Though they outwardly look very comparable, the S5II that was launched in 2023 and the S5 from 2020 truly differ quite a bit in relation to their key specs and options, a lot in order that patrons could also be asking if the older mannequin provides the whole lot that they want, or if they should improve to the brand new model.
So we’re bringing you this in-depth Panasonic Lumix S5II vs S5 head-to-head comparability that can assist you select between these two mirrorless cameras.
You too can learn our detailed Panasonic Lumix S5 assessment to seek out out precisely what we consider that digicam.
Sensor
Each cameras provide 24.2 megapixels of decision through a 35mm full-frame sensor with no low-pass filter.
The Mark II S5 mannequin is constructed round a newly developed sensor that for the primary time on any Lumix digicam helps Hybrid Section Detection Auto-Focus.
All earlier cameras, together with the unique S5, have used a contrast-based AF system.
We’ll discuss extra about this under, however suffice to say it is a massive deal that might be greater than sufficient motive alone to purchase the S5II slightly than the S5.
Excessive Decision Mode
The S5II is the newest Lumix digicam to supply the particular Multi-Shot mode, which delivers 96 megapixel photographs for the last word high quality when element actually issues.
Within the Multi-Shot mode the digicam quickly takes 8 separate photographs and combines them into one JPEG or Uncooked file.
The S5 additionally provides this characteristic, so that you need not improve to the newest mannequin to benefit from it.
ISO Velocity
The native sensitivity vary of each the S5 and S5II is ISO 100 to ISO 51,200, which will be expanded right down to ISO 50 and as much as ISO 204,800.
Twin Native ISO is borrowed instantly from the S1H and Panasonic’s broadcast line of video cameras. This routinely switches between native ISO settings of 640 and 4000 with out growing noise by altering the best way the digicam reads out the picture sensor.
The one disadvantage on the S5 is that you would be able to’t manually swap between the LOW and HIGH settings, as a substitute counting on the digicam to take action at varied ISO ranges.
This has been addressed on the S5II with the supply of recent LOW and HIGH settings along with AUTO.
Video
When it was launched, the unique S5 was the one sub-£$2000 digicam in the marketplace to supply UHD 4K 60p 4:2:0 10-bit inner video recording, 4:2:2 10-bit internally in any decision or body price, 4K at as much as 60p internally, and an anamorphic mode.
Now the brand new S5II ups the ante even additional by providing excessive bit-rate video efficiency that Panasonic declare is on a par with the Lumix S1H.
It newly helps inner 4:2:0 10-bit 6K (3:2) and 5.9K (16:9) at 30fps and 4:2:2 C4K and 4K at as much as 60fps, whereas a brand new low-profile warmth administration system permits for limitless recording times1 with out growing the dimensions of the digicam physique.
The S5II additionally helps HFR (Excessive Body Fee) recording at as much as 120fps and Sluggish & Fast seize at as much as 180fps and it even has a full-size HDMI Sort A terminal, slightly than a micro model as on the S5.
The Lumis S5 was already a really succesful video digicam, however the brand new S5II takes issues to a different stage and is the one to decide on if you happen to’re a eager videographer.
Autofocus
The brand new S5II is the primary ever Lumix digicam to make use of a hybrid distinction and phase-detection auto-focus system.
Quick and reliable and offering 779-area metering, the brand new system is ready to detect goal topics in troublesome situations akin to low mild and backlighting and, as soon as locked on, will stay monitoring them even with different transferring objects within the body.
The earlier S5 employs a contrast-based auto-focusing with Panasonic’s DFD know-how.
We discovered the S5 to be quick and responsive within the single AF-S mode for each stills and video, however rather less so within the steady AF-C mode.
It undoubtedly locks onto the topic extra shortly than the S1-series cameras, and likewise retains them in focus extra reliably as they transfer across the body, however the attribute “pulsing” impact because the DFD system scans backwards and forwards remains to be evident.
