My Panasonic Lumix S5 II review! In-depth look at the photo and focusing vs R6 II and A7 IV Lumix S5 II at B&H: bhpho.to/3QbvcuV // WEX UK: tidd.ly/3GDqEKx Buy Gordon a coffee: www.paypal.me/cameralabs Gordon's In Camera book: amzn.to/2n61PfI / Amazon uk: amzn.to/2mBqRVZ Cameralabs merchandise: redbubble.com/people/cameralabs/shop Gordon’s retro gear channel: ruclips.net/user/dinobytes Check MPB to buy and sell used gear: bit.ly/3ULU9yL Check eBay to find vintage gear: rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=1&pub=5574908462&toolid=10001&campid=5338329149&customid=&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg Lost photos? I recover mine with: www.dpbolvw.net/click-100568658-13808570?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stellarinfo.com%2Fphoto-recovery-software.php Equipment used for producing my videos Sony A6400: prf.hn/l/pRO0wp5 Sony e 24mm f1.8: amzn.to/2TqWNzk Rode NT USB mic: amzn.to/3AdHcUp Rode Wireless Go II mic: amzn.to/3xkCvGo Rode Lavalier Go mic: amzn.to/3ygzzKY Godox UL150 light: amzn.to/2VpVbXE Godox QR-P70 softbox: amzn.to/3yQfGdF MacBook Pro 14in (16GB / 1TB): amzn.to/3PrKbPV 00:00 - Introduction 00:33 - Lumix S5 II Phase Detect autofocus at last! 03:19 - Lumix S5 II body design and controls 06:39 - Lumix S5 II viewfinder and screen 07:49 - Lumix S5 II card slots, ports and battery life 09:31 - Lumix S5 II L-mount and lenses 10:31 - Lumix S5 II sensor and photo options 12:49 - Lumix S5 II photo quality vs High Resolution mode 14:27 - Lumix S5 II resolution vs EOS R6 II and Sony A7 IV 15:57 - Lumix S5 II noise high ISO vs EOS R6 II and Sony A7 IV 17:30 - Lumix S5 II RAW dynamic range 17:59 - Lumix S5 II IBIS stabilization 19:10 - Lumix S5 II autofocus AF 19:59 - Lumix S5 II subject detection 21:54 - Lumix S5 II face, eye and human detection autofocus 23:53 - Lumix S5 II vs EOS R6 II vs Sony A7 IV face and eye tracking 24:55 - Lumix S5 II burst shooting speed 27:21 - Lumix S5 II action photography bikes 28:31 - Lumix S5 II birds in flight wildlife photography 29:30 - Lumix S5 II rolling shutter electronic skewing 30:40 - Lumix S5 II photo modes 31:20 - Lumix S5 II bracketing 31:38 - Lumix S5 II focus bracketing 33:19 - Lumix S5 II verdict and sample images Music: www.davidcuttermusic.com / @dcuttermusic As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Yes!💖 In Australia the 20-60mm kits for the S5II & S5IIx are very nicely discounted, and come with a bonus 14-28mmF4-5.6💎 @@cameralabs Time to re-watch your videos!
@@mostlymessingabout yep, Kai's a legend around these parts, started on Digital REV in Hong Kong before going solo back here in the UK. He's a good fella. Slightly different style to me!
This is amazing. My two favorite reviewers. I just said so in a comment in a smaller RUclips channel that these are the 2 best and most honest in the business and Kai shows up on Gordon’s channel.
Super happy to see Panasonic is serious about improving their cameras. They have no intention of exiting this market, and their success is good for all of us.
@B Basleigh Compared to which camera of Fuji. It lands in the middle of the XH2S and XH2. The XH2S seems to be a better video camera with no rolling shutter. The XH2 has higher megapixels and a higher pixel shift that's less video-centric. Then changing systems and investing in new lenses won't be affordable. Only new enthusiasts or someone not vested in the Fujiverse would benefit from a switch to Panasonic. Both Fuji X models seem to have better autofocus. Excellent fair balanced presentation Gordon.
We actually returned a panasonic hc-x20 video camera. Its auto focus was terrible, not really useable for serious video. The camera was large, which we knew going in. We are experienced videographers. My 3 years older sony video camera was way, way better in every way panasonic was absolutely disappointing. Gary
Great review as always. One thing to note for the Panasonic, while it's true that Sony and Panasonic both have access to Sigma lenses, L-Mount Sigmas are considered native lenses, not third party, so they have better performance on Panasonic bodies than they would on Sony, and have access to the full burst rates of cameras as well as teleconverters.
@@cameralabs There could be more nuance to what I am saying, but from my understanding Sony limits what third party manufacturers can do with their mount, such as not allowing teleconverters and capping burst rates. I don't think L-Mount has these same limitations.
Thank you for another thoughtful and complete (and trustworthy) review! I am particularly happy that you cover the focus bracketing abilities of cameras as no one else does. The fact that this camera will allow focus bracketing with flash is huge for me and I don't think I would have known about it in any other way. Kudos!
I am now adding Panasonic on my list. I love the Sigma lenses but require good video AF. So now, Panasonic seems good enough and that is great! Thanks for another great video Gordon!
Fantastic review. The most comprehensive I’ve watched and definitely not too long! The S5ii looks great, I’m really impressed by it. Amazing how a change like PDAF makes such a difference to the overall package. A lot of the pros existed for a while, such as IBIS performance, lens selection (vs Canon), video performance, colour/image quality. PDAF just makes it a much more viable package, well done Panasonic.
Thank you for the review. The autofocus of Panasonic cameras was the biggest problem to solve. So it’s very good news ! Just pitty than they offered this new technology on a full frame model and not on the gh6. The expectation and hope was more important on M43 sensor. But it’s very personal :)
I hope Panasonic does a G9 mark II with a stacked sensor like OM-1 and include phase detect autofocus. Currently very happy with G9 apart from the video auto focus.
Thank you for this video. Your comparison at 15:36 with the charts made my day. I am a visual artist who archives my oil paintings for print as well as shooting static diomaras and maquettes on a tripod. The high resolution mode of the S5ii seems like it was made for people like me, as well as video, live-streaming etc. I'm going to purchase the S5iiX asap.
I will say that the Panasonic DFD is very solid for contrast detect AF and if they added phase detect or hybrid AF it should be one of the best out there. I am hoping for a G9 II or somethings with the updated hybrid AF and maybe improvement on the ISO. Nice videos as always. You are my #1 source to decide buying equipment.
I'm having a hard time choosing between the g9II and this one; witch is better for low light when Im out hiking, and for astro/starry skies / aurora? I feel my g90 is not up for it🧐
Happy New Year and thank you for your usual thorough review of the Panasonic S5ii. This looks like a smashing hybrid body. We all knew Panasonic would eventually use phase detection so I’m glad they got around to it. I am not in the market for a full frame body. I use M43 bodies so maybe phase detection will be added to the G9ii or G10 when that comes out. Hard to believe this body presents at $2000 when the Fuji XT5 is a little cheaper and the XH 2 & S are a little more expensive. This body will give them a run for the money. Again, thank you for your review. I now know what I’m missing by staying with my Fiji XT4 & XS10. Hope this will be the best year yet. Mask On Nurse Marty
Ive watched like 15 videos prior to this and I thought I can't learn anything new about the S5 ii but you proved me wrong! I can say you've managed to make the most detailed review out of all the videos Ive watched
@@cameralabs I'm debating between Sony A7iii and the Lumix S5 ii. I know the S5 ii is the better camera by far but the auto focus still worries me a little since I plan on using it a lot for work and personal projects. Would you say it's on the level on the Sony when set on the higher speeds of AF and the proper AF settings ?
I use hi-res regularly for interiors, it's excellent. If there's plenty of light high resolution handles exterior movement reasonably well too, as multi-exposure happens in a much briefer time, with clouds for example. As a non-vlogger upgrades from my S5 aren't essential, but the Mk II looks a nice cameras.
probably the best review i've ever seen it was everything i wanted, i was torn between the s5ii even after finding a great price for it but this video made me feel so much at ease, thank you so much
Hurrah for your stills photography focussed (no pun intended) reviews. I sometimes feel I'm the only one who reckons there are more photographers than videographers, no matter what most RUclips channels think...
