• The S5’s Leica L-mount unlocks a robust set of native lenses (31 and counting) from Panasonic, Sigma, and Leica itself. This system flexibility lets you customize your shooting style with primes, zooms, macros, and specialty lenses.

• The FZ70’s fixed lens gives convenience but zero option to upgrade lenses.

Connectivity and Storage Options

The S5 supports dual SD card slots, USB charging, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, HDMI out, microphone, and headphone jacks, fully catering to pros and advanced hobbyists who need fast transfers, live streaming, or extended recording setups.

FZ70’s single SD slot, no wireless, minimal ports and USB 2.0 feel ancient in today’s workflow.

Pricing: Budget vs. Investment

The S5 launched priced at about $1999 USD for the body only at release - a midrange full-frame mirrorless offering undeniable pro features at a competitive price.

The FZ70, with a street price around $300, is an incredible bargain for casual users needing all-in-one reach without lens fuss.

Investing twice the price or more into the S5 means appreciable gains in image quality, build, and creative control.

Summary of Strengths and Weaknesses

Who Should Choose Which?

Buy the Panasonic Lumix S5 if:

• You demand superior image quality for portraits, landscapes, or professional work.
• You shoot in challenging light or need high ISO performance.
• Video is part of your creative workflow, especially 4K.
• You want flexibility with lenses and pro-grade ergonomics.
• Weather sealing and build quality are important for your use.
• You have a budget to invest in a serious mirrorless system.

Opt for the Panasonic Lumix FZ70 if:

• You want an extremely versatile zoom range without changing lenses.
• Your budget is limited and you want one camera that covers many focal lengths.
• You prefer simplicity over complexity and do casual shooting.
• Your photography rarely ventures into low light or professional-grade output.
• Portability and carry convenience are secondary to reach.

Final Thoughts: Real-World Verdict Between an Old School Superzoom and a Modern Full Frame

I’ve long admired Panasonic’s ability to straddle the amateur and pro markets, and this comparison sums it up perfectly. The Lumix FZ70 remains a champion cheapskate’s tool for all-in-one superzoom fun, especially outdoors where light is good and you want reach without fuss. Its small sensor and dated tech hold it back from producing images you’ll treasure for serious use, though.

The Panasonic Lumix S5, however, shines as a vastly more powerful, flexible camera that is equally at home on a professional portrait set, scenic hilltop, or run-and-gun travel shoot. Its modern sensor and robust features let you future-proof your photography with stunning image quality and versatility - all in a relatively compact package that’s easier to lug than many DSLR rivals.

If you asked me what to buy right now for the general enthusiast who wants to grow, the S5 is my pick without hesitation. But if your budget is tight, you love massive zooms, and you want decent images for casual sharing, the FZ70 keeps delivering surprising bang for your buck nearly a decade after launch.

Panasonic S5 front Panasonic S5 screen back Panasonic FZ70 front Panasonic FZ70 screen back

I hope this detailed comparison helps you weigh your options realistically - and reminds you that the best camera is one that fits your head, hands, wallet, and creative vision. Happy shooting!