This is an updated S5 II Review, the only section that has changed is the autofocus portion. We did this because we messed up and used Face & Eye instead of Human for the tests and we were not running the latest firmware so we felt the need to rerender with new testing and there really is a big difference in performance. We've sacrificed the initial 10K views and all the lovely engagement from everyone so please comment, like and share this new video! Thank you for watching! Jake HDMI LATENCY TEST - If you turn off Sound Output Via HDMI in the menu the latency drops to 180 milliseconds. Much better!
Great to hear this and thanks for being honest with the amended vid - I watched your initial review yesterday and was wondering whether a firmware update could improve the performance you reported - good to see that it has. Been shooting with pana cameras for years and only recently moved away from my EVA1 - but still use an S5 as a b-cam - I hope this AF advancement can help them claw back some more market share as I really think their cameras are the best bang for buck for image quality. Interested to see where they take the S1H - if they announce a new model, I might upgrade my S5.
Massive props for doing this, willing to sacrifice views for quality and objectivity. After stumbling onto your channel by accident, I watched pretty much all of your backlog...and absolutely love the objective, all encompassing and just technical enough reviews. Currently a GH4 user looking to upgrade and probably will go for the X variant in may purely because of the IP streaming functionality, speaking of which if it is possible for future reviews if a camera supports IP streaming to get a small segment in the video where you just say how easy it is to set up, is a dongle or adapter necessary, are there limitation with recording or outputs while streaming and most importantly what is the quality. Thank you for your hard work.
I'd love to see if the Prores 422 HQ coming out of the S5 IIX is good enough for a feature production. That seems to be the best case scenario. However, I am waiting for them to bring the S1H II with a CFExpress Type B slot, and non-cropped 4K 60P and 4K 120P, along with the goodies from this S5 series. Something that can go up against the FX3 or even the FX6. And could we get an EVA-1 style body with the same features as the S1H II? That is an incredible camera which would do really well with the L mount and full frame treatment :)
I think the fairer comparison would be with the X-H2 rather than the X-H2S (which really isn't quite as good at video) But the X-H2 costs more... so the S5mk2 is easily the better value option!
I own an X-H2s, and I’m quite certain the Fuji AF is not as good. I plan to sell my Fuji. Let me know if you’re interested. My guess is Fuji will make it better. That’s what they always do.
Have some lovely engagement. So the S5ii. The shot across the bow at the big boys who give us firmware every year (at best) and can't figure out shutter angle or video assist tools. The big boys who said "Eh, Autofocus is our ace. No need to give them the rest." I bet Panasonic going modern will be responsible for a lot of innovation across the market. Especially if GH gets PDAF next. Or a new S1 👀
"Industry Standards" involve Panavision, Arri and Red cameras. This standard is very slow. New camera makers introduce things not dreamed of 5 years ago. Now there is a challenge between old and new. Indi's use the new, while oldies ignore the rest of he world. Available tech will beat the old makers very quickly.
Yes please! Would LOVE to see extensive AF-C tests with EF lenses with the Sigma adapter! I think lots of people have been using EF glass for the last 10 years for video, so it would make sense :-)
I agree. This camera - and presumably future LUMIX L mount and potentially G/G mount cameras with PDAF - may become a valid option for DSLR owners and or other EF mount owners looking to move to mirrorless. An exception will be if they need lens-based IS which still won’t work.
Thanks for redoing the af tests. I recognized that your initial tests were a bit off compared to others I've seen yesterday, and really appreciate the update!
