Canon R6 vs Panasonic S5

The Canon EOS R6 and the Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 are two enthusiast cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in July 2020 and September 2020. Both the Canon R6 and the S5 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are equipped with a full frame sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 20 megapixels, whereas the Panasonic provides 24 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon R6		Panasonic S5
Mirrorless system camera		Mirrorless system camera
Canon RF mount lenses		Leica L mount lenses
20 MP, Full Frame Sensor		24 MP, Full Frame Sensor
4k/60p Video		4K/60p Video
ISO 100-102,400 (50 - 204,800)		ISO 100-51,200 (50 - 204,800)
Electronic viewfinder (5760k dots)		Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)
3.0 LCD, 1620k dots		3.0 LCD, 1840k dots
Swivel touchscreen		Fully flexible touchscreen
12 shutter flaps per second		7 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilization		In-body stabilization
Weathersealed body		Weathersealed body
360 shots per battery charge		440 shots per battery charge
138 x 98 x 88 mm, 680 g		133 x 98 x 82 mm, 714 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS R6 and the Panasonic Lumix DC-S5? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon R6 and the Panasonic S5. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Panasonic S5 is somewhat smaller (4 percent) than the Canon R6. However, the S5 is markedly heavier (5 percent) than the Canon R6. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

Concerning battery life, the Canon R6 gets 360 shots out of its LP-E6NH battery, while the S5 can take 440 images on a single charge of its DMW-BLK22 power pack. The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon R6	138 mm	98 mm	88 mm	680 g	360	Y	Jul 2020	2,499
2.		Panasonic S5	133 mm	98 mm	82 mm	714 g	440	Y	Sep 2020	1,999
3.		Canon R5	138 mm	98 mm	88 mm	738 g	320	Y	Jul 2020	3,899
4.		Canon R	139 mm	98 mm	84 mm	660 g	370	Y	Sep 2018	2,299
5.		Canon 6D	145 mm	111 mm	71 mm	770 g	1090	Y	Sep 2012	2,099
6.		Fujifilm X-T4	135 mm	93 mm	64 mm	607 g	500	Y	Feb 2020	1,699
7.		Olympus E-M1 III	134 mm	91 mm	69 mm	580 g	420	Y	Feb 2020	1,799
8.		Olympus E-M1X	144 mm	147 mm	75 mm	997 g	870	Y	Jan 2019	2,999
9.		Panasonic S1	149 mm	110 mm	97 mm	1017 g	400	Y	Feb 2019	2,499
10.		Panasonic G90	130 mm	94 mm	77 mm	536 g	290	Y	Apr 2019	999
11.		Panasonic S1H	151 mm	114 mm	110 mm	1052 g	400	Y	May 2019	3,999
12.		Panasonic G9	137 mm	97 mm	92 mm	658 g	400	Y	Nov 2017	1,699
13.		Panasonic GH5	139 mm	98 mm	87 mm	725 g	410	Y	Jan 2017	1,999
14.		Sony A9 II	129 mm	96 mm	76 mm	678 g	690	Y	Oct 2019	4,499
15.		Sony A6600	120 mm	67 mm	69 mm	503 g	810	Y	Aug 2019	1,399
16.		Sony A99	147 mm	111 mm	78 mm	812 g	500	Y	Sep 2012	2,799
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The S5 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 20 percent) than the Canon R6, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a full frame sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the S5 is 2 percent smaller. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors.

Despite having a slightly smaller sensor, the S5 offers a higher resolution of 24 megapixels, compared with 20 MP of the Canon R6. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 5.94μm versus 6.57μm for the Canon R6). It is noteworthy in this context that the two cameras were released in close succession, so that their sensors are from the same technological generation. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the S5 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Panasonic S5 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the S5 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon R6 are 27.4 x 18.2 inches or 69.5 x 46.3 cm for good quality, 21.9 x 14.6 inches or 55.6 x 37.1 cm for very good quality, and 18.2 x 12.2 inches or 46.3 x 30.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon R6 has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

Unlike the Canon R6, the S5 has the capacity to capture high quality composite images (96MP) by combining multiple shots after shifting its sensor by miniscule distances. This multi-shot, pixel-shift mode is most suitable for photography of stationary objects (landscapes, studio scenes).

The Canon EOS R6 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 102400, which can be extended to ISO 50-204800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 are ISO 100 to ISO 51200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-204800.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Canon R6	Full Frame	20.0	5472	3648	4k/60p	24.2	14.3	3394	90
2.		Panasonic S5	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4K/60p	..	..	..	..
3.		Canon R5	Full Frame	44.8	8192	5464	8k/30p	25.3	14.6	3042	95
4.		Canon R	Full Frame	30.1	6720	4480	4K/30p	24.5	13.5	2742	89
5.		Canon 6D	Full Frame	20.0	5472	3648	1080/30p	23.8	12.1	2340	82
6.		Fujifilm X-T4	APS-C	26.0	6240	4160	4K/60p	..	..	..	..
7.		Olympus E-M1 III	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
8.		Olympus E-M1X	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
9.		Panasonic S1	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4K/60p	25.2	14.5	3333	95
10.		Panasonic G90	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
11.		Panasonic S1H	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	6K/30p	..	..	..	..
12.		Panasonic G9	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/60p	..	..	..	..
13.		Panasonic GH5	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/60p	23.9	13.0	807	77
14.		Sony A9 II	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	25.0	14.0	3434	93
15.		Sony A6600	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	23.8	13.4	1497	82
16.		Sony A99	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	25.0	14.0	1555	89

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (4k/60p).

