PANASONIC LUMIX S5 II

Will phase hybrid detection AF make this a creator's dream?

- Jon Devo

As someone who's used the Lumix S1 since its launch in 2018, and the original Lumix S5 since 2020, I've watched Lumix full-frame steadily grow into a system that has rightly become revered among photographers and videographers alike. The one thing that's held it back from capturing the attention of the masses, however, was the contrast-based Depth-from-Defocus autofocusing system that Panasonic developed and has championed for years, despite much of the competition adopting phase detection-based AF setups.

Uncharacteristically late to the innovation party, Panasonic is aiming the phase hybrid AF-powered Lumix S5 Il squarely at creators” that annoying tribe of people who make content for a living or a pastime, in the hope of someday turning it into a career. People like me.

To win over its intended audience the S5 Il needs to be able to deliver beautiful stills that are easy to edit and transfer from the camera on the go. It also needs to be able to capture a variety of video content, from self-shot presentations to robust video files that can be graded heavily, slow-motion clips, time-lapses, and more.

So with a lot of hype to live up to, does the Lumix S5 II deliver?

Key features