Panasonic Lumix S5 II w/28-200mm Lens

[This review was collected as part of a promotion. ] This is my first ever full frame camera and I bought it for my trip to the Tour de France and the Olympics. It's a trip of a lifetime and I used the camera for both shooting videos and photos. I am a beginner photographer so the camera is for my personal use only. The kit lens that came with the camera has a good range (20-60) but I will definitely be buying a zoom lens at some point in the future. I actually used the camera in the rain to film and photograph the start of a stage in the Tour de France as well as the Olympics men's cycling time trial event and the camera was able to operate in both the wet conditions with no problems. The lens hood was particularly useful for keeping raindrops away from the glass. ... More[This review was collected as part of a promotion. ] This is my first ever full frame camera and I bought it for my trip to the Tour de France and the Olympics. It's a trip of a lifetime and I used the camera for both shooting videos and photos. I am a beginner photographer so the camera is for my personal use only. The kit lens that came with the camera has a good range (20-60) but I will definitely be buying a zoom lens at some point in the future. I actually used the camera in the rain to film and photograph the start of a stage in the Tour de France as well as the Olympics men's cycling time trial event and the camera was able to operate in both the wet conditions with no problems. The lens hood was particularly useful for keeping raindrops away from the glass. I was of course worried about using the camera in the rain as I'm a beginner with quite an expensive camera, so I think I will be looking to buy a rain cover at some point in the future too. The only negative I can think of is that when holding the camera in portrait orientation at eye level or higher, my hand position sometimes hits a button that brings up a settings menu and I have to press the back button to go back. It's annoying when I want to capture a moment quickly but luckily that has happened infrequently so far. I appreciate that there are two card slots, which I have chosen to use one for photos and the other for videos. My favourite feature are the LUTs, which is a bit like filters on phone cameras but much more technical and customisable (but can still be relatively simple and straightforward for beginners like me to preset and forget).

Great but still room for improvement

Honestly the best hybrid camera for the price but only given 4 stars for a few lacking things that could be improved in the future.I'll start with the good, the camera feels good in the hand, is pretty reliable except for a few moments it freezes and you have to restart it, and it has some of the best video features of any mirrorless camera at any price. It also is a great photo camera which I feel like gets overlooked a lot. Also the AF is pretty reliable and surprising how good it is for Panasonic's first try with PDAF. And all this for around $2000, you can't really ask for more.Now for the things that could be improved through future software updates, for some reason there is no option for in-camera multiple exposure, I know this is a niche thing but still fun ... MoreHonestly the best hybrid camera for the price but only given 4 stars for a few lacking things that could be improved in the future.I'll start with the good, the camera feels good in the hand, is pretty reliable except for a few moments it freezes and you have to restart it, and it has some of the best video features of any mirrorless camera at any price. It also is a great photo camera which I feel like gets overlooked a lot. Also the AF is pretty reliable and surprising how good it is for Panasonic's first try with PDAF. And all this for around $2000, you can't really ask for more.Now for the things that could be improved through future software updates, for some reason there is no option for in-camera multiple exposure, I know this is a niche thing but still fun to play around with and it was in the S5 so I am not sure why it isn't here. Also I don't know why the mechanical shutter only goes up to 7fps, I am sure the camera has the throughput for it since you can do 30fps electronic and every camera at this price range can do at least 10 mechanical so it would be nice to somehow unlock 10+fps without having to worry about rolling shutter. My last big feature I would like to see is a way to lock the sensor when the camera is turned off and for cleaning, it is nerve wrecking when trying to clean it and the sensor wont stay still and keeps wobbling and you can't get a good edge-to-edge clean in one swipe; going with this having the sensor cover the sensor when it is turned off would be nice to see as well. My last set of issues is with the selection of L-Mount lenses, I know there are quality options from sigma but it would be nice to see Lumix take more interest in developing lenses, there aren't many fast more speciality lenses and I am not sure if they don't see there being a market for that with their users but maybe they don't have any of those people because they have never given them the ability to so it is an endless cycle. There are a few hardware things like it would have been nice to have a CFast card slot in this so you didn't need an external SSD when recording higher video formats but it is nice that option is there, also the rubber on the grip is a little lose so that may be some quality control issue.Overall a very good camera that could be 5 stars if they bring some quality of life software updates and the L-Mount alliance start making lenses that can more closely rival the offerings of the other mirrorless brands.

