Autofocus Test - Panasonic Lumix S5

Panasonic Lumix S5 brings us the latest generation of the DFD autofous technology.
What is improved? Does it work better in photo mode? or video mode?
Here are all the test results I've done over the last few weeks!
You should also check out my vlogging test for some run & gun style shooting results:
• Panasonic Lumix S5 Vlo...

[@TheRealRichardWong]

How is the Panasonic Lumix S5's autofocus performance? Are you a S1/S1R/S1H owner and waiting for this autofocus update to arrive on your camera?

[@charlesbrooks]

This looks like a great improvement - makes me wonder what was going on in the Northrup video as this seems very different.

[@mariush]

@@charlesbrooks Perhaps Tony used a more palatable shutter speed? I don't recall what he used but I'm sure he used a 180 degree or double frame rate. These test are done at 250th! Who uses that for video?

[@JericTamayo]

Charles Brooks top of his head was out of frame when it lost focus

[@nerdMike]

Hello Richard, something is missing to me.. Tests have been done also without an external monitor hdmi attached sometimes? AF performance decrease A LOT also with stills burst in AFC. To track the subject properly, get real tracking in video and better keeper rate on stills, you have to push center button on AF joystick on the Lumix (or touch the box on the screen), the box change a little bit to confirm that and the real tracking performance comes. Never seen this on any test in this video by looking at the camera display and this cannot represent full/real AF performance on the Lumix. (the display shows me the tracking hasn't been enabled properly on the face or subject, performance weren't at its best) Is thee any updated video with the right setup?

[@marciorihass2190]

You always do a great job.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thank you Marcio!

[@CASMANWHAT]

GREAT VID. the autofocus seems to have improved!

[@TheRealRichardWong]

I think so too! Thanks!

[@GUANTA23K]

Very sophisticated testing! Thanks!

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thank you too!

[@friedpicklezzz]

Thanks for sharing this with us. I am actually quite surprised to see how well the S5 works on the AFC despite DFD. I wonder how the performance is when the camera is moving, eg run & gun style?

[@DaveKatague]

This is awesome Richard! Thankyou for sharing.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

hey Dave!! Good to see you here! Being over a year since we last met!! Hopefully will see you in person again sometime soon (that COVID has to go away soon!!)

[@mahaganpatiproductionsgoa.2142]

Great AF

[@indiainmotion]

The yellow/brown board by the window was pulsing all the time during the introduction. Good improvement overall. But still not ideal. Wonder if shot the introduction in full frame or crop mode?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

The introduction was shot in 4k25 full frame mode. Thanks for watching

[@Kresdot]

I have a Lumix S5 20-60mm, for fix lenses, choose 24mm f1.8, 35mm f1.8, 50mm f1.8 or 85mm f1.8. tks b4🙏🙏

[@daddytjeuw]

Hi. This Lumix S5 or Sony A7C?? im confused to pick now.....😭

[@lionelestriga4272]

I'm very curious to see the comparison of AF performance of S5 vs Z6

[@TeaJayPhotography]

Looks good. Hopefully Panasonic will transfer this new AF update to MFT too.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thanks Tee jay!! Yes that would be great

[@cyan4614]

Very useful,But I have a question for s5 autofocus .Did you set up different shutter angle with different frame rate?Maybe autofocus performance will be improved.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Not in this video. But the shutter speed is faster than 180degree in most of the tests in this video, I also keep both cameras setting as close as possible

[@ziansastrodihardjo2723]

S5🔥

[@kennethwilliamsinc]

Good test. I wish you would have also added an af comparison with the S1H’s af sensitivity at the + highest setting vs the s5’s default as well.

[@tedsouart2085]

Thank you for your tests. I was thinking about selling my S1 but I might reconsider, even through I wished you tried the AF with the 50 mm at 1.4 or with a sigma lens. Cheers.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Sigma lens is probably not really the best lens for af test. The Panasonic 50 would be great thou! I was planning to see if I can borrow one for the test. Unfortunately suddenly had a lockdown here which affected a few of my plans

[@Skill_Issue92]

Looks much improved can't wait to test it out on my S1

[@TheRealRichardWong]

yes i think a lot of S1/R/H owners will be happy!

[@nexuses1]

@@TheRealRichardWong Also hoping for all other video features on the S1, like shutterangle and the redbox when recording.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

@@nexuses1 oh Panasonic hasn't promised any of those at this stage.. but let's see if any of those will come to S1!

[@JimmySaul888]

@@nexuses1 I'd like basic time of day timecode. What's up with that not being an option?

