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Panasonic S5

 
Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 front
 
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.0" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Push to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 714g - 133 x 97 x 82mm
  • Revealed August 2020
  • Updated by Panasonic S5 II
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
60
Imaging
76
Features
92
Overall
82

Panasonic S5 overview

Panasonic S5 is Panasonic's Pro Mirrorless camera originally released on August of 2020. The camera houses a 24MP, CMOS Full frame sized sensor and has a maximum resolution of 6000 x 4000.

Panasonic introduced the updated Panasonic S5 II (Read Full Comparison) in an effort to improve this camera.

The S5 is ranked #19 out of 70 in Pro Mirrorless cameras and all round #23 out of 1465 for cameras in our database. Remember to try out our Advanced camera filter to get camera ratings based on your customized criteria.

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The following is a diagram of multiple criteria used in the scoring system.

Panasonic S5 family

The Panasonic S5 comes with a history of related cameras. Listed below, you can look at all earlier and most recent models alongside main specifications.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Panasonic-Lumix-DC-S5-Mark-II front thumbnailPanasonic S5 II
S5 vs S5 II
24MPFull frame9.0 fps2023
Panasonic-Lumix-DC-S5-Mark-II-X front thumbnailPanasonic S5 II X
S5 vs S5 II X
24MPFull frame9.0 fps2023
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Panasonic-Lumix-DC-S5 front thumbnailPanasonic S524MPFull frame7.0 fps2020
Panasonic-Lumix-DC-S1H front thumbnailPanasonic S1H
S5 vs S1H
24MPFull frame9.0 fps2019
Panasonic-Lumix-DC-S1R front thumbnailPanasonic S1R
S5 vs S1R
47MPFull frame9.0 fps2019
Panasonic-Lumix-DC-S1 front thumbnailPanasonic S1
S5 vs S1
24MPFull frame9.0 fps2019
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Panasonic S5 Pros and Cons

Below is a selection of good and bad points of the Panasonic S5 based on factors which are oftentimes viewed as crucial in a camera.

2 card slots
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with HDMI out
comes with headphone support
comes with mic support
connects via bluetooth
does not have anti aliasing filter
environment sealing
fully articulated screen
good MP (24MP)
great high ISO (51,200)
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
great min ISO (100)
has manual focus
high resolution screen (1,840 k dots)
interchangeable lenses (Leica L mount)
nice screen size (3.0 inch)
provides face detect focus
provides tracking focus
quiet shutter (1/8,000s)
saves RAW files
selfie friendly screen
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports focus via touch
touch screen
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does not have phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Panasonic S5 Sensor info

The dimension of the sensor in the Panasonic S5 is 35.6mm x 23.8mm (Full frame). The 847 mm² sensor can resolve 6000 x 4000 pixels at aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera boasts Image Stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis). In body stabilization is more desirable than digital stabilization as the latter can easily produce cropping.

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The CMOS sensor boasts 24MP and delivers a native ISO range of 100 - 51200. This ISO can also be increased electronically to 50 - 204800. RAW format is saved which means that the user has wider margin for error.

Panasonic decided to skip the anti aliasing filter with the Panasonic S5. This can result in more clear photographs but may introduce moire in certain conditions.

The picture underneath illustrates the S5's sensor dimensions compared to other common sizes. The S5 sensor comes with a crop factor of 1 and is pointed out in green.

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To get an understanding of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Panasonic S5 dimensions

Panasonic S5 weighs around 1.57 pounds (714 gr or 25.19 oz) and the over all size of the camera is 133mm x 97mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2"). The weight of normal Pro Mirrorless camera is 722 gr so the Panasonic S5 is on par compared to various competitors.

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Down below is a shot of the Panasonic S5 with a soft drink to help you to have a sense of its scale.

Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 dimensions scale

The top view just below will show you the button arrangement on the S5.

Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 topview buttons dials

Panasonic S5 Lens info

The S5 works with the Leica L mount and has 52 lenses currently available. Below is a few of the lenses we have in our collection which will fit the S5.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Leica-Vario-Elmarit-SL-24-90mm-F2.8-4-ASPH lensLeica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm F2.8-4 ASPH24-90mmf/2.8-4.0 1140g
Sigma-100-400mm-F5-6.3-DG-DN-OS-Leica-SL lensSigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS100-400mmf/5-6.3 1135g
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Sigma-16mm-F1.4-DC-DN-Leica-L lensSigma 16mm F1.4 DC DN16mmf/1.4405g
Panasonic-Lumix-S-Pro-16-35mm-F4 lensPanasonic Lumix S Pro 16-35mm F416-35mmf/4 500g
Sigma-20mm-F1.4-DG-HSM-A-Leica-L lensSigma 20mm F1.4 DG HSM A20mmf/1.4 950g
Sigma-14mm-F1.8-DG-HSM-Art-Leica-L lensSigma 14mm F1.8 DG HSM Art14mmf/1.81170g
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Sigma-50mm-F1.4-DG-HSM-A-Leica-L lensSigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM A50mmf/1.4 815g
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Panasonic S5 Connectivity

The S5 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • Bluetooth Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras that incorporate NFC or Bluetooth support can easily be controlled wirelessly through smartphones. You can easily copy pictures and oftentimes alter camera settings with no need to connect straight to the camera.

Some applications even allow a Liveview and click the shutter in case you aren't near the camera. If the camera provides a HDMI out, it could be hooked up to an external monitor. Nearly all cameras enable you to recharge the battery through the USB socket.

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Panasonic S5 Video info

The maximum video quality in the Panasonic S5 is 3840 x 2160 and it can capture in MPEG-4, H.264 and H.265 format. 2160p will provide an excellent quality for video recording. You can easily crop to Full HD in order to get clearer results. Be wary of the huge file sizes and make sure you get high quality SD cards that have fast write speed. The camera does feature both headphone and mic support making it incredibly useful while capturing audio.

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Panasonic S5 Weather Sealing

Panasonic S5 has got environment sealing which makes it a great candidate to use in rough locations. This is especially helpful any time you are uncertain about the conditions you might face in outdoor photography.

Panasonic S5 Display and Viewfinder

The Panasonic S5 is equipped with a 3.0" fully articulated display boasting a resolution of 1,840k dots.

It possesses a selfie friendly display to shoot self portraits as well as group photos when required. Additionally the display is touch friendly which means that you can easily set focus points plus adjust settings using your fingertips.

Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 screen and viewfinder Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

The ViewFinder specifications regarding Panasonic S5 are the following:

  • ViewFinder Electronic
  • Resolution 2,360k dots
  • Coverage 100 percent
  • Magnification 0.74x

Viewfinders are very handy in sunny outdoor conditions which will make the camera display washed out and difficult to view.

Panasonic S5 Shutter info

Panasonic S5 continuous shooting rate is 7.0 frames/s. The highest shutter speed is 1/8000s. The camera also features silent electronic shutter of 1/8000s. Keep in mind that the electronic shutter may result in "rolling shutter" in certain situations.

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Panasonic S5 Flash and Hot shoe info

Panasonic S5 boasts external flash ability but does not include built in flash. The max flash sync is 1/250s.

Panasonic S5 Autofocus info

Panasonic S5 boasts just Contrast Detect AF and is missing Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection focusing is more snappier and accurate compared with Contrast Detect focusing. The camera supports Face detect making it helpful for people photography.

The AF system supports 225 focus points to pick from. Panasonic S5 has touch to focus. You can use your fingers in order to adjust where you focus. It also includes Tracking AF for moving things. Panasonic S5 boasts manual focus if required in low light situations or you want to have more precise control on focus.

Photography Glossary

Panasonic S5 Battery life

The battery on the Panasonic S5 is built to last for 440 shutters with respect to the CIPA benchmarks which is comparable with its rivals. The general Pro Mirrorless camera battery life is 460. Olympus E-M1X features the highest possible (870) battery life in this category of cameras.

