Panasonic Lumix S5 IIX Black Review

The Panasonic Lumix S5IIX is a solid update to a popular hybrid camera. It finally gets the phase-detect autofocus Panasonic fans have been asking for, plus some nice video and streaming features. But it's not a total overhaul, and it's still playing catch-up in a few key areas.

Look, the new autofocus is a big step up from the old contrast-detect system. It's way better for tracking moving subjects, which is huge. But the overall performance scores tell the real story: it's a middle-of-the-pack camera. The sensor lands in the 30th percentile, video is in the 32nd, and burst shooting is in the 39th. It's perfectly capable, but it's not setting any speed records.

Prices are bouncing between $1880 and $1998. At the lower end, it's a decent deal for a full-frame hybrid with these video chops. But at nearly two grand, you're paying a premium for a camera that's not a top performer. Shop around for that $1880 price if you're set on it.

Compared to the Canon EOS R6 Mark II, the S5IIX gets smoked in autofocus, burst shooting, and stabilization. The Canon is just a better sports and action camera. Against the Sony a7R IV, you're trading resolution and sensor performance for better video features. And the Fujifilm X-S20, while APS-C, offers better stabilization and vlogging features for way less money. The S5IIX carves out a niche with its unlimited recording and streaming, but that's about it.

Buy this if you're a Panasonic shooter who needs better autofocus and those specific pro video features like unlimited recording. For everyone else, especially sports shooters or vloggers, there are better and often cheaper options that outperform it across the board.