The Panasonic LUMIX S5 II is a part of a class of full-frame cameras affectionately generally known as the “all ’rounders.”
These embrace the Sony A7 IV and Nikon Z6 II, and have stable nonetheless picture functionality together with wonderful video capabilities.
Extremely Beneficial
PANASONIC LUMIX S5 II 
The S-Collection Panasonic we have been ready for. Wonderful autofocus and picture high quality for stills and video.
These cameras are for wedding ceremony and occasion photographers doing hybrid picture/video work, on-location portrait photographers, road photographers, video creators, and extra.
They’re typically small to medium-sized and within the 24-30 megapixel decision vary.
Now that it consists of part detection autofocus, the Panasonic LUMIX S5 II could possibly be the very best discount in your entire class.
Let me inform you why I believe that could be the case.
Panasonic LUMIX S5 II Specs
Professionals
- Wonderful stills and video options.
- Excellent autofocus in stills and video.
- Nice ergonomics.
- Full-size HDMI port.
- Finest IBIS in its class.
- No recording limits.
- Finest video specs in its class.
Cons
- Not greatest at school monitoring autofocus.
- No devoted stills/video swap for fast hybrid protection.
- Should swap to digital shutter for prime FPS burst capturing.
- Lens Mount – L Mount (Leica, Panasonic, Sigma)
- Sensor Decision – Precise: 25.28 Megapixel / Efficient: 24.2 Megapixel (6000 x 4000)
- Picture Sensor – 35.6 x 23.8 mm (Full-Body) CMOS
- Picture Stabilization – Sensor-Shift, 5-Axis
- ISO Sensitivity – Photograph/Video 100 to 51,200 (Prolonged: 50 to 204,800)
- Steady Taking pictures – Mechanical Shutter As much as 9 fps for as much as 200 Frames (Uncooked) / 300 Frames (JPEG)
- Steady Taking pictures – Digital Shutter As much as 30 fps for as much as 200 Frames (Uncooked) / 200 Frames (JPEG)
- Video Recording – H.264/H.265/MOV/MPEG-4 AVC 4:2:2/4:2:0 8/10-Bit
- Media/Reminiscence Card Slot Twin Slot: SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II)
- Video I/O 1 x HDMI Output
- Audio I/O 1 x 1/8″ / 3.5 mm TRRS Headphone/Mic Headphone Output
1 x 1/8″ / 3.5 mm TRRS Headphone/Mic Microphone Enter - Energy I/O 1 x USB-C Enter/Output
- EVF – Constructed-In Digital (OLED) 3.6 Million Dots
- Focus Mode – Steady-Servo AF, Guide Focus, Single-Servo AF
- Autofocus – Photograph, Video Section Detection/Distinction Detection: 779 factors
- Battery Sort – 1 x Rechargeable Lithium-Ion, 7.2 VDC, 2200 mAh (Approx. 370 Photographs)
- Dimensions – (W x H x D) 5.29 x 4.03 x 3.55″ / 13.44 x 10.24 x 9.02 cm (With out Protrusions)
- Weight – 1.45 lb / 658 g (Physique Solely) 1.64 lb / 744 g (With Recording Media)
Construct & Look
The Panasonic LUMIX S5 II is a solidly constructed digicam with a pretty design.
I particularly just like the pink accents which might be maybe a nod to the video roots of the corporate.
Whereas I didn’t shoot with it within the rain, it’s a weather-sealed digicam. All dials, knobs, and buttons are top quality, and I’m not involved about put on and tear.
The three.6 million dot EVF was nice to shoot by, though I discovered the Nikon Z6 II on the identical decision noticeably sharper.
The rear display is crystal clear and can articulate ahead if that may be a function you employ.
Ergonomics & Dealing with
The Panasonic LUMIX S5 II has a deep grip and feels nice in hand. It’s a small however dense digicam that feels very stable and brick-like.
It is a praise.
The button format for white steadiness, ISO, and publicity compensation are laid out completely.
The pink button for the video can’t be missed, and the indentation on the ISO button provides tactile details about the place you might be in operation.
The again buttons of the digicam are simply as thoughtfully laid out, and I’m a giant fan of the spinning management dial for menu diving and rapidly scrolling by picture playback. Canon customers will really feel proper at dwelling.
