Panasonic Lumix S5 II First Impressions: A Game-Changing Mirrorless Camera with Hybrid Autofocus - Buy on Amazon | Buy on Flipkart
Unboxing the Panasonic Lumix S5 II
Panasonic sent us the Lumix S5 II along with a kit lens combo that includes the 20–60mm lens and the camera body. Inside the box, you get the lens, lens hood, charging adapter, USB Type-C charging cable, shoulder strap, user manual, battery, and the Lumix S5 II itself.
Pricing and Competition
The Panasonic Lumix S5 II competes with full-frame mirrorless cameras from Sony, Nikon, and Canon. In India, the Lumix S5 II body costs Rs. 1,94,990. The Lumix S5 II kit with the Lumix 20–60mm lens costs Rs. 2,24,990, while the kit with two lenses (Lumix 20–60mm and Lumix S 50mm F1.8) costs Rs. 2,44,990.
Design and Build Quality
The Lumix S5 II boasts a matte-finished metal chassis that is built like a tank. The extended grip adds to its ergonomic design and gives off a confident impression. The top of the camera has one dial along with the shutter button, followed by the mode dial with the power switch. There are separate buttons for white balance, ISO, exposure, and video recording.
The back of the camera features a menu button, selector dial, focus mode dial, joystick, back button, display button, and a customizable button. The viewfinder protrudes out a little and comes equipped with a hot-shoe mount on the top. On one side, the Lumix S5 II has a microphone input jack, headphone jack, HDMI port, and USB Type-C port. On the other side, there are two SD card slots. The camera is weather-sealed, and all the buttons are placed ergonomically, making it easy to use.
Display and Features
The camera features a 3-inch free-angle touchscreen display that is bright enough to be used outdoors during the day. The menu layout is straightforward and easy to access most features. The Lumix S5 II sports a 24.2-Megapixel Full-Frame CMOS sensor with 779 phase detection autofocus points, a maximum burst shooting rate of 30 frames per second, and 5-axis in-body stabilization.
Image and Video Quality
For still photos, the Panasonic Lumix S5 II has an ISO range of 100–51,200, which can be expanded to 50–204,800. Initial samples captured with the camera were detailed and had good colours straight out of the camera. The autofocus system is also fast and accurate.
On the video front, the Lumix S5 II can record at up to 6K 30fps with a bitrate of up to 200 Mbps. The in-body stabilization works great, dynamic range is good, details are crisp, and the focus shift is smooth and accurate even with close-up shots.
Conclusion
The Panasonic Lumix S5 II is a solid new offering with an ergonomic design and a great set of features. The hybrid autofocus system is a much-needed upgrade that makes it stand out from other mirrorless cameras. However, it remains to be seen whether it can compete with other equally stellar options from other mirrorless camera manufacturers.
