Panasonic Lumix S5II evaluate

We have been severely 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 an alternative obtainable alongside it as a extra premium possibility.

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 every one modifications with the S5II and the introduction of its new section hybrid autofocus system.

So, has Panasonic hit the nail on the top and created probably the greatest cameras to purchase in the present day? On paper, it actually looks as if it.

We have spent loads of time with the digital camera, capturing each pictures and movies in quite a lot of situations, this is what we discovered.

Design

• Dimensions: 134.3 x 102.3 x 90.1 mm
• Weight: 740g
• New 8-direction joystick

The S5II has a really comparable feel and appear to its predecessor. The button format stays unchanged, as do the supplies and hues used on the digital camera’s physique.

The spec sheet tells us that it is really barely bigger in all dimensions, in addition to being about 26 grams heavier, however for those who aren’t holding them facet by facet, you’d by no means be capable of 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, aside from a brand new 8-direction joystick. That is present in the identical place because the 4-direction joystick on the unique S5 and lets you transfer your point of interest diagonally.

We have a tendency to make use of the touchscreen extra steadily than the joystick for shifting the focus, however for those who spend a variety of time trying by way of the EVF, you will little doubt be happy with this enchancment. Alternatively, it may be assigned as further operate buttons, however you will nonetheless solely get 4 instructions for those who 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 nicely. Fortunately, although, this mannequin ditches the micro HDMI in favour of a full-sized HDMI port – very welcome information for individuals 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 isn’t any large deal within the majority of circumstances.

It is value noting that the S5II cannot report externally to USB-SSD, you will want the pricier S5IIX mannequin if you wish to try this. Since there aren’t any heavy ProRes codecs on the usual mannequin, SD playing cards get the job performed simply superb.

Across the different facet, we discover twin SD card slots, identical to the S5. These have been upgraded, too, each are actually UHS-II suitable, whereas the S5 solely includes a single UHS-II slot.

The opposite large information is a brand new and improved OLED EVF. This appears nice, it’s extremely sharp and easy, and it made it very simple to dial in our settings and body our pictures. We weren’t in a position to take a look at it side-by-side with the S5, so it is onerous 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’s extremely responsive and is simple to see in quite a lot of lighting situations. It will 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.

Photograph efficiency

• New 24.2MP sensor with IBIS and Energetic I.S.
• Section hybrid AF, 779-point
• As much as 30fps digital burst capturing with 200 body buffer

We have been actually happy with the pictures we have been in a position to 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 critical color grading, and the JPEGs do not fare too poorly, both.

Taking pictures on the S5II is a breeze, the brand new autofocus is quick and dependable and the topic monitoring works excellently, even in difficult situations like a busy metropolis road. In animal monitoring mode, the reliability wasn’t fairly as rock stable, 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 isn’t fairly on Sony’s stage but, however we will think about it getting there finally.

Being long-time customers of cameras just like the GH5, we discovered the menu system and button format to be acquainted and intuitive. Certainly one of Panasonic’s strongest options is the diploma to which you’ll configure and remap buttons to fit your particular wants, and we’re huge followers of this. Although, for these much less acquainted with the system, we will think about the sheer breadth of choices being a bit of 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 pictures, too. We have been in a position to take as much as one-second-long publicity pictures, handheld, with tack-sharp outcomes. Spectacular stuff.

Low-light dealing with is sweet, too. The digital camera handles noise exceptionally nicely, and due to twin native ISOs of 640 and 4000, you will have to 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 means to shoot at as much as 30fps bursts with the digital shutter. It is a huge enchancment over the meagre 7fps provided 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. After all, you will haven’t 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 pictures, it is once more the autofocus and stabilisation that steal the present in video modes. The autofocus is great for video capturing – it is extraordinarily dependable and whereas, once more, we predict Sony has the sting total, 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 expect the video picture stabilisation is the most effective that you will discover on any mirrorless digital camera in the present day. It is exceptionally easy, to the purpose the place you may go away the gimbal at house in most conditions. Plus, there are none of these annoying nook wobbles that you will discover on different IBIS techniques – at the very least at 20mm and above, as we did our testing with the 20-60mm equipment 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 largest disappointment with the video capturing on this digital camera was the truth that you have to use an APS-C crop to shoot at 4K resolutions above 30fps. Should you primarily shoot at 4K60, as many individuals do, this might show to be a deal breaker. On the plus facet, although, 6K capturing will be performed 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 way too heat for our British our bodies. We have used this digital camera extensively, typically out in direct daylight, and have by no means seen any of the temperature warnings that so usually plague high-spec mirrorless shooters.

In relation 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 may change, although, it could be the power to change to two-track recording. It isn’t 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 enhancing software program.

Verdict

We cherished 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 bought us on this mannequin.

Except for that, the opposite enhancements are very welcome, too. Burst capturing is way improved on this mannequin, and the added decision and elevated bitrate for video capturing is nice information for filmmakers. Add to this the most effective 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 a particularly compelling digital camera physique.

In all honesty, the one actual gripe we have now with this digital camera is that it may’t shoot 4K 60fps video with out a crop. That is one thing that is potential 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 easy IBIS.

In relation to the entire different specs, the S5II is extra according to the Canon R6 Mark II or Sony A7 IV, each cameras that price $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 cut price.