Panasonic DC-S5
Panasonic 's Full-Frame camera in the ‘affordable’ range
The Panasonic Lumix S5 was launched on September 2, 2020. This is the fourth camera in Panasonic’s S-series. The S5 has a form factor similar to the GH5 but with added features similar to the S1 and S1H. It is a compact, lightweight model that, according to Panasonic, ‘provides excellent performance in both photos and videos’. Let’s see how it fares in our review…
Design & Build Quality
The Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 is a compact, lightweight, hybrid mirrorless, full frame, L-mount camera. It is built tough (uses a magnesium alloy chassis) and is dust resistant.
It is also splash-resistant with lenses designed to offer this feature. The body weighs approx. 740 g with the battery and is made in China.
Key Features
The Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 boasts of a 24.2 megapixel (effective) CMOS sensor with Dual Native ISO technology that improves low-light performance. This operates in conjunction with V-Log. The Dual Native ISOs are ISO 640 and 4000. What this means is that the S5 – as well as some other Panasonic cameras – have a special technology that exploit the information from the camera’s imaging sensor, extend the dynamic range and reduce ‘noise’. This technology operates automatically. The S5 does not have a Low-Pass Filter. It is backed by the Venus Engine processor.
The S5 also offers Dual IS 2 – this feature provides 5-axis dual stabilisation by combining the control of the in-body image stabilisation and lens’ Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS), thereby offering 6.5-stops of advantage in shutter speeds when using the S-R 24-105 mm, S-E 70-200 mm and S-R 70-200 mm lenses. This is based on CIPA standards.
The view inder is an OLED Live View Finder with approx. 2.36-million dot resolution. It has an eye sensor and a display time lag of 0.005 seconds. The rear monitor is TFT LCD with static touch control having a resolution of approx. 1.84 million dots. The S5 uses contrast AF and DFD (Depth from Defocus) technology. Focus modes available are AF-S (Single) and AF-C (Continuous). AF modes are: Auto Detection (of Face, Body or Animals) / Tracking / 225-Area / Zone (Horizontal / Vertical) / Zone (Square) / Zone (Oval) / 1-Area + / 1-Area / Pinpoint / Custom 1, 2, and 3. AF detection range is from EV -6 to 20 (f/1.4, ISO 100).
Exposure modes on the Panasonic DCS5 are Program (P), Aperture priority (A), Shutter priority (S) and Manual (M). Expose Control is via a 1728-zone multi-pattern sensing system while the Exposure Modes are Multiple, Centreweighted, Spot and Highlight weighted. There are two memory card slots, both for SD cards.
ISO range on the S5 is from ISO 100 - 51,200, plus Auto. Extended ISO range is ISO 50, 102,400 and 204,800. The S5 uses a focal plane shutter. Shutter speeds range according to the mode the camera is set in. For ‘still’ photography, it is 60 sec – 1/8000 sec, plus Bulb (max. 30 minutes); With the electronic front curtain shutter, shutter speeds range from 60 sec – 1/2000 sec, plus Bulb (max. 30 minutes); Electronic shutter speeds are from 60 sec – 1/8000sec, plus Bulb (max. 60 minutes). For Motion Picture, speeds vary from 1/25 sec -1/16,000 sec, and in the Creative Video mode, it ranges from 0.5 sec – 1/16,000 sec (M mode/ MF mode).
As with several recent cameras, the S5 too offers a lot in terms of video, but, here is a short detailing of what the camera is capable of. The Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 can shoot videos at the following resolutions (PAL, 50Hz): 4K 3840 x 2160 25p with 8-bit as well as 10-bit option, 4K 3840 x 2160 50p 10- bit, 1920 x 1080 25p and 1920 x 1080 50p with 8- bit as well as 10- bit options. The camera also offers an anamorphic mode at 3328 x 2496 (4:3) at 25p as well as 50p with options to record up to 10-bit.
The recording ile formats available are MOV: H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC, H.265 / HEVC with LPCM audio and MP4:H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC, H.265 / HEVC with AAC audio format.