I’ve got the original S5 since it came out and I gotta say it’s nearly perfect. It does everything so well and as a cinematographer I do not care for autofocus. I have to say though this new version with such improved autofocus is a really nice present. Although I really wished they added 4K 120p (be it cropped) and the 4K 60p to uncropped. The 120p on the S5MK1 is really bad and not really usable in my opinion so wished for an upgrade for that. I hope they will add it to the mark 2 X since that is going to be fully video orientated. Oh yes, since everyone is using an external monitor, make the screen of the camera tilt-shifted instead of flippy. With the flippy design your HDMI cable will just be in the way all the time…
Excellent review as usual. If Panasonic can fine tune the AF with a firmware update, then the S5ii is a real consideration for me. Although, I would most likely go for the S5iiX for the ability to record to SSD, etc. I switched to Sony last year from BMPCC4K because of the Sony autofocus. But, I shot with Panasonic before the BMPCC4K. And I've always preferred Panasonic color science when it comes to skin tones. I, too, would love to see BRAW as a choice. Especially since I already use DaVinci Resolve for editing and grading. Being able to return to shooting with shutter angle and other Panasonic features would be great for my indie/low budget filmmaking. Maybe by the time the S5iiX comes out in May they will have solidified the PDAF performance. Crossing fingers.
Thank you so much for such a characteristically great and detailed review. I always come to your channel for great and practical reviews---they're the best!!! You should have many, many more subscribers. Only 2 suggestions for the future. Get a lovely young lady for your video samples (that will increase your subscribers--I kid you not), and 2, stop wasting coffee beans in your slow mo footage. S5II stabilization, no overheating, fantastic value/price ratio, the Panasonic Xlr unit is better than Sonys, C4k, plus arguably equal AF: GAME OVER, Sony. GAME OVER, Canon! I'm selling my A74. I didn't want to buy it anyway. The image, by comparison, looks too digital, while the Panasonic is more natural looking with better skin tones and texture. Panasonic is very impressive.
I like how you featured the cinematographer's bible, The Cine Lens Manual by Probst and Holben in your subtle, but not so subtle shots reviewing the S5ii! In 2016, Jay Holben gave a number of amazing technical presentations at the Level One Global Cinematography Institute of Cinematography of Yuri Neyman's in Hollywood. I was privileged to be able to participate in one of the last sessions of that most inspiring program which had been created by the late Vilmos Zsigmond and Yuri Neyman. 😎😎
Absolutely brilliant review with a high understandable amounth of geekiness. I use several GH5s for my little outdoor RU-vid review channel and I was very disappointed that the GH6 was still poor at autofocus. This is important to me because I shoot everything myself and I sometimes F-up when shooting myself hiking with the poor GH5 autofocus on. The S5II seems like a nice option, allthough... I was looking for a cheaper vlogging camera - like the Nikon Z30 - just for this vlogging-style purpose. Thank you very much for the in-depth reviews you do.
Hi Jake. I don't think CVP messed up, more like Panasonic. I'd have expected 'face and eye' to have not switched off the face focal plane when the face was lost. Maybe Panasonic wanted to give both options but it is an odd way of going about it. To add my previous comments Kudos for picking this up in the first place - few others did. Updating the review has bumped the value of this camera up to me, I'm particularly interested in the video image stabilisation. I need to watch your lens reviews. Cheers.
I haven't finished the video yet, but just wanted to comment that you can achieve this with the focus limiter if you need it. Say for instance you want a shot where you're talking in the camera and want to turn and walk away into the bokeh for an outro, you'd set face+eye and focal limit to your desired max range and it will drop off tracking once you hit that distance and you should then be walking out of focus from then on. Granted, it's a bit more work to setup but it's much more powerful. Imagine you're talking to the camera in front of some historical site and there's a statue of particular interest behind you. You can set the depth of the statue to your max depth, so when you walk off camera, the camera racks to the statue as opposed to staying at your focal plane or going to infinity
why are people have so much to complain about micro hdmi on the S5? the only downside of it is that you have to buy an extra cable right or is there more to it?
