The catch
Panasonic LUMIX S5II body
740g before the lens. Tall 6K 3:2 tops out at 30p, and 4K60 gets cropped.
Side by side
Panasonic S5II vs Sony A7 IV: A7 IV keeps more stills crop pixels, and S5II gives portrait edits room
Quick verdict
Portrait edits get more room from the S5II, and the A7 IV keeps more pixels for cropping stills. Go with the S5II if its 6K 3:2 source helps you produce two video orientations. Go with the A7 IV if suitable E lenses, a lighter body and larger still dimensions matter more. Both crop 4K60, so neither automatically fixes a cramped room at that rate. Neither offer includes a lens.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Video crop and stills crop each point to a different body
Take a portrait edit made from one horizontal recording. After a full-height 9:16 crop, S5II’s tall 6K source leaves 2232×3968, and A7 IV’s internal 4K 16:9 leaves 1215×2160. With stills, the advantage flips. A7 IV records 7008×4672 against 6000×4000, which is about 16.8% more pixels along each edge. Someone who films family events and crops distant photographs thus faces two separate resolution decisions. Decide based on the output that keeps running out of room. These figures are pixel dimensions, not proof that either camera produces better measured detail in every scene.
Where this comes from
Assumes ordinary-speed video, appropriate full-frame lenses and no extra crop. The figures are 3968×9/16=2232, 2160×9/16=1215 and 7008/6000=1.168.
The catch
Sony Alpha 7 IV body
Compared with the Panasonic 6K 3:2 source, internal 4K 16:9 leaves less room for a vertical crop. 4K60 is cropped too.
Panasonic LUMIX S5II body
- Why pick it
- A single take has to become a horizontal film and a portrait clip, with room to shift the crop.
- Your recording routine fits an L-mount setup and supported two-SD backup.
- The catch
- 740g before the lens. Tall 6K 3:2 tops out at 30p, and 4K60 gets cropped.
Sony Alpha 7 IV body
- Why pick it
- You already own compatible E lenses, and 7008×4672 stills help with the crop or print you have in mind.
- You carry the same camera between work at home and outings, so a body 82g lighter counts.
- The catch
- Compared with the Panasonic 6K 3:2 source, internal 4K 16:9 leaves less room for a vertical crop. 4K60 is cropped too.
We may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases. How we make money
What this page compares
Panasonic S5II vs Sony A7 IV for one camera that has to cover family films and stills. Weigh crop geometry, lenses, carry weight and the 4K60 room limit.
These established full-frame hybrid rivals suit buyers who split time between stills and edited video. A clearer boundary comes from the source shape and the existing lens system than from broad image-quality claims.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Cut detailed portrait and horizontal versions from a single take
S5II provides the taller 6K source.
- Panasonic LUMIX S5II body
- Better fit
- Sony Alpha 7 IV body
- Good
Keep more pixels when cropping full-frame stills
A7 IV has 16.8% more pixels along each edge.
- Panasonic LUMIX S5II body
- Good
- Sony Alpha 7 IV body
- Better fit
Keep an existing compatible E-lens collection
A7 IV uses the same native mount.
- Panasonic LUMIX S5II body
- Caution
- Sony Alpha 7 IV body
- Better fit
Record 4K60 at full-frame width
Each shrinks the image area.
- Panasonic LUMIX S5II body
- Caution
- Sony Alpha 7 IV body
- Caution
In practice
Differences you will notice
Video crop and stills crop each point to a different body
Take a portrait edit made from one horizontal recording. After a full-height 9:16 crop, S5II’s tall 6K source leaves 2232×3968, and A7 IV’s internal 4K 16:9 leaves 1215×2160. With stills, the advantage flips. A7 IV records 7008×4672 against 6000×4000, which is about 16.8% more pixels along each edge. Someone who films family events and crops distant photographs thus faces two separate resolution decisions. Decide based on the output that keeps running out of room. These figures are pixel dimensions, not proof that either camera produces better measured detail in every scene.
How we worked this out
Assumes ordinary-speed video, appropriate full-frame lenses and no extra crop. The figures are 3968×9/16=2232, 2160×9/16=1215 and 7008/6000=1.168.