I have just got the S5ii having struggled with the focusing on the original S5. What a game changer. Thank you Panasonic and thank you Gordon for a superb in-depth review
Another great review! IMO the best place to come for straight forward honest reviews which absolutely helps “normal” enthusiasts like me to think about their purchase decisions based on their own needs and requirements 👍💪👌
@@cameralabs true, but the OM-1 is a great looking but pricey camera. The fact it does not come with a battery charger and that a spare batter is $99 usd is not selling me on that camera at the moment. Hoping for a value priced G9 replacement with some phase detect autofocus goodness. The OM-5 seems to be a bit of a joke so I worry if OM systems will be in MFT game for the long run. Now hoping for a price drop on the OM-1 or something cool from Panasonic in the MFT world. The reviews of this camera seem to be very positive so it looks like Panasonic is really focused on improving their game. This can only be good news for the consumer. I've been an olympus shooter for a long time, but Panasonic could sure tempt me if the price is competitive.
If they can make an MFT version of this camera I think it would sell a ton to those of use who already have MFT glass. The fact this is full frame and right around $2000 usd gives me a lot of hope for a cool and affordable MFT camera from Panasonic in the not too distant future. A stripped down MFT camera with phase detect and the GH6 sensor would be something I would really consider and please don't make us buy a battery charger separately like OM systems. Seems like panasonic has the stabilization nearly up to Olympus levels. Here's hoping this camera comes along soon. This S5 ii gives me a lot of hope of what we will see from Panasonic soon. Also, the recent addition if th 9mm f1.7 shows me Panasonic is still thinking about MFT.
very thorough examination! I am a micro 4/3s guy, but I find this interesting because I like to know what the manufacturer of my camera system is doing in the bigger picture. It looks to me that Panasonic is taking things very seriously. This might not transfer well for micro4/3s, but Panasonic is well into the game of making cameras for the future.
Gordon, great review and superb amount of information. This looks like a very nice upgrade. I did wonder whether Panasonic would ever move to phase detect. In previous years I would have been frustrated by this upgrade as a S5 owner, but my S5 is more than I need for photos along with the 20-60 + 70-300. If they did finally decide to make a G9 mkii with phase detection, this would be awesome for motorsport with the 2:1 focal length, and a tempting buy as a 2nd camera.
Gordon, you are the BEST camera reviewer - by far - on RUclips. Another thorough, amazing job. Also appreciate the comparison with likely rivals from Canon and Sony. Thank you.
Gordon, I absolutely love your approach to camera and lens reviews. I'd love to see you do a follow up video on the S5ii for it's latest firmware update, since it seems some of these things have changed or improved a significant margin. Regardless, love the content.
Thanks! I actually got about halfway through a review of the video features but got distracted! I'll hopefully pick it back up again and include some new fw tests, like the improved video stabilisation
Thank you for another thorough review! Very useful. One suggestion I would have for your videos would be to add a SOOC colour test for skin tone in your camera reviews, if you have the possibility. There's a lot of difference in quality between different models when it comes to that aspect, especially for darker skin tones: some make ligther people look a bit green, some make darker people look very orange. For instance, the Lumix S5 II seems to perform really well on that front, but it'd be nice to see a systematic comparison with other cameras.
Mr Laing, if youtube does not pay you enought, and social media is not recognizing your work, i just want to remind you that youre one of the greatest camera reviewers of all this platform, thanks for your hard work, please continue giving great images of the cameras, and your sincere opinion, just dont forget to use some os the "british humor" that we all enjoy. sorry if im not writing correctly, this is not my native lenguage. Panasonic was the first brand i put my eyes on, and still like it a lot. i tell my friends if you want to record video use a lumix camera. My best regards from CR.
Hallelujah! PDAF in a Panasonic. Next question-will there be an MFT camera with PDAF? How ironic that Panasonic introduced pre-burst shooting, but Canon is the FF option with pre-burst shooting now. Thank you for yet another brilliant review. 😀
Well of course there already are MFTs with PDAF - from Olympus - but i know what you mean and have asked the question! I think they'll judge it by demand on this one.
Great review! I’m considering selling my Fuji equipment and switching to full frame based on the S5 II. I don’t feel the need for crazy resolutions and the system seems to be all I need.
@@cameralabs Because Fuji reached the limit of what is doable in the aps-c world with the latest sensor. I didn’t have the chance to test it, but I did the maths. In fact, any aperture smaller than f/9 will eat up that great resolution due to diffraction on that high-density sensor. The laws of physics are unavoidable. Not so great for landscape photography, which should take advantage of the more detailed images. Another point is low light performance. Taking decent photos at ISO 6400 or even 12800 is huge - the Fuji system starts to fall apart at this stage. I live up north and have to deal with low light for at least six months a year. I sticked with my X-T3 since I’m not into video and the X-T4 didn’t provide any real advantage to me. I considered to purchase the new X-T5, but, as mentioned above, I think it’s already too much, or at least on the edge of what makes sense and further development of the system will be very difficult, whereas in full frame there’s still a lot of space for improvement.
@@bartoszpajak2285 I read comments by many people who just want to swap brands or change for the hell of it, but your comment shows you have thought it through and considered what will be best for you. Good luck with it!
The autofocus looked the best on the Lumix to me in the test at around the 24 minutes mark. While the Canon may be recognizing the subject and putting up the box on the head but its focus isn't sticking to you even when you aren't moving your distance from the camera. It's varying rapidly between between the subject and then some distance between the subject and the background (though never completely focusing on the background). Not only does the focus look bad there but it's causing a lot of lens focus breathing to show up. The Sony looks terrible in this test as well. I'm amazed Panasonic did such a good job on their first entry into a hybrid focus system and it's really making me look forward to the Mark II versions of the S1/S1R.
Interesting to watch considering that I've just received my S5 Mk II two lens kit. Having gone through Four-Thirds, micro Four-Thirds, and Nikon DX, I've been attempting to learn what's available. Thanks for doing so much and showing me that I made a good choice.
Another fantastic review, thank you! I'm a stills photographer and really appreciate the depth of information you provide. I picked up an S1R at a ridiculously low price last summer, but this could really tempt me as a second body, maybe with Sigma's 28-70 mm f2.8 lens.
I'm an S5II user and I just bought the Sigma 50 1.4 DG DN. I've recently discovered a "bug" or lack of transparency with the S5II. The phase AF-C is not active in all shooting quality modes. In the .MP4 mode, most quality settings can apply phase detection. However, in .MOV mode, not all settings support it, especially in high frame rate (such as 120 fps). And some 4K modes, it seems somewhat random which modes implement phase detection. This is a bit disappointing, and I only discovered it when using f1.4. When using the 24-70 2.8 (my old lens), this issue was not as noticeable.
Hi Gordon! Were your sample images straight out of this camera? I downloaded the one taken at ISO 800 and I cannot see any noise. My D810 will show a lot of noise even at ISO 400. Wow?
Excellent review as usual Gordon. Looking forward to the video capabilities review, might bring me back to Panny since jumping ship two years ago. My invite to Japan must've got lost in the post...
Love it! Great watch, didn't feel a minute longer than 10min. Very informative and thorough. I've learnt more about the S5II than I ever would from the manual and I've enjoyed it, unlike any manual. Great sample photos at the end.
Thanks Pav, glad you liked it! It was rather long, so thanks for watching! It was nice to go through those photos from Fuji-San, although so many of mine were similar to each other, I didn't include too many at the end. Nice to have some nature in there though, right?! Hope you liked my Kyoto shots too! (I noticed your Fuji shots in your video!)