Hey CVP, thanks for your commitment to accurate information! Since you're one of the only reviewers mentioning the properly measured HDMI lag, could you test the delay again by disabling "Sound Output (HDMI)" in the "HDMI Rec Output" menu? Gerald Undone did and noticed a "night and day difference" but did not provide actual numbers :( Not ideal, but if your main concern is MF we could gain back some important ms. This behavior is really similar to the GH6 actually so it makes sense
Have conducted it using the same methodology. With the Sound Output via HDMI turned off it drops to 180 Milliseconds! I will put this in the pinned comment. Jake
This may be my next camera. Bit of a dick move charging extra for some “pro video features” but having the best IBIS makes me choose it over my preferred brand Fuji. Saying it’s pretty good for photos is a bit harsh 😂 I’ve seen some amazing shots from it
Is it true that the S5II is only able to use contrast detect AF in 1080 ??? Check this test. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dEpmUfyESRc.html If so I will cancel my order
I'd love to see more about the performance of EF glass on this camera. Like a lot of video folks, I'm pretty heavily invested in the EF lens mount, so this and later Panasonic cameras would be pretty desirable if EF lenses can be adapted with minimal compromise.
nice video. I need to confirm one point from you, which is very crucial for a videographer like me. Does the S5II loose AF if we are gonna use an external monitor like liliput. I am asking this, because for all my work, I depend on external monitor. Please reply. This is a buying factor me. 🙏
Hey JK just to confirm the MC21 adapter firmware 1.4 will let EF(canon and sigma) lens AF in video mode / AFC -- just like the native L mount lenses? is that true? please confirm!!! :D thank you :D love you guys videos, they are super informal and detailed!!! :D
@@CVPTV Hey Jake BIG THANK YOU ON THAT!!! I guess I am buying it once it is out in May :D I have the S1R AF is the weakest point :D haha lol THANK YOU AGAIN BRO. Keep up the amazing videos!!! :D
Thanks for this great review! Just wondering what would happen if you use a EF lens with IS and turn it on? On the GH5 if I adapt a EF with IS you can only have either body or lens IS. They don't work both at the same time. Thanks again
Is the video image quality and features better on S5IIX than Panasonic AU EVA1 please advise ? What is the pros on the S5XII?What is the pros of EVA1?Which has the best sensor / cinematic look?Which camera is more pro?
As a Nikon stills shooter (and Blackmagic cine operator) I had hoped the Z8 might improve Nikon’s video chops enough that I could consider their new offering for hybrid social media work I need to tackle these days. No open gate etc etc in the Z8 so I started to consider the alternatives. Till now the lack of phase detect has kept me away from Panasonic, but not any longer. Here’s 6k Open Gate at a very reasonable price with all the common tools I find in proper video cameras. Sold! And I have an S5IIx coming. **However** please Panasonic make it so I can feed external timecode into this camera. I don’t care about the separate port. As with the BMPCCs, allow the camera to convert the 3.5mm audio into embedded timecode. Then the S5II series would be very close to perfect.
have used the S5 over 2years. very satisficed IBIS, battery life, interfaces, codec, SD cards. glad that I/O changed to full-hdmi (was really painful to use micro-hdmi), new AF. disappointed parts are still not available 'no crop 4k 60fps', ergonomics, display, EVF. but, considering price point, it is still fascinating. should wait for the S1H ii.
Basically a no-brainer camera if you're ok with its rolling shutter. Yes, Sony still has better AF but it's finally good enough so that better software and stab can play their part. I was really disappointed when Fuji didn't add proper tracking in their X-H2 line, but now I know which camera to get.
How do I download the latest firmware for it? Ive tried going on Panasonics site but I can only find s5 firmware updates but not S5ii .someone please help
great review without fanboism! would u choose xh2s over this camera as hybrid ( photo video=)? or at least maybe just newer verision how it cimpares to the competition ( not new video ) just shrt updated where panasonic stands
Thank you guys for the excellent video. By far the best value out there. I have the original S5 and love it. I shoot into a Ninja V monitor so I get 5.9k RAW, FULL FRAME, 422, 12 BIT PRORES. The image is pure poetry. I don't feel the need to step up to this model, but I will be looking at the MK II X. I don't use autofucus, but THANK GOD Panasonic can now claim to be up there with the very best, on every level. At this price it is insane. I just shot a feature film on the S5 and the camera never gave me a second of worry. The only place left to go for Panasonic is a global shutter!!!!!!!
