Panasonic DMW-BLK22E

Product Information

The biggest news is the inclusion of on-sensor phase detection: a technology Panasonic has not previously used. Phase detection essentially works by generating two views of the scene from slightly different perspectives (typically by forming separate images that 'look' through the left and right sides of the lens) and comparing them. Just as with human vision that uses two eyes set apart from one another, this enables the camera to establish an understanding of distance and depth in the scene.

Lumix DC-S5 II - Review 2023 - PCMag UK Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 II - Review 2023 - PCMag UK

As a cheaper model, the Lumix S5 has naturally made some compromises elsewhere. A good example is the electronic viewfinder. The S1 has a 5.76m-dot viewfinder, one of the highest resolutions around. It’s not surprising to find a less advanced version on the S5, which is a 2.36m-dot 0.74x OLED affair. In isolation, it’s a great viewfinder that gives you a good view of the scene and and is very usable. So unless you also happen to have a Panasonic S1 or S1R, it’s unlikely you’ll be too disappointed with what’s on offer here.Weighing around 1kg with its LUMIX S 20-60mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens attached, the S5 is perfectly balanced for vlogging, however. An extended arm will get you completely in shot with plenty of room in the frame for locational context. I also love the general ergonomics of the S5. Compact cameras often run the risk of feeling dinky and fragile. But the S5 is anything but. It offers a deep grip, with tactile rubberised finish and has a sensible button layout that gives intuitive access to its main functions. The fan means the S5 II can record for unlimited periods in most of its video modes, as tested by Panasonic at temperatures of 40°C (104°F). Panasonic points out that most of its rivals only quote figures for 22–25°C (72–77°F), which is significantly less demanding and less representative of average temperatures across much of the US. Video FHD] 1920x1080 59.94p, 100Mbps (4:2:2 10-bit LongGOP)* / 100Mbps (4:2:0 8-bit LongGOP) (H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, LPCM) *HLG is selectable. If subject detection is enabled, you can instruct the camera to prioritise one of three types: Human, Face and Eye or Animal and Human. Panasonic was actually one of the first camera companies to deploy deep-learning for advanced subject recognition, but today its options seem a little less intuitive than some of its rivals.

Panasonic LUMIX DC-S5 S5 Full Frame Mirrorless Camera body

The camera's battery life rating is a rather disappointing 370 shots per charge, per CIPA standard testing methods. As always, these numbers tend to significantly underestimate how many shots you can typically expect (unless your shooting style is very energy-intensive). A 370 shot-per-charge rating will typically give you plenty of charge for a day's shooting, but you'll want to keep a USB power source near to hand for intensive shoots. A power-saving mode gives a rating of 1,250 shots per charge for viewfinder shooting. A set of dual dial control dials sit where your forefinger and thumb naturally rest, allowing you to adjust shutter speed and aperture, depending on which shooting mode you’re working in. In the main menu you can set different configurations for how each dial works, and even change the direction of the dials if you like. FHD] 1920x1080 50.00p, 100Mbps (4:2:2 10-bit LongGOP)* / 100Mbps (4:2:0 8-bit LongGOP) (H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, LPCM) *HLG is selectable. How good is the autofocus of the LUMIX S5 II? And how does the S5 II compare to the S5? That’s what most people want to know. For the majority of situations, the most recent LUMIX cameras; the LUMIX GH6 and LUMIX S5, are pretty reliable, if not fast. But LUMIX S5 II combines DFD technology and phase detection autofocusing to deliver a system that is a significant step up in terms of speed and consistency.The S5 II does make a couple of small missteps in terms of build and design though. One of them is highlighted by another of its major improvements; the S5 II gains a full-size HDMI port. A very welcome addition. But, unfortunately, it didn’t also gain the ingenious tilt and flip screen that Panasonic first deployed in the LUMIX S1H and improved for the LUMIX GH6. Now here’s the S5 II shooting with its electronic shutter at 30fps, again with approaching bikes using Face and Eye detection. It’s certainly managing to keep the subject in focus across most of the frames here, and gives the S5 II a speed advantage over the Sony A7 IV which only offers 10fps whether using its mechanical or electronic shutter. Canon has however taken the lead in speed here with 40fps electronic bursts on the R6 II, although in practice you’re unlikely to miss much at 30fps. You’ll also notice the extra width of its viewfinder hump, expanded to house an all-new cooling system for the LUMIX S5 II. This helps to deliver practically unlimited recording in all modes. It does add some additional weight and size to the body, which is up 26g from 714g to 740g and it’s now fractionally taller by 5.2mm. To show it in action, I recorded the view when composing with the Lumix S 85mm, an unstabilised lens, here without IBIS enabled where the view is wobbly. After enabling it in the menus and returning to the live image though, the view becomes much steadier, allowing you to compose more precisely.

LUMIX Camera Batteries | Camera Batteries | Panasonic UK

The S5 II impressively retains a degree of dust and splash resistance, despite the new fan vents on either side of the EVF. It also has a full die-cast magnesium alloy frame, providing comprehensive protection against bumps and drops. In contrast, all three of Panasonic’s subject modes include human recognition of some description, so which do you choose when you just want to photograph a person? At first glance, the Lumix S5 II in the middle looks softest of the three, but take a closer look and you’ll notice some of Canon’s advantage here is down to sharpening. I’d say the R6 II is definitely squeezing a tad more detail from its sensor, but if you compare the points where they both fail to resolve the converging lines, it’s closer than first appears. Meanwhile the A7 IV is out-resolving both rivals as you’d expect, although perhaps not by as much as you’d assume. We’re really pixel-peeping here.

The Mainstream L-Mount Camera

The S5 also offers V-Log recording with 14 stops of dynamic range, time-lapse recording, dual native ISO and anamorphic 4K. The vari-angle LCD is likely to appeal to vloggers and video makers, while the in-built image stabilization (IBIS) is also something that should come in very useful. The biggest compromise when it comes to video – aside from that continuous recording limit – is perhaps the inclusion of a Micro HDMI port, rather than a full-sized one. Micro HDMI cables tend to be much more prone to breaking than their full-size equivalents, but it's not a deal-breaker. Performance