The Panasonic Lumix S series was introduced in India back in 2019 and quickly emerged to become one of the premier camera series in the country. The latest variant in the S series is the Panasonic Lumix S5II which adds a new 24MP CMOS sensor featuring phase detection autofocus and many other exciting features. However, does this new addition to the Lumix series hold up to the S series legacy? To put it simply, YES! Let’s take a deep dive into the latest offering by Panasonic –
Design and Features
The DSLR-style design of the S5II will remind you of several other digital cameras in the market though it is a little bulkier. The viewfinder bump has been given a size bump to accommodate a cooling system that is a step in the right direction. The build quality feels premium, and the camera can feel hefty in the hands, but the textured material and a good grip ensure its security in the user’s hands. The overall handling of the device is excellent, thanks to the balance struck between weight and dynamics. It features a bright screen that can be turned around almost in every direction (unless you’re using the HDMI or USB-C ports) It features a revamped OLED viewfinder this time around, which is a treat to capture photos and videos with.
The extra hump on the camera houses a new heat management system that allows users to record long 4K videos at a stretch. A little hump to the camera in exchange for uninterrupted video shooting is not big of a sacrifice, in my opinion. Battery life is passable on the S5II, and nothing out of the ordinary. The full-fledged connectivity options with HDMI, USB-C and a dedicated mic, along with headphones and remote shutter release sockets, make the user’s life easier. The dual SD card slot took me by surprise!
Performance
The Lumix S5II features the latest hybrid autofocus setup that is a noticeable upgrade over the previous Panasonic shooters. The device sports phase detection and contrast detection, which allows it to easily detect both animals and human subjects and also track them automatically. The handheld shooting experience with the S5II is impressive as the new in-camera Active I.S. setup allows users to pan and tilt clips easily. There are an array of options for users to choose from as the S5II can shoot in MP4 and MOV format at 10-bit and 8-bit quality ranging from Full HD to 8K resolutions. The frame rate options here range from 24fps to 180fps with native ISO of 640 and 4000. In conclusion, the S5II is capable of shooting in all lighting conditions. The still image quality does not disappoint either, as it is capable of producing vivid and punchy shots. However, the main attraction of the Panasonic Lumix S5II has to be its Real Time LUTs feature. This allows users to enable real-time colour grading on photos and videos within the camera by applying LUT (look-up-table) saved in the SD memory card.
Verdict
The Panasonic Lumix S5II is an all-rounder capable of performing well in a range of lighting conditions, if not all of them. The build quality of this camera feels premium in hand, and its performance solidifies it as one of the best cameras around right now.
What’s Good
Build Quality
Value for price
Overall image quality and performance
What’s Bad
Connectivity port placement that could block the screen
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