Live Science Verdict
The Panasonic Lumix S5 IIX sets new standards for TV - orient mirrorless tv camera — and it ’s a real powerhouse for picture taking , too .
form detect autofocus ( at last )
Cinema photographic camera gauge
The Lumix S5 IIX camera’s chunky design has been contentious in the past.
30fps stills shooting
Dual native ISO
eubstance is jolly chunky
The top of the camera features the mode dial, shooting controls and record button.
No 4 K 120p television
holmium - hum battery life
No tally light
The Lumix S5 IIX has myriad video recording settings that make ideal for content creators.
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Type : MirrorlessSensor:24.2MP full - frame CMOSLens mount : L - MountISO range:100 - 51200Viewfinder resolution:3.68 m dotsVideo capability:6 K 30p / C4 K 60p / FullHD 180pWeight:1.63 lbsSize:5.29 x 4.03 x 3.55 inchesMemory card type:2x UHS - II SD
It tells you everything you demand to know that there ’s only one camera that rivals the Panasonic Lumix S5 IIX , and that ’s the Panasonic Lumix S5 II , which is this camera ’s small sibling . In inadequate , the Lumix S5 IIX is the ultimate mirrorless camera for picture - first shooting .
Capable at stills but even better at video, this Lumix should appeal to videographers.
While many of thebest wildlife photography camerasoffer excellent video performance , if you ’re looking for a body where the headline specs are skewed towards the videography side then your hunting block up here .
Panasonic has carved out a recess for itself in the mirrorless camera market place as the TV specialist — and that ’s a repute that continues with the S5 IIX . This full - frame titan bluster everything from 5.9 K 12 - scrap ProRes RAW and BRAW to open gate gaining control .
None of which is to say that the S5 IIX ca n’t photograph stills , far from it . With a robust 24.2MP detector , an image processor co - rise with Leica , and the addition of form detect autofocus , and up to 30fps burst shot , this is a formidable imaging machine whether you ’re taking photos or video .
The camera delivers up to 6.5 stops of in-body image stabilization meaning you can shoot stills and video in lower light without a tripod.
Panasonic Lumix S5 IIX: Design
on-key to form for Panasonic camera , the Lumix S5 IIX has a very chunky consistency . This has been contentious in the yesteryear , as one of the key selling point of mirrorless camera since their origin was that they could be slimmer and smaller than DSLRs . Panasonic , though , embraces the comforting , laurel wreath - replete form factor of wooden-headed bodies . So if you want something that feels rugged and serious , this is for you .
Part of the chunkiness here is the television camera ’s participating cool down system , which preclude the body and viscera from overheating when shooting at super - gamy framerates and bitrates . A small bit of black thaumaturgy is in dramatic play here , too , since the camera is weatherproof and can be used in the rain even with its air volcano .
speak of black magic , distinguishing the S5 IIX from the regular S5 II is an all - black innovation give the consistence a satiny , stealthy , almost Batman - similar feel . While this undoubtedly wait cool , though , the monochrome styling can make it difficult to see where and what the various controls are ( even the logo is black , with the only colour on the television camera being the scarlet record button ) .
A fully articulating touch screen enable you to take in the action from all Angle , whether you ’re taking video or still , though , in the pillow slip of the former , one of the S5 IIX ’s lone weaknesses is that there is no tally lamp to get you jazz that the camera is recording .
Panasonic Lumix S5 IIX: Functionality
permit ’s bug out with the big plus to a Panasonic camera since the manufacturer released its first ever mirrorless photographic camera in 2008 : stage detect autofocus .
Kit lens : Panasonic Lumix S 20 - 60 mm f/3.5 - 5.6Best spacious lens : Sigma 14 - 24 mm f/2.8 DG DN | ABest zoom lens : Panasonic Lumix S Pro 70 - 200 mm f/2.8 OISSpare battery type : Panasonic DMW - BLK22
In brief , there are two kinds of autofocus systems : contrast detect , which is fast to get focus but also constantly refocus ( creating a " pulsing " gist or losing direction entirely ) , and phase angle detect , which is tiresome but more accurate . After years of releasing photographic camera with unsatisfying contrast - observe AF , Panasonic has now introduce phase intercrossed autofocus that combine the two technologies – and the results are brilliant .
