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Panasonic S5 II vs Sony A7 IV

5 · 0 TIE · 3

The S5 II wins 5 of 8 scored specs (burst, stabilization, max video); the A7 IV wins 3 (resolution, battery (cipa), weight). They cost about the same.

5 WINSBuy it if you want: burst, stabilization, max video.
3 WINSBuy it if you want: resolution, battery (cipa), weight.The best all-rounder for people who shoot both photos and video. It isn't the fastest camera in its class, but it does everything well and has the largest lens catalogue to grow into.
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Size, to scale

OPEN IN SIZE COMPARE →
FRONT (WIDTH × HEIGHT)
TOP (WIDTH × DEPTH), LENS FACING DOWN

Outer sizes are exact, from the makers' dimensions. Shapes are drawn by us to show each body style; the dashed circle is the lens mount at its real diameter.

  • Panasonic S5 II134.3 × 102.3 × 90.1 mm · 740 g
  • Sony A7 IV131.3 × 96.4 × 79.8 mm · 658 g

Where they differ

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S5 IIA7 IV
PRICE & SCORE
Price$1,998BEST$1,998
CameraFits score8.3BEST7.5
PHOTO
Resolution24.2 MP33 MPBEST
BurstThe fastest frames per second the maker quotes. Top speeds often use the electronic shutter and may limit autofocus. Higher helps for sports, wildlife and kids.30 fpsBEST10 fps
StabilizationIn-body stabilisation. Each stop lets you shoot at half the shutter speed without blur, so 8 stops means very steady handheld shots.6.5 stopsBEST5.5 stops
ShutterFastest mechanical and electronic shutter speeds. The silent electronic shutter can freeze faster motion, but may bend fast subjects on slower sensors.1/8000 mech · 1/8000 elec1/8000 mech
AutofocusWhat the camera recognises and tracks automatically, and how dark it can get before focus struggles (lower EV is better in low light).People, animals, vehicles, trains, aircraft · down to −6 EVPeople, animals, birds · down to −4 EV
VIDEO
Max videoThe highest video resolution it records internally.6KBEST4K
Rolling shutterHow fast the sensor reads out, measured in lab tests. Slower readout bends fast-moving subjects and quick pans in video and electronic-shutter photos; under 10 ms is very good.22 ms · 4K full width, CineD26.8 ms · 4K full width, CineD
Log profileA flat picture profile that keeps highlight and shadow detail for colour grading later.V-LogS-Log3
Raw videoRaw keeps the most image data for editing, at much larger file sizes. Some cameras only record it to an external recorder.ProRes RAW / Blackmagic RAW over HDMI (paid DMW-SFU2 upgrade)None
Open gateRecords the whole sensor area, so you can crop the same clip to both widescreen and vertical video.YesNo
Cooling fanA built-in fan lets the camera record for long stretches without overheating.YesNo
BODY & HANDLING
Battery (CIPA)Shots per charge on the CIPA standard test, using the rear screen. Real-world numbers are often higher.370 shots580 shotsBEST
WeightBody with battery and card, without a lens.740 g658 gBEST
ViewfinderElectronic viewfinder resolution and magnification. More dots and a bigger magnification give a sharper, larger view.3.68M-dot, 0.78×3.69M-dot, 0.78×
Card slotsTwo slots let you record a backup copy at the same time, which matters for paid work like weddings.2x SD UHS-IICFexpress A/SD UHS-II + SD UHS-II
SYSTEM
MountWhich lenses fit natively. Other lenses may work through an adapter.L-Mount AllianceSony E
Native lenses80+200+

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