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The two cameras under consideration are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the Canon R6 offers a substantially higher resolution than the one in the S5 (5760k vs 2360k dots). The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon R6, the Panasonic S5, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Canon R6	5760	n	3.0	1620	swivel	Y	1/8000s	12.0	n	Y
2.		Panasonic S5	2360	n	3.0	1840	full-flex	Y	1/8000s	7.0	n	Y
3.		Canon R5	5760	Y	3.2	2100	swivel	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
4.		Canon R	3690	Y	3.2	2100	swivel	Y	1/8000s	8.0	n	n
5.		Canon 6D	optical	Y	3.0	1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	4.5	n	n
6.		Fujifilm X-T4	3690	n	3.0	1620	swivel	Y	1/8000s	15.0	n	Y
7.		Olympus E-M1 III	2360	n	3.0	1037	swivel	Y	1/8000s	18.0	n	Y
8.		Olympus E-M1X	2360	n	3.0	1037	swivel	Y	1/8000s	18.0	n	Y
9.		Panasonic S1	5760	Y	3.2	2100	full-flex	Y	1/8000s	9.0	n	Y
10.		Panasonic G90	2360	n	3.0	1240	swivel	Y	1/4000s	9.0	Y	Y
11.		Panasonic S1H	5760	Y	3.2	2330	swivel	Y	1/8000s	9.0	n	Y
12.		Panasonic G9	3680	Y	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	20.0	n	Y
13.		Panasonic GH5	3680	n	3.2	1620	swivel	Y	1/8000s	12.0	n	Y
14.		Sony A9 II	3686	n	3.0	1440	tilting	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
15.		Sony A6600	2359	n	3.0	922	tilting	Y	1/4000s	11.0	n	Y
16.		Sony A99	2359	Y	3.0	1229	full-flex	n	1/8000s	6.0	n	Y

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, both cameras under consideration feature an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Canon R6 and the Panasonic S5 both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the Canon R6 and the S5 write their files to SDXC cards. Both cameras feature dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. Both the Canon R6 and the S5 support UHS-II cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s (the second slot of the S5 only offers slower UHS-I transfer rates, though).

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS R6 and Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Canon R6	Y	mono	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
2.		Panasonic S5	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
3.		Canon R5	Y	mono	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
4.		Canon R	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.1	Y	-	Y
5.		Canon 6D	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
6.		Fujifilm X-T4	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
7.		Olympus E-M1 III	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
8.		Olympus E-M1X	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.0	Y	-	Y
9.		Panasonic S1	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	full	3.1	Y	-	Y
10.		Panasonic G90	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
11.		Panasonic S1H	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	full	3.1	Y	-	Y
12.		Panasonic G9	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	full	3.0	Y	-	Y
13.		Panasonic GH5	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	full	3.1	Y	-	Y
14.		Sony A9 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.1	Y	Y	Y
15.		Sony A6600	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	YES	2.0	Y	Y	Y
16.		Sony A99	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	-	-	-

Both the Canon R6 and the S5 are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. Neither of the two has a direct predecessor, so perhaps they will constitute the origins of new camera lines for Canon and Panasonic. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon and Panasonic websites.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon R6 and the Panasonic S5? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS R6:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• More detailed viewfinder: Has higher resolution electronic viewfinder (5760k vs 2360k dots).
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.76x vs 0.74x).
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (12 vs 7 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.

Reasons to prefer the Panasonic Lumix DC-S5:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 20MP), which boosts linear resolution by 10%.
• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• High quality composites: Can combine several shots after pixel-shifting its sensor.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1840k vs 1620k dots).
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (440 versus 360) out of a single battery charge.
• More affordable: Was released into a lower priced segment (20 percent cheaper at launch).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the S5 comes out slightly ahead of the Canon R6 (6 : 5 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon R6 and the Panasonic S5 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the Canon R6 or the S5. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon R6	5/5	+ +	90/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jul 2020	2,499
2.		Panasonic S5	4.5/5	+ +	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2020	1,999
3.		Canon R5	4.5/5	..	91/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2020	3,899
4.		Canon R	4/5	o	79/100	4.5/5	4/5	Sep 2018	2,299
5.		Canon 6D	5/5	+ +	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	2,099
6.		Fujifilm X-T4	5/5	+ +	..	5/5	5/5	Feb 2020	1,699
7.		Olympus E-M1 III	5/5	..	83/100	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2020	1,799
8.		Olympus E-M1X	4.5/5	o	..	4.5/5	..	Jan 2019	2,999
9.		Panasonic S1	4.5/5	+ +	88/100	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2019	2,499
10.		Panasonic G90	4.5/5	+	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2019	999
11.		Panasonic S1H	..	..	90/100	..	..	May 2019	3,999
12.		Panasonic G9	..	+ +	85/100	5/5	5/5	Nov 2017	1,699
13.		Panasonic GH5	4.5/5	+ +	85/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jan 2017	1,999
14.		Sony A9 II	..	..	90/100	5/5	5/5	Oct 2019	4,499
15.		Sony A6600	4/5	+	83/100	4.5/5	4/5	Aug 2019	1,399
16.		Sony A99	5/5	..	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	2,799
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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Specifications: Canon R6 vs Panasonic S5

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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