Panasonic DMW-BLK22E

Product Information

For photography, the S5 II's big new feature is phase detection autofocus. Whereas previous Lumix cams relied on Depth From Defocus (DFD) Contrast exclusively, the S5 II features a hybrid system that mixes in masked phase detection pixels and can recognize people, pets, and wildlife. These types of focus systems have been around on other cameras for at least a decade (remember the first-generation Sony a7?) though modern implementations are far more advanced. Sigma 60-600mm Sports, 600mm, f/6.3, 1/100-second, ISO 100 These facts alone would be impressive if the price was only thing that’s relatively small about the S5. But it’s also compact, weighing about 1kg with its kit lens attached. The Lumix S1 weighs that without a lens. And that’s what brings us to the ultimate curiosity around the release of this camera. Most brands throttle the performance of their entry-level cameras so as not to cannibalise sales from the cameras above. But this is Lumix we’re talking about, and the Lumix S5 offers no-holds-barred video features. The Panasonic Lumix S5 is a mid-range full-frame mirrorless camera with 24 Megapixels, built-in stabilisation, twin card slots, a fully-articulated touchscreen and 10 bit 4k up to 60p. Announced in September 2020 and available in a kit with the Lumix 20-60 zoom, it becomes the fourth model in Panasonic’s full-frame Lumix S system and the most compact and affordable to date – but don’t let that fool you as some of the specs, especially video, are comfortably beyond most rivals. In fact as you’ll learn, the S5 could be thought of as a full-frame GH5 or a mini-S1H, making it a tempting option for pro videographers who can’t stretch to that model or want a B-camera with matched footage. To see how the competition compares, I made a similar test with 50mm f1.8 lenses on the Canon EOS R6 II on the left, and the Sony A7 IV on the right, both flanking the Lumix S5 II in the middle. Don't get me wrong: Sony or Nikon do that, too, and they do it extremely well (if I am not mistaken the Z6 II is the first cam ever that has received 5* in all categories 'Chasseur d'images' evaluates - a French magazine that publishes very comprehensive test results in conjunction with tests performed by DXOMark).

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

The camera includes several video-friendly monitoring features. Waveform and vector scopes are available and are visible while recording, along with a tally frame. You can also apply a frame mask—helpful if you want to use a different aspect ratio—and since anamorphic lenses are supported, you can preview a frame with various de-squeeze ratios. The built-in fan supports unlimited 4K record time and up to a half hour of continuous 6K. unfortunately you did not understand. Even if I don't have an S5 at all. It's about more than an autofocus that has slight advantages in video. But that also speaks in favor of panasonic if that is the only thing that is criticized.

We weren’t expecting too many surprises from the S5 in terms of image quality, as we’ve already seen its sensor in action elsewhere. And it did indeed turn in an excellent performance – it’s capable of producing highly detailed shots with warm and vibrant colors in a wide variety of situations. In terms of video, the S5 II is a 10-bit video specialist. Almost all of its extensive recordable video formats can be captured with a maximum of 10-bit color, including 4:2:2 10-bit C4K/4K 60p video, which has no video recording limits. The LUMIX S5 II can also record up to 4:2:0 10-bit 6K/29.97p LongGOP video in an H.265 codec, using the full readout of the camera’s sensor and producing a 5952x3968 (3:2) image. As mentioned, Panasonic didn't make many substantive changes to the design for the S5 II, but the handgrip is a bit bigger this time around, for better balance with heavy lenses. The control buttons and dials are all in the same place though, so there's not much of a learning curve if you are upgrading from the original.

Lumix S5 II review | Cameralabs Panasonic Lumix S5 II review | Cameralabs

Our signal to noise test measures image clarity, specifically the ratio of the actual image 'data' you want to capture, versus the image noise that you don't want, but will inevitably be visible when shooting at higher ISO sensitivities. The higher the score at a given ISO sensitivity, the better.

Frequently Asked Questions

The official battery life rating of the S5 is 440 shots (via the rear monitor), or 470 shots via the EVF. You can also enable a power-saving mode which will deliver 1,500 images.