Lumix S5

Price and Value
I bought my first Lumix S5 in Nov 2020 for $2300, and a second one in Oct 2021 for $1997 with the kit lens. The camera included a 20-60mm lens, 2 SD card slots, amazing video specs, a high resolution mode, and IBIS so very competitive with the Nikon Z6II or Canon R6.

Video Specs
The LUMIX S5 is capable of 4K 60p/50p4:2:0 10-bit, and 4K 30p/25p 4:2:2 10-bit internal recording. It is also capable of 4K 60p/50p 4:2:2 10-bit HDMI output. For 4K 30p 4:2:0 8-bit internal recording, there is no time limit. Wow. I bought a Canon T2i in 2010 since it was the first affordable DSLR at $850 with a kit lens to record in full HD 1080/24p. Nikon didn’t have any cameras capable of recording full HD in 2010.

High Resolution Mode
This seems like a great idea to get 2-8 times more resolution out of a sensor. I tried it out and will run a test soon. Jpegs are usually 8-10 mb, and in high res mode are about 24-30 mb. The High Resolution raw files are 173 mb and the converted to DNG format are 80-90 mb.

Sigma DG DN Lenses quality
These are really outstanding lenses! The Sigma 24mm, 45mm, 90mm, 105 f2.8 macro, 28-70 f2.8, 100-400, 150-600 are all amazing lenses at a competitive price. These Sigma lenses are only available in the Sony E mount and the L mount. This was a very compelling reason to go with the L mount and one not really emphasized in online or youtube reviews. The all metal construction, smooth focusing and zooming, aperture rings, image quality, price, all make for amazing lenses.

L mount lens selection
Though not as numerous compared to the Nikon F, Z, and Canon EF, or R mount line up, the lenses that I do want are available. A Nikon 58mm F0.95 is an interesting lens, as are lenses faster than f1.4 or telephotos f/2.8 or faster but I would never buy them. Sigma DG DN lenses are really the best lenses I’ve used. There is only one lens I’d like that is currently not available, a wide angle zoom, but a 14-30mm f/4.0 is rumored to be released within a year.

L mount lens price
Looking at the prices of the Sigma DG DN L mount lenses the prices are reasonable. $900 for the Sigma 100-400, $800 for the 105 macro, and $800 for the 28-70 f2.8 are all very competitive.

3 year warranty
The 3 year warranty is 2 years longer than all other manufacturers. All you have to do is register the body and lenses online.

Compared to the Nikon Z6II

So the Z6 was a beta run, much further along than the R, but beta never the less. The Z6II was a much more complete product. Nikon is only missing the 70-200 F/4 from their current Z lens line up. No high resolution mode.

I went to camera store in 2019 in Louisiana where I bought a used 6DII and tried out the Nikon Z6. It handles perfectly and feels great in the hands. I think Nikon did a great job with the Z body design and Z lens selection, minus the 58mm f/0.95. Still, I don’t feel compelled to buy one. The small market share, numerous past engineering, design, strategic, and execution disasters the company has had over the last 10 years coupled with the low resale value of used Nikon gear all make me avoid the brand.

Compared to the Canon R6

RF lenses are much more expensive. No high resolution mode.

Looking at the Canon RF and Nikon Z lines, they are both getting built out logically and consistently so I hope they are both successful, but I wanted to try something new and the S5 seemed much more compelling to buy and try out than the Canon R6 or Nikon Z6II. I really hope both the RF and Z lines are successful, but if you are really interested in video or high resolution stills capability then the S5 should be considered before buying a full frame mirrorless camera like the Canon R6 or Nikon Z6II.