As always, a fantastic review, Gordon! I totally agree with the comparisons you tested here in this video, but I think a strong battle would be the S-5iiX VS Fujifilm XH2s. Fuji has the LUMIX covered at every turn with the stacked sensor, no rolling shutter, no crop in higher video frame rates, 4K 60 and 120, CF Express card, Fuji colours, much faster shutter for outdoor wide open shooting, and the lists goes on. However, there is always that question mark of FF vs APSC with respect to depth of field, low light and noise. Through one of your reviews, I think it would be a great question to attempt to answer of giving up the much better camera (the Fuji), for that full frame advantage which is a real thing! Anyway, just a suggestion. Thanks again for your hard work, Gordon. ✌️
That's a great idea for a comparison. The XH2S will be stronger on the feature set thanks to the smaller sensor, but the other benefits could outweigh it. I'm doing a video based review at the moment, concentrating on full frame rivals, but I'll mention the XH2S and maybe do a proper comparison later.
@@cameralabs Thanks for the reply! Glad you’re considering the suggestion. It’s an age old debate (FF vs APSC), but I think it’s only getting better with how good processors and sensors are getting these days! I’ll look out for the review. Thanks again. ✌️
Thank you for detailed review! I found some discussion on DPReview, where people arguing that RAW compression is in fact, lossy (don't remember if it was with S5 or S5 II). But there's no proper tests or whatnot, to prove or disprove that claim.
@@cameralabs Thanks Gordon I think I should stick with my R3 and R6 MKII I have a decent set of RF Glass already so no need to swap out it is just that there is something about Panasonic colours that tempts me cheers Hieth
Holy Bejus thanks so much for making a photography review! Everyone else seems to think this is a camcorder! Did you try the LUT feature in this camera? I am rally interested in this for photography so I can get presentable jpgs straight out of the camera, no editing required.
As an S5 owner, this really does give me a fair bit of hope in the future of the platform. Most of my issues with AF seem to be addressed to the point it's hard for me not to make the jump to the S5ii. Had uncropped 4k60p been included, it would have been a no brainer. With that said, I think I wait a bit to see if they make an S1ii.
I had the same hesitancy with the cropped 4k60 but with all the other advantages that it offers AND at that price, I think it's something I'm willing to concede! (edit: didn't notice you already have the S5, that makes sense why you'd what for the s1hii)
@@davisnareymedia Ah, I'm actually one of those weridos who primarily uses S5 as a photo camera, so will likely skip the S1h line and go for a mark 2 of the regular S1. Love the output SOOC and the overall handling of the Panasonic system. Really hoping they come out with a full featured S1m2, but wouldn't be surprised if they skip it and only focus on the S1R and S1H lines.
Thanks for the early review! It looks like a really good camera and a nice upgrade. It seems like the new AF works well, and let's remember that Panasonic are very good at firmware updates. I'm sure they will tweak the focus performance 👍🏻
Thank you for a superb, thorough review. What firmware version did your Panasonic Lumix S5 II have? What do you think of the ease of use of the menus of the S5 II, R6 II, and A7 IV?
Hi Gordon! Thank you very much for your review. I have been a Fuji shooter for a couple of years for commercial work. Currently, I use the X-T5 for photos and the X-H2s for videos. I am considering replacing my X-T5 with a full-frame camera. I am not satisfied with the low-light quality when shooting events without flash; my maximum satisfactory ISO performance is 3200. Do you think that the S5iiX will be an upgrade? I want to keep the X-H2s because I have plenty of lenses, but I am really eager to try a full-frame camera. Another concern is that Fuji lenses are not optimized for video, with issues like focus-by-wire and focus breathing. On Lumix cameras, I really like the ability to use custom LUTs, which is opposite to the experience with the Sony 7 IV - another camera I am considering. I recently photographed an event with my friend who had an A7 III with the cheapest 50mm lens, and I was surprised by the quality compared to my X-T5. Thank you
I just came back with from Japan with my S5 in tote with the f/4 16-35mm lens. I really like the colors I get from the Panasonic. However, the DFD only focus made it difficult to film myself. Also, with the 16-35mm f/4 it made it tricky to take some shots in low light. After I came back I picked up a Sony A7 IV. The reason being 1 the auto focus is much better and there are a lot more lens available in E-mount. Had I known this was coming out and if there was a 16-35mm f/2.4 lens coming out in L mount, I probably would have stayed with Panasonic. I prefer the handling a little more on the S5 body and I like the colors out natively better on the S5 over the A7 IV. The S5II auto focus looks improved enough that I would have considered it.
I'm interested to hear about the choice of lenses. It's true Sony has a LOT of choice, especially with third parties including Tamron. Do you feel Sigma and Panasonic's own ranges have significant gaps for you personally? I know I can reel off some models they don't have, but how many would you actually want? I'm just wondering how complete L mount is for lenses for other people. Sigma is releasing a lot and is not slowing down!
@@cameralabs the biggest hole for me is the lack of a 16-35mm f/2.4. I do like doing street photography and architecture, so having a fast lens is important to me. The Sigma 12-24mm f/2.4 is just a little to short for me. After I came back from Japan I wished that I had a longer lens like a 24-70mm. Also I wish I had better video auto focus, the S5 fluttered too much for my liking. I am going to keep my s5 for when I want to try some astro photography and for landscapes.
Hey there... GREAT VIDEO!!! I am a hybrid wedding shooter and I can't find this specific answer anywhere and hoping someone here can help. What happens when you are in photo mode but hit the RED record button? Will it record using the CURRENT settings in Photo Mode or will it switch to the last VIDEO settings from Video Mode? I hope it pulls from the video settings and even uses the Log format and LUT preview too, despite being in Photo mode and then jump back to the Photo settings when I end the video clip. Thanks for any help on this.
For doing probably 90% stills photography, would you recommend the S5ii or the S1? The G9 is my current camera for stills and I like the fact that the S1 is basically a full frame G9. Although for a bit more, I could get the even higher resolution S1R.
I would expect an updated s1r in the next year, so look for good prices. But if 24mp is enough, tge s5ii is tremendous value, and if you don't need pdaf, look for deals on original s5 which has similar af to your g9
I'm very happy with this release and looking forward to more improvement on the AF in future firmware updates. But for a first try, I think they have done much better than Nikon and Canon's first gen mirrorless bodies. Photographers are really spoiled for choice nowadays!
Thanks for the great review Gordon. Did you say the double exposure feature is gone? I loved using that on the S5. Also, is the Live Composite mode still there?
Excellent review! Did you notice moire patterns on the s5ii due to the lack of AA filter to the sensor?And if so is it going to be a problem on professional work?
Yes it has Wifi to your phone. Yes it can focus bracket, but no it won't stack them. Yes it has pixel shift and yes it can stack them. I mention this in the video.
How would you compare the mechanical shutter sound to the original S5 and to my favorite, the well dampened S1? Thank you so much for the thorough, straightforward review.
Thanks! I don't have the others side by side and I've not used them for a long time BUT as far as I understand, the S5 II shutter mechanism is the same as the S5, only able to go 2fps faster.
As always one of the best review on You Tube. Now that you are the only one focusing on the photography side of this camera we can conclude that the stills feature are very good and even indeed the best but very overlooked. Most users of Panasonic sits in the video market. Will you create a video only on video features of this camera as Auto Focus, IBIS, Full auto expose and auto focusing when vlogging outside?
Thanks! Yes I always plan to make TWO videos for every new camera, one concentrating on photography and another on video. I already have all my results, but every time I try to make the review, another product comes along and demands my attention! So I already have a backlog of cameras needing reviews of their movie modes including the Fujifilm X-T5 and Canon EOS R7. My next priority is a photo review of the Canon R6 II.
thanks Gordon great review of the photography capabilities of the S5II. As someone with minimal interest in video this was very informative thank you. Your review has prompted some serious thinking on whether or not I need a FF to supplement my mainly Lumix MFT set up - I'm too committed and enjoy some of the cheap and cheerful MFT lenses to play around with to completely change systems. The S5 has always interested me as menus and ergonomics similar to my current G9 and G85 - with the S5II may be a few bargain S5s to be had and I don't think I'd miss PDAF - already in Australia I've seen new S5 with 20-60mm lens at only just over half the price of the S5II with the same lens - tempting....
