Panasonic S5 Hands On First Reviews

Earlier today Panasonic announced several new products including the new S5 full-frame L mount 24-megapixel camera and several new lenses from the S-series including 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm all f/1.8 lenses. The company is also planning to release an important firmware update to its S1 line (S1/S1R/S1H) with better AF and 5K support for the S1R. On the video above Tony & Chelsea Northrup take a look at the new S1 (and its new kit lens).

So what is the S5 exactly? well, this camera is meant to be a smaller, lighter, less expensive version of the S1 with a few important improvements. It is not going to replace the S1 although as we will see, the way Panasonic priced the cameras many people might prefer the S5 over the S1 (does this mean that an S1 Mark II is around the corner? time will tell).

The camera has a good build quality (although some of the buttons didn’t feel quite as good as other Panasonic cameras), it has a good grip and a top red video record button (but no top screen). The camera is made from magnesium alloy and features extensive weather-sealing but not quite to the level of the S1.

Here are some of the main specs of the camera:

Sensor – 24.2 MP Full Frame sensor (L-mount).
ISO – 100-51,100 (or 50-204,800 ISO extended).
Image stabilization – 5 stop IBIS (with dual/hybrid IS with supported lenses).
AF – Improved Depth-from-Defocus (DFD) system (mostly better for stills).
High-resolution mode – combines 8 images for a 96MP single image.
Video – up to 4K (3840 x 2160) at 60p (with a crop to 1.56x, or no crop at 30p). 1080p up to 180p. It shoots 4:2:2 10 bit up to 4K 30p and 4:2:0 at 60p.
Viewfinder – 2.36 million dot EVF (about half that of the S1).
Monitor – 1.84 million dot 3″ fully articulating touch display.
Memory – dual SD cards (one UHS-II and one UHS-I slots).
Battery – the new Panasonic DMW-BLK22 battery can officially last 470 shots on a charge using the live viewfinder or 1,500 shots in Power Save mode.
Size – 132.6 x 97.1 x 81.9 mm.
Weight – 714g with battery and SD card (around 25 oz).
Price – $2000.

Jordan Drake and Chris Niccolls (from DPR) on the Panasonic S5

Gerald Undone on the “strange powerhouse” that is the Panasonic S5

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Iddo Genuth

Iddo Genuth is the founder and chief editor of LensVid.com. He has been a technology reporter working for international publications since the late 1990's and covering photography since 2009. Iddo is also a co-founder of a production company specializing in commercial food and product visual content.