@@antonioderosa521 They are both full frame, 24 megapixel, so the resolution is the same. I think I heard the read out speed is slightly faster on the new camera. Not fast enough to make much difference to the rolling shutter. I think you have to go to the S1H for significantly higher read out (7 or 8 milliseconds faster) but no phase detect in the S1H ...yet. (same sensor as S1H though) Rolling shutter obviously makes a difference for action sequences: no fast pans. You have to make the action come toward or go away from the camera...or rent a global shutter rig for those shots. You can correct in post but I am not too keen on that approach. And note, you don;t get RAW output on the S5II unless you pay extra. (200 bucks) The S5II "X" will give you RAW for free and a few extra internal; codecs for that extra 200. Worth waiting for that or get the now really cheap S5 if you don't need auto focus. Once more, shooting into the Ninja the image is incredible. 12 bit 422, full frame Raw at 5.9k! You would need to spend 70k on an Alexa to even get close to how wonderful the image is. I have shot Alexa and REds so I know how close they are. Last note, you will break the micro end of the HDMI cables unless you clamp them, but no problem with the actual small out put socket on the camera, that seems robust enough.
@@charliemcgrain thank you. I love the Pana colors and I'd like to get a Varicam but unfortunately it is discontinued. So the lumix line seems to be close enough, I'd like to get ProRes or RAW, yes the auto focus should be great but I can work without. I think value for money the first S5 can be the right choice. What do you think?
@@antonioderosa521 As mentioned, I shoot into the Ninja (I always need a monitor anyway) So I can just shoot 4k prores or the RAW at 5.9k into the Ninja (400 bucks for a Ninja but worth every penny) The RAW as you know gives you 422 12 bit. The files are pretty big so it depends on your needs if you go RAW. This feature I just shot will run at 90 mins and we shot 12 terabytes of RAW. But you can edit and grade it like butter on a decent laptop, and changing the SSD's off the back of the Ninja is just such an easy slick workflow on set. I will consider the S5 II "X" when it comes out. I shoot fast and light to keep the costs down, but, having some redundancy on the X, like the internal codecs that will give a nice back up system if the Ninja should go down. Also the new IBIS looks great and that could certainly add some back up for the Ronan gimble. But, man, you can pick up an S5 body right now for 1000 bucks and get a Ninja and you are still saving cash on the new version. I can't say enough great things about the image coming out of this thing into the Ninja, side by side with Alexa footage and you cannot see the difference. The value is just mind blowing. Happy shooting bro.
If phase detect autofocus is added to the S1H that would be great but the price tag on an S1H with phase detect might be even higher for a camera body that is already expensive.
All the modes this camera offers for users of anamorphic lenses is impressive. I shoot on Sony and I'd LOVE to have these features. This camera is truly and beast and I have to say I really love the images coming out of it!
I believe the purpose of it isn't to improve what you focus on but in telling it what to ignore. To give a scenario: you're covering a sporting event for your university RU-vid channel. You want to sign off your report talking head shot and have the camera rack to infinity. If you're on human detect, you run the risk of the camera latching onto some background referee or player and starting to track them as they pace back and forth. Or you're doing a talking head at the mall and same thing, you want to walk off camera and have the camera rack to the storefront behind you instead of latching on to each passerby as they walk in and out of frame.
What battery are you using at 5:29 ? Looks like it’s charging the Ninja V at the same time as usb c charging the camera. That’s a smart hack. I’d like to purchase one of those batteries.