Listed below is a number of Pro Mirrorless cameras that have the best battery life:

Panasonic S5 for specific categories of photography

The following graph gives a analysis of the Panasonic S5 for specific categories of photography. To read more, check out the specific section underneath.

Panasonic S5 Portrait photography details

The Panasonic S5 has a rating of 85 which is excellent, and means the camera is a superb pick for portrait images. Shooting portraits favors greatly towards sensor dimensions, RAW support and potential to utilize off-camera lighting.

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you can focus manually
decent MP (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats

Street photography with Panasonic S5

With a exceptional rating of 78, the Panasonic S5 is a brilliant choice to buy for street photography. A very good street photography camera gives a fine balance of picture quality plus portability.

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screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
has touch to focus
weather proofing
very good ISO range (51,200)

Panasonic S5 as a Sports photography camera

A wonderful sports photography points total of 81 means the Panasonic S5 is a tremendous pick for taking photos of sports. A camera must have great autofocus and fast shutter speeds for sports photography.

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great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
silent shutter (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count decent (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking focus
environment proofing
doesn't have phase detect autofocus

Panasonic S5 Travel photography features

Portability is super critical when getting a travel camera. In general, the Panasonic S5 gets a outstanding 79 as a travelling camera which is a superb pick for your travels.

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weather proofing
connects via bluetooth
includes focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (24 megapixels)
display is selfie friendly

Panasonic S5 Landscape photography information

For anybody who is planning to pick a digital camera for landscape photographs, the most critical factor will be image quality. The Panasonic S5 at it's excellent rating of 86 for a landscape camera is a wonderful choice amongst its competitors.

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has manual focus
swap lenses (Leica L mount)
pretty good screen size (3.0 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
no anti aliasing filter
very good high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW files
weather proof
has double storage slots

Panasonic S5 Vlogging features

A vlogging camera preferably should come with a articulating screen, mic port and preferably IBIS. Taking everything into account, the Panasonic S5 is a fantastic fit as a vlog camera as it comes to a outstanding score of 79.

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display is selfie friendly
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focusing
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with mic jack

Panasonic S5 Alternatives

If you are in the market for replacements to the S5, here is a list of the highest scored cameras which fall under the class of Pro Mirrorless.

The diagram listed below will give you an overview of the S5 versus it's highest rated rivals mentioned previously.

Here are a few more cameras you might view as alternative options. To see a full comparison, simply click the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand Name
Panasonic
Model
Panasonic Lumix DC-S5
Class
Pro Mirrorless
Revealed
2020-08-14
Physical type
SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Sensor size
Full frame
Sensor dimensions
35.6 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area
847.3mm²
Sensor resolution
24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution
6000 x 4000
RAW photos
Highest native ISO
51200
Highest boosted ISO
204800
Minimum native ISO
100
Minimum boosted ISO
50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points
225
Lens
Lens mounting type
Leica L
Total lenses
31
Focal length multiplier
1
Screen
Type of display
Fully Articulated
Display diagonal
3.0 inch
Display resolution
1,840k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Electronic
Viewfinder resolution
2,360k dots
Viewfinder coverage
100 percent
Viewfinder magnification
0.74x
DXO scores
DXO All around score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Slowest shutter speed
60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed
1/8000 seconds
Maximum quiet shutter speed
1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate
7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range
no built-in flash
Flash options
Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync w/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize
1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions
3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 200 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution
3840x2160
Video format
MPEG-4, H.264, H.265
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
Yes (can be charged with high-power laptop/tablet chargers or portable power banks)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
714 grams (1.57 lb)
Physical dimensions
133 x 97 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2")
Other
Battery life
440 images
Style of battery
Battery Pack
Self timer
Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type
SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card
Card slots
Two
Retail cost
$1,999