Is the Panasonic S5 II Still a Good Camera in 2026?

In the Phoblographer’s revisiting of various cameras that we’ve reviewed before in the past, I’m now addressing the Panasonic S5 II. When the Panasonic S1II E was launched, it seemed as if the S5 II’s days were numbered. Afterall, I reviewed it in 2023 and knew just how capable it was in nearly every single way. For a really long time, it was the single best hybrid camera on the market. And barring a really big hardware problem, it probably still is.

The following text has been added to my Panasonic S5 II review. But for the full review, please click this link.

The Panasonic LUMIX S5 II in 2026

Last year, I used the Panasonic S5 II on a few paid gigs. And the year before that, I also used it on a few paid gigs. Those gigs were situations where I was hired to make photographs on a location. Even today, I’m very proud of the work that past Chris has done with this camera and with various lenses that I’ve used over the years too.

In fact, for most of my time having the S5 II in my possession, I’ve used it mostly for stills.

But things changed a bit last year.

The Panasonic S5 II has a bit of a hardware issue with the shutter button. With my unit, when I half press the button, it won’t autofocus. The workaround is to use backbutton autofocus. But I don’t like doing that. However, when I fully press the button down, the camera will make a photograph. This has admittedly even made me lose moments. The other workaround is holding the button down in AF-C and eventually the camera will find the subject.

Heartbroken by this, I looked up the problem online and others have the same issue.

The camera has since then found new life in my office. It’s been hooked up with a Rode Shotgun Microphone to my iMac and it’s now my webcam.

Yes, that’s a heck of a webcam. Everyone tells me that I have the best webcam that they’ve ever seen and they love the image quality that it delivers. The camera constantly keeps me in focus and only rarely misses me. And that’s the case even with a mist filter over the lens.

I indeed miss using it for stills a times. But I’ve also got the S1II E and the S1R II. I end up using the latter most of the time and almost never using the former. Instead, I reach for my Leica SL2s due to the insane durability of that camera.

If I wasn’t too lazy to send the camera back for a repair, it would be just fine and I’d keep using it.

What people don’t realize is that for Panasonic the LUMIX S5 II was their Fujifilm moment. By that, I meant that they showcased just how good their cameras could be with firmware updated galore. Things were added, they adapted to the market, they added things that no other camera brand had for a while, etc. In the end, they created one of the single best cameras of this decade. It even made Nikon, Sony, and others try to adapt by adding the capabilities to using LUTs to their cameras for still photography too.

If you own this camera and you’re happy with it, there is very little reason to upgrade. I bought the S1R II because of the better autofocus, higher megapixel count, and the multiple exposure RAW mode that I use for a lot of my personal work. Plus, it has better weather resistance and the shutter comes down over the sensor to protect it when changing lenses and the camera is powered down.

Since the Panasonic S5 II, nothing else has felt this exciting when it comes to firmware updates. The S1R II is good, but it’s a completely different beast and is designed more for stills than being a hybrid.

I’m pretty sure that the brand isn’t going to update the firmware on the S5 II anymore. And with that said, I mean this with all my heart. The Panasonic S5 II is not only one of the best cameras of this decade, but it did for Panasonic what the 5D Mk II did for Canon and the a7r III did for Sony. It was an incredible hybrid camera with staying power. And honestly, I’m glad that I’ve found a new use for it.