Panasonic S5 II Review

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Article: description: The Panasonic S5 II is a highly capable full frame mirrorless camera. The question is, is it the right camera for you? Find out about its specs and features in this full review!
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While the bread and butter of Panasonic’s photography business have long been micro four thirds cameras, they recently dipped their toes into the world of full-frame mirrorless cameras with the launch of their Panasonic S cameras. One of the newest cameras in that lineup is the amazing Panasonic Lumix S5 II.  

In this Panasonic S5 II review, we’ll share an overview of the camera, examine its photo and video specs, tell you our favorite compatible Leica L Mount lenses, and more. Additionally, thanks to innovative online platforms like MPB, buying a used mirrorless camera has never been cheaper and easier than it is today. 

Who is MPB? They are a trustworthy and reliable online platform selling pre-owned photography and videography gear at unbeatable prices. Moreover, every one of their cameras and lenses is carefully hand-inspected by expert product specialists with years of experience and backed by six-month warranties, allowing you to make your purchases confidently and worry-free.

Over the years, we’ve repeatedly used MPB’s online marketplace to upgrade our camera kit by buying, selling, and trading in photography equipment. And we’ve saved thousands of dollars in the process! Visit their website today to start saving, too! Now, without further ado, it’s time to discover what makes the Panasonic S5 II one of the most popular cameras available today.

Check out the video above by Gerald Undone to learn more about the Panasonic Lumix S5 II and find out why it offers unbeatable value to photographers and videographers alike. 

Table of Contents

Panasonic S5 II: Overview

The Panasonic S5 II is a hybrid mirrorless camera released in January of 2023. It replaced the original Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 that came out back in 2020. Both cameras have compact bodies and 24.2-megapixel full-frame image sensors, but the S5 II received some major updates that make it a significantly better camera.

Although the sensors have identical resolutions, the S5 II’s sensor now has phase detection autofocus (AF). This makes the AF more reliable and improves its subject recognition/tracking. Additionally, the S5 II boasts an all-new image processor that Panasonic developed hand-in-hand with Leica. The powerful processor boosts the camera's overall speed and delivers better video capabilities. 

New design features include a 3.68M-dot OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF), an upgraded memory card slot, and the addition of an eight-way joystick. The high-resolution EVF makes it easier to compose your images. One of the memory card slots now accepts UHS-II SD cards. And the joystick provides better control over focus points. 

Now, here’s an in-depth look at the key features and specs of the Panasonic Lumix S5 II: 

  • Camera Type: Mirrorless Camera
  • Sensor: 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
  • ISO: 100 - 51,200 (expandable to 50 - 204,800)
  • Lens Mount: Leica L Mount
  • Speed: 30.0 fps
  • Autofocus: 779 focus points
  • Video: 6K/30p, 4K/60p & 1080p/120p
  • Size/Weight: 134 x 102 x 90 mm / 740 grams
  • Battery Life: 370 shots
  • Stabilization: Yes
  • Touchscreen: Yes
  • Weather-Sealed: Yes
  • Pre-Owned Panasonic S5 II Price: $1,749 - $1,849

Panasonic S5 II: Imaging Capabilities

For still photography, the Panasonic S5 II is a solid camera. Its 24.2MP matches the industry average and is more than enough for entry-level and enthusiast photographers. However, if you are a professional who often needs to enlarge your images for print, a high-resolution camera like the Sony Alpha a7R V might be a better choice.

One area the S5 II does excel in is continuous shooting. The camera's electronic shutter has a maximum continuous shooting speed of 30 frames per second (fps). If you switch to the mechanical shutter, that number drops to a respectable 9 fps. The fast burst shooting (and impressive AF) makes the S5 II a good camera for sports, wildlife, and action photography.

Another cool feature is the multi-shot mode. It captures eight separate frames and combines them into one ultra-high-resolution 96MP picture. There is even a preset for quick access to this mode on the top control dial. One thing to note is that it will only work if the camera is on a tripod. 

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Panasonic S5 II: Video Capabilities

Where the Panasonic S5 II stands out from its competitors is as a video camera. For starters, it’s the cheapest 6K camera on sale today. For under $2,000, the S5 II delivers stunning 6K/30p and 4K/60p video. And for the slo-mo fans out there, you will be thrilled to hear that it also records gorgeous 1080p/120p slow-motion video.

YouTubers, videographers, and filmmakers love the professional video specs of the S5 II. For example, it records ProRes video internally, outputs RAW video, and has advanced aII-I compression modes. Furthermore, it has two microphone/headphone ports, granting you more precise control over the audio.

The camera's new in-body image stabilization technology (Active IS) and internal fan are more groundbreaking features. The Active IS adds up to 6.5 stops of exposure, improves low-light performance, and enables hand-held video shooting. At the same time, the internal fan prevents overheating and allows you to shoot 6K video for up to 30 minutes/4K for as long as you want.

Recommended Lenses for the Panasonic S5 II

Unlike Panasonic G mirrorless cameras, the Panasonic S5 II (and other Panasonic S mirrorless cameras) uses the award-winning Leica L mount. While the L mount lens lineup doesn’t boast as many native lenses as the micro four thirds lens mount, its lenses are consistently rated amongst the top-performing lenses on the market. 

With that in mind, here’s a short list of some of the best Panasonic S5 II lenses for photo and video to pair with the S5 II and other Panasonic full-frame mirrorless cameras.

Final Thoughts on the Panasonic Lumix S5 II

To wrap things up, the Panasonic S5 II is a fantastic option for anyone looking for a high-performing hybrid mirrorless camera. Whether you are primarily a photographer, videographer, or someone who shoots both, the S5 II gets the job done with flying colors thanks to its 24.2MP full-frame sensor and 6K video capabilities.  

Thanks for taking the time to read our Panasonic S5 II review. We hope you found it informative and that it has brought you one step closer to purchasing your next camera! If you want to browse a few more products before coming to a final decision, check out the list below of more similarly priced mirrorless cameras in stock now at MPB: 

Heads up: Clicking on our affiliate links and exploring our sponsored content helps us at no extra cost to you, and we only recommend gear we're absolutely crazy about!

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