We have been significantly inspired with the Lumix S5 when it introduced again in 2020, and now Panasonic is again with a brand new and advanced model. To be transparent, the S5II hasn’t changed the S5, however is as a substitute to be had along it as a extra top class choice.
Up to we adore the emblem’s cameras, there is been one ever-present factor with Panasonic’s choices: the lacklustre autofocus efficiency. That each one adjustments with the S5II and the creation of its new segment hybrid autofocus gadget.
So, has Panasonic hit the nail at the head and created some of the highest cameras to shop for as of late? On paper, it without a doubt turns out adore it.
We have now spent a number of time with the digicam, capturing each footage and movies in a lot of prerequisites, here is what we came upon.
Panasonic
Panasonic Lumix S5II
Editor’s Selection
When you have $2000 to spend on a full-frame mirrorless frame, we predict the Lumix S5II is methods to move, particularly in the event you shoot numerous video. No person else is providing as a lot for the cash, it is a splendidly well-rounded digicam.
- Superb segment hybrid autofocus gadget
- Easiest-in-class symbol stabilisation
- 6K video seize
- 30 fps bursts with 200 body buffer
- Very good worth
- Much less lens choices than the contest
- 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 an overly identical appear and feel to its predecessor. The button structure stays unchanged, as do the fabrics and colors used at the digicam’s frame.
The spec sheet tells us that it is if truth be told fairly better in all dimensions, in addition to being about 26 grams heavier, however in the event you don’t seem to be maintaining them aspect by way of aspect, you’ll by no means be capable of inform. The one obtrusive alternate is the S5II badge at the entrance of the digicam.
Lots of the adjustments are efficiency orientated and located at the within the digicam, except for a brand new 8-direction joystick. That is present in the similar place because the 4-direction joystick at the unique S5 and lets you transfer your point of interest diagonally.
We have a tendency to make use of the touchscreen extra incessantly than the joystick for transferring the focus, however in the event you spend numerous time having a look throughout the EVF, you’ll be able to surely be proud of this development. However, it may be assigned as additional serve as buttons, however you’ll be able to nonetheless most effective get 4 instructions if you select to try this.
Connectivity and presentations
- Complete-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 identical, as nicely. Fortunately, although, this style ditches the micro HDMI in favour of a full-sized HDMI port – very welcome information for individuals who use an exterior observe.
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 way in which of the articulation – alternatively, the HDMI gets blocked, which isn’t any large deal within the majority of instances.
It is value noting that the S5II cannot file externally to USB-SSD, you’ll be able to want the pricier S5IIX style if you wish to do this. Since there aren’t any heavy ProRes formats on the usual style, SD playing cards get the process accomplished simply positive.
Across the different aspect, we discover twin SD card slots, identical to the S5. Those were upgraded, too, each are actually UHS-II appropriate, while the S5 most effective includes a unmarried UHS-II slot.
The opposite large information is a brand new and advanced OLED EVF. This appears nice, it is very sharp and easy, and it made it really easy to dial in our settings and body our pictures. We were not ready to check it side-by-side with the S5, so it is onerous to mention precisely how a lot it has advanced, however from reminiscence, that is without a doubt a step up.
The flip-out LCD seems to be the very same as its predecessor, however no lawsuits there, it is very responsive and is simple to look in a lot of lights prerequisites. It will were great to look the GH6‘s tilting capability make its solution to this style, 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 capturing with 200 body buffer
We have been truly proud of the footage we have been ready to seize at the Lumix S5II. The pictures are sharp and detailed, whilst the colors are herbal and sensible. The RAW information cling up to a couple severe color grading, and the JPEGs do not fare too poorly, both.
Taking pictures at the S5II is a breeze, the brand new autofocus is rapid and dependable and the topic monitoring works excellently, even in difficult prerequisites like a hectic town side road. In animal monitoring mode, the reliability wasn’t slightly as rock cast, but it surely nonetheless carried out admirably.
We reckon the brand new autofocus gadget is going toe-to-toe with the likes of Canon and Fujifilm. It isn’t slightly on Sony’s stage but, however we will be able to believe it getting there ultimately.
