Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 Review 2023
Panasonic’s entry into the full-frame territory has gotten a mixed response. The S5 lies below the S1/R/H cameras, aiming to be an entry-level full-framer that also caters to people with video needs. Other issues have been addressed as well, most notably the autofocusing technology, which Panasonic claims have been revamped for the S5. The Panasonic Lumix S5 is a small full-frame mirrorless camera and light. It features the same 24.2-megapixel sensor as the S1 and S1H, but it can output 4K externally. Vloggers will certainly appreciate the addition of a fully articulating touch-sensitive screen. In many ways, the S5 isn’t the best, but it’s more than capable when it comes to photography and video.
Features:
The Panasonic Lumix S5 is a smaller and less expensive version of the Lumix S1, with the same 24.2 megapixels full-frame sensor as its bigger brother. Although autofocus and DFD (depth from defocus) technology has improved, image quality remains a problem. Shooting at 4K at 60p – with or without a cut – and endless clips at 8K are possible. Instead of a full-sized HDMI port, it uses a tiny HDMI port, which can be problematic for professional users.
The Lumix S5 improves on its sensor shift-based 96MP high-resolution mode by adding JPEG + RAW capture. When photographing night scenes or astrophotography, the Live View Composite mode allows you to view what you’re taking in real-time. 5.9K RAW video recording to Atomos Ninja V, vectorscope display, shutter angle adjustment, and more are all included in the free firmware upgrades
Design and handling:
The Panasonic S5 is smaller, lighter, and more ergonomic than the original S1/R/H series. The camera comes with a collapsible 20-60mm “kit” lens that complements the camera’s tiny size. The L mount has a good selection of lenses, especially since Panasonic has a partnership with Sigma and Leica. Because L Mount lenses are so huge, they don’t sit as well on the S5’s compact body.
Power and Connectivity:
A rechargeable battery in the Lumix S5 is good for 440 shots with the LCD and 470 with the EVF. The camera can shoot up to 1,500 images each charge thanks to power-saving features. Two memory card slots are available, each of which supports SDXC media at the fastest UHS-II rates. The Lumix Sync app, which is available for Android and iOS devices, is required to use the camera.
Performance:
The autofocus on this camera is substantially better than on previous S-series models. The images include a lot of detail, fantastic colors, and well-balanced exposures. The 20-60mm kit lens is a wonderful lens to start with because of its broad-angle, which is wider than most kit lenses. The video quality is excellent as well, with smooth and detailed shots. The DFD Contrast AF algorithm analyses how subjects move between frames.
Lumix cameras employ this data to calculate and anticipate a moving target’s position. The intelligence of the S5’s AF system has significantly improved. But, for no apparent reason, it occasionally drifts or refuses to focus. The bulk of the images captured with the Lumix S5 were spot on, except for one frame that was slightly off. When you half-press the shutter or hold the AF-On button while in a single area AF, the camera re-exposes briefly to acquire focus before continuing.
Autofocus:
The Panasonic S5 comes with all of the latest features that promise to improve AF performance and accuracy. Contrast-detect autofocus is slower than phase-detect autofocus, but it is more accurate. When using higher frame rates, such as 50p and 60p, image quality appears to improve. Change the sensitivity and the time it takes to focus racks on a new place of interest with adjustable settings.
Picture and video quality:
The 24.2MP CMOS camera in the S5 delivers photographs with incredible depth, detail, and tone. Even if you simply shoot JPEG, there is some recoverable data in the image’s highlight and shadow portions to remedy mild underexposure. It excels at handling noise, giving useable photos up to 6,400 and possibly a little beyond in certain scenarios. In terms of dynamic range, only the Sony A7S III trumps it in this camera class. When you use S&Q mode for 120fps FHD or 60fps in 4K, the video quality suffers slightly.
The color science of the Panasonic Lumix S5 realistically depicts skin and scenes, with consistency and a beautiful fullness of color. I didn’t observe any chromatic aberrations, such as flaring or fringing, and only had notable concerns with corner softness and vignetting at its maximum 20mm range – these go away around 24mm. a definite
Pros:
- SDXC card slots on both sides
- Full-frame quality in a small package
- The best video performance in the class
- Dual SD card slots, magnesium frame, and a vari-angle screen
Cons:
- The L-mount lens library continues to expand.
- Tracking attention is limited to 6 frames per second.
Conclusion:
The Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 is a thinner, more inexpensive full-frame camera that has a lot to offer photographers looking for an entry-level or mid-range camera.