Always seen the great benefits of LUMIX Cameras. The reason I've been using them for 8 years now. I have never been turned off by their DOD AF however PD AF is a GAME CHANGER for Panasonic as it will put them up in the TOP 4 FF Camera Brands by 2024 with new models coming.
I'm so happy about this! I personally won't upgrade as I don't do much video work where I need continuous auto focus - but it's really good news for the L mount in general if this picks up.. more lenses on the horizon?
Please tell me how to set up the camera so that it immediately shoots without a magenta tint. So that you can immediately post it on social networks. What settings need to be changed? I am newbie
Thanks for an incredibly comprehensive review. I've seen claims the LCD does an 'exposure preview' when half pressing for focus. Can you turn this off, and is it perhaps only LCD. I'm a portrait photographer so trying to determine if this is my next step up from Fujifilm XT3.
Hi there, I’m considering going from the R6 to the S5IIX for hybrid shooting. However, the excellent AF & tracking on the Canon, especially on the PHOTO side has me hesitating. However I know LUMIX just release a firmware update with improvements to their AF. So I’m wondering if this will compare it to the Canon AF at all? Any suggestion on which way to go? Thanks!!
That's a tough one. Are you asking which has the better animal detection in video? I think Sony's might be a bit better right now, but the S5 II has other video benefits which could be useful to you.
@@cameralabs yes definitely a tough one. Sony does seem to have an edge in the animal detection department but wonder if the S5II's other benefits overcome that advantage. Also concerned about potential overheating on the A7IV. Also am wondering if the S5II X is worth waiting for. Thanks!
@@wildlifehouse Since the S5II X has already been teased, I'd say it's worth waiting a couple of months if you're on the fence. It's mostly about recording options though as far as I understand.
Hi Gordon, thanks for yet another excellent review. I own S5 mk i and use it mainly for still photography of family events. I find that focusing is sometimes slow and sometimes wrong. Do you think it is worth upgrading to mk ii? Is there significant improvement in auto focus for stills to justify around £700 expense?
Thanks for the review, Gordon. I think I heard Panasonic say that they are working on a firmware update for Live Composite mode, which I guess isPanasonic's version of multiple exposures (I haven't used it myself so can't compare directly). You briefly mentioned that one of the benefits of the R6 II is full-frame 4K 60p, and I hope in your upcoming video review, you can compare the quality of the 4K 60p video between the R6 II and the S5 II. As I understand it, the 4K 60p video of the R6 II is supposed to be piexel binned / line skipped in some way (according to CineD). So it would be great to see a REAL WORLD comparison in low light / high ISO, as well as in a high dynamic range shooting situation. Maybe it makes a difference, or maybe it doesn't??? As for me, personally, depending I plan on waiting until the S5 II X comes out in May, if I can wait that long. Although if I have jobs coming in where I need the PDAF of the S5 II, then I certainly wouldn't hesitate to get one.
@@cameralabs Thank you for the reply, Gordon. As mentioned above, I do hope that you get a chance to compare video QUALITY between the R6 II and S5 II (and also dynamic range, since I think the first time you reviewed R6, it only had C-LOG 1 and now I believe it has C-LOG 3 - apologies if I am mistaken).
Hello Gordon. After hearing about Samyang joining the L-mount alliance today I jumped right on to RUclips to check out your photography focused reviews. From your uses, for photography would you go with Canon R6/6ii or s5ii? I shoot mostly landscape and travel. Sometimes a little action with birds. Ergonomics of canon is hard to beat but this Panasonic looks close!
@@cameralabs cheers Gordon. The addition of Samyang is an added bonus now. I'll have to try get my hands on the s5ii and feel the ergonomics for myself 👍
Great review, thank you. Currently a G9 + pl100-400 user mainly for wildlife , would love to stay with Panasonic, but it looks like the R6ii with RF100-500 might be better?
You'll find either an upgrade over the G9, but I personally found the animal / bird subject detection, faster mechanical bursts and pre-capture modes on the R6 II made it better for wildlife overall. BUT that's just for the body. You have to take lenses into consideration and the RF ones aren't cheap. There is that 100-400 though if you can't stretch to the 100-500,
I'm going to upgrade from a GH5, but I'm nervous to pull the trigger without know it's going to do all the things the GH5 did? I mostly shoot video, but I do the odd photo shoot for product photography (some macro). Anything I should be aware of?
My Panasonic Lumix S5 II review! In-depth look at the photo and focusing vs R6 II and A7 IV
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00:00 - Introduction
00:33 - Lumix S5 II Phase Detect autofocus at last!
03:19 - Lumix S5 II body design and controls
06:39 - Lumix S5 II viewfinder and screen
07:49 - Lumix S5 II card slots, ports and battery life
09:31 - Lumix S5 II L-mount and lenses
10:31 - Lumix S5 II sensor and photo options
12:49 - Lumix S5 II photo quality vs High Resolution mode
14:27 - Lumix S5 II resolution vs EOS R6 II and Sony A7 IV
15:57 - Lumix S5 II noise high ISO vs EOS R6 II and Sony A7 IV
17:30 - Lumix S5 II RAW dynamic range
17:59 - Lumix S5 II IBIS stabilization
19:10 - Lumix S5 II autofocus AF
19:59 - Lumix S5 II subject detection
21:54 - Lumix S5 II face, eye and human detection autofocus
23:53 - Lumix S5 II vs EOS R6 II vs Sony A7 IV face and eye tracking
24:55 - Lumix S5 II burst shooting speed
27:21 - Lumix S5 II action photography bikes
28:31 - Lumix S5 II birds in flight wildlife photography
29:30 - Lumix S5 II rolling shutter electronic skewing
30:40 - Lumix S5 II photo modes
31:20 - Lumix S5 II bracketing
31:38 - Lumix S5 II focus bracketing
33:19 - Lumix S5 II verdict and sample images
Music: www.davidcuttermusic.com / @dcuttermusic
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Thrilled to finally order one of these! Came with a free 14-28! I was aiming for the X, but the best deal was for the core version.
@@fellowcitizen did you order just now? There's a really good deal in the UK at the moment.,..
Yes!💖 In Australia the 20-60mm kits for the S5II & S5IIx are very nicely discounted, and come with a bonus 14-28mmF4-5.6💎 @@cameralabs Time to re-watch your videos!
@@fellowcitizen I promise to make my S5 II movie mode review soon!
Marvellous! @@cameralabs
This is the GOLD STANDARD of reviews! Thank you for focusing on the photo side as well!
Thankyou, and you are very welcome!
Right, now it's time to watch the OG Camera RUclipsr's vid! And I'm coming to Brighton for those Easter Eggs BTW. 👍
It'll help you get to sleep if nothing else. My video that is, not the eggs. They're delicious!
Who is that?
@@mostlymessingabout you don't know Kai Wong? You must be new here. Check out his channel, and his mate, @Lok Cheung.
@@mostlymessingabout yep, Kai's a legend around these parts, started on Digital REV in Hong Kong before going solo back here in the UK. He's a good fella. Slightly different style to me!
This is amazing. My two favorite reviewers. I just said so in a comment in a smaller RUclips channel that these are the 2 best and most honest in the business and Kai shows up on Gordon’s channel.
The amount of information and testing you've done and put in this video is incredible.
Thanks, it took AGES!
Super happy to see Panasonic is serious about improving their cameras. They have no intention of exiting this market, and their success is good for all of us.
Panasonic might even grab a bigger share of the market.
@B Basleigh Compared to which camera of Fuji. It lands in the middle of the XH2S and XH2. The XH2S seems to be a better video camera with no rolling shutter. The XH2 has higher megapixels and a higher pixel shift that's less video-centric. Then changing systems and investing in new lenses won't be affordable. Only new enthusiasts or someone not vested in the Fujiverse would benefit from a switch to Panasonic. Both Fuji X models seem to have better autofocus. Excellent fair balanced presentation Gordon.
@@technodronesogxl9783it’s full frame camera 😂
all they need now is to release an APC camera.
