Panasonic Lumix always ends up surprising me in one way or another. Today, the company has announced new firmware for the S5 II and the S5 IIx that positions it to be the best full-frame camera under $2,000. Announced in January 2023, the cameras have been given a few key upgrades that will be important to photographers. Of course, it’s Panasonic, so there are also some video upgrades that folks aren’t going to gloss over. This adds to the cameras’ many extra features, such as Live Composite, Real-Time LUT, AF Scope, weather resistance, a lightweight body, and access to tons of lenses across the entire L-mount system. In our eyes, it surely beats out the Z6 II, R8, and the Z5.
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What’s Great for Photographers?
What photographers (not content creators) will care about the most is the Frame.IO integration — though a lot of this can also be done with Capture One Live and Adobe Cloud if you’re a photographer.
Beyond this, photographers are also getting enhancements to the autofocus system. The S5 II and S5 IIx will not be able to recognize eyes on animals, cars, and motorcycles. If you look on social media at images shot with these cameras, you don’t see many vehicles shot with these cameras, but I guess it’s a nice addition.
The new SH pre-burst shooting feature also works similarly to the OM system Pro Capture Mode. It will let you not miss photographs of wild animals at all, providing that you’re paying attention. There’s no word on whether or not it lets you shoot RAWs. As it is, that’s the fault of nearly every single camera brand incorporating this feature into their system.
All of this is on top of the other awesome features. Real-Time LUT basically makes your Panasonic camera into a full-frame Fujifilm camera. Sure, Fujifilm also has a healthy community of modders who make their cameras output simulations that look like Kodak film. But in comparison, Fujifilm cameras feel like a participation award at a library book fair with a lack of supporting buttons for those features, no touchscreen menu interface, autofocus that lacks in comparison on performance, an APS-C sensor, and not as many supporting lenses as the L-mount alliance offers.
Live Composite is great for astrophotography and more. AF-Scope is great for when you need to shoot the absolute smallest details. I’d still like to see how the phase detection works still. Panasonic’s system is good, but it doesn’t always feel as great as the big three. To be frank, no one can match Nikon’s autofocus at this time. Sony’s technical innovations are pretty incredible and unique. At the same time, Canon’s lens game cannot be beat.
But as far as we’re aware, this could be the best full-frame camera under $2,000. At the moment, the S5 II is around $1,600 on Amazon.
But in comparison, Fujifilm cameras feel like a participation award at a library book fair with a lack of supporting buttons for those features, no touchscreen menu interface, autofocus that lacks in comparison on performance, an APS-C sensor, and not as many supporting lenses as the L-mount alliance offers.
Check out more at our S5 II review, which you can read here. If you’re considering the S5 IIx, then check out our review here. If you don’t really need the blacked-out logo, then photographers will really like the S5 II and agree with us that it’s the best full-frame camera under $2,000.
New Features on the Panasonic Lumix S5 II and S5 IIx: The Best Full Frame Camera Under $2,000
The following information was taken from the press release:
What Photographers Will Care About
New Native Camera to Cloud Integration with Adobe’s Frame.io
Compatibility with Frame.io Camera to Cloud is now supported, enabling images and videos to be automatically uploaded, backed up, shared, and worked on jointly via the cloud. Recorded content is sent to the Frame.io platform through an internet connection via Wi-Fi or USB tethering, enabling seamless sharing of captured photos (JPEG/RAW) and Proxy videos. This empowers creators to receive remote real-time feedback during capture and enables collaborative editing among production teams using their preferred creative software. Frame.io Camera to Cloud streamlines the workflow from shooting to editing, enhancing overall efficiency in the creative process.
Real-time Auto-focus Recognition (Animal Eye, Car, Motorcycle Recognition)
The improved real-time auto-focus system enhances the highly accurate Phase Hybrid auto focus of the S5II and S5IIX, efficiently recognizing people amongst multiple subjects. It also features an animal eye recognition function, to focus on and follow animal eyes, as well as a car and motorcycle recognition function, which is ideally suited for shooting motorsports.
SH Pre-burst Shooting
The newly introduced SH pre-burst shooting function records bursts before shooting begins. When set to the SH PRE mode, the camera begins burst shooting from the moment the user half presses the shutter button, allowing retroactive burst shooting up to the moment the shutter button is pressed down fully.
“…this could be the best full-frame camera under $2,000.”
For the Video People
Proxy Video Recording
This new feature records a low bit-rate proxy file when recording video. Simultaneously recording a proxy file that is linked with the original video recording enabling a faster delivery from production to post.
Enhanced E.I.S. Performance
In addition to Standard, High mode is newly added to E-Stabilization (Video) function, which electronically corrects large shakes when shooting on the move. A perspective distortion correction has also been added to correct distortion that tends to occur during video shooting when using a wide-angle lens. Combined with Active I.S. Technology, it is now possible to achieve even more stable footage when shooting on the move.