LUMIX S5IIX Full Frame Mirrorless Camera, 6K/4K 10-bit Unlimited Recording, Phase Hybrid AF, Apple ProRes RAW & BRAW via HDMI, USB-SSD Recording, 5-Axis Dual I.S. with LUMIX 20-60mm Lens

I’m a former professional photographer now running a design studio. As I looked to modernise my services and attract better clients, I realised I needed to do more with video. After researching the options, everything kept pointing back to the Panasonic S5IIX - a camera that offers serious capability without breaking the bank. If your focus is on video, get this camera - whether for the outstanding in-body stabilisation or those lovely V-Log files that are surprisingly easy to grade. For stills photographers, don’t rule it out either. I’ve now adopted a hybrid workflow, and this camera hits the mark. The S5IIX is aimed more at video shooters, but it’s a perfectly capable stills camera too. I picked it up with the 50mm lens in a bundle deal that made it even more affordable, and the quality of that lens is stunning, with crisp, sharp detail from edge to edge, even wide open at f/1.8. The L-Mount lenses are a collaboration with Leica, and it shows. The body is compact and light - a welcome change after years of using old Canon pro gear that always felt heavy for the sake of it. The Lumix feels solid and well put together, and from what I’ve heard from long-term users, it’s also proven to be reliable — no overheating, no drama. There’s a broad range of third-party accessories if you want to rig it out properly. I’ve used parts from SmallRig, Atomos, Godox and others, but what impressed me is how usable the S5IIX is even without extras. It records 6K 10-bit Open Gate video (full sensor width, 3:2), which gives you loads of room for reframing or vertical crops. I find the image quality genuinely impressive. Stills are equally strong, and the 24MP sensor feels like a sweet spot: enough detail for large prints without huge file sizes. If you want to push things further, there’s a 96MP high-res mode - best used on a tripod with no subject movement, but the results are genuinely stunning and comparable with 100MP medium format cameras. The 14-stop+ dynamic range has few equals, delivering smooth highlight roll-off and clean shadows without obvious noise or banding. Colour rendering is strong, and the files hold up well in grading or Raw editing. The lack of an anti-aliasing filter adds clarity, especially when paired with the Lumix lenses. I had considered using my old Canon lenses with an adaptor, but I’m glad I didn’t. I started with the Lumix 50mm, added the 14–28mm, and plan to get the 24–105mm next. The L-Mount was developed with Leica and their influence is felt. You even get Leica colour profiles in the camera, which is a nice touch. Low light performance is amazing. ISO 4000 often looks as clean as ISO 100 did on my older cameras, which is remarkable. I often check the EXIF to be sure - and this ability opens up situations I wouldn’t have attempted before. The not-so-good? The menu system is comprehensive, to put it mildly - which is both a strength and a challenge. It took a while to get everything set how I like it, and I did end up watching quite a few videos to understand certain features. The PDF manual is massive, so online guidance was more helpful at first. The blacked-out branding on the front looks great, but the dark top dial markings aren’t ideal. They’re hard to see in low light and should have stayed white for usability. Battery life is decent, but if you spend a lot of time in the menus or playback, it drains quicker, so I picked up two spares and a dual charger. Summary There are enough features on this camera to write about it all day, but here’s the bottom line: you’re getting a tool used by top professionals, without the price tag that usually comes with it. Whether you’re producing video content, shooting stills, or combining both, the S5IIX is capable, flexible, and solid. The lens ecosystem is excellent, with strong options from Panasonic, Leica, and Sigma. It’s also surprisingly future-proof. You can record straight to an SSD, load LUTs, shoot full-sensor Open Gate, or just set it to auto and capture great results. If you’re comparing cameras in this range, it’s hard to find anything that offers more for the money - especially if you’re aiming to grow creatively or professionally. Some of the features worth knowing: • Phase-detect autofocus – fast and reliable, even in low light • Active IS – enhanced stabilisation for handheld video • Dual native ISO (640 / 4000) – cleaner high ISO than you’d expect • Real-time LUTs – monitor or bake in your intended look • Unlimited recording – no time limits, no overheating • Direct SSD recording via USB-C – great for ProRes and long-form work • Timecode sync – via HDMI or USB-C, useful for multi-cam setups • Waveform and vectorscope – built-in tools that usually need an external monitor • Full-size HDMI – a small but important detail for rigging • Support for 4:3, 3:2, 16:9, 1:1, 65:24 and 2:1 formats – ideal for everything from stills and social to cinema and panoramic work • Anamorphic support with in-camera desqueeze – shoot 4:3 at 3.3K with real-time preview for 1.3x to 2.0x lenses, making it easy to work with affordable anamorphic glass without needing an external monitor • Minimal focus breathing – a major benefit for video shooters using native lenses • Weather sealing – durable enough for use in less-than-ideal conditions • Customisable buttons – quickly tailor the camera to your shooting style • Shutter angle mode – use 180° shutter for consistent motion blur across frame rates That’s my take. This camera has already changed how I approach my work, and I haven’t even scratched the surface yet.

