Panasonic Lumix S5II evaluation

We had been significantly 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 out there alongside it as a extra premium possibility.

As a lot as we love the model’s cameras, there’s been one ever-present challenge with Panasonic’s choices: the lacklustre autofocus efficiency. That each one modifications with the S5II and the introduction of its new part hybrid autofocus system.

So, has Panasonic hit the nail on the top and created among the finest cameras to purchase right this moment? On paper, it definitely looks like it.

We have spent loads of time with the digicam, capturing each pictures and movies in quite a lot of circumstances, here 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 structure stays unchanged, as do the supplies and colors used on the digicam’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 in the event you aren’t holding them facet by facet, you’d by no means be capable to inform. The one apparent change is the S5II badge on the entrance of the digicam.

A lot of the modifications are efficiency oriented and located on the within of the digicam, apart from 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 focus diagonally.

We have a tendency to make use of the touchscreen extra continuously than the joystick for shifting the point of interest, however in the event you spend a variety of time wanting by way of 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 in the event 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 screen is flipped out, neither of the three.5mm jacks or USB-C get in the best way of the articulation – nonetheless, the HDMI will get blocked, which is not any large deal within the majority of circumstances.

It is price noting that the S5II cannot report externally to USB-SSD, you may want the pricier S5IIX mannequin if you wish to do this. Since there are not any heavy ProRes codecs on the usual mannequin, SD playing cards get the job achieved simply nice.

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 encompasses a single UHS-II slot.

The opposite large information is a brand new and improved OLED EVF. This appears nice, it’s totally sharp and clean, 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 definitely a step up.

The flip-out LCD seems to be the very same as its predecessor, however no complaints there, it’s totally responsive and is simple to see in quite a lot of lighting circumstances. It will have been good to see the GH6‘s tilting performance make its approach to this mannequin, too, however the usual flip-out articulation is greater than sufficient for many eventualities.

Picture efficiency

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

We had been actually happy with the pictures we had 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.

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 avenue. In animal monitoring mode, the reliability wasn’t fairly as rock strong, but it surely 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 degree 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 structure to be acquainted and intuitive. One in every 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 conversant in the system, we will think about the sheer breadth of choices being a bit overwhelming.

We had been extraordinarily impressed with the upgraded picture stabilisation system, and although it might be of essentially the most profit to video shooters, it is wonderful for images, too. We had 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 digicam 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 impression your pictures.

A key function of the S5II is its potential 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 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 images, 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 expect Sony has the sting general, the Lumix S5II just isn’t far behind in any respect. It is particularly good at monitoring individuals 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 the very best that you’re going to discover on any mirrorless digicam right this moment. It is exceptionally clean, to the purpose the place you may go away the gimbal at dwelling in most conditions. Plus, there are none of these annoying nook wobbles that you’re going to discover on different IBIS programs – a minimum of 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 capturing on this digicam was the truth that you should 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 achieved with no crop in any respect.

There are not any recording time limitations on this digicam, 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 digicam 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.

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 will be the power to change to two-track recording. It is not an enormous deal, however the digicam 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 liked 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 part hybrid system, which is what has actually offered us on this mannequin.

Other than that, the opposite enhancements are very welcome, too. Burst capturing is far improved on this mannequin, and the added decision and elevated bitrate for video capturing is nice information for filmmakers. Add to this the very best picture stabilisation system that we have seen on a full-frame digicam, together with a full-size HDMI port, and you have your self an especially compelling digicam physique.

In all honesty, the one actual gripe we’ve with this digicam is that it may well’t shoot 4K 60fps video with out a crop. That is one thing that is doable 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 aren’t getting that splendidly clean IBIS.

With regards to all the different specs, the S5II is extra consistent 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.