With a plethora of additional capabilities to help you realize your vision, the second-generation Panasonic Lumix S5 II Mirrorless Camera is made for content makers that require great stills and video performance. With Phase Hybrid AF for quick and accurate autofocusing, the S5 II is the first Lumix camera to provide this feature, thanks to its improved processing engine with L2 technology and new sensor design. Taking full advantage of the improved processor and 24.2MP sensor, this camera can record 6K footage for up to 30 minutes, and it can also capture 4K video indefinitely. The new Active I.S. technology, which permits walking shots to further improve image stabilization when shooting video, is another feature of the video-optimized Panasonic Lumix S5 II. The most significant development is the addition of on-sensor phase detection, a feature that Panasonic has not yet employed. Phase detection compares two somewhat different views of the scene that are created (usually by creating separate images that “look” through the left and right edges of the lens). This gives the camera the ability to determine depth and distance in the scene, much like human vision, which is based on the usage of two eyes apart.

By comparing the two photos, the camera can determine how much focus it needs to apply in order to align the two perspectives; once this is done, the aligned subject will be in focus. This lets the camera refocus to a new distance without overshooting, which is especially useful in video mode. Crucially, it also means that the camera can verify that it remains in focus without requiring the lens to be moved. Phase detection can thus be decisive in circumstances requiring it to maintain focus because it can do so with assurance.

A some of the Panasonic Lumix S5 II  key finest attributes

Subject recognition of the Panasonic Lumix S5 II

The April 2024 firmware update for the Panasonic Lumix S5II included major improvements to its tracking and subject identification capabilities. When combined with its increased depth awareness, the Panasonic Lumix S5II successfully acquires the features of the more modern G9 II, such as enhanced tracking ability and a wider range of subjects that can be recognized and followed. The camera is capable of identifying people, pets, vehicles, and motorbikes. Similar to how animal detection may recognize eyes and body or just bodies, human detection can identify eyes, face, and body (prioritized in that order) or just eyes and face.
The camera will search from your chosen AF point and the immediate vicinity in each mode; if the desired subject type is located beneath your AF point, it will be focused on. This approach enables the selection of a single subject within a group using the AF point. It should be noted that Face/Eye mode will select to focus on a subject facing the camera while utilizing wide-area AF, rather than just the closest human it detects.

With updated in-body image stabilization, the Panasonic Lumix S5 II

Additionally, Panasonic promises twice as effective picture stabilization performance as the S5 thanks to improvements to its system. It has chosen the moniker “Active IS” for its updated system, but it hasn’t provided many details regarding how these advancements have been made.
The company claims that the camera now evaluates camera motion more accurately and that its algorithms have been improved. Especially noteworthy is the Boost IS mode, which attempts to eliminate all movement for a video appearance akin to a tripod. A new ‘High’ option for the camera’s electronic image stabilization system was included with the April ’24 firmware update, with correct excessive camera movement. Video is cropped by 1.4 times using this method.

Panasonic Lumix S5 II with the latest CPU

The new processing engine, which is the first outcome of Panasonic and Leica’s L2 co-development initiative, lies at the core of the Panasonic Lumix S5II. The two businesses pooled their resources and expertise to create the new CPU, which we anticipate will also be seen in upcoming Leica models. Although Panasonic claims that the S5II’s sensor is also new, based on what we’ve seen, it seems to behave similarly to its non-phase-detect predecessor. This suggests that the S5II’s ability to shoot in e-shutter mode at up to 30 frames per second is more likely the result of a CPU designed to handle this pace.

Fan-integrated Panasonic Lumix S5 II camera

A fan system on the Panasonic Lumix S5II enables long-duration video shooting. The fan, located at the top of the camera, draws heat upward and out of the device through vents located beneath the leading edge and along the sides of the viewfinder hump. The vents are not a weak place for the fan’s dust and splash-resistant design because, as usual, it is located outside the body’s sealed area.
Panasonic tested the S5II at 40°C (104°F) and found that it could record in most of its video modes for an infinite amount of time thanks to its fan. Panasonic notes that the majority of its competitors only provide numbers for 22–25°C (72–77°F), which is much less demanding and less indicative of average temperatures in most of the United States.

Canon Powershot S5 II with pre-burst mode

A new shooting option that takes many pictures in the buffer before pressing the shutter button is included in the April 2024 firmware update. The ‘SH PRE’ feature uses the electronic shutter to pre-capture 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 seconds of photos at 30 frames per second. With settings found in the Burst Shot Setting menu, it’s regarded as a burst shooting mode.
‘Open gate’ video, or full sensor height 3:2 footage, is the most visible enhancement to the camera’s features. This allows you to crop into different aspect ratios or pan across the frame in post-production, and it’s available for up to 30p. As an alternative, there are 6K possibilities in both the DCI-like 1.89:1 format and the UHD-style 16:9 aspect ratio. The full-width 4K modes (both DCI and UHD) that come from 6K capture are located beyond this. These are available with 10-bit 4:2:2 encoding and up to 30p.

Battery-operated Panasonic Lumix S5 II

The Type 3.2 Gen 2 USB connection on the Panasonic Lumix  S5II can be used to power, charge, or charge the camera without the need for a separate charger. Since the S5II still uses the DMW-BLK22 battery from the original model, it is also completely compatible with the Mark I’s AC adapter, DC coupler, and battery chargers. There is no charger included with the Panasonic Lumix S5II. Rather, when linked to high-current power sources, it enables in-camera charging, operation, or operation and charging via the USB-PD standard.
According to CIPA standard testing techniques, the camera’s battery life rating is a little disappointing at 370 shots per charge. As usual, these figures greatly underestimate the amount of bullets you can usually anticipate (unless you have a particularly energetic shooting technique). A camera with a 370 shot-per-charge rating should often last you a full day of shooting, but for longer sessions, you’ll want to have extra batteries or a USB power source on hand. For viewfinder shooting, a power-saving mode offers a rating of 1,250 photos per charge.