High quality camera at low cost

I am an experienced photographer and have owned many cameras from most of the manufacturers. I recently made a choice to change to LUMIX full frame and micro four thirds together. The M53 for action and the ff for travel and general photography. I bought the S5 mk 2as the ff. So far very impressed, the features are very comprehensive. But most importantly I love the image quality, top class low light performance but the look of the files are gorgeous. The only thing I am not keen on is the style of the camera, it’s a bit square and blocky looking. But really , I don’t care about it, it’s very easy to use, the controls are comprehensive and have a sturdy feel. The autofocus seems very good but it is early days for me yet. Now that Panasonic have decent auto focus ... MoreI am an experienced photographer and have owned many cameras from most of the manufacturers. I recently made a choice to change to LUMIX full frame and micro four thirds together. The M53 for action and the ff for travel and general photography. I bought the S5 mk 2as the ff. So far very impressed, the features are very comprehensive. But most importantly I love the image quality, top class low light performance but the look of the files are gorgeous. The only thing I am not keen on is the style of the camera, it’s a bit square and blocky looking. But really , I don’t care about it, it’s very easy to use, the controls are comprehensive and have a sturdy feel. The autofocus seems very good but it is early days for me yet. Now that Panasonic have decent auto focus they could leap up the leaderboard with this camera. It’s good. The final and most important icing on the cake is price. A camera this good and I got it new for around 1400 gbp. Oh and that’s including 2 decent lenses. My previous body, cost me 3000 gbp grey market, plus 1000 for a lens. For me LUMIX is a no brainer.

Shutter button/failed completely within 15 months

Been incredibly happy with the performance of my s5m2Upon delivery I noticed the rubber wasn’t secure but didn’t want to be without this powerful camera due to work so just continued to use15 months later the grip has almost completely fell off through no fault of my ownAnd the shutter button has failed completelySo I am unable to use my shutter button through no fault of my own and have seen other s5m2 users complaining about similar issuesLukix is failing to accept that there are manufacturing issues and I have had a camera that doesn’t work for over 3 months while lumix asks me to wait for them to come back to me in regards to repairing manufacturing issuesI own a lumix s5 mk1 that I’ve had for a lot longer the the M2 but it’s still in perfect ... MoreBeen incredibly happy with the performance of my s5m2Upon delivery I noticed the rubber wasn’t secure but didn’t want to be without this powerful camera due to work so just continued to use15 months later the grip has almost completely fell off through no fault of my ownAnd the shutter button has failed completelySo I am unable to use my shutter button through no fault of my own and have seen other s5m2 users complaining about similar issuesLukix is failing to accept that there are manufacturing issues and I have had a camera that doesn’t work for over 3 months while lumix asks me to wait for them to come back to me in regards to repairing manufacturing issuesI own a lumix s5 mk1 that I’ve had for a lot longer the the M2 but it’s still in perfect conditionLukix not dealing with manufacturing issues is incredibly disappointingPlease refer to lumix instagram page and go to s5m2 posts to see other users complaining about manufacturing issuesI hope lumix sorts out my problems and stops pretending it’s an isolated issue

[Rewarded Review] Best camera quality price 2024-2025

I’ve been using the LUMIX S5IIX for a few weeks now, and I have to say—it’s an absolute beast of a camera! As a filmmaker and content creator, I was looking for a versatile camera that could handle both high-quality video and stills, and the S5IIX has exceeded my expectations.The Autofocus is a huge step up from previous models. The phase-detection AF is incredibly responsive, even in low light, which has been a lifesaver during shoots. The new Active I.S. system is phenomenal—I can confidently shoot handheld without worrying about shaky footage.When it comes to video, the S5IIX really shines. The ProRes internal recording is a game-changer for my workflow. It offers incredible detail and flexibility in post-production. The camera also supports external SSD ... MoreI’ve been using the LUMIX S5IIX for a few weeks now, and I have to say—it’s an absolute beast of a camera! As a filmmaker and content creator, I was looking for a versatile camera that could handle both high-quality video and stills, and the S5IIX has exceeded my expectations.The Autofocus is a huge step up from previous models. The phase-detection AF is incredibly responsive, even in low light, which has been a lifesaver during shoots. The new Active I.S. system is phenomenal—I can confidently shoot handheld without worrying about shaky footage.When it comes to video, the S5IIX really shines. The ProRes internal recording is a game-changer for my workflow. It offers incredible detail and flexibility in post-production. The camera also supports external SSD recording, which has been a massive convenience for long shoots.The dynamic range and low-light performance are stunning. Even at higher ISOs, the noise levels are impressively low, and the colors are natural and vibrant. The V-Log/V-Gamut profiles are perfect for cinematic projects, and the grading potential is endless.Another feature I love is the black design—it’s sleek and low-profile, which is perfect for documentary work or shooting in public without drawing too much attention. The build quality is solid, yet it’s surprisingly lightweight, making it easy to carry around for extended periods.If I had to nitpick, I’d say the menu system could be a bit more intuitive for beginners, but once you get used to it, the customization options are incredible.Overall, the LUMIX S5IIX is a must-have for hybrid shooters who demand pro-level video features in a compact, affordable package. Whether you’re a filmmaker, content creator, or photographer, this camera is worth every penny!

