We have been critically impressed with the Lumix S5 when it launched again in 2020, and now Panasonic is again with a brand new and improved model. To be clear, the S5II hasn’t changed the S5, however is as a substitute out there alongside it as a extra premium choice.
As a lot as we love the model’s cameras, there’s been one ever-present difficulty with Panasonic’s choices: the lacklustre autofocus efficiency. That each one modifications with the S5II and the introduction of its new section hybrid autofocus system.
So, has Panasonic hit the nail on the pinnacle and created the most effective cameras to purchase immediately? On paper, it actually looks like it.
We have spent loads of time with the digital camera, taking pictures each pictures and movies in a wide range of circumstances, here is what we discovered.
Panasonic
Panasonic Lumix S5II
Editor’s Alternative
When you’ve got $2000 to spend on a full-frame mirrorless physique, we expect the Lumix S5II is the best way to go, particularly when you shoot a variety of video. Nobody else is providing as a lot for the cash, it is a splendidly well-rounded digital camera.
- Glorious section hybrid autofocus system
- Finest-in-class picture stabilisation
- 6K video seize
- 30 fps bursts with 200 body buffer
- Excellent worth
- Much less lens choices than the competitors
- 1.5x crop at 4K60
Design
- Dimensions: 134.3 x 102.3 x 90.1 mm
- Weight: 740g
- New 8-direction joystick
The S5II has a really comparable appear and feel to its predecessor. The button structure stays unchanged, as do the supplies and colors used on the digital camera’s physique.
The spec sheet tells us that it is truly barely bigger in all dimensions, in addition to being about 26 grams heavier, however when you aren’t holding them aspect by aspect, you’d by no means be capable to inform. The one apparent change is the S5II badge on the entrance of the digital camera.
Many of the modifications are efficiency oriented and located on the within of the digital camera, excluding a brand new 8-direction joystick. That is present in the identical place because the 4-direction joystick on the unique S5 and means that you can transfer your point of interest diagonally.
We have a tendency to make use of the touchscreen extra ceaselessly than the joystick for transferring the focus, however when you spend a variety of time trying via the EVF, you may little question be happy with this enchancment. Alternatively, it may be assigned as further perform buttons, however you may nonetheless solely get 4 instructions when you select to try this.
Connectivity and shows
- Full-size HDMI, USB-C, Headphone and Mic sockets
- Twin SD card slots, 1x UHS-II and 1x UHS-I
- 3,680k OLED LVF and 1,840k flip-out LCD
Beginning with connectivity, issues stay functionally very comparable, as effectively. Fortunately, although, this mannequin ditches the micro HDMI in favour of a full-sized HDMI port – very welcome information for many who use an exterior monitor.
There is a USB-C port, which has been upgraded to USB 3.2, and separate 3.5mm headphone and mic sockets. When the display is flipped out, neither of the three.5mm jacks or USB-C get in the best way of the articulation – nevertheless, the HDMI will get blocked, which is not any huge deal within the majority of instances.
It is value noting that the S5II cannot file externally to USB-SSD, you may want the pricier S5IIX mannequin if you wish to do this. Since there aren’t any heavy ProRes codecs on the usual mannequin, SD playing cards get the job carried out simply wonderful.
Across the different aspect, we discover twin SD card slots, similar to the S5. These have been upgraded, too, each at the moment are UHS-II suitable, whereas the S5 solely encompasses a single UHS-II slot.
The opposite huge information is a brand new and improved OLED EVF. This appears nice, it is very sharp and clean, and it made it very simple to dial in our settings and body our photographs. We weren’t capable of take a look at it side-by-side with the S5, so it is exhausting to say precisely how a lot it has improved, however from reminiscence, that is actually a step up.
The flip-out LCD seems to be the very same as its predecessor, however no complaints there, it is very responsive and is simple to see in a wide range of lighting circumstances. It could have been good to see the GH6‘s tilting performance make its strategy to this mannequin, too, however the usual flip-out articulation is greater than sufficient for many situations.
Picture efficiency
- New 24.2MP sensor with IBIS and Lively I.S.
- Section hybrid AF, 779-point
- As much as 30fps digital burst taking pictures with 200 body buffer
We have been actually happy with the pictures we have been capable of seize on the Lumix S5II. The pictures are sharp and detailed, whereas the colors are pure and lifelike. The RAW recordsdata maintain as much as some severe color grading, and the JPEGs do not fare too poorly, both.
Capturing on the S5II is a breeze, the brand new autofocus is quick and dependable and the topic monitoring works excellently, even in difficult circumstances like a busy metropolis road. In animal monitoring mode, the reliability wasn’t fairly as rock strong, nevertheless it nonetheless carried out admirably.
We reckon the brand new autofocus system goes toe-to-toe with the likes of Canon and Fujifilm. It is not fairly on Sony’s stage but, however we are able to think about it getting there ultimately.