The 24.2 megapixel full frame sensor in the S5 can record up to 4K 60p 10- bit iles internally with crop factor added at certain resolutions. In the newly added S&Q mode (Slow and Quick) which allows the user to create slow motion videos internally, the S5 can shoot HD (1920 x 1080 25p/50p) at 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, 100, 120, 150 and 180 fps with autofocus working up to 120 fps. The audio, however, is not recorded while shooting in this mode.
The S5 has a dynamic range of 14+ stops which can be utilised with the help of V-Log / V Gamut which comes preinstalled in the S5 body, along with HLG and some new cine pro iles. The camera is packed with features like Waveforms, zebra, focus peaking and also LUT monitoring to help you get the correct exposure every time.
An important feature of the S5 is the 6K/4K Photo, which could be a bird photographer’s ‘dream come true’. You fire off an unlimited burst and then extract the frames that you want to keep. You can do this using the 6K Photo Mode at 30 fps and extract approx. 18-megapixel photos from it. If you want to freeze even faster motion, you can use the 4K Photo Mode at 60 fps. What’s more, the S5 permits you to use any of the three 6K/4K modes – (1) 6K/4K Burst: Hold down the shutter release button to start, and then release the finger pressure to stop; (2) 6K/4K Burst SS: Press the shutter button to start; press again to stop; (3) 6K/4K Pre-Burst: Recording starts 1 sec before the shutter button is pressed. All this is not possible when you use a conventional camera! The Burst shooting rate varies with the camera setting.
White Balance can be set to Auto White Balance (AWB) / AWB c / AWB w / Daylight / Cloudy / Shade / Incandescent / Flash / White Set 1, 2, 3, 4 / Colour Temperature setting 1, 2, 3, 4. The S5 offers four bracketing modes: Auto Exposure, Aperture, Focus and White balance. The Drive Mode Dial at the top left of the camera offers the following drive modes: Single, Burst I & II, Time Lapse/Stop Motion Animation, and Self-timer.
The camera is powered by a 7.2V DMW –BLK22 Lithium-ion Battery Pack.
Ergonomics
We received the Panasonic Lumix DCS5 with the 20-60 mm f/3.5-5.6 lens. The combo was lightweight and easy to handle. As with any and all modern cameras, it is necessary to set-up the camera carefully if optimum image quality is required.
Performance Autofocus:
The S5 autofocussed quickly and accurately in good light, though the AF speed seemed slightly low in less than adequate light, especially at the 60 mm end with the 2060 mm f/3.5-5.6 lens.
Sharpness:
I had no complaints about image sharpness using the supplied 20-60 mm f/3.5-5.6 lens.
Noise:
The native image size of the Panasonic Lumix DC- S5 is 20 x 13.33 inches at 300ppi. At 25-percent screen size, digital noise was very well controlled throughout the ISO range (ISO 100-51,200).
At 50-percent screen size, images were very clean up to ISO 1600, after which some noise could be seen. I would use ISO 3200 if need be. ISO 6400 and upwards could be used along with a dedicated noise reduction software.
At 100-percent screen size, I would use up to ISO 1600, though some noise could be seen. ISO 3200 and 6400 appeared noisy but could be used in a pinch. Personally, I would try and stay away from ISO 12,800-51,200 at 100-percent screen size.
White Balance:
For our tests, we used AWB and have nothing to complain about.
Metering:
All the metering modes – Multiple, Centre-weighted, Spot and Highlight weighted provided good exposures, though in a couple of shots, I felt that the highlights (in Multiple metering) were a bit overexposed. Overall, happy with the metering. The S5 showed good dynamic range.
Video:
Though we have no way of directly comparing one video clip with another (the subject, lighting focal length etc has to be identical), we were more than satis ied with the video performance..
One point to note:
The shutter release button is very sensitive (which is not a bad thing) but may require some practise to use, else you may inadvertently release the shutter while autofocussing. I suggest you use the AF ON button at the camera back to autofocus.
The Panasonic Lumix S5 body is available at an MRP of Rs.164,990/-. This is keeping in line with cameras from the competition and I would say that it is fair value for money. | SP
VERDICT
The Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 is a compact, camera that should satisfy any and all users. It provides excellent performance in stills as well as video. The compact 20-60 mm f/3.5-5.6 lens is very sharp and is suited well for photojournalistic, landscapes, interiors, weddings and general day-to-day use. Best Buy!