Panasonic has announced the LUMIX S5, a full-frame mirrorless system camera with L lens mount that can be described as a cheaper and more compact alternative to the Lumix S1. Like the S1, it is suitable for both photo and video. The S5 has a 24.2-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor – the same as in the S1 – with a sensitivity of ISO 100 to ISO 51,200 (expandable to ISO 50-204,800). The maximum series speed is 7 images per second with autofocus locked, or 5 images per second with continuous autofocus. Shutter speeds range from 60 seconds to 1/8000 of a second.
Click on the camera for specifications, prices and test results.
BUILD AND OPERATION
Where the other LUMIX S cameras are quite heavy, the S5 is quite compact. It measures 133 x 97 x 81 mm and weighs 630g, making it even smaller and lighter than Panasonic’s GH5 with Micro Four Thirds sensor. The body is made of a cast aluminum alloy and is dust- and splash-proof. Panasonic emphasizes that the body can effectively dissipate heat, so that there is no time limit for 4K 30p/25p 4:2:0 8-bit internally stored images. This is a clear reference to Canon EOS R5, which has a limited shooting time when filming in high resolutions or high quality.
The LUMIX S5 has an LVF (Live View Finder) with a magnification factor of approximately 0.74x and an OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) screen with a resolution of 2.3 megapixels. That is a lower resolution than the LVF on the S1, which reaches 5.76 megapixels. The 3-inch tilting LCD screen on the back is touch-sensitive.
The LUMIX S5 has a double SD memory card slot. One of the two slots is compatible with the fast UHS-II (video class 90), but the second is limited to the slow UHS-1. The camera can be charged via the USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C port and has Wi-Fi built in.
IMAGE QUALITY
The camera includes a built-in system for image stabilization by sensor shift, which is good for a gain of 5 stops according to the CIPA standard. In combination with the O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) in lenses from the LUMIX S series, a shutter speed of up to 6.5 stops longer is possible.
The sensor shift is also used for High Resolution mode. The camera captures eight consecutive images while the sensor is being moved and merges them into one image with a resolution of 96 megapixels (12,000 x 8,000 pixels). If something moves in the frame, the camera can suppress the motion blur.
Video
The system cameras from Panasonic are traditionally strong in video, and the S5 is no exception. The LUMIX S5 can capture recordings internally in 4K 60p/50p 4:2:0 10-bit and 4K 30p/25p 4:2:2 10-bit. Video in 4K 60p/50p 4:2:2 10-bits can be registered via the HDMI output.
The LUMIX S5 offers a dynamic range of 14+ stops and offers V-Log/V-Gamut for color grading after shooting. In addition, there are various advanced video options, such as the 4:3 Anamorphic, Slow & Quick Motion, 4K/60p interval recordings and 4K HDR mode.
Autofocus
Panasonic maintains its own contrast-based DFD (Depth From Defocus) autofocus system. But according to Panasonic, it is faster and more accurate, both when taking photos and when shooting videos. This is made possible by a new algorithm with real-time detection of the subject. For humans, the camera can also distinguish and focus on an eye, face, head and body.
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
The Panasonic Lumix S5 comes on the market at the end of September as a body (€1,999) and in a kit with the 20-60mm S lens (€2,299). Customers who purchase a LUMIX S5 before September 30, 2020 can receive a Sigma 45 mm F2.8 lens worth €669 free of charge.