[Rewarded Review] Good but control quality Lumix please!

I ordered a pack of the Lumix s5IIX and the first thing that comes to mind, B&H protects the shipments well! Much better than its competitor Adora.. and their shipping is ultra fast! Thanks to them. First thing is to beware of packs, and offers sold by Lumix, this does not come as a gift! because often these packs have defects not visible to the naked eye, such as not perfect screen, with strong light, if you look at the sides, you can see the effect of a spot or cloud, I have the exchange, with new but which also has this kind of aesthetic defects. There are much fewer of them but it is still visible!, we will say that it works... something that I did not have on the s5IIX order on Amaz... which was perfect for my sense. that said B&H have nothing to do with it, ... MoreI ordered a pack of the Lumix s5IIX and the first thing that comes to mind, B&H protects the shipments well! Much better than its competitor Adora.. and their shipping is ultra fast! Thanks to them. First thing is to beware of packs, and offers sold by Lumix, this does not come as a gift! because often these packs have defects not visible to the naked eye, such as not perfect screen, with strong light, if you look at the sides, you can see the effect of a spot or cloud, I have the exchange, with new but which also has this kind of aesthetic defects. There are much fewer of them but it is still visible!, we will say that it works... something that I did not have on the s5IIX order on Amaz... which was perfect for my sense. that said B&H have nothing to do with it, it's rather the quality control of Lumix which leaves something to be desired., apart from that BH always at the top for me, fast shipping, RMA services at the top, with a new exchange, or everything at least no sign of use as one might read on the review forums. Otherwise the S5IIX is really great, an excellent case, with crazy features., so yes the packs have small flaws, but the price of the packs puts it into perspective, I gained almost 900usd, if I would have bought from another competing site!

[Rewarded Review] Great Camera for Videos

An upgrade to my Nikon D5500 was a long time coming, and after months of looking into different cameras (Sony A7S II mainly) I came across the Lumix S line, Never looked outside the big 3 manufacturers, so I was cautious, but the more I read about the S5iiX I was constantly surprised. ProRes recording, phase auto focus, Log recording, and more. I’ve used a lot of different cameras over the years for videos (C100/200, BMD PC4K/6Kpro, Sony A7S’) and all were acceptable, but never seemed to have everything I wanted, but the S5iiX comes the closest. Only been using this camera 5 months or so, but put it through the paces. If you’re shooting without a focus puller, the AF-C is really good in the right lighting. Darker or underexposed shots might have issues, but overall ... MoreAn upgrade to my Nikon D5500 was a long time coming, and after months of looking into different cameras (Sony A7S II mainly) I came across the Lumix S line, Never looked outside the big 3 manufacturers, so I was cautious, but the more I read about the S5iiX I was constantly surprised. ProRes recording, phase auto focus, Log recording, and more. I’ve used a lot of different cameras over the years for videos (C100/200, BMD PC4K/6Kpro, Sony A7S’) and all were acceptable, but never seemed to have everything I wanted, but the S5iiX comes the closest. Only been using this camera 5 months or so, but put it through the paces. If you’re shooting without a focus puller, the AF-C is really good in the right lighting. Darker or underexposed shots might have issues, but overall it gets the job done. If you're worried about the focus throwing to backgrounds, there’s AF Lock, but also a handy feature that allows you to set the minimum and maximum focus points for auto focus, meaning you eliminate the focus throws to backgrounds if subjects walk out of frame, get to close, etc. Honestly, while people say the autofocus isn’t as great as sony or canon, I think it’s blown out of proportion. The ProRes recording options are awesome, giving you 1080p all the way to 5.8k. One downside ins the internal codec recording. The bitrates on the internal is pretty lacking. While you have the choice between All-Intra and LongGOP, even on All-I average bitrates are 200Mbps, for comparison the ProRes C4K 23.967 bitrate is ~700Mbps. This is especially a downside when the only way to film open gate (using the full 3:2 sensor area) is available in the internal recording and not ProRes. Overall, this is a great camera for videos/movies, giving you lots of features, even more I didn’t highlight, but is lacking in some choices. Still, if you’re stuck in the past like I was, this is a huge upgrade, and well worth the money, especially if you find it used like I did.