[@iammz81]

Hi what is the setting I have to use for the Autofocus tracks the eye while filming. I mean if I want the camera to follow the model's eye when I move backward forward and the picture will not be out of focus? I cannot seem to get that. I have set AFC and human detect, but it does not focus automatically only if I press the shutter button halfway down. What am I doing wrong?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

make sure your Continue AF setting (Video menu, 5 tab) is not set of OFF

[@iammz81]

@@TheRealRichardWong it was the quick af what was turned off. :) anyway thank you.

[@clifftotten7609]

Do you think you will get beta AF firmware for the S1H. If so, when? I'm VERY curious to see how the new AF will work on the S1 and S1H

[@TheRealRichardWong]

I might... But then it should be the same as S5 in terms of AF so whatever you see in this video should be the same?

[@atmospherelight]

I hope the new algorithm and firmware updates can unlock afc for people shooting EF lenses via mc-21. We need AFC capability of our ef lenses on S1 working at basic usable levels like they are when mounted on Sony, Nikon & Fuji via adapters.

[@Dokumentara]

Many thanks for great review. Have you noted that AFC with Vlog is not as good as other color profile? I did some Vlog AFC tests with the Sigma 45mm 2.8 lens and found the AFC very bad but not sure if this was because of VLog or because of non native Sigma. Also read that next Lumix firmware update expected by end November includes revised algorithm for the Vlog AF.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Hi Mantankali, yes definitiely. I think i have also mentioned it in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXbYmHyHj7R0mc0 Sigma lens may make it a bit worse but it's definitely still an issue even with Lumix lenses. I've checked with Panasonic when working on these videos and confirmed it is indeed due to some tech limitations and I have asked if they can make some improvements on that. And as you said, it seems the new S5 firmware they recently announced would have fixed/improved this problem

[@Dokumentara]

@@TheRealRichardWong many thanks Richard, very grateful that you help Panasonic to improve the Lumix S line. Hopefully they have a solution. I guess that this is because of the low contrast of Vlog not ideal for the DFD AF technology. Applying a Lut Rec709 before doing the AF DFD treatment could help to reduce the problem but will not increase the Af speed.

[@iammourad]

Does the S5 shot in FHD 120 with sound AF ? I mean can we vlog in FHD 120P all the time to get the AF possible and also slow down to 25 or 24p in post production ? Thank you Richard. And nice video like Always...

[@TheRealRichardWong]

No audio unfortunately at 120fps. Max fps with audio would be 4k60fps but to be honest, AF at 60fps is not bad at all, the only thing is the 1.5x 4k crop at 60fps.

[@iammourad]

@@TheRealRichardWong thank you Richard

[@MacSavage503]

Hey Richard, what would be the best video autofocus setting on the S5 for focusing on a still subject but moving the camera towards the subject slow push in?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

I would set the AF speed to slow (-1 or -2) , and for sensitivity , i may try -1 and see if it works well or not as it depends on how fast you push in and the depth of field

[@MacSavage503]

Thank You Richard!! Didn't think you'd reply haha. I just got a Sigma 105mm 2.8 for my S5. I might be an idiot for trying to move around with it.. Maybe i should just stick it on a Tripod?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

haha yes for that focal length.. on a tripod is better. or monopod

[@MacSavage503]

Thank You🙏@@TheRealRichardWong

[@kokch33]

great job

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thank you

[@kristjanmartis8578]

Wait, S5 II 4K 60p still uses the new Phase Detect AF correct?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Correct

[@KeithsTVHD1]

Looks like the S1H`s auto focus is pretty good.

[@JohnDoe00]

Great content, does S5 have area track af? like Sony

[@TheRealRichardWong]

It has quite a few different tracking modes

[@arh12476]

Autofocus has very much improved, but what stood out to me was how the S5 rear screen don't compare to the S1H screen. They should have placed the S1H rear screen on the S5. I'm going to buy an S1R only because of the autofocus firmware coming to it

[@bladamirputin5999]

Can I get the same autofocus accuracy on the other panasonic native lens?? Or on this new lens only?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Panasonic native lens definitely. In fact, you probably get the worst performance from the 20-60 kit lens I used in most of the testing as I believe it's autofocus speed is slower than the more expensive Panasonic S / S Pro lenses

[@bladamirputin5999]

@@TheRealRichardWong sounds great! I asked cause some Fujifilm native lens are not all fast they have specific native lens which are faster..nice to hear from you.

[@geelongvideoguy5840]

when you walked normally towards S5 camera 07:28 it picked you up right from the time you left the fence but other times when you did tricky walking not so much

[@zoom2027]

Could this new S5 charge by USB-c while the camera was turned on???