First impressions
So my overall impression is very positive. Specifically:

• Dials or buttons for WB, ISO, Exp Comp, Drive and Self timer, Autofocus or Manual focus. No longer do I have to dive into a menu to change a setting of a feature I commonly use. This is a great idea and makes adjusting settings faster and more intuitive.
• 2 card slots. Though reviewers and commenters consistency whine about not having this feature, the main thing I use it for is to double the capacity of my existing SD cards, so instead of one 64gb card, I now can have two 64gb cards in my camera doubling the camera’s capacity without having to buy a new larger capacity card.
• SD card slots. Not the CF express/XQD card slot that would require me to buy a different format card and a new card reader because Nikon thought it was a good idea. SD cards are only $40 for 256gb and 150MB/s.
• I shoot mainly landscapes. I plan to shoot more sports, birds in flight, wildlife, product, macro so the autofocus is fine for me so far.
• Fast and accurate autofocus, people running straight at the camera and zig zagging around are great test cases for a YouTube review, but when would you ever shoot this type of test case in a real situation?
• I manually focus when shooting landscapes, macro, and product photography so the focus peaking is really important and seems to work fine. Low and high seem reversed.
• I did take a look at the Canon R6 at Best Buy in November 2020. It’s a much larger camera than I expected. At $2500 I just didn’t feel compelled to buy it. The $2300 I spent on the EOS R in 2018 seems like a waste looking back on that rushed to market camera body. Even if you stay in the same brand, the user interface is still a little different and takes some getting used to. The S5 has been pretty intuitive. I haven’t had to read the manual yet and figured out everything I needed to in the field.
• USB charging is a feature I use every time I charge the camera. This is now a must have feature for me.
• The 20-60 is a great idea of a lens. I used to have an EF 17-40 and EF 24-70 but this one lens effectively takes the place of both. But I like the Sigma lenses so much, the 16-28 and 28-70 are my go to wide angle zooms and don’t use the 20-60 much anymore.
• One of the main reasons to buy a S5 is Sigma DG DN lenses! They are the best lenses I’ve ever used. They feel old school tactile with their metal barrels, manual focusing rings, aperture rings and are available in all the popular focal length and apertures.
• I usually shoot with a Sigma DG DN 28-70 f2.8 and a 100-400 f/5-6.3 and I’m set for a landscape and an outdoors shoot. I carry my Sigma DG DN 24mm f2.0 too.
• I currently shoot with the 24 f2.0, 45 f2.8, 90 f2.8, 100 f2.8, 28-70 f2.8, 100-400, 150-600. I don’t use the 90 much at all.
• I plan to get a 16-28 f2.8, 70 f2.8 Macro, and 85 f1.4
• A flip out screen is really a necessity now. I won’t consider a camera without one. I use it 100% of the time and never look through the viewfinder anymore. For vertical shots at an angle a fixed screen is really difficult to work with. The picture below is a Nikon Z9 but you get the idea.

• The SOOC Jpeg shadows go black pretty consistently. The raw files can easily be fixed in post.
• Adobe DNG Converter converts Lumix S5 raw files as of version 13.0

Since Lumix has such a small percentage of the market I suppose this is a concern, but the L mount lens selection is getting built out by Sigma and Panasonic is doing well financially. Is there a lens I need that is not available? Not really. I used to want a 70-200 f4.0 but the 100-400 is small and light enough that I don’t feel I need a 70-200 anymore.

I bought the Sigma DG DN: 24mm f/2 $549, 28-70 f2.8 $800, 45mm f/2.8, 90 f/2.8 $639, 105 f2.8 Macro $800, 100-400 $900, 150-600 $1499. The Sigma I Series lenses are all high quality lenses with focusing and aperture rings that feel perfect. I don’t need built in VR or IS in the lens since the body has it. I usually shoot with the camera on a tripod or monopod anyways.

Features that could be improved or added:

A shutter that covers the sensor when the camera is turned off like the Canon R would be great. I’d definitely like to see this on the S5II or S6 whatever they name the next version of this camera.

Maybe a cheaper version of this camera, like $1000 or less.

An APS-C version of the S5 at $1500 or less for the body.

Sony apparently makes the sensor used in the S5

Lumix, please contact me if you need more feedback or a beta tester!