Mastering the power of the LUMIX S5II for Photography

[@ramaxey]

I've been waiting for a video like this ever since the S5II was released. Thank you! This could become a series...

[@EwenBell]

Thankyou kindly :)

[@peterfritzphoto]

What a stellar video this is - full of incredible b-roll, stunning imagery, and concise explanations. Shame you ruined it with that crusty old bastard in the middle… And the S5 is a veritable powerhouse - especially the depth of customisation available. It kinda makes me want to switch out my R6 MKII. Bravo, Ewen!

[@EwenBell]

Gaaaaaah I laughed out loud! I tried to cut out that old bugger as best I could but ran out of b-roll :) Thanks for the kind words Peter. This one did take a tonne of time to gather up. If this was a new model I wouldn't have 12 months worth of footage and stills of course. Good problem to have.

[@peterfritzphoto]

@@EwenBell This video would have required a huge amount of work to script, film, and edit. And then you’d have to add the same amount of time again for gathering and curating all the b-roll. A Herculean task, beautifully done.

[@EwenBell]

I'll now spend the next three years thinking of things I should have done better :) because that's how my brain works!

[@peterfritzphoto]

@@EwenBell Me, too - but less so these days. None of it really matters that much. If you can educate or inspire a few people, you’ve already won.

[@remusmoise8836]

Hello there, I'm an m4/3 shooter using the OM1 body and recently I bought a GX9 Lumix body for travel or some beginner street photography and I really enjoy it, the menú is just superb for a 2018 camera and lots of grest options for macro shooters as well. A full frame like S5MKII will be superb indeed, no doubt. Even so, I think the lens options choice is quite limited especially for wildlife. Probably I'm wrong. Excellent review as usual.

[@sansin6250]

Great review! For the high-res mode, do you see any noticeable difference in sharpness and quality when using a tripod instead of handheld? I have an S5 and I use the tripod-mounted high-res mode extensively for landscapes. But lugging around a tripod just for the high-res mode is becoming a chore, particularly when hiking. If there is not much difference in quality between tripod and hand-held for high-res shooting, then I will consider upgrading from S5 to S5II.

[@EwenBell]

The handheld mode definitely works, and one reason is that it takes twice as many shots to assemble. If you're using a decent shutter speed that sequence is captured very quickly. So yes, genuinely a workable feature!

[@goawaybaizuo]

I have been desperately trying find the best value mirrorless camera. I will mainly use it for my business with up close product photography. However, I also need something that takes good video. I worry the s5ii isn't enough for my main focus, which is product photography. I have been going back and forty between the a6700 and s5ii. I even think about increasing my camera budget and significantly slashing my lens budget. It's all so frustrating. This video was fantastic, though. Great detail and information.

[@therealvontetv3117]

I’d get the lumix and focus on lenses in the future instead of bodies

[@paulpablo971]

I can feel you so much my friend.there are so many years trying to find the most value for money camera but i cannot. Each one has some flaws that are deal breakers. I currently have d750 but i am thinking of mirorrless and cannot find something. Maybe sony a7rv...

[@phillipallaway7306]

Fantastic, informative video Ewen. As others have said, so many finer points covered that other reviewers don't bother to mention. I currently have the Leica SL2-S and whilst I love the images it produces, compared with the S5ii its AF performance and functionality are seriously lacking. The bonus is that I can continue to use my L mount lenses (and M lenses with the adapter). I might even upgrade from the 150-600 DG DN to the 60-600 which by all accounts is a sharper lens with better focussing. I also have the 90-280 Leica which should go OK on the Lumix. Nice to see some pics from Melbourne/Oz - I am an Australian travelling through Europe this year and looking forward to getting home at year's end and purchasing the S5ii (cameras are a ridiculous price in Europe). Cheers, Phillip

[@EwenBell]

Thanks for dropping a note Phillip :) Tomorrow night I'll drop a new video and it's choc full of more Melbourne scenes. Might be worth a look at for you :) Drop me an email when you get to Melbs and I'll show you one of my favie coffee joints. We really like that SL2-S. It feels nice in the hand and so well built. Even the menu system is quality. As you say the S5II just keeps pushing the boundaries further though. If you're shooting birds with a 600mm, can recommend the upgrade to the S5II and it's AF system. I have a video specifically for the 60-600mm here as well. That is an amazing lens.

[@rw3452]

Firstly great video! Loved the info and the way it was created. With autofocus do you think the Sigma MC-21 for EF will be able to get continuos AF like it video with video, have you ever tested any EF glass for photography. Also, I've had issues with S&Q (in PAL) not being able to shoot 50fps, it can do 1-60 but 50 isn't a setting available. If you are in touch with Lumix please could you ask. I tired on the one of their live YT's but they said it was possible in PAL but it's not. Also, a minor point I think you could do with a less less head room 😇, but feel free to ignore I don't mean to be rude.