I like that the on/off swap is on the right-hand facet together with the opposite most actively used controls, with the drive dial on the left accented in pink.
One notable side that tends to get glossed over very often is the intuitive menu system.
If you’re new to Lumix cameras, you’ll discover the Panasonic LUMIX S5 II straightforward to arrange and modify when obligatory.
Focus Efficiency
Panasonic Lumix S5 II + Sigma 65mm f/2 | 1/160 f/2 ISO800
Implementing part detection autofocus brings the Panasonic LUMIX S5 II in keeping with its rivals, the Nikon Z 6 II, Sony A7 IV, and Canon R6 II.
The continual AF is sweet for many shifting topics, though this isn’t a birds-in-flight kind of digicam, and the system lacks lengthy tremendous telephoto lenses for that style anyway.
It is a superb digicam for weddings and occasions, road pictures, portraits, and landscapes.
Earlier S sequence cameras solely had DFD / contrast-based AF, which is extraordinarily correct autofocus with static topics, nevertheless it was not the very best at school for shifting topics.
Now, when you’ve got brides strolling down the aisle, rabbits, cats, or children leaping about the home, you possibly can really feel assured in your pictures.
The human/eye and animal detection can be found so that you can use to help in your captures. All of them work excellently.
Panasonic Lumix S5 II + Sigma 65mm f/2 | 1/1000 f/2 ISO 200
Low Mild Efficiency
Panasonic Lumix S5 II + Sigma 65mm f/2 | 1/320 f/4 ISO 100
The Panasonic LUMIX S5 II is a modern-day, full-frame mirrorless digicam with an ISO vary of 100 to 51,200, and it isn’t going to allow you to down in low mild picture high quality.
The sensors of a brand new full-frame digicam lately make low-light efficiency nearly an afterthought aside from probably the most excessive conditions.
So long as your publicity settings are shut with no need to deliver again shadows an excessive amount of, the noise in photographs from the Panasonic LUMIX S5 II is effectively managed and never needing noise discount in publish.
The twin native ISO additionally helps prolong the digicam’s dynamic vary.
Picture High quality
Panasonic Lumix S5 II + Sigma 65mm f/2 | 1/640 f/5.6 ISO 100
The Lumix S sequence cameras made for L mount have terrific picture high quality with excessive dynamic vary, lovely colour rendition, and nice sharpness.
Submit-processing the RAW photographs was straightforward, with the outcomes I wished in minimal time.
Panasonic Lumix S5 II + Sigma 65mm f/2 | 1/2000 f/2 ISO 100
Panasonic Lumix S5 II + Sigma 65mm f/2 | 1/640 f/2.5 ISO 100
Panasonic Lumix S5 II + Sigma 65mm f/2 | 1/160 f/2 ISO 400
Panasonic Lumix S5 II + Sigma 65mm f/2 | 1/160 f/5 ISO 100
Panasonic Lumix S5 II + Sigma 65mm f/2 | 1/160 f/4.5 ISO 100
Panasonic Lumix S5 II + Sigma 65mm f/2 | 1/500 f/2 ISO 100
Panasonic Lumix S5 II + Sigma 65mm f/6.3 | 1/400 f/2 ISO 100
Panasonic Lumix S5 II + Sigma 65mm f/2 | 1/400 f/2 ISO 100
Panasonic Lumix S5 II + Sigma 65mm f/2 | 1/200 f/2 ISO 800
General Efficiency
The Panasonic LUMIX S5 II is just not a pace demon of a digicam, neither is it a tortoise crossing the street. Begin-up time is on par with the opposite cameras in its class, however I did discover a lag in comparison with my flagship Nikon Z9.
The frames-per-second burst capturing mode is capped at 9fps with the mechanical shutter, however one can go as excessive as 30fps with the digital shutter.
This makes the digicam nice for normal use nevertheless it is not going to be excessive on the record {of professional} sports activities photographers.
In different features, equivalent to overlay graphics, menu screens, and so forth., the digicam was fast.
Different Helpful Options
The Panasonic LUMIX S5 II can be a succesful video digicam with specs and video efficiency near its Netflix-approved Panasonic Lumix S1 H.