We actually returned a panasonic hc-x20 video camera. Its auto focus was terrible, not really useable for serious video. The camera was large, which we knew going in. We are experienced videographers. My 3 years older sony video camera was way, way better in every way panasonic was absolutely disappointing. Gary
Great review as always. One thing to note for the Panasonic, while it's true that Sony and Panasonic both have access to Sigma lenses, L-Mount Sigmas are considered native lenses, not third party, so they have better performance on Panasonic bodies than they would on Sony, and have access to the full burst rates of cameras as well as teleconverters.
Hmmm, interesting point, I've not looked into the differences between L and e-mount versions of DG DN lenses.
@@cameralabs There could be more nuance to what I am saying, but from my understanding Sony limits what third party manufacturers can do with their mount, such as not allowing teleconverters and capping burst rates. I don't think L-Mount has these same limitations.
@@nickcarneyphotography I'll look into it further...
AF finally looking great on Lumix! I feel like this is gonna be a reeeeaaaallly exciting year in the camera world!
This was the secret camera I was testing!
@@cameralabs so I gather! I was thinking it was either Sony or Panasonic for why so many people were about in Japan, ha!
I got my preorder in - so excited! Everything I could have wanted and more - thanks for the excellent coverage as always Gordon
You're welcome, it was a LOT of work!
Thank you for another thoughtful and complete (and trustworthy) review! I am particularly happy that you cover the focus bracketing abilities of cameras as no one else does. The fact that this camera will allow focus bracketing with flash is huge for me and I don't think I would have known about it in any other way. Kudos!
You're welcome, it's a nice feature!
I am now adding Panasonic on my list. I love the Sigma lenses but require good video AF. So now, Panasonic seems good enough and that is great! Thanks for another great video Gordon!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Fantastic review. The most comprehensive I’ve watched and definitely not too long!
The S5ii looks great, I’m really impressed by it. Amazing how a change like PDAF makes such a difference to the overall package. A lot of the pros existed for a while, such as IBIS performance, lens selection (vs Canon), video performance, colour/image quality. PDAF just makes it a much more viable package, well done Panasonic.
It's a really solid proposition - thanks for watching!
Thank you for the review. The autofocus of Panasonic cameras was the biggest problem to solve. So it’s very good news ! Just pitty than they offered this new technology on a full frame model and not on the gh6. The expectation and hope was more important on M43 sensor. But it’s very personal :)
I hope Panasonic does a G9 mark II with a stacked sensor like OM-1 and include phase detect autofocus. Currently very happy with G9 apart from the video auto focus.
This video was outstanding and became the verdict on me choosing the S5II after months of research. Thank you and I love your videos!
You're welcome!
aaah Gordon what a brilliant, thorough review! I've learned so much watching this! It was a pleasure to meet you in Tokyo! - Emily 📸
Thanks! Bonus points if you made it to the end! Great to meet you too!
Thank you for this video. Your comparison at 15:36 with the charts made my day. I am a visual artist who archives my oil paintings for print as well as shooting static diomaras and maquettes on a tripod. The high resolution mode of the S5ii seems like it was made for people like me, as well as video, live-streaming etc. I'm going to purchase the S5iiX asap.
I will say that the Panasonic DFD is very solid for contrast detect AF and if they added phase detect or hybrid AF it should be one of the best out there. I am hoping for a G9 II or somethings with the updated hybrid AF and maybe improvement on the ISO. Nice videos as always. You are my #1 source to decide buying equipment.
Thankyou!
Happy with the G9ii? 😊
I'm having a hard time choosing between the g9II and this one; witch is better for low light when Im out hiking, and for astro/starry skies / aurora? I feel my g90 is not up for it🧐
Happy New Year and thank you for your usual thorough review of the Panasonic S5ii.
This looks like a smashing hybrid body. We all knew Panasonic would eventually use phase detection so I’m glad they got around to it. I am not in the market for a full frame body. I use M43 bodies so maybe phase detection will be added to the G9ii or G10 when that comes out.
Hard to believe this body presents at $2000 when the Fuji XT5 is a little cheaper and the XH 2 & S are a little more expensive. This body will give them a run for the money.
Again, thank you for your review. I now know what I’m missing by staying with my Fiji XT4 & XS10. Hope this will be the best year yet.
Mask On Nurse Marty
Thanks Marty
Gordon, You are the best in accurate review of cameras without the nonsense.
Thanks, I appreciate your comment.
The most comprehensive video I’ve seen so far👏🏻
Great video, Gordon! Looking forward to the Video-Centric review 🎉
I'm looking forward to that as well.
Ive watched like 15 videos prior to this and I thought I can't learn anything new about the S5 ii but you proved me wrong! I can say you've managed to make the most detailed review out of all the videos Ive watched
Thankyou, that's my aim! Hope you enjoy my other reviews...
@@cameralabs I'm debating between Sony A7iii and the Lumix S5 ii. I know the S5 ii is the better camera by far but the auto focus still worries me a little since I plan on using it a lot for work and personal projects. Would you say it's on the level on the Sony when set on the higher speeds of AF and the proper AF settings ?
@@lubostoev9924 yep, definitely on par with A7 III.
@@cameralabs okay thanks a lot
I use hi-res regularly for interiors, it's excellent. If there's plenty of light high resolution handles exterior movement reasonably well too, as multi-exposure happens in a much briefer time, with clouds for example. As a non-vlogger upgrades from my S5 aren't essential, but the Mk II looks a nice cameras.
probably the best review i've ever seen it was everything i wanted, i was torn between the s5ii even after finding a great price for it but this video made me feel so much at ease, thank you so much
You're welcome, it's a great camera for the money and I still use it to film almost all my videos
Hurrah for your stills photography focussed (no pun intended) reviews. I sometimes feel I'm the only one who reckons there are more photographers than videographers, no matter what most RUclips channels think...
Yeah, I think that too!
Just ordered mine today. Upgrade from my first camera, a G95. Can’t wait! Really doing photos only.
I'm looking forward to having your book - just ordered it today. I'm sure I'll learn something more from you. All the best from Texas.
Thanks, I hope you enjoy it!
Gordon, I want to thank you for creating this video, your content is unique and your opinion is very valuable to me.
Thanks, i appreciate your kind words!
I have just got the S5ii having struggled with the focusing on the original S5. What a game changer. Thank you Panasonic and thank you Gordon for a superb in-depth review
You're very welcome!
Thanks for a great review Gordon. It helped me finalize my decision to buy the Lumiz S5ll. Waiting for the pkg to arrive! Happy Holidays!
Hope you enjoy it! Check out the multitude of Sigma L mount lenses for it!
Excellent. Answered all my questions. I'm intrigued enough to consider purchasing. Thanks Gordon!
You're welcome!
Another great review! IMO the best place to come for straight forward honest reviews which absolutely helps “normal” enthusiasts like me to think about their purchase decisions based on their own needs and requirements 👍💪👌
Thabks, I always try to be calm and unbiased!
Now bring the Panasonic s1H mark II with phase detect and you got a nearly flawless camera for video!
Thanks for the review. Hope to see the phase detect in upcoming MFT bodies.
Me too, although obviously Olympus already has PDAF in MFT
@@cameralabs true, but the OM-1 is a great looking but pricey camera. The fact it does not come with a battery charger and that a spare batter is $99 usd is not selling me on that camera at the moment. Hoping for a value priced G9 replacement with some phase detect autofocus goodness. The OM-5 seems to be a bit of a joke so I worry if OM systems will be in MFT game for the long run. Now hoping for a price drop on the OM-1 or something cool from Panasonic in the MFT world. The reviews of this camera seem to be very positive so it looks like Panasonic is really focused on improving their game. This can only be good news for the consumer. I've been an olympus shooter for a long time, but Panasonic could sure tempt me if the price is competitive.
If they can make an MFT version of this camera I think it would sell a ton to those of use who already have MFT glass. The fact this is full frame and right around $2000 usd gives me a lot of hope for a cool and affordable MFT camera from Panasonic in the not too distant future. A stripped down MFT camera with phase detect and the GH6 sensor would be something I would really consider and please don't make us buy a battery charger separately like OM systems. Seems like panasonic has the stabilization nearly up to Olympus levels. Here's hoping this camera comes along soon. This S5 ii gives me a lot of hope of what we will see from Panasonic soon. Also, the recent addition if th 9mm f1.7 shows me Panasonic is still thinking about MFT.
very thorough examination! I am a micro 4/3s guy, but I find this interesting because I like to know what the manufacturer of my camera system is doing in the bigger picture. It looks to me that Panasonic is taking things very seriously. This might not transfer well for micro4/3s, but Panasonic is well into the game of making cameras for the future.
