Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Nikon - Z 9 | Panasonic - Lumix S5 II |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1340 g | 740 g |
| Megapixels | 45 MP | 24 MP |
| AF points | 493 | 779 |
| Max video | 8K | 6K |
Between the Z 9 and Lumix S5 II, the Z 9 comes out ahead in megapixels / max video, while the Lumix S5 II wins on weight / af points. Overall, the Z 9 scores 71.2 and the Lumix S5 II scores 74.4 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Lumix S5 II edges ahead on the Mars Score (71.2 vs 74.4), but the 3.2-point gap is small enough that the right pick comes down to which spec advantages matter to you.
Pick the Z 9 if you care most about megapixels / max video. The biggest gaps in its favor are megapixels, max video. The single most decisive one: Megapixels — 87.50% more. 45 MP vs 24 MP.
Pick the Lumix S5 II if you carry the device everywhere and weight or thickness has been the deciding factor before. Its strongest claims are weight, af points. The single most decisive one: Weight — 600.00 g less. 740 vs 1340.
Both ship with comparable sensor size, in-body stabilization, log profile, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity says both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
Which should you buy: Nikon - Z 9 or Panasonic - Lumix S5 II?
Panasonic - Lumix S5 II leads the current Mars Score by 3.2 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare megapixels, max video, weight against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Nikon - Z 9 if…
Nikon - Z 9 has the measurable edge on megapixels, max video.
Choose Panasonic - Lumix S5 II if…
Panasonic - Lumix S5 II has the measurable edge on weight g, af points.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Nikon - Z 9 wins
- ▲Megapixels — 87.50% more. 45 MP vs 24 MP.
- ▲Max video: 8K (vs 6K).
Why Panasonic - Lumix S5 II wins
- ▲Weight — 600.00 g less. 740 vs 1340.
- ▲AF points — 58.01% more. 779 vs 493.
Spec comparison
Sensor
| Spec | Nikon - Z 9 | Panasonic - Lumix S5 II |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor sizeⓘ | Full Frame | Full Frame |
| Megapixels | 45 MPlead | 24 MP |
| Max ISO | 102400lead | 51200 |
Video
| Spec | Nikon - Z 9 | Panasonic - Lumix S5 II |
|---|---|---|
| Max video | 8Klead | 6K |
| RAW video | truelead | false |
| Log profileⓘ | true | true |
Autofocus
| Spec | Nikon - Z 9 | Panasonic - Lumix S5 II |
|---|---|---|
| AF pointsⓘ | 493 | 779lead |
| Eye AFⓘ | true | true |
| In-body stabilizationⓘ | true | true |
Body & Controls
| Spec | Nikon - Z 9 | Panasonic - Lumix S5 II |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1340 g | 740 glead |
| Weather sealedⓘ | true | true |
| Dual card slotsⓘ | true | true |