Panasonic’s New S5II and S5IIX Cameras lastly give PDAF to Lumix

Panasonic has lastly upped the standard of its Lumix cameras by bringing phase-detection AF to its new full-frame mirrorless S5II and S5IIX cameras.

Beforehand, the model’s digicam fashions typically suffered from weak contrast-based depth from defocus AF efficiency particularly as a result of they lacked this necessary function. Now that’s supposedly over.

Panasonic’s S5II and S5IIX are comparable besides of their video recording specs and superficial design particulars.

Their predominant divergence is within the video specs of every. Photographically although, they’re each full-frame fashions with 24.2-megapixel 35mm-equivalent CMOS sensors with a brand new imaging engine.

They’re additionally the first-ever Panasonic Lumix mirrorless cameras to come back with part detection autofocus (PDAF) know-how constructed into their new Part Hybrid AF package deal.

This new function inclusion for higher contrast-based depth from defocus AF high quality isn’t to say that Panasonic’s Lumix cameras have been beforehand weak gadgets; fairly the opposite.

The Lumix line of cameras hasn’t been as flashy successful story as a number of the gadgets launched by different manufacturers like Fujifilm, Canon or Sony, however they’ve quietly change into enormously profitable and even beloved amongst a big set of customers.

With the brand new PDAF function although, the model’s newest fashions, the S5II and S5IIX promise to take Lumix high quality to a brand new degree.

The opposite normal specs of those two improved editions are very comparable since they’re each primarily based on the unique Panasonic S5 digicam mannequin. As we talked about above, the primary distinction between them is a few further video options that the S5IIX comes with.

Their normal listing of specs and options consists of:

• Full-frame 24.2MP sensor with a 96MP excessive decision mode
• 5-axis in-body picture stabilization
• A 779-point Part Hybrid AF system with the brand new PDAF know-how
• 9 fps mechanical and 30 fps digital burst taking pictures
• ProRes
• 4K video at 50p and 6K video at 30p
• Constructed-in reside streaming skills for the S5IIX
• Twin SH UHS-OO card slots
• L-mount Alliance compatibility for lens interchangeability amongst manufacturers like Leica, SIGMA and others

Each additionally include many different noteworthy specs that embrace improved ISO efficiency and a crisp 3.68-million-dot OLED viewfinder with a 1.52x magnification ratio. On the again of those cameras, Panasonic has positioned a 3-inch LCD “free-angle” contact show with a 1.84-million dot decision.

The imaging engine of the 2 cameras has additionally been strongly improved. It’s the primary to be developed below the 2022 L2 Know-how partnership between Panasonic and Leica for higher decision, pure description and sign procession throughout excessive bit-rate video recording.

Nonetheless, the Part Hybrid AF system of the 2 cameras is their single most notable enchancment over earlier Lumix releases.

That is the place Panasonic has added the brand new phase-detection AF system and the spectacular growth to 779 AF factors that, as Panasonic claims, ought to “considerably” enhance the monitoring efficiency of those new releases.

Based on Panasonic, “As soon as the S5II and S5IIX are locked on a topic, the autofocus will proceed to trace the topic, even in opposed lighting circumstances and when a number of objects are transferring inside the body,”

The corporate additionally elaborates that “Moreover, steady AF throughout zooming, AF micro changes, and choices to lower the dimensions of the AF space can be found.”

Each cameras additionally embrace twin native ISO for minimal noise era. This has been designed to optimize picture processing primarily based on mild sensitivity. The utmost out-of-box ISO vary of the S5II and S5IIX is 51,200.

The burst taking pictures modes of the 2 cameras allow them to seize as much as 9 frames per second with AFS, 7 fps with AFC and 30 frames per second with each AFS and AFC utilizing the digital shutter. Capturing in mixed JPEG/RAW works with all of those settings.

Each burst taking pictures and single-shot images get helped enormously by the picture stabilization system of the 2 cameras. This combines 5-axis sensor stabilization with the optical picture stabilization present in all Lumix S-Collection lenses.

The picture stabilization options of the cameras work for video recording too. As Panasonic describes, “The 5-axis Twin I.S. 2 works for each picture and video recording, together with 4K. As well as, Energetic I.S. has been added for much more secure video recording,”

Each cameras include stable connectivity options too. These embrace an HDMI Sort-A port and USB 3.2 Gen 2 connectivity with a cable lock holder constructed into the cameras for each of those ports. Inside, they each include twin UHS-II card slots.

On a ultimate connectivity notice, they each function WiFi 5Ghz and Bluetooth 5.0 wi-fi connectivity.

Bodily, the S5II and S5IIX are additionally fairly robustly designed for heavy area use in keeping with Panasonic. The model has given them composed magnesium permit our bodies which might be designed for a excessive splash and mud resistance.

Additionally they have high-capacity batteries that may deal with the standard drain of mirrorless digicam taking pictures and allow them to shoot for prolonged intervals.

Of the 2 cameras, the S5IIX differs primarily in its video recording specs. In contrast to the opposite mannequin, it has further information writing capabilities that embrace RAW video output and All-Intra in addition to ProRes taking pictures on to an SSD reminiscence connected through USB-C. The S5IIX additionally consists of wi-fi IP streaming and USB tethering.

Each cameras provide 4:2:0 10-bit 6K (3:2) and 5.9K (16:9) limitless 4:2:2 10-bit C4K/4K taking pictures specs for video together with a complete pile of different video specs that we’ll cowl in a later assessment.

Panasonic will likely be releasing the 2 new game-changer Lumix cameras with their extremely improved AF Hybrid system this month and in Could. The Lumix S5II is retailing for $1,997.99 whereas the S5IIX sells for pre-order at $2,197.99. The latter digicam will begin delivery in Could when you’d favor its further video recording specs.