The limitless video recording instances, built-in fan and full-sized HDMI port make this Lumix digicam extraordinarily compelling for capturing video.
Hybrid cameras are being launched all the time. Nonetheless, the Panasonic codecs for professional video high quality and different niceties, like recording video to each playing cards for redundancy, put the Panasonic LUMIX S5 II on the prime of any hybrid shooter’s record.
The IBIS inside the Panasonic LUMIX S5 II is the very best in the marketplace for full-frame cameras, I consider. The digital picture stabilization can mimic the digicam’s footage look on a tripod, making it look as if a gimbal was used.
Stay Composite Mode permits you to shoot a sequence of steady photographs utilizing the identical publicity time, with every shot solely recording new mild sources – after which composites all of them for you in-camera. Olympus initially pioneered this ultra-cool function.
How I Examined the Panasonic LUMIX S5 II
I mounted the Sigma 65mm f/2 DG DN Up to date Lens for Leica L for a trek round downtown Chicago for journey pictures and a portrait session for my pet rabbit named Sam.
The mix by no means faltered, and the small and nimble Panasonic LUMIX S5 II pairs properly with the I-series Sigma lenses.
I didn’t have the chance to make use of the digicam at any of my consumer’s weddings.
Nonetheless, as a person of earlier Lumix cameras for skilled work, I do know that they’re greater than succesful, and the part detection autofocus inside the Panasonic LUMIX S5 II makes it an much more compelling digicam for this kind of work.
Options
The Nikon Z 6 II is now getting lengthy within the tooth, and the Panasonic LUMIX S5 II has now leapt forward of it with part detection AF.
It’s on par now with the Sony A7 IV and Canon R6 II.
So it actually comes right down to ergonomics, worth, and lens choice in deciding which digicam to buy.
The Panasonic and Sigma lenses are priced higher than the rivals, and the standard is great.
How a digicam feels to make use of is subjective, however the Panasonic LUMIX S5 II feels nice with its deep grip and wonderful button and management dials format.
Worth for Cash
At about $2000, the Panasonic LUMIX S5 II is the very best hybrid digicam for the cash at present.
The Panasonic f/1.8 prime lens lineup is priced below the competitors as effectively and is dimension acceptable to this physique.
The worth-based Sigma Artwork sequence of lenses at the moment are native to this mount and have additionally been downsized to steadiness effectively on this digicam physique, as are its much more compact Sigma I Collection prime lenses.
This all provides as much as an unbelievable worth for cash for first-time patrons and people trying to swap digicam techniques.
FAQ’s
How lengthy does the Lumix S5 battery final?
Whereas battery life is sweet, it will depend upon capturing type, climate, and whether or not or not you might be capturing video. I’d go for one spare battery for a weekend of stills and extra batteries for lengthy wedding ceremony days with stills and video.
Is the LUMIX S5 a full-frame digicam?
Sure, there’s a full-frame sensor on this digicam, and it’s a part of the L Mount alliance of full-frame cameras from Panasonic, Sigma, and Leica, who share the mount and therefore can share lenses.
What’s the highest body price on a Panasonic S5?
If you’re keen to make use of the e-shutter mode (which might produce rolling shutter), it’s 30FPS. In any other case, 9FPS is excessive for its mechanical shutter.
Does Lumix S5 have WiFi?
Sure, wifi is in-built and can be utilized to switch photographs with the Panasonic Lumix sync app.
Does Panasonic S5 have picture stabilization?
The Panasonic LUMIX S5 II has the very best IBIS I’ve ever seen in a full-frame digicam.
Panasonic LUMIX S5 II Evaluation | Conclusion
Whereas the shortage of part detection autofocus haunted earlier Lumix cameras, with the discharge of the Panasonic LUMIX S5 II, there is no such thing as a excuse to not give this digicam model a attempt for capturing stills or video.
Until you might be capturing quick motion like sports activities or wildlife, this digicam can do the job for you.
If you’re not of fan of bigger our bodies however nonetheless need an ergonomically sound full-frame digicam, that is it. If you’re primarily a stills photographer who needs so as to add video, it is a nice hybrid choice.
Extremely Beneficial
PANASONIC LUMIX S5 II
The S-Collection Panasonic we have been ready for. Wonderful autofocus and picture high quality for stills and video.