Verdict
Possibly Panasonic ’s most widely appeal full - physical body camera to date , the Lumix 5II irons out almost all of the S5 ’s issues while ameliorate performance and image quality – all for a toll that put it within the reaching of young and aspiring content creators .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
While brands like Sony , Canon , Fujifilm and Nikon have switched to hybrid and phase detection autofocus system , Panasonic ’s mirrorless tv camera have cussedly stick with the blade ’s line - based Depth - from - Defocus apparatus – a choice which has , in my eyes , held them back more or less . DFD seems a little minute slower and less accurate than a phase detection organization .
That all changes with this camera . The Panasonic Lumix S5II is the brand ’s first to adopt phase detection AF , which it marries with DFD into a hybrid system similar to those used by rival – a development that feels significant .
This television camera is noteworthy for much more besides that , though . An update , upgraded spin on the impressive S5 ( which will stay part of Panasonic ’s S series line - up for now ) , the S5II sports a newfangled full - skeleton sensor , a raw central processing unit , upgraded image stabilisation and an integrated heat management scheme that enable limitless 6 K and4 K videorecording .
At the price , it seems like a great deal , particularly for message Almighty who need a camera that can palm both high - quality picture and photos . lease ’s dive in and discover out if that ’s actually the case .
Design and handling
The S5II has a intimate DSLR - elan body , with a bombastic hand clutch on the correct - hand side and a swelling in the center of the top collection plate housing the viewfinder and hot shoe .
This bump is a bite marvelous than that on the S5 , because that ’s where Panasonic has located the aforesaid fan and its intake and outlet vents . It also adds a fiddling heft : the body librate 740 g to the S5 ’s 714 g.
Even so , the S5II is relatively lightweight and compact for a full - frame model . The body is manufacture from problematic magnesium alloy rather than plastic , with weather - waterproofing on the ports and join to keep out dust and water , and wrap in a grippy textured material to aid leverage .
It feel comfortable and unafraid in the hand , and I discover the dominance frame-up to be well - position and labelled . Even those unfamiliar with Panasonic S serial publication cameras should have few issues getting to traction with the emplacement of the dial and button here . you’re able to use the rearward touchscreen to adjust preferences and set AF points .
A larger telecasting stoppage / start button on the top denture would be decent ( although you could use the shutter button for this when the photographic camera is set to picture mode ) , as well as one on the front , but overall I have no major complaint – write for the deficiency of tally lamp on the front and back . These are really handy for video substance abuser , as they give at - a - coup d’oeil confirmation that the photographic camera is currently recording , so their absence seizure in such a TV - centric camera feels odd .
Viewfinder and screen
The Lumix S5II sports a brand new 0.78x magnification OLED viewfinder that , with 3.68 million dots , puzzle the S5 ’s 2.36 - million dot EVF . It ’s beautifully crisp and detailed , with its gamy line and debauched refresh rate giving it almost the smell of an optical view finder . I terminate up using it a lot , not only for still photography but when recording telecasting too , as it afforded such a unclouded view of whatever I was shoot .
The 3 - inch , 1.84 - million dot filmdom is n’t at all sorry either , with a vari - slant design that permit it to be faced in almost any direction , including fully frontwards . When arranged like this , however , it can be largely blocked by any HDMI , USB - C , headphone or mic cables that may be currently tie in , which could become really annoying for frequent self - shooters ( unless they buy an Atomos Ninja external monitoring machine or like ) .
The screen offers a range of touch controls , including the power to exploit to modify options or gear up an autofocus point . While I did n’t bump myself using this function too often , other user will doubtless prefer it to using the physical controls .
Features and performance
The S5II is pack with characteristic that make a lensman or videographer ’s life easier , the two most notable of which being excellent in - body image stabilization and the all - new phase hybrid autofocus apparatus .
The former hail with a new ‘ Active I.S. ’ mode that leverages the world power of the new processing engine to further boost constancy during handheld image seizure . I find that it can totally eliminate little movements , and immensely deoxidise sway when take the air – a huge deal for shot who desire to get smooth video without bind the S5II to a gimbal . A gimbal is still superior , of class , but this is about as good as icon stabilisation currently gets when using the tv camera on its own .