If steady auto-focusing is high of your necessities checklist, then it is positively value selecting the newer S5II mannequin with its superior AF system.
Burst Capturing
The brand new S5II provides high-speed burst capturing at as much as 9fps with mechanical shutter and 30fps with digital shutter (able to capturing as much as 300 photographs).
The older S5 is slower, solely providing as much as 7fps with the mechanical shutter (there isn’t a 30fps mode).
Shutter Velocity
Each cameras provide a quickest shutter velocity of 1/8,000 sec for stills and 1/16,000 sec for video, which slightly lags behind a few of the most important rivals.
Physique and Design
The brand new S5II is nearly similar to its predecessor, however there are just a few key variations to the unique model, together with the a brand new 8-way joystick, expanded drive dial, 3.0-inch free-angle touch-control monitor and huge, 3,680K-dot OLED Stay View Finder.
It is nearly as small and moveable as the unique model which measured 132.6 x 97.1 x 81.9 mm, growing to 134.3 x 102.3 x 90.1 mm on the S5II predominantly due to the brand new low-profile warmth administration system which permits for limitless video recording occasions.
The S5II weighs 740g with a battery and reminiscence card fitted, making it 26g heavier than the S5.
IBIS
The S5II is the newest Panasonic digicam to characteristic 5-axis in-body picture stabilisation (IBIS), following on from the S5.
Each fashions present as much as 6.5 stops of Twin IS compensation for stills, or 5 stops of in-body IS.
The brand new S5II moreover has an Energetic I.S. mode which gives extremely steady video recording by optimising horizontal, vertical and rotational correction.
That is particularly efficient in historically difficult situations for handheld capturing, akin to utilizing telephoto lenses or filming whereas strolling.
Viewfinder
The earlier Lumix S5 has a reasonably respectable 2,360k 0.74x OLED viewfinder, which the brand new S5II improves on by incorporating a 3,680k 0.78x OLED viewfinder.
LCD Display
Each cameras share precisely the identical 1,840k vari-angle LCD display.
Each have a contact display, that means that you would be able to, if want, drag the main focus space across the display along with your finger or thumb.
Alternatively, if you happen to choose bodily controls, you should utilize the small thumb-operated joystick to the upper-right of the LCD to do the identical.
Reminiscence Playing cards
The S5II has twin reminiscence card slots, simply the S5, however in contrast to the S5 it has two UHS-II SD card slots, slightly than only one UHS-II SD slot and one slower UHS-I slot.
Battery Life
Each fashions use the identical rechargeable 2,200mAh DMW-BLK22 lithium ion battery.
On the S5 this gives 440 photographs (rear monitor), 470 photographs (LVF), 1,500 photographs (Energy Save LVF mode), as measured utilizing stringent CIPA business requirements.
Maybe unsurprisingly on the extra power-hungry S5II, battery life drops considerably to 370 pictures when utilizing the LCD or LVF.
Each cameras may also be powered and charged through a USB-C connection, which is beneficial if you happen to’re out and about and have a appropriate power-bank to plug the digicam into. Word that the S5II helps the newest USB 3.2 normal whereas the S5 solely has USB 3.1.
Worth
The brand new Panasonic Lumix S5II is priced at £1,999 / €2,199 / $1,999 body-only within the UK, Europe and USA respectively.
The unique Panasonic S5 was priced at £1699 / $1699 physique solely when it initially launched simply over two years in the past.
Word that the S5 will proceed to be offered alongside the newer Mark II mannequin as a extra reasonably priced choice.
Conclusion
The brand new Lumix S5II introduces phase-detection auto-focus for the primary time on any Panasonic digicam – for many individuals, that would be the solely motive that they should severely take into account this digicam.
Panasonic have not rested on their focusing laurels, although, as there are a major variety of further upgrades that assist flip the already very succesful S5 into a fair higher Mark II editiion for 2023.
So what do you suppose? Would you select the brand new S5II or the now extra reasonably priced S5? Go away a remark under!