Have heard its going into all their hybrid cameras
Gordon, great review and superb amount of information. This looks like a very nice upgrade. I did wonder whether Panasonic would ever move to phase detect. In previous years I would have been frustrated by this upgrade as a S5 owner, but my S5 is more than I need for photos along with the 20-60 + 70-300. If they did finally decide to make a G9 mkii with phase detection, this would be awesome for motorsport with the 2:1 focal length, and a tempting buy as a 2nd camera.
Thanks, yes, I hope it comes to MFT as well.
Gordon, you are the BEST camera reviewer - by far - on RUclips. Another thorough, amazing job. Also appreciate the comparison with likely rivals from Canon and Sony. Thank you.
Thanks, you're very welcome!
Gordon, I absolutely love your approach to camera and lens reviews. I'd love to see you do a follow up video on the S5ii for it's latest firmware update, since it seems some of these things have changed or improved a significant margin. Regardless, love the content.
Thanks! I actually got about halfway through a review of the video features but got distracted! I'll hopefully pick it back up again and include some new fw tests, like the improved video stabilisation
Thank you for another thorough review! Very useful. One suggestion I would have for your videos would be to add a SOOC colour test for skin tone in your camera reviews, if you have the possibility. There's a lot of difference in quality between different models when it comes to that aspect, especially for darker skin tones: some make ligther people look a bit green, some make darker people look very orange. For instance, the Lumix S5 II seems to perform really well on that front, but it'd be nice to see a systematic comparison with other cameras.
That would be good, but I don't have access to many models or volunteers
@@cameralabs That's ok, it was just a suggestion :) Keep on with the great work!
Thanks for doing a photography-oriented review. Great stuff!
You're welcome!
Mr Laing, if youtube does not pay you enought, and social media is not recognizing your work, i just want to remind you that youre one of the greatest camera reviewers of all this platform, thanks for your hard work, please continue giving great images of the cameras, and your sincere opinion, just dont forget to use some os the "british humor" that we all enjoy. sorry if im not writing correctly, this is not my native lenguage. Panasonic was the first brand i put my eyes on, and still like it a lot. i tell my friends if you want to record video use a lumix camera. My best regards from CR.
Thankyou for your kind words (and excellent English!)
Yet another exhaustive and fine review Gordon! Thank you so much! And snow in Brighton !!?? Regards form snowy Sweden !
It did get a little frosty here!
Hallelujah! PDAF in a Panasonic. Next question-will there be an MFT camera with PDAF? How ironic that Panasonic introduced pre-burst shooting, but Canon is the FF option with pre-burst shooting now. Thank you for yet another brilliant review. 😀
Well of course there already are MFTs with PDAF - from Olympus - but i know what you mean and have asked the question! I think they'll judge it by demand on this one.
Great review! I’m considering selling my Fuji equipment and switching to full frame based on the S5 II. I don’t feel the need for crazy resolutions and the system seems to be all I need.
Why sell a perfectly good system? What doesn't it do that you need to switch?
@@cameralabs Because Fuji reached the limit of what is doable in the aps-c world with the latest sensor. I didn’t have the chance to test it, but I did the maths. In fact, any aperture smaller than f/9 will eat up that great resolution due to diffraction on that high-density sensor. The laws of physics are unavoidable. Not so great for landscape photography, which should take advantage of the more detailed images. Another point is low light performance. Taking decent photos at ISO 6400 or even 12800 is huge - the Fuji system starts to fall apart at this stage. I live up north and have to deal with low light for at least six months a year. I sticked with my X-T3 since I’m not into video and the X-T4 didn’t provide any real advantage to me. I considered to purchase the new X-T5, but, as mentioned above, I think it’s already too much, or at least on the edge of what makes sense and further development of the system will be very difficult, whereas in full frame there’s still a lot of space for improvement.
@@bartoszpajak2285 I read comments by many people who just want to swap brands or change for the hell of it, but your comment shows you have thought it through and considered what will be best for you. Good luck with it!
The autofocus looked the best on the Lumix to me in the test at around the 24 minutes mark. While the Canon may be recognizing the subject and putting up the box on the head but its focus isn't sticking to you even when you aren't moving your distance from the camera. It's varying rapidly between between the subject and then some distance between the subject and the background (though never completely focusing on the background). Not only does the focus look bad there but it's causing a lot of lens focus breathing to show up. The Sony looks terrible in this test as well. I'm amazed Panasonic did such a good job on their first entry into a hybrid focus system and it's really making me look forward to the Mark II versions of the S1/S1R.
I so have to retire my D810 and get this Lumix beauty. Brilliant review Gordon! Glad I came upon your channel!
Glad you found my channel!
The best real world review i have seen on this camera! Thanks for your massive effort on this. Now subscribed!
Thanks, it was a lot of work!
As always, one of the very best reviews on the internet.
Thankyou!
Interesting to watch considering that I've just received my S5 Mk II two lens kit. Having gone through Four-Thirds, micro Four-Thirds, and Nikon DX, I've been attempting to learn what's available. Thanks for doing so much and showing me that I made a good choice.
You're welcome!
Thank you, G L. I hope you have more on this s5ii in the near future. I'd like to follow you as I will get this tonight.
Thanks Gordon, I dropped off for a few minutes but that was due to jet lag. Woke up and made it to the end.because it was so interesting. Happy 2023!
Hmmmmm, I may need you to go back and watch the bits you missed. It may have been more than you think! But good effort none the less!
@@cameralabs Thanks Gordon! will do 🙂
Thank you Gordon. A very thorough review that is bound to be the best review of this camera.
Thanks Chris, that's very kind!
Bonus points for me! Great review by the Master of great reviews 👏 Can't wait for these changes to filter down to the G line.
Bonus points on their way!
Another fantastic review, thank you! I'm a stills photographer and really appreciate the depth of information you provide. I picked up an S1R at a ridiculously low price last summer, but this could really tempt me as a second body, maybe with Sigma's 28-70 mm f2.8 lens.
Thanks, and the S5 II + 28-70 2.8 is a great combo! I have it ion front of me!
I'm an S5II user and I just bought the Sigma 50 1.4 DG DN. I've recently discovered a "bug" or lack of transparency with the S5II. The phase AF-C is not active in all shooting quality modes.
In the .MP4 mode, most quality settings can apply phase detection. However, in .MOV mode, not all settings support it, especially in high frame rate (such as 120 fps). And some 4K modes, it seems somewhat random which modes implement phase detection. This is a bit disappointing, and I only discovered it when using f1.4. When using the 24-70 2.8 (my old lens), this issue was not as noticeable.
Hi Gordon! Were your sample images straight out of this camera? I downloaded the one taken at ISO 800 and I cannot see any noise. My D810 will show a lot of noise even at ISO 400. Wow?
All my sample images are always SOOC JPEGs. Sensors have moved on a lot since the D810!
Great comparasion and review. I'd be happy to see some portrait comparasion between these 3, also some grading test to see the color science
If the high resolution mode is as good as you or others have stated, I would consider purchasing for this feature alone
Great detailed review as usual Gordon! It was great meeting you in Japan
Thanks Richard, great meeting you too! So nice to reconnect with people from NZ!
Excellent review as usual Gordon. Looking forward to the video capabilities review, might bring me back to Panny since jumping ship two years ago. My invite to Japan must've got lost in the post...
Glad you liked it Alan, and thanks for the coffee donation too, much appreciated!
Love it!
Great watch, didn't feel a minute longer than 10min.
Very informative and thorough. I've learnt more about the S5II than I ever would from the manual and I've enjoyed it, unlike any manual. Great sample photos at the end.
