CAMERA TEST
Panasonic’s updated full-frame mirrorless model gains phase-detect autofocus, but is this enough to make it competitive with its rivals? Andy Westlake finds out
Back in 2020, Panasonic launched its first mass-market full-frame mirrorless camera, the Lumix S5. With a 24MP sensor in a compact body and a strong feature set – especially in terms of video – it was a likeable camera that handled well and delivered fine results. But as with all Lumix models, it was slightly held back by its use of a proprietary Depth from Defocus (DFD) autofocus system, which couldn’t match its competitors for continuous AF or smooth focus transitions during video recording. Now the firm has relented to pressure from users and reviewers alike, with the new Panasonic Lumix S5II finally gaining phase detection AF. It’s difficult to overstate how important this is for Panasonic fans.
While PDAF is the headline news, the S5II gains a number of other updates and improvement. Perhaps the most interesting is the addition of a cooling fan above the sensor, with vents on either side of the viewfinder housing. This allows the camera to support extended video recording times without needing a bulky fan unit on the back.
At £1,999 body only, the S5II looks rather affordable next to its newest competitors, such as the Canon EOS R6 Mark II (£2,779) and the Sony Alpha 7 IV (£2,399). It’s also very close in price to the Nikon Z6 II, which has recently dropped below the £2,000 mark. But this counts as a considerable premium over the original Lumix S5’s £1,499 street price. So does the S5II have what it takes to attract enthusiasts in this crucial section of the market?
Features
As with its predecessor, the S5II is based around a 24MP full-frame sensor. Of course, it’s not identical, as it now incorporates phase-detection pixels for autofocus. But as before, it provides a sensitivity range of ISO 100-51,200, which is extendable to ISO 50-204,800 via the camera’s menu.
However, the S5II now offers considerably quicker burst shooting, at up to 30 frames per second with continuous autofocus using its electronic shutter. Employ the mechanical shutter and it’ll shoot at 9fps with focus fixed, or 7fps with continuous AF, which in both cases is 2fps faster than before. Panasonic says it can shoot an impressive 200 raw+JPEG frames before slowing down.
The big update, of course, is the ne
