Panasonic Lumix S5 Gets Silver Award at DPReview (88% Overall Score)

DPReview has completed their Panasonic Lumix S5 review and test results: the Panasonic Lumix S5 mirrorless camera achieves an excellent 88% overall score and Silver Award from the experts at DPReview.

Panasonic Lumix S5 Key Features:

  • 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
  • UHD 4K60 Video,10-Bit Internal Recording
  • V-Log, HDR, and Dual Native ISO
  • 2.36m-Dot 0.74x-Magnification OLED LVF
  • 3.0″ 1.84m-Dot Free-Angle Touchscreen
  • Contrast-Detect 225-Area DFD AF System
  • 5-Axis Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization
  • ISO 100-51200, Up to 7 fps Shooting
  • 96MP High-Res Mode, Dual SD Card Slots

What we like

  • Well-built, relatively compact weather-sealed body
  • In-body image stabilization
  • Image quality comparable to best of its peers; excellent JPEG engine
  • Responsive autofocus and face/eye/body/head detection
  • Good subject tracking in most situations
  • Excellent 96MP Multi-shot implementation and image quality
  • Full-frame 4K up to 30p, 60p with
    APS-C crop
  • Incredibly deep and flexible video feature set, including anamorphic and 10-bit 4:2:2 internal recording
  • Dual SD card slots
  • USB charging
  • Solid battery life

What we don’t

  • While improved, ‘fluttering’ still an issue with continuous AF
  • 30 min time limit in some video modes
  • Average-resolution EVF
  • Sluggish burst shooting
  • Only one SD card slot supports UHS-II speeds
  • Full-size HDMI port would’ve been nice
  • Poorly placed AF-On button (sits right under thumb, too close to joystick)

Conclusion from DPReview:

The Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 is an full-frame mirrorless camera that’s great at both still and video shooting. Its well-built, fairly portable and feature-packed. Image quality is in-line with its peers, though autofocus is a little bit behind. The S5’s video features are the best in its class and video quality is impressive, as well.

Panasonic S5 body: $1,997.99 at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.

Panasonic S5 with 20-60mm Lens: $2,297.99 at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.

Read more: Best Lenses for Panasonic S5 and Best Memory Cards for Panasonic S5

You can also read the full review at DPReview.