Thanks Pav, glad you liked it! It was rather long, so thanks for watching! It was nice to go through those photos from Fuji-San, although so many of mine were similar to each other, I didn't include too many at the end. Nice to have some nature in there though, right?! Hope you liked my Kyoto shots too! (I noticed your Fuji shots in your video!)
Thank you. This is the best comparison of the pixel shift mode I've found. It really seems to be a large improvement under the right circumstances.
Yep, if the subject isn't moving, it can do a great job.
As always, a fantastic review, Gordon! I totally agree with the comparisons you tested here in this video, but I think a strong battle would be the S-5iiX VS Fujifilm XH2s. Fuji has the LUMIX covered at every turn with the stacked sensor, no rolling shutter, no crop in higher video frame rates, 4K 60 and 120, CF Express card, Fuji colours, much faster shutter for outdoor wide open shooting, and the lists goes on. However, there is always that question mark of FF vs APSC with respect to depth of field, low light and noise. Through one of your reviews, I think it would be a great question to attempt to answer of giving up the much better camera (the Fuji), for that full frame advantage which is a real thing!
Anyway, just a suggestion. Thanks again for your hard work, Gordon. ✌️
That's a great idea for a comparison. The XH2S will be stronger on the feature set thanks to the smaller sensor, but the other benefits could outweigh it. I'm doing a video based review at the moment, concentrating on full frame rivals, but I'll mention the XH2S and maybe do a proper comparison later.
@@cameralabs Thanks for the reply! Glad you’re considering the suggestion. It’s an age old debate (FF vs APSC), but I think it’s only getting better with how good processors and sensors are getting these days! I’ll look out for the review. Thanks again. ✌️
Hello I have Lumix S5 mark II and i can't open RAW files in Lightroom, previous I have S5 and there is no problem with them...
You have a brand new camera that's not supported yet! Give it time, Adobe support will come soon
Thank you for detailed review!
I found some discussion on DPReview, where people arguing that RAW compression is in fact, lossy (don't remember if it was with S5 or S5 II). But there's no proper tests or whatnot, to prove or disprove that claim.
I'm trying to look into this further
Great objective and comprehensive review as usual. Thank you heaps, Gordon.
Great news for Panasonic and their customers 👍
Fantastic honest review, no nonsense and straight to the point 🥳🥳🥳🥳
You're very welcome! Ps I've made a short comparison of video quality in a recent video
Perfect. Proud Lumix user for years. Never looked back!
I stayed to the end as always but still wondering if you had to choose only one of these 3 which would it be ?
I'd base it on lenses. Who has the models you want and can afford or borrow.
@@cameralabs Thanks Gordon I think I should stick with my R3 and R6 MKII I have a decent set of RF Glass already so no need to swap out it is just that there is something about Panasonic colours that tempts me cheers Hieth
Holy Bejus thanks so much for making a photography review! Everyone else seems to think this is a camcorder! Did you try the LUT feature in this camera? I am rally interested in this for photography so I can get presentable jpgs straight out of the camera, no editing required.
Thanks! I haven't tried the realtime LUT for photography yet but I think microfournerds or pavsv have
@@cameralabs ah yes microfournerds talked about it in detail. Brilliant review as well. Thanks!
@@VynZography it's a really good channel - tell 'em I sent you there!
As an S5 owner, this really does give me a fair bit of hope in the future of the platform. Most of my issues with AF seem to be addressed to the point it's hard for me not to make the jump to the S5ii. Had uncropped 4k60p been included, it would have been a no brainer. With that said, I think I wait a bit to see if they make an S1ii.
I had the same hesitancy with the cropped 4k60 but with all the other advantages that it offers AND at that price, I think it's something I'm willing to concede! (edit: didn't notice you already have the S5, that makes sense why you'd what for the s1hii)
@@davisnareymedia Ah, I'm actually one of those weridos who primarily uses S5 as a photo camera, so will likely skip the S1h line and go for a mark 2 of the regular S1. Love the output SOOC and the overall handling of the Panasonic system. Really hoping they come out with a full featured S1m2, but wouldn't be surprised if they skip it and only focus on the S1R and S1H lines.
Hi Gordon. Thank you for this review. What are your thoughts between Lumix S5ii compared to XH2s both for photography and videography?
I'd base a lot of it on which system speaks to you more. The overall system including lens selection and pricing. Both are great options.
Another brilliant review! Thank you.
Thankyou!
Thanks for the early review! It looks like a really good camera and a nice upgrade.
It seems like the new AF works well, and let's remember that Panasonic are very good at firmware updates. I'm sure they will tweak the focus performance 👍🏻
Yes, I hope so... they're also open to feedback.
Thank you for a superb, thorough review. What firmware version did your Panasonic Lumix S5 II have? What do you think of the ease of use of the menus of the S5 II, R6 II, and A7 IV?
Hi Gordon! Thank you very much for your review. I have been a Fuji shooter for a couple of years for commercial work. Currently, I use the X-T5 for photos and the X-H2s for videos. I am considering replacing my X-T5 with a full-frame camera. I am not satisfied with the low-light quality when shooting events without flash; my maximum satisfactory ISO performance is 3200. Do you think that the S5iiX will be an upgrade? I want to keep the X-H2s because I have plenty of lenses, but I am really eager to try a full-frame camera. Another concern is that Fuji lenses are not optimized for video, with issues like focus-by-wire and focus breathing. On Lumix cameras, I really like the ability to use custom LUTs, which is opposite to the experience with the Sony 7 IV - another camera I am considering. I recently photographed an event with my friend who had an A7 III with the cheapest 50mm lens, and I was surprised by the quality compared to my X-T5. Thank you
A full frame with the same res and lens aperture will only give you a stop or two over APSC. Depends how much you want that.
I just came back with from Japan with my S5 in tote with the f/4 16-35mm lens. I really like the colors I get from the Panasonic. However, the DFD only focus made it difficult to film myself. Also, with the 16-35mm f/4 it made it tricky to take some shots in low light.
After I came back I picked up a Sony A7 IV. The reason being 1 the auto focus is much better and there are a lot more lens available in E-mount.
Had I known this was coming out and if there was a 16-35mm f/2.4 lens coming out in L mount, I probably would have stayed with Panasonic. I prefer the handling a little more on the S5 body and I like the colors out natively better on the S5 over the A7 IV. The S5II auto focus looks improved enough that I would have considered it.
I'm interested to hear about the choice of lenses. It's true Sony has a LOT of choice, especially with third parties including Tamron. Do you feel Sigma and Panasonic's own ranges have significant gaps for you personally? I know I can reel off some models they don't have, but how many would you actually want? I'm just wondering how complete L mount is for lenses for other people. Sigma is releasing a lot and is not slowing down!
@@cameralabs the biggest hole for me is the lack of a 16-35mm f/2.4. I do like doing street photography and architecture, so having a fast lens is important to me. The Sigma 12-24mm f/2.4 is just a little to short for me.
After I came back from Japan I wished that I had a longer lens like a 24-70mm. Also I wish I had better video auto focus, the S5 fluttered too much for my liking. I am going to keep my s5 for when I want to try some astro photography and for landscapes.
very good and in-depth review. top job mate
Thanks!
Hey there... GREAT VIDEO!!! I am a hybrid wedding shooter and I can't find this specific answer anywhere and hoping someone here can help. What happens when you are in photo mode but hit the RED record button? Will it record using the CURRENT settings in Photo Mode or will it switch to the last VIDEO settings from Video Mode? I hope it pulls from the video settings and even uses the Log format and LUT preview too, despite being in Photo mode and then jump back to the Photo settings when I end the video clip. Thanks for any help on this.
For doing probably 90% stills photography, would you recommend the S5ii or the S1? The G9 is my current camera for stills and I like the fact that the S1 is basically a full frame G9. Although for a bit more, I could get the even higher resolution S1R.
I would expect an updated s1r in the next year, so look for good prices. But if 24mp is enough, tge s5ii is tremendous value, and if you don't need pdaf, look for deals on original s5 which has similar af to your g9
Wow, it seems the mirrorless world has reached cruise speed. So many impressive new kits from practically all brands!