[@TheRealRichardWong]

You can either USB charge while turned off, or USB power when turned on. But not charge and turn on

[@fatherofbirds]

S1H and S1 had a baby with a smaller battery and body. I have a S1 and S1H should I buy their child. Should I sell the S1 for the S5 and have to carry 2 types of batteries ... They have put me in quite the situation.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

if you are video shooter, i would pick s5. The only downside is the micro HDMI port. Two different type of batteries isn't too bad to me.. maybe because i have been doing that for many years? LOL

[@charlesbrooks]

Invest in USB powerbricks instead - they charge quickly enough that you should only need 2 batteries, one recharging while the other's shooting. It's what I do with my S1R cameras. And if it's on a tripod I just strap one to the leg and power from there.

[@vadimxa4746]

thankyouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

[@shtrudel-pu1cm]

perfect !

[@arispapaspyros]

autofocus settings please?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Default settings if not mentioned

[@user-bj5gr8ug9s]

I think S5 one of the best camera in video quality for this money, but if you gimbal run and gun shooter, unfortunately autofocus still sucks (((

[@vincentn6347]

Thank you for the video. Good stuff! lighting on your face looks a bit harsh, maybe consider diffusing it and adding a fill light on the other side of your face.

[@sarius2388]

Thought the same

[@FL18644]

how to reduce the background pulsing problem ?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

decrease the AF sensitivity, choose a smaller aperture. But I feel with the S5, the amount of background pulsing is really quite minimal already

[@FL18644]

@@TheRealRichardWong Thank you. If I use like 50 1.4 / 105 1.4 that the breathing will increase ?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

It would be more noticable when it's trying to track your movement, esp when subject at close distance

[@WALKINGonTheStreet_Official]

Hope there will be Anamorphic FW updates for S1 as well...

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Yes let's wait and see!

[@finnillson4808]

Much improved. If the GH6 can improve upon this then I think It is acceptable for most of what I would be doing with it. It’s obviously not matching DPAF or Sony’s PDAF but its pretty good.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

GH6 will undoubtedly have more processing power than GH5/S1/S5..etc so even just that alone can almost guarantee GH6's autofocus performance will improve

[@digfilms4340]

MUITO BOM

[@michelangelodefranchis5374]

thanks for the test and great content, not bad I think, sure if we want to use it as a small cinema camera at 4k 10 bit 4.2.2 in v-log at 24fps maybe with a ninja-v we will have to rely largely on manual focus I'm afraid...but I'm not so expert sure that at 60fps the autofocus seems good.(waiting for the sony a74 that will surely cost much more I'm afraid, with 2000 euros it already seems to me very much the possibility to use it as a little cinema camera)!!! excuse my English I'm Italian:)

[@TheRealRichardWong]

thanks for watching my friend from Italy!

[@andrelecozvideographer9030]

if the s1h gets its next firmware update with an autofocus thats as good as canon's r5 or sony's a73 then i wont sell mine. this is giving me some reason to hold off from selling it for the canon r5... maybe...

[@CASMANWHAT]

The new canon is an overheating monsta 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@renekreher]

nevel will a Kontrast AF reach the Power auf Phasedetektion AF from Sony oder Canon.

[@bluecheese20401]

I was shocked at the s1h. Its so expensive and imo performed very poorly. I was pleasantly surprised by the s5. Looks decent. Not as good as sony, Canon or nikon or even Olympus but better than previous iterations from panasonic

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Hi Chris, since then, there is a new firmware update for the s1h which brings it's Autofocus performance the same level as the s5, and with some more improvements.

[@uk9431]

S5 better than S1 but DFD especially not good at low light

[@michaelchoi2685]

OMG...my s1,s1r 😭😭

[@TheRealRichardWong]

You will receive the same Autofocus system update as firmware update later this year :)

[@michaelchoi2685]

Richard Wong wow!!!

[@retrocube7148]

@@TheRealRichardWong the best news of the day, month, year

[@angelmiguelortiz2366]

The s5 autofocus looked better than the more expensive s1h

[@TheRealRichardWong]

S1h will receive the same autofocus update later this year :)

[@isart3757]

in APSC at beat Sony .canon and Fuji🙏🙏

[@sergiusblessed]

It seems that S1H sucks ...

[@ifirex5470]

s5 beat my s1 out of shit！6kraw，the only thing that s1 stronger than s5 is just the price！

[@TheRealRichardWong]

S1 has much higher res and bigger EVF and tougher body :)

[@ifirex5470]

@@TheRealRichardWong but s1 cant shoot raw！！

[@nerdMike]

Now the S1 will receive soon the same features (April firmware).. In addition the dual gain iso setting, where in S5 you can't change it. Also you external 6K raw, but I always prefer S1 for the same price. AF algorithm receives already from S5, so no more tech advantages for it. 😁

[@ifirex5470]

@@nerdMike yeah i love s1 so much now！