A two-person 60p shot in a small room is not fixed by either body alone
At 4K60, both S5II and A7 IV record from an APS-C or Super 35 area. A 24mm full-frame lens therefore frames roughly like 36mm before any further crop. Suppose two people and a table barely fit at ordinary speed. Choosing 60p can then change the lens or tripod position you need on either body. S5II’s 6K 3:2 advantage lives in a different mode that tops out at 30p. A7 IV’s higher still resolution does nothing for the movie area. Plan frame rate and room together before you switch camera systems over a framing problem that both of them share.
How we worked this out
24×approximately 1.5≈36mm equivalent, taken from the recording-area tables. No measured room fit and no lens-correction assumption.
What you have in the lens cupboard can outweigh 82g
With battery and card, A7 IV weighs 82g less, yet the bodies take different native lens mounts. Say an E-mount zoom you already own covers the family outings and a suitable prime handles work at home. Moving to S5II then means finding answers to those lens jobs all over again. Adapters need their own exact compatibility checks, and you should not assume they preserve every function. S5II can justify the change when the tall recording source repeatedly saves a second take or spares you a compromised portrait crop. If not, A7 IV may be the simpler complete purchase, even before the body prices are compared.
How we worked this out
82g is 740-658, with native L against E mount and body-only packages. No lens cost, adapter behavior or universal ecosystem superiority is invented.
Option A
Panasonic, DC-S5M2BODY9
Panasonic LUMIX S5II body
A single take has to become a horizontal film and a portrait clip, with room to shift the crop.
- Best for
- A single take has to become a horizontal film and a portrait clip, with room to shift the crop.
Facts we checked
- Ordinary-speed internal source: 5952×3968 3:2 up to 30p
- Large stills: 6000×4000
- 4K60 image area: APS-C crop
- Body with battery/card: 740g
Option B
Sony, ILCE7M4/BQ
Sony Alpha 7 IV body
You already own compatible E lenses, and 7008×4672 stills help with the crop or print you have in mind.
- Best for
- You already own compatible E lenses, and 7008×4672 stills help with the crop or print you have in mind.
Facts we checked
- Ordinary-speed internal source: 3840×2160 16:9 4K
- Large stills: 7008×4672
- 4K60 image area: Super 35 crop
- Body with battery/card: 658g
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Panasonic LUMIX S5II body | Sony Alpha 7 IV body | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary-speed internal source | 5952×3968 3:2 up to 30p | 3840×2160 16:9 4K | S5II gives you more room to crop vertically. |
| Large stills | 6000×4000 | 7008×4672 | Along each edge, Sony carries 16.8% more pixels. |
| 4K60 image area | APS-C crop | Super 35 crop | Both narrow the same full-frame lens view. |
| Body with battery/card | 740g | 658g | Before the lens, A7 IV is 82g lighter. |
| Native lens system | L mount | Sony E | Lenses you own may matter more than either body’s edge. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Panasonic LUMIX S5II body
- Switching systems means lenses and any brand-specific accessories. No lens is included.
With Sony Alpha 7 IV body
- A bigger still file is no proof of better focus or low-light results. For the full image area, your E lenses must cover full frame.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
Video orientation keeps holding the edit back
Go with Panasonic LUMIX S5II body. A taller source comes from S5II.
Cropping stills and keeping your E lenses come first
Go with Sony Alpha 7 IV body. A7 IV fits those needs.
Decision guide
Before you buy
You want to crop distant stills and also hand over horizontal and portrait versions of a video shot in one take.
What this page can’t tell you
- Detail, autofocus and low light have not been ranked.
- Neither file size nor editing speed can be predicted from pixel geometry.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the mirrorless cameras we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic LUMIX S5II body |
|
| |
| Sony Alpha 7 IV body |
|
|
|
Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Panasonic LUMIX S5II body
A single take has to become a horizontal film and a portrait clip, with room to shift the crop.
Your recording routine fits an L-mount setup and supported two-SD backup.
See price & reviews on AmazonSony Alpha 7 IV body
You already own compatible E lenses, and 7008×4672 stills help with the crop or print you have in mind.
You carry the same camera between work at home and outings, so a body 82g lighter counts.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
We may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases. How we make money