LUMIX S5

Released September 2020

A compact full-frame L-Mount hybrid camera with stabilised 24.2-megapixel stills, a free-angle screen and 10-bit 4K recording.

Type: Mirrorless
Sensor: Full frame
Megapixels: 24.2
Lens: L-Mount
Video: 4096 × 2160 at 59.94 fps
Body weight: 630 g

What reviewers say

Both reviews praise image quality, handling and substantial video features in a smaller, more affordable body than earlier Lumix S cameras. Photography Blog welcomes improved autofocus but still notices DFD pulsing. Cameralabs finds moving-subject video focus less dependable than Canon and Sony. Both flag slow continuous-focus bursts, modest viewfinder resolution and the micro-HDMI connection as compromises.

From photographyblog.com, cameralabs.com and cameralabs.com

Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Mirrorless
Sensor format: Full frame
Sensor type: CMOS
Sensor dimensions: 35.6 × 23.8 mm
Effective resolution: 24.2 MP
Largest image: 6000 × 4000
RAW recording: Yes
Standard ISO range: 100–51200
Sensor detail: 24.2 million effective and 25.28 million total pixels; primary colour filter and sensor-shift dust reduction. Multi-shot high-resolution mode generates 96 MP composite files, separately from native single-exposure resolution
Image formats: JPEG, RAW and HLG Photo; sRGB/Adobe RGB
ISO detail: Standard ISO 100–51200, expanded 50–204800; Dual Native ISO technology
Image processor: Venus Engine

Lens and shooting

Lens mount: L-Mount
Stabilisation: Lens and sensor shift
Maximum continuous burst: 7 fps
Lens detail: Interchangeable L-Mount body; kit 20–60mm lens is a separate configuration
Autofocus: Contrast AF with DFD; face/eye/body/animal detection, tracking, 225-area and configurable zone/single-area modes; touch selection and joystick
Shutter: Mechanical 1/8000–60 seconds and bulb up to approximately 30 minutes; electronic front curtain 1/2000–60 seconds; maker NA specification lists electronic shutter up to 1/16000, with separate bulb restrictions. Flash sync up to 1/250 second with guide-number/mode qualifications
Burst detail: Native 7 fps with AFS/MF or 5 fps AFC, mechanical or electronic. Maker buffer at least 24 RAW/RAW+JPEG or 999 JPEG with specified UHS-II card in slot 1. Video-derived reduced-resolution 6K/4K Photo modes are separate from full-resolution bursts
Stabilisation detail: Five-axis Body I.S., maker 5-stop CIPA yaw/pitch rating with S-R2060 at 60 mm; compatible-lens Dual I.S. 2 rated 6.5 stops with S-E70200 at 200 mm
Exposure controls: 1728-zone multi, centre-weighted, spot and highlight-weighted metering; still exposure compensation ±5 EV in one-third steps

Video

Highest video resolution: 4096 × 2160 at 59.94 fps
Video detail: Firmware 2.0 dated 24 November 2020 added internal C4K 4096×2160 at 59.94p/50p, 4:2:0 8-bit, and C4K 29.97p/25p/23.98p 4:2:2 10-bit. 4K/C4K 60p uses APS-C or pixel-by-pixel crop; full-frame 4K30 supports 10-bit. Launch camera recorded UHD rather than C4K. Firmware also added external 12-bit RAW up to 5888×3312 at 29.97p; compatible recorder required and not internal recording. V-Log/V-Gamut with maker 14+ stop claim; 10-bit recording has 30-minute clip limits, while specified 4K30 8-bit modes have no fixed clip limit subject to power/storage/operating conditions
Audio: Built-in stereo microphone and monaural speaker; microphone/line input, headphone monitoring and optional DMW-XLR1 adapter

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: Electronic
Screen size: 3″
Screen dots: 1,840,000
Touchscreen: Yes
Tilting screen: Yes
Display detail: Three-inch 3:2 LCD, approximately 1.84 million dots, capacitive touch and free-angle articulation
Viewfinder detail: 0.39-inch 4:3 OLED, approximately 2.36 million dots, 100% coverage and 0.74× magnification with 50 mm lens at infinity, −1 dioptre and 3:2 image ratio

Connections and design

Wi-Fi: Yes
Bluetooth: Yes
Battery life (maker's claim): 470 photographs
Body weight: 630 g
Release detail: Maker Japan confirms 25 September 2020 first sale in that market; month precision retained for broader regional availability. Original S5 remains separately listed from S5D and S5II; no inferred successor. Cameralabs tested a preview-labelled boxed sample running firmware 1.0, which the reviewer identifies as representative of final production; later firmware additions are separately qualified
Recording media: Two SD/SDHC/SDXC slots; slot 1 UHS-I/UHS-II including V90, slot 2 UHS-I; relay, backup and file allocation
Ports: USB-C SuperSpeed USB 3.1 Gen 1, micro-HDMI Type D, 2.5 mm remote, 3.5 mm microphone/line input and headphone output
Wireless connections: Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz 802.11b/g/n and 5 GHz 802.11ac; Bluetooth Low Energy 4.2
Battery life detail: DMW-BLK22, 7.2 V 2200 mAh; maker CIPA approximately 440 LCD/470 EVF shots with S-R2060. Conditional power-save EVF 1500 shots with one-second sleep is not the headline figure
Charging: USB power supply and charging; dedicated battery charger, AC adapter and USB cable listed with original regional package
Dimensions: Approximately 132.6 × 97.1 × 81.9 mm, excluding protrusions
Weight detail: Maker NA and Japan approximately 630 g body only or 714 g with battery and one card; Photography Blog's prose 712 g loaded is not substituted
Materials: Dust/splash-resistant construction, not waterproof; maker operating range 0–40 °C
In the box: Body cap, hot-shoe cover, battery-grip connector cover, shoulder strap, battery, battery charger, AC adapter and USB A–C cable; lens/caps/hood additionally in kit, regional contents vary

Pros and cons

Pros

Five-axis sensor stabilisation
Two SD card slots with backup recording
V-Log included without a paid upgrade

Cons

Contrast-based autofocus
4K at 60p uses an APS-C crop
Only one card slot supports UHS-II

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
CanonEOS R5	Mirrorless	Full frame	45	Canon RF	8192 × 4320 at 29.97 fps	650 g	Jul 2020
NikonZ 5	Mirrorless	Full frame	24.3	Nikon Z mount	3840 × 2160 at 29.97 fps	590 g	Aug 2020
NikonZ 6II	Mirrorless	Full frame	24.5	Nikon Z mount	3840 × 2160 at 59.94 fps	615 g	Nov 2020

Newer model: LUMIX S5II.

Sources

Photo: panasonicjp.scene7.com

LUMIX S5, front three-quarter view with LUMIX S 20–60mm F3.5–5.6 lens: news.panasonic.com/uploads/tmg_block_page_image/file/9088/l-jn200903-1-1.jpg

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