Amazing camera for super fair price. Thank you Panasonic for making these superb cameras! Quick delivery, everything is super. If someone is worried about moire - I could not replicate this problem. It can be visible sometimes, but only if you pixel peep hard and it's rare to happen.

This is best hybrid camera at this price range It has an amazing image quality and functionality Great Autofocus, 6k resolution, amazing color 10 bit, Vlog with pro codecs.

This camera is amazing, it’s way above my abilities at the moment but I’m learning fast. I own a couple of decent Sony cameras, one is a low level DSLR but this one is on a whole different level and is the first mirrorless camera I’ve owned. The instruction manual is huge but very comprehensive and easy to find your way around. Unfortunately it’s not a printed copy, it can be downloaded but it’s too big to print off. I do prefer to read something on paper rather than a screen but online does allow you to easily find the section you need. It’s a very substantial sturdy camera but not so heavy that you can’t carry it around. I am a bit scared of dropping it so at the moment it’s either around my neck or on a tripod, a case is on order. The battery life is second to none, I charged it initially and throughout testing it’s not needed recharging and still shows 2 bars. Using the manual, I’ve been able to take a few better than decent photos, make adjustments and generally play around with the settings. The auto focus is my go to setting for now but as I understand the dials and settings more that will change. The screen and view finder give a beautifully clear image of the picture you’re about to take. I find the way the rear screen moves and rotates is very useful. The picture quality is amazing, better than anything I’ve taken on my other cameras. The depth of image really shows almost making some appear 3D. I love the little square in the view finder that allows you to focus in on certain areas or open it up to the whole screen. It’s the first time I’ve managed to blur everything other than the focal point. I’ve found all the dials and controls I’ve used to be very responsive. There is an option to add a flash but I’ve been so impressed with the low light level photos I’ve taken I won’t be purchasing one. I’ve not done much with the video function other than to make sure it works, to be honest I’ve not used that function much in previous cameras so I’m not sure I’ll get much use with this one either I’m more of a stills person. It is very easy though to move from still photography to video recording. As I’ve only used Sony cameras in the past this is taking a bit of getting used to but I have to say it does without doubt produce the best images I’ve ever shot.

This is a superb camera with an excellent prime 50mm lens. It is made to the highest standard. A little research into technical reviews show it holds its head high in comparison with Nikon, Canon and Sony, its main rivals. As a layman I have no way of measuring technical details, this is best left to professional reviewers. There is no way I can score it less than 5 stars. My review concentrates on how the camera feels in use and other more practical matters. To put things in perspective I have had a lifelong interest in photography; I still have my first SLR which I bought second-hand over 50 years ago. I have owned many more since. I used to have my own colour darkroom before the digital era. So, on to the Lumix. As soon you pick it up it oozes quality. It has a metal body and this shows in its shape, it looks more like a traditional SLR compared with amorphous shape of cameras with an ABS body. It fits nicely into the hand, although I expected it to be a little smaller. The autofocus is really quick and quiet. When you press the button it makes a satisfying “clunk” which is only just audible – my wife didn’t hear it 3 metres away. I fitted a 512GB card and the camera showed I had 9999+ shots left! I had set it up in the best quality JPEG. The camera also handles RAW among other options. (I was a little concerned what size card to buy, neither the manual or any other source states a maximum size.) I have used it for 4 days and the battery is still three quarters full. You obviously have full control over shutter speed and aperture but there are automatic options. I especially liked the iA setting. The camera makes a prey good guess at what sort of photo you are taking, such as macro, portrait, landscape and so on. I am ploughing through the manual (over 800 pages) and learning more features daily. I am really pleased to have been given the chance to try it; I love using it and cannot fault the images I have taken. Would I have bought it? Probably no. I was not impressed at the availability of lenses. I have had problems sourcing a reasonably priced telephoto zoom. Except for Sigma there are no generic lenses available and Sigma has only a small offer. There was no built-in flash. I understand a professional would buy an external flash but so often you just want a flash for “fill-in”.