The revamped autofocus might not be quite as lightning tight as the more matured hybrid systems used by Sony and Canon , but it ’s a marked improvement on previous Panasonic camera , and very adequate to of track moving subject – peculiarly if they ’re middle , face or shaped like a human or animal . In the future it ’d be courteous to see birds , vehicles and more add to the list of recognisable content , but the S5II does a great Book of Job of finding , locking onto and keep up focus on the subjects it can identify .
Shooting speed is also quite quick : up to 9fps continuous using the mechanically skillful shutter , and up to 30fps with the electronic shutter . Paired with the upgraded autofocus capability , this makes the S5II a solid choice for successfully capturing stills of fast - moving physical object and fleeting moments .
Connectivity is a secure point too , thanks to a full - sizing HDMI larboard , dedicated 3.5 mm headphone and microphone socket and aUSB - Cport that can be used for reload and constant power provision .
On - dining table storage comes courtesy of two SD circuit board slots , able to utilise medium up to SDXC UHS - II . One might have have a bun in the oven to see the dissolute , more racy CFexpress Type A menu here , as they ’ve featured in Panasonic ’s recentLumix GH6 , but UHS - II seems to be more than enough for the S5II ’s datum requirement .
great power demand are quite heavy , however , which means you might not get as much use out of one battery here as you would on the original S5 . From my sentence with the S5II , I reckon a full day of shot will require two or three batteries in sum , but the aforementioned USB - hundred power provision mean you may turn to a business leader bank or similar as a mean value of keeping the camera running for tenacious .
Speaking of longer , the novel cool system appears to turn as mean . I did n’t have issues with overheat curtailing 4 KB cartridge holder , albeit while review the S5II during the British winter when outdoor temperatures were around 5 to 10ºC.
Panasonic aver anything below 40ºC reckoning as ‘ normal ’ operating temperature , however , and says that as long as you keep the camera within normal parameter you should be capable to record continuous 4 K footage until entrepot replete up . 6 K transcription is limited to 30 moment , however .
The S5II is a real treat for videographers , with so many options on pass that they likely wo n’t know where to start . Almost all recording resolutions and skeletal system rates ( these range from 6 jet at 30fps to Full HD at 180fps , and let in the important 4 K at 60fps sweet spot ) are uncommitted in 10 - bit quality , and a dual aboriginal ISO of 640 and 4000 signify that operation can be easily adjusted to the current kindling conditions .
H.264 and H.265 codecs are usable ( the latter being extremely efficient and allowing for more footage to be squeezed into smaller file size ) , as well as a wide range of a function of picture profile include V - Log , V - Gamut , HLGand standard . When shooting in V - Log , the camera is able to capture over 14 stops of dynamic range .
Users can take reward of the veridical - Time LUT feature , a unexampled addition that allows drug user - created LUT files to be employ to footage in - camera – ideal for preview the feeling of your footage in the force field .
I shot the majority of my examination footage at 4 K resolution , 4:2:2 quality and 24 or 60fps , using V - Log before colour grading and correcting in DaVinci Resolve 18 . I think these rapidly knocked - together resolution look gorgeous , and in the hands of a skilled videographer , affair can await truly professional .
Another advantage add to this camera is the power to shoot using the integral sensor surface area , which means easy cropping into strange aspect ratios such as 1:1 or 9:16 in Charles William Post - production . All in all , it ’s a powerful tool for videographers and filmmakers .
It ’s also very telling for still photography , with its 24.2 - megapixel JPEG images exhibiting sharp detail and clean colours . Shots can also be captured in RAW and march singly for more substance abuser - influenced final results .
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Should you buy it?
- : This photographic camera can turn over its hand to almost anything , from pro - level telecasting to slap-up photos .
Panasonic ’s GH6 shoots ProRes , but the larger sensor size means it ’s off - limits here .
Final Thoughts
The Panasonic Lumix S5II is one of thebest camerasyou can grease one’s palms and a major upgrade over its precursor . While not quite the perfect all - rounder ( I would care front and back tally lamp for starter ) , it ’s hard to suppose of a more complete full - frame model at this price point .
It ’s splendid for video , almost as good for still photography and build to last . A great step - up model for demand content creators .
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