Being long-time customers of cameras just like the GH5, we discovered the menu system and button structure to be acquainted and intuitive. Certainly one of Panasonic’s strongest options is the diploma to which you’ll be able to configure and remap buttons to fit your particular wants, and we’re huge followers of this. Although, for these much less accustomed to the system, we are able to think about the sheer breadth of choices being slightly overwhelming.
We have been extraordinarily impressed with the upgraded picture stabilisation system, and although it might be of probably the most profit to video shooters, it is glorious for images, too. We have been capable of take as much as one-second-long publicity photographs, handheld, with tack-sharp outcomes. Spectacular stuff.
Low-light dealing with is nice, too. The digital camera handles noise exceptionally effectively, and due to twin native ISOs of 640 and 4000, you may must get into the vary of 25,600 and above earlier than the graininess begins to negatively affect your pictures.
A key function of the S5II is its skill to shoot at as much as 30fps bursts with the digital shutter. This can be a huge enchancment over the meagre 7fps supplied by the S5, and makes it far more interesting to sports activities and wildlife shooters. You may should be cautious with rolling shutter results at these excessive speeds, although, because the sensor readout is not the quickest. In fact, you may don’t have any such points utilizing the mechanical shutter, which now permits for as much as 9 fps bursts.
Video efficiency
- 6K recording at as much as 30fps in 4:2:0 10-bit
- 4K recording at as much as 60fps in 4:2:2 10-bit
- Limitless recording time and onboard LUTs
Simply as we discovered with images, it is once more the autofocus and stabilisation that steal the present in video modes. The autofocus is great for video taking pictures – it is extraordinarily dependable and whereas, once more, we expect Sony has the sting general, the Lumix S5II will not be far behind in any respect. It is particularly good at monitoring folks and faces, and there is not one of the irritating focus pulsation that comes with Panasonic’s contrast-based modes.
We predict the video picture stabilisation is one of the best that you’re going to discover on any mirrorless digital camera immediately. It is exceptionally clean, to the purpose the place you possibly can depart the gimbal at house in most conditions. Plus, there are none of these annoying nook wobbles that you’re going to discover on different IBIS techniques – at the least at 20mm and above, as we did our testing with the 20-60mm package lens.
You do not get Apple ProRes choices on the S5II (you want the S5IIX for that), however the resolutions and body charges that help 4:2:2 10-bit color have been expanded considerably on this mannequin, and that features Cinema 4K at 60fps. You’ll output ProRes RAW and BRAW over HDMI quickly, too, since there’s firmware on the best way that unlocks these capabilities.
Our greatest disappointment with the video taking pictures on this digital camera was the truth that it’s worthwhile to use an APS-C crop to shoot at 4K resolutions above 30fps. When you primarily shoot at 4K60, as many individuals do, this might show to be a deal breaker. On the plus aspect, although, 6K taking pictures might be carried out with no crop in anyway.
There aren’t any recording time limitations on this digital camera, and the cooling has apparently been examined at 40 levels Celsius, which is much too heat for our British our bodies. We have used this digital camera extensively, generally out in direct daylight, and have by no means seen any of the temperature warnings that so typically plague high-spec mirrorless shooters.
With regards to audio, the S5II helps as much as four-track 96kHz/24-bit LPCM recording, and it may be used with Panasonic’s XLR adapter, too. The audio high quality is superb, and the preamps work brilliantly. If there was one factor we might change, although, it might be the power to change to two-track recording. It is not an enormous deal, however the digital camera is at all times recording 4 tracks, even when utilizing a stereo mic, which leaves us with further traces of empty audio in our video modifying software program.
Verdict
We beloved the unique Lumix S5, however the unreliable contrast-based autofocus system at all times held us again from recommending it over the competitors. The S5II fixes that with the introduction of its new section hybrid system, which is what has actually offered us on this mannequin.
Except for that, the opposite enhancements are very welcome, too. Burst taking pictures is far improved on this mannequin, and the added decision and elevated bitrate for video taking pictures is nice information for filmmakers. Add to this one of the best picture stabilisation system that we have seen on a full-frame digital camera, together with a full-size HDMI port, and you have your self an especially compelling digital camera physique.
In all honesty, the one actual gripe we’ve got with this digital camera is that it could possibly’t shoot 4K 60fps video and not using a crop. That is one thing that is attainable with the cheaper Canon R8, however then you definitely’ll lose out on many of the different skilled video perks that include the S5II, and crucially, you do not get that splendidly clean IBIS.
With regards to all the different specs, the S5II is extra in keeping with the Canon R6 Mark II or Sony A7 IV, each cameras that value $500 extra, and it bests them in lots of areas. So, whereas $2000 is not precisely low-cost, comparatively talking, the S5II is a little bit of a discount.
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