unfortunately you did not understand. Even if I don't have an S5 at all. It's about more than an autofocus that has slight advantages in video. But that also speaks in favor of panasonic if that is the only thing that is criticized. Announced in January 2023, the S5 II is pitched as an all-round hybrid camera, and brings a number of upgrades to the original model launched just over two years previously – but by far the most important is the inclusion of phase-detect autofocus.

LUMIX S5 Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera - Panasonic LUMIX S5 Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera - Panasonic

Above: For comparison here’s the same scene recorded using the standard profile and notice how the higher contrast has irretrievably crushed most of the shadow detail under the pier. The DC-S5 has the latest version of Panasonic's Depth from Defocus AF system. But can it keep up with the best of its peers?Dual-band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and Bluetooth 5 are also on board. The former enables file transfer and remote operations via the Panasonic Lumix Sync mobile app (available for Android and iOS), while the latter speeds up the pairing process for wireless remotes. The Lumix continues the angular styling of the Lumix S5 and S1 cameras. (Image credit: Jon Devo) Panasonic Lumix S5 II Performance Image quality is in line with other current-generation 24MP full-frame models. I compared photos of our test scene from the S5 II with those from the EOS R6 Mark II and, aside from slight differences in noise patterns, the results look very similar. Image quality holds up strongly through ISO 6400, and you can still get decent results through ISO 51200. So now here’s some tests in Continuous AFC mode, where you can now record the HDMI output of the S5 II without compromising the performance. I’m starting with the Lumix S 50mm at f1.8 and with Face and Eye detection where you’ll see Panasonic’s unique cross-hair graphics. It appears to be the same 1,840k LCD display as the GH6, just without the brilliant mechanism. Being able to tilt the screen up and then flip it out is vital for keeping the screen clear of cables, especially large full-sized HDMI inputs. I can only imagine this was due to cost, as the S5 II undoubtedly uses the same frame and rear molds as the original S5. But it’s genuinely frustrating to have cables prevent you from easily flipping or seeing the screen. Particularly while self-shooting.

Lumix DC-S5 II / DC-S5 IIX initial review Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 II / DC-S5 IIX initial review

The benefit of DFD is no banding from the masked-off pixels. That's it. PDAF systems will require less lens movement and produce more 'stable' continous AF by actually knowing the distance of a subject. The new 30fps electronic shutter effectively replaces them for standard bursts, although it does mean the S5 II now misses out on the pre-burst and post-focus modes of earlier models. This also means Canon’s EOS R6 II now becomes the only one in its full-frame peer group to offer any kind of pre-capture with its RAW burst mode.

24MP Stabilized Full-Frame Sensor

Glad it has some nice video tools because I can see no other advantages against even older and less expensive rivals. Sigma fp is cheaper than S5 and can record RAW video...internally...without Atomos. That is a huge benefit for budget shooters. Larger full-frame sensors are the professional photographer’s standard, but they’re less common in the video world. The benefit is that they can gather more light as they have about 2.5 times the surface area of APS-C sensors found in rival cameras like the APS-C King, the Fujifilm X-T4. But now the S5 Mark II includes a spread of phase-detect autofocus points which hope to lay those demons to rest, and in a bold move, Panasonic invited a load of YouTubers including myself to Japan to try it out, before sending us home with the camera for long-term testing.