I'm very happy with this release and looking forward to more improvement on the AF in future firmware updates. But for a first try, I think they have done much better than Nikon and Canon's first gen mirrorless bodies. Photographers are really spoiled for choice nowadays!
Yes, it's a great first implementation
Thanks for the great review Gordon. Did you say the double exposure feature is gone? I loved using that on the S5. Also, is the Live Composite mode still there?
Sadly NEITHER is there on the current release firmware BUT I'm hoping they'll be reinstated in an update - I've requested it.
Excellent review! Did you notice moire patterns on the s5ii due to the lack of AA filter to the sensor?And if so is it going to be a problem on professional work?
I didn't notice moire issues, but I do show res charts in this video which would trigger it
Yet another great video Gordon just two questions can it photos stack and has it got Wi-Fi phone connection.
Yes it has Wifi to your phone. Yes it can focus bracket, but no it won't stack them. Yes it has pixel shift and yes it can stack them. I mention this in the video.
How would you compare the mechanical shutter sound to the original S5 and to my favorite, the well dampened S1?
Thank you so much for the thorough, straightforward review.
Thanks! I don't have the others side by side and I've not used them for a long time BUT as far as I understand, the S5 II shutter mechanism is the same as the S5, only able to go 2fps faster.
As always one of the best review on You Tube. Now that you are the only one focusing on the photography side of this camera we can conclude that the stills feature are very good and even indeed the best but very overlooked. Most users of Panasonic sits in the video market. Will you create a video only on video features of this camera as Auto Focus, IBIS, Full auto expose and auto focusing when vlogging outside?
Thanks! Yes I always plan to make TWO videos for every new camera, one concentrating on photography and another on video. I already have all my results, but every time I try to make the review, another product comes along and demands my attention! So I already have a backlog of cameras needing reviews of their movie modes including the Fujifilm X-T5 and Canon EOS R7. My next priority is a photo review of the Canon R6 II.
@@cameralabs I’m waiting for all those reviews.
thanks Gordon great review of the photography capabilities of the S5II. As someone with minimal interest in video this was very informative thank you. Your review has prompted some serious thinking on whether or not I need a FF to supplement my mainly Lumix MFT set up - I'm too committed and enjoy some of the cheap and cheerful MFT lenses to play around with to completely change systems. The S5 has always interested me as menus and ergonomics similar to my current G9 and G85 - with the S5II may be a few bargain S5s to be had and I don't think I'd miss PDAF - already in Australia I've seen new S5 with 20-60mm lens at only just over half the price of the S5II with the same lens - tempting....
Sure, if you don't need PDAF then the older S5 could be a bargain!
Excellent Gordon...thank you!
You're welcome!
Always seen the great benefits of LUMIX Cameras. The reason I've been using them for 8 years now. I have never been turned off by their DOD AF however PD AF is a GAME CHANGER for Panasonic as it will put them up in the TOP 4 FF Camera Brands by 2024 with new models coming.
I'm so happy about this! I personally won't upgrade as I don't do much video work where I need continuous auto focus - but it's really good news for the L mount in general if this picks up.. more lenses on the horizon?
Hopefully!
Please tell me how to set up the camera so that it immediately shoots without a magenta tint. So that you can immediately post it on social networks. What settings need to be changed? I am newbie
Why does it have a magenta tint? Make sure your white balance is set to Auto and you're using the standard or natural styles.
Thanks for an incredibly comprehensive review. I've seen claims the LCD does an 'exposure preview' when half pressing for focus. Can you turn this off, and is it perhaps only LCD. I'm a portrait photographer so trying to determine if this is my next step up from Fujifilm XT3.
I'm not seeing the image do anything when I half press the shutter, other than focus. Maybe they're using a different setting
How do you think the lumix would preform in low light event photography or weddings? I’m interesting in the Sony, but the lumix caught my eye.
I think it would be fine as you can see from my results in the video!
Hi there, I’m considering going from the R6 to the S5IIX for hybrid shooting. However, the excellent AF & tracking on the Canon, especially on the PHOTO side has me hesitating. However I know LUMIX just release a firmware update with improvements to their AF. So I’m wondering if this will compare it to the Canon AF at all? Any suggestion on which way to go? Thanks!!
The most detailed and ethics review. thanks!!!
You're welcome!
Great review! For wildlife, bird and macro videography, using the new Sigma 60-600mm, would you go with the Panasonic Lumix S5II or Sony A7IV? Thanks!
That's a tough one. Are you asking which has the better animal detection in video? I think Sony's might be a bit better right now, but the S5 II has other video benefits which could be useful to you.
@@cameralabs yes definitely a tough one. Sony does seem to have an edge in the animal detection department but wonder if the S5II's other benefits overcome that advantage. Also concerned about potential overheating on the A7IV. Also am wondering if the S5II X is worth waiting for. Thanks!
@@wildlifehouse Since the S5II X has already been teased, I'd say it's worth waiting a couple of months if you're on the fence. It's mostly about recording options though as far as I understand.
@@cameralabs okay, thanks!
Hi Gordon, thanks for yet another excellent review. I own S5 mk i and use it mainly for still photography of family events. I find that focusing is sometimes slow and sometimes wrong. Do you think it is worth upgrading to mk ii? Is there significant improvement in auto focus for stills to justify around £700 expense?
I'd say the speed is similar, but it's better at continuous AF, especially for video
Thanks Gordon. I think I’ll wait until mk iii for the upgrade which may also give more resolution that I need for cropping.
Thanks for the review, Gordon. I think I heard Panasonic say that they are working on a firmware update for Live Composite mode, which I guess isPanasonic's version of multiple exposures (I haven't used it myself so can't compare directly). You briefly mentioned that one of the benefits of the R6 II is full-frame 4K 60p, and I hope in your upcoming video review, you can compare the quality of the 4K 60p video between the R6 II and the S5 II. As I understand it, the 4K 60p video of the R6 II is supposed to be piexel binned / line skipped in some way (according to CineD). So it would be great to see a REAL WORLD comparison in low light / high ISO, as well as in a high dynamic range shooting situation. Maybe it makes a difference, or maybe it doesn't???
As for me, personally, depending I plan on waiting until the S5 II X comes out in May, if I can wait that long. Although if I have jobs coming in where I need the PDAF of the S5 II, then I certainly wouldn't hesitate to get one.
Yes, I hear live composite is coming in a firmware update, but it's different from plain multiple exposures. i hope they add that too.
@@cameralabs Thank you for the reply, Gordon. As mentioned above, I do hope that you get a chance to compare video QUALITY between the R6 II and S5 II (and also dynamic range, since I think the first time you reviewed R6, it only had C-LOG 1 and now I believe it has C-LOG 3 - apologies if I am mistaken).
Still looking forward to the review of the VIDEO capabilities of the S5 II. Thanks in advance.
Hello Gordon. After hearing about Samyang joining the L-mount alliance today I jumped right on to RUclips to check out your photography focused reviews. From your uses, for photography would you go with Canon R6/6ii or s5ii? I shoot mostly landscape and travel. Sometimes a little action with birds. Ergonomics of canon is hard to beat but this Panasonic looks close!
Everything I know about them both is in this review! The Lumix is looking strong, especially with all the Sigma lenses.
@@cameralabs cheers Gordon. The addition of Samyang is an added bonus now. I'll have to try get my hands on the s5ii and feel the ergonomics for myself 👍
Great review, thank you. Currently a G9 + pl100-400 user mainly for wildlife , would love to stay with Panasonic, but it looks like the R6ii with RF100-500 might be better?
You'll find either an upgrade over the G9, but I personally found the animal / bird subject detection, faster mechanical bursts and pre-capture modes on the R6 II made it better for wildlife overall. BUT that's just for the body. You have to take lenses into consideration and the RF ones aren't cheap. There is that 100-400 though if you can't stretch to the 100-500,
I'm going to upgrade from a GH5, but I'm nervous to pull the trigger without know it's going to do all the things the GH5 did? I mostly shoot video, but I do the odd photo shoot for product photography (some macro). Anything I should be aware of?
It doesn't have 6k photo