We ’re not quite talkingCanon EOS R5orNikon Z8levels of performance , but the S5 IIX can now dependably observe and consistently track topic without hunting for focus ( as previous Panasonic manakin did ) , hold you seamless fool away for both stills and telecasting .
For stills , while the 24.2MP resolution is a little on the lean side these days , the simulacrum character produced by this sensor is very impressive thanks in no small part to the L² Technology partnership with Leica , which is responsible for the unexampled image processing engine .
The detector genuinely come into its own when it comes to video recording , though , with astonishingly good 6 K 30p and 4 honey oil 60p footage that can be captured all the way up to 12 - turn 4:2:2 in both Apple ProRes RAW or Blackmagic BRAW , for ultimate file fidelity – and you may read flat to SSDs as well as an outside telecasting recorder / admonisher .
Panasonic Lumix S5 IIX: Performance
The S5 IIX promise a passel , and it delivers on all of them including the most significant of all for a video - orientate camera , unlimited video transcription at any resolution . Thanks to the active cool organisation , the S5 IIX does n’t overheat even when pump out 6 K video – unlike almost every other mirrorless television camera usable .
The autofocus is nothing short of a revelation , either . Panasonic photographic camera have always had fantastic specifications in every department except AF , but the contrast - based Achilles hound has at last been rectified . Again it ’s not quite on equality with the Canons and Sonys of the world , but the remainder is dark and Clarence Day compared to preceding Panasonics .
Speaking of night and daytime , not only does the AF perform well in challenging light , but the dual aboriginal ISO enables the tv camera to capture incredibly clean and crisp Indian file even in preferences with poor miniature . With 14 stops of active reach , it ’s a breeze to score your video in post - yield or prefer a Real - Time LUT from the existing library to make a look as you trance your footage .
There ’s excellent in - body image stabilization that deport up to 6.5 stops of compensation whether you ’re shooting stills or video – and it ’s definitely among the best in the business for a full - bod photographic camera .
In fact , the only real downside with the S5 IIX is that the battery life is underwhelming . Given how much movement was put into inexhaustible recording times , by making certain that the camera does n’t overheat , it ’s a shame that you ’ll still have to keep a close eye on your battery measure , though at least you’re able to punch in a king bank to keep thing running .
Should you buy the Panasonic Lumix S5 IIX?
The Lumix S5 IIX is a adequate to stills shooter , with a full - frame image detector that rescue telling image quality , low light performance and file faithfulness , and offers super - fast 30fps burst shooting that ’s ideal for capturing riotous activeness . However , there are better picture taking cameras out there .
What there are n’t , though , are good videography cameras out there ( unless you ill-treat up to a celluloid tv camera ) . So if you ’re happy with a capable stillness body because what you really want are blow - away TV features , the S5 IIX is your photographic camera .
If the Panasonic Lumix S5 IIX isn’t for you
If you want to stick with a full - frame detector , theNikon Z8is hard to fault . Like the Lumix , it ’s a video Jagannath , able of shooting up to 8 kB 60p , but it ’s also a five - star stills camera thanks to its 45MP sensor and up to 120fps outburst shooting .
For a lowly form gene , take a look at theCanon EOS R7 . An APS - C organic structure that can expend minor lenses ( and also increases their efficient focal lengths ) , it offer fantastic 4 K television that ’s oversampled from 7 K , along with 32.5MP still and manufacture - good AF .
And if you want the small-scale potential kit travelling bag , consider the incredibleOM System OM-1 . This Micro Four Thirds camera gas the small lens in the line as well as the giving lens choice and it duplicate their effective focal length , too . It get 4 K 60p and its 20.4MP sensor can capture in high spirits - resolution stills of up to 80MP .