You could see the setup, we show it in the video. We also clearly explained the modes that both cameras are in. Both cameras regular stab modes, No electronic ones enabled. Jake
The only reason I won't swap my A7 IV for this is the lack of full frame 4k@60, and while if I am purchasing my first camera right now, I'd go for the S5II, I am not going to sell my full kit , to get yet another camera that lacks that feature. It's a shame in 2023 FF 4k60 is still not standard affair! Otherwise a fantastic camera at a spectacular price! Still holding high hopes for a Z6III, assuming I don't manage to buy A7sIII in the meantime.
That’s a really fair perspective and fully understand. It’s a shame Lumix waited so long to ad PDAF, definitely lost a few customers to Sony. Here’s hoping lumix keeps up with this and provides real competition to Sony for some good old innovation driven by competition! That being said I’ve never really had an issue with apsc crop in 4k60. It’s not ideal but pretty easy to plan and adapt for and the quality out of it is by far enough. So for me it’s still the way to go, but I understand for others it’s not and if really is a shame lumix didn’t put more recent sensor that would enable them to do full frame 4k60
@@jockturner1547 the quality is not an issue, but when I shoot real estate and want to slow down the footage to get buttery smooth shots, I either need to go down to 1080p, which while being useful is a far cry from 4K detail, or I need to get another APS-C lens to cover my wide angle needs. Both are not ideal, since I either lose quality, or I need to buy a lens just for that specific reason. Then if I go ahead and shoot a music video, and I want a 35 mil prime look, I have to get a 23 mil lens and so on.. then my whole kit gets bigger and more expensive, to the point where I should just get a different camera. The worst thing is, they can give us line skipped/binned option, but they choose not to.
@@michaeldimitrov1444 yeah I get you, that’s fair enough. The stuff I shoot, which is more story focused brand films where we do a lot of interviews and a more raw style of overlay usually shot at 50fps (Australia) we always deliver in 1080p as the footage is generally being used for social media marketing where 4k is completely pointless and a waste of hdd space so shooting 4k50 is normally easy to account for by just stepping back a little or I just shoot in 1080p50. For you’re line of work, the real estate mainly I can 100% understand your requirements for full width 50fps. Although is the Sony a7iv not also cropped 4k60? Don’t you need to go up to a a7siii which is a completely different pricing range than the s5ii or am I wrong? Edit: sorry I forgot you mentioned the a7iv in the original comment! Yes it’s crazy it isn’t a standard yet and is likely due to the same sensor being used which is causing the limitation. Does feel especially frustrating that Panasonic had full width 4k60p on the GH5 over 5 years ago and you would think that tech would trickle into the full frame range by now but it still feels like it’s being held back
@Eric Goodmark Their 1.8 primes cost wayyyyy too much, much more than Canon and Sony offerings. Plus Sony Third Party lenses like Samyang, Viltrox and the like are absolutely killing with quality and price. Panasonic need some killer lenses or some at a better price but as it stand Panasonic only caught up to the competition, not surpassed them
Prices on the lens system are better than the canon, sigma puts out basically everything on it, and apparently EF adapted glass works great so there's options here.
@@spaceghostcqc2137 From what I have read, even some of the best EF USM glass is not as fast as the RF counterparts. No surprise...these are brand new bodies doing AF at a level nobody expected.
@@CVPTV hey thanks for your answer ! I just sold both my Gh5 and Bmpcc4k because I need something that can shoot cinematic style videos and take good pictures for my other business too (but video is more important) I think s52x would be perfect but I cat wait that long. I mostly use the sigma 18-35 (canon mount).
Don't forget to tell viewers that FHD autofocus only works in contrast mode (same as the S5 and GH5-6). For some reason, all bloggers are silent about this. Accordingly, you cannot get 50/100 not in crop and with phase focus. This is a huge disappointment after the purchase. Nobody talks about it.
Different options for different people and workflows, the X uses SD the same SD cards slots as the regular S5 II which is probably why it cant record ProRes internally. Jake