I don’t really have the same basis of comparison as some of the other reviewers, who seem to have significant experience of using higher-end cameras. This is the first camera I have ever owned that was priced at more than a few hundred pounds (hitherto the top end of cameras I have owned have been a Sony NEX-5R and a Fujifilm X-A10), so for me it’s a completely different experience. The set came in a brown box, with the lens in its own separate white box packaging and the camera in a retail box. The camera certainly feels like more camera than I’ve ever owned before. The finish is beautiful- smart, subtle (even the Lumix brand and model number are in black), and understated. The metal body is lightly textured and feels good to hold. The camera is not stupidly heavy, but still feels reassuringly solid. It’s well balanced for either one- or two-handed use, though in fairness at the moment I’m tending to stick to two hands or a tripod as this is one of the most expensive things I’ve ever owned (landing squarely between the barbecue hut and the greenhouse) and it makes me nervous. The image quality from this is spectacular. I received the set with the fixed 50mm lens, and am really enjoying playing about with settings to learn what I can do with my camera. This also has a generally excellent auto function, so that it can be handed to anyone to use (including me!), and should still generate reasonable pictures. Compatible with any lens using the Leica L-mount system. The lens takes 67mm thread filters. Video quality from this is superb. I’d been thinking about creating some hobbyist YouTube videos, and this has me convinced. This has excellent tracking, so is great for activity videos - I’ve filmed a couple following my nephews and the dog when they’re playing in the garden. The inbuilt microphone is decent enough to get started with, but I think I will want a separate mic. Images accompanying my review show the camera (in a Smallrig Black Mamba cage kit) as well as some of the test images I’ve taken with it. Daylight shots are all unfiltered. Nighttime shots have a Neewer 100x100mm natural night square filter.

I moved to mirrorless cameras a little while ago when I got the Nikon Z6 II which I still use to this day and in reviewing this LUMIX S5IIx camera I'll no doubt compare aspects of both. My main use of my Nikon is video recording with the occasional photograph. One of the biggest drawbacks to that camera is the LCD screen and it's inability to have it face you when you're in front of the camera, something which this LUMIX does with a nice fold out and rotatable display. The LUMIX is approximately the same size and weight as the Nikon and it immediately felt comfortable in the hand. This kit comes with a 50mm lens of plastic construction so adds very little extra weight. The body of the camera is of metal and plastic construction as opposed to the Nikon which is mainly plastic, this gives it a nice quality feeling albeit the memory card slot door does feel a bit cheap. The camera will take 2x SD cards which as an option I prefer over the Nikon's 1x SD and 1x CF slots. The LUMIX also has a full sized HDMI port on it, again I better option I feel. I've used Nikon cameras for years and I find the user interface to be really intuitive so moving to a different brand will always have a bit of a learning curve however I found the interface in the LUMIX to be just as easy to use and I was easily able to quickly find the options I needed. I found the viewfinder, once I'd adjusted it, to be clear and bright and focusing on the subject was super quick, oddly though when viewing the same subject through the LCD screen I did find that the camera hunting a bit more, this may be down to a setting I've not quite tweaked yet but something I noticed out of the box. In terms of video recording the S5IIx is a significant step up from the Nikon, it apparently has unlimited recording but a small note on the Panasonic website suggests this is subject to certain settings and thermal tolerances in the camera if will restrict to 30 minutes if required. So unless I'm missing the obvious, one annoying thing about the S5IIx is the lack of a standalone battery charger which means unless you buy something additional then you're having to charge on camera. This seems a bit of an oversight in my opinion but worth mentioning if you come from a brand that includes one in the kit. This does feel like a significant step up from the Z6 II and feels more pro level in a number of different ways. It's not a cheap kit but if you take your photography seriously this does seem to be a good investment.

If you're a fan of moire then go ahead and buy. I sent mine back for a refund. This camera should never have been released onto the market until this problem had been fixed.