Being long-time customers of cameras just like the GH5, we discovered the menu gadget and button structure to be acquainted and intuitive. Considered one of Panasonic’s most powerful options is the stage to which you’ll be able to configure and remap buttons to fit your explicit wishes, and we are large fanatics of this. Regardless that, for the ones much less acquainted with the gadget, we will be able to believe the sheer breadth of choices being slightly overwhelming.
We have been extraordinarily inspired with the upgraded symbol stabilisation gadget, and although it can be of essentially the most get advantages to video shooters, it is very good for images, too. We have been ready to take as much as one-second-long publicity pictures, hand-held, with tack-sharp effects. Spectacular stuff.
Low-light dealing with is excellent, too. The digicam handles noise exceptionally nicely, and due to twin local ISOs of 640 and 4000, you’ll be able to want to get into the variety of 25,600 and above prior to the graininess begins to negatively affect your footage.
A key function of the S5II is its skill to shoot at as much as 30fps bursts with the digital shutter. It is a large development over the meagre 7fps presented by way of the S5, and makes it a lot more interesting to sports activities and flora and fauna shooters. You’ll be able to want to watch out with rolling shutter results at those excessive speeds, although, because the sensor readout is not the quickest. In fact, you’ll be able to don’t have any such problems the usage of 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 thieve the display in video modes. The autofocus is very good for video capturing – it is extraordinarily dependable and whilst, once more, we predict Sony has the brink total, the Lumix S5II isn’t a ways at the back of in any respect. It is particularly excellent at monitoring other people and faces, and there is not one of the irritating center of attention pulsation that includes Panasonic’s contrast-based modes.
We expect the video symbol stabilisation is the most productive that you’ll be able to in finding on any mirrorless digicam as of late. It is exceptionally easy, to the purpose the place you’ll be able to go away the gimbal at house in maximum scenarios. Plus, there are none of the ones aggravating nook wobbles that you’ll be able to in finding on different IBIS techniques – no less than at 20mm and above, as we did our trying out with the 20-60mm package lens.
You do not get Apple ProRes choices at the S5II (you want the S5IIX for that), however the resolutions and body charges that strengthen 4:2:2 10-bit color were expanded considerably in this style, and that incorporates Cinema 4K at 60fps. You are able to output ProRes RAW and BRAW over HDMI quickly, too, since there is firmware at the method that unlocks those features.
Our largest sadness with the video capturing in this digicam was once the truth that you want to make use of an APS-C crop to shoot at 4K resolutions above 30fps. Should you basically shoot at 4K60, as many of us do, this would end up to be a deal breaker. At the plus aspect, although, 6K capturing will also be accomplished without a crop in any respect.
There aren’t any recording time obstacles in this digicam, and the cooling has it appears been examined at 40 levels Celsius, which is a ways too heat for our British our bodies. We have now used this digicam broadly, every so often out in direct daylight, and feature by no means observed any of the temperature warnings that so steadily plague high-spec mirrorless shooters.
In the case of 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 very good, and the preamps paintings brilliantly. If there was once something lets alternate, although, it will be the skill to modify to two-track recording. It isn’t an enormous deal, however the digicam is all the time recording 4 tracks, even if the usage of a stereo mic, which leaves us with additional traces of empty audio in our video enhancing device.
Verdict
We cherished the unique Lumix S5, however the unreliable contrast-based autofocus gadget all the time held us again from recommending it over the contest. The S5II fixes that with the creation of its new segment hybrid gadget, which is what has truly offered us in this style.
Excluding that, the opposite enhancements are very welcome, too. Burst capturing is far advanced in this style, and the added answer and greater bitrate for video capturing is superb information for filmmakers. Upload to this the most productive symbol stabilisation gadget that now we have observed on a full-frame digicam, along side a full-size HDMI port, and you have your self a particularly compelling digicam frame.
In all honesty, the one actual gripe we’ve with this digicam is that it cannot shoot 4K 60fps video and not using a crop. That is one thing that is imaginable with the less expensive Canon R8, however then you’ll be able to lose out on many of the different skilled video perks that include the S5II, and crucially, you aren’t getting that splendidly easy IBIS.
In the case of the entire different specs, the S5II is extra in step with the Canon R6 Mark II or Sony A7 IV, each cameras that price $500 extra, and it bests them in lots of spaces. So, whilst $2000 is not precisely affordable, quite talking, the S5II is a bit of of a discount.