[Rewarded Review] Great camera for beginners

This is my first ever full frame camera and I bought it for my trip to the Tour de France and the Olympics. It's a trip of a lifetime and I used the camera for both shooting videos and photos. I am a beginner photographer so the camera is for my personal use only. The kit lens that came with the camera has a good range (20-60) but I will definitely be buying a zoom lens at some point in the future. I actually used the camera in the rain to film and photograph the start of a stage in the Tour de France as well as the Olympics men's cycling time trial event and the camera was able to operate in both the wet conditions with no problems. The lens hood was particularly useful for keeping raindrops away from the glass. I was of course worried about using the camera in the ... MoreThis is my first ever full frame camera and I bought it for my trip to the Tour de France and the Olympics. It's a trip of a lifetime and I used the camera for both shooting videos and photos. I am a beginner photographer so the camera is for my personal use only. The kit lens that came with the camera has a good range (20-60) but I will definitely be buying a zoom lens at some point in the future. I actually used the camera in the rain to film and photograph the start of a stage in the Tour de France as well as the Olympics men's cycling time trial event and the camera was able to operate in both the wet conditions with no problems. The lens hood was particularly useful for keeping raindrops away from the glass. I was of course worried about using the camera in the rain as I'm a beginner with quite an expensive camera, so I think I will be looking to buy a rain cover at some point in the future too. The only negative I can think of is that when holding the camera in portrait orientation at eye level or higher, my hand position sometimes hits a button that brings up a settings menu and I have to press the back button to go back. It's annoying when I want to capture a moment quickly but luckily that has happened infrequently so far. I appreciate that there are two card slots, which I have chosen to use one for photos and the other for videos. My favourite feature are the LUTs, which is a bit like filters on phone cameras but much more technical and customisable (but can still be relatively simple and straightforward for beginners like me to preset and forget).

[Rewarded Review] Incredible value, delightful user experience

I've used a few cameras over the last several years such as the Canon 90D, Sony A7III and, primarily, Lumix Micro 4/3 models like the GH5 and G9. For the price, the image quality for both photo and video is second to none. Stabilization is astounding. In boost I.S. mode handholding the camera paired with a very heavy lens like the Samyang 35-150 f/2-2.8 you will get zero microjitters for video. Autofocus in photo and video is light years ahead of older Lumix models and as good as, if not better than, the Sony A7III. Menus are super easy to navigate with plenty of custom slots available. Dynamic range is outstanding. So much latitude in Lightroom with RAW files. Noise even at ISO 16,000 and 20,000 is very well controlled and usable. V-log is brilliant for color ... MoreI've used a few cameras over the last several years such as the Canon 90D, Sony A7III and, primarily, Lumix Micro 4/3 models like the GH5 and G9. For the price, the image quality for both photo and video is second to none. Stabilization is astounding. In boost I.S. mode handholding the camera paired with a very heavy lens like the Samyang 35-150 f/2-2.8 you will get zero microjitters for video. Autofocus in photo and video is light years ahead of older Lumix models and as good as, if not better than, the Sony A7III. Menus are super easy to navigate with plenty of custom slots available. Dynamic range is outstanding. So much latitude in Lightroom with RAW files. Noise even at ISO 16,000 and 20,000 is very well controlled and usable. V-log is brilliant for color grading. New compatibility in recent firmware with Lumix Lab app creates a huge range of great JPEG LUTs for simple turnaround stuff. Great for work, great as a dad-camera. Would recommend to anyone.

[Rewarded Review] Pretty Great Camera! (With one minor flaw)

Amazing camera but it occasionally freezes while recording and doesn't turn off unless you take out the battery. It can cause you to lose critical footage at times. It isn't as bad while handheld because you can just pop out the battery real quick, but it takes more time if you're on a gimbal. Not ideal at a wedding or something like that. However, it's not like it does it all the time. Since I've had it (Sept-Nov), it's done it about 4-5 times. Dont know what causes it. ON THE POSITIVE: i really love this camera. It has really great stabilization, so I've been using it handheld most of the time. I use a gimbal for higher/lower shots. The type of lens you use matters a lot. I've gotten some great shots with an f-1.8 50mm lens. I also love all the different shooting ... MoreAmazing camera but it occasionally freezes while recording and doesn't turn off unless you take out the battery. It can cause you to lose critical footage at times. It isn't as bad while handheld because you can just pop out the battery real quick, but it takes more time if you're on a gimbal. Not ideal at a wedding or something like that. However, it's not like it does it all the time. Since I've had it (Sept-Nov), it's done it about 4-5 times. Dont know what causes it. ON THE POSITIVE: i really love this camera. It has really great stabilization, so I've been using it handheld most of the time. I use a gimbal for higher/lower shots. The type of lens you use matters a lot. I've gotten some great shots with an f-1.8 50mm lens. I also love all the different shooting settings. NUETRAL: This is a con for many people, but I knew about it and still bought the camera because i didn't think it would be such a big deal, but you get cropped 4k 60fps footage The problem could be solved by using a wider lens, but as you know, 30mm is not the same as 50mm. Would I rather buy a Sony? Perhaps, but the Lumix won me over because it handles video a whole lot better than Sony bc of the Stabilization and the different recording options.