[@EwenBell]

Thanks for the kind words :) I've used the Sigma, Viltrox and Fotodiox converters with EF lenses. Have a few items on them at my website: ewenbell.com/blog/New_Life_for_EF_Lenses The S5II AF system has been optimised to make use of EF lenses and for video it's been very smooth. Can recommend. Please note that while the EF lenses work very well, don't expect DSLR designs to deliver performance to match the native L-mount system. A lot has changed since EF designs were at their peak! If the high-speed frame rate is critical to you, the alternative is to record in movie-mode at 50fps and then adjust the frame rate for any clips in editing. For example, in Davinci you can select "clip attributes" for a clip in the media pool and change a 50fps clip to 25fps (if you're using a 25fps timeline).

[@enolamns]

Great Video even for someone who thought he knew the Camera inside out! AF Point Scope - i did not know about this yet! And what a Game Changer for Wildlife and Birds this is! I used the S5II and the A7RV extensively for Wildlife the last Weeks with the same Lens, SIgma 500mm F4 with the Sigma Adapters and i have to say, the Panasonic is the Winner with so much more Features and the 30FPS Burst and 1.5s Precapture. An amazing Camera for the Money, the old S5 is a Super Bargain anyway for what it can do.

[@IronChefShellie]

What an epic video! It's such a great camera, although I'm still happy with my mark 1 😂

[@EwenBell]

Yeah the original S5 is so good, there's not many reasons to upgrade unless video is your thing.

[@samvarma]

24 minutes you glorious madman… Underlines all the reasons why I have felt for quite some time that this is probably the body I want when the time comes. I guess the only question I have is that everyone talks about the lowlight performance of Sony when it comes to video… How do you reckon this stacks up? Cheers and congrats on another excellent video!

[@EwenBell]

Awwwww thanks Sam! Lowlight video on the S5II is centred around the ISO 4000 figure, instead of ISO 12800 on the A7IIIs and ZVE1. So you get a much smoother ride through to the second range. The Sony kicks in higher up, but if you find yourself at ISO 10,000 instead of 12,800 you end up with trash! So you have to watch that.

[@vikkitempleton9157]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. What a great video. I don’t have a S5ii, but a G9ii, and I have implanted what you have talked about in this video on my G9ii. Never heard of the AF Point Scope. I have never heard anyone mention this amazing feature. Can’t wait to get out and try it.

[@EwenBell]

Awwww that's great Vikki :) Most of this video could have been the G9II, they are very very similar in features! G9II has more options for fine-tuning the pre-burst as well. It also has the 100MP hires mode (25mp sensor) so give that a try :)

[@ExtremelySimplified]

Everything in this video is so soothing. I appreciate your work on this video.

[@EwenBell]

Thankyou!

[@ravidhingra484]

Very nice explained. Pls. Compare this camera with Z6iii

[@EwenBell]

Would like to but Nikon haven't sent me a camera to review for over a decade :) We get them on tours from time to time and I like the menu system. Was helping someone with a Zf on the weekend and have to say that didn't appeal to me so much. Definitely prefer the Z6 series.

[@jiggyb21]

Lovely video. I stumble upon your channel while looking at the 100 macro and I just wanted to reach out to offer my support and say you have such a beautifully calm and informative delivery. Exceptional. Thank you.

[@EwenBell]

Thankyou so much for the kind words :) Really appreciate that you took a moment to share. Have a great day!

[@arcelonofficial]

Great video! Do you find the AF good enough for wildlife?

[@EwenBell]

Magnificent. I've been using the Sigma 60-600mm with the S5II and it's beyond anything I've ever used before. I was out on a boat shooting terns as they buzz past us and the S5II was nailing it. Not so much my friend with the Canon R5 :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqXLmoh-qJhkZ6c

[@MrTifoso31]

Nice video, altough I already knew everything you mentioned here. You have a very nice method of explaining things and I could listen to you for hours 😂. I‘m looking forward to an advanced guide 👍

[@EwenBell]

Very kind of you to say! What do you think would be useful in an advanced guide?

[@MrTifoso31]

@@EwenBell for example: how to expose vlog constantly on the go without using the spot metering and an 18% grey card. Do you know an easier way?

[@EwenBell]

@@MrTifoso31 Ah yes, the perils of VLOG. We use it for all video work, in and out of the studio. I simply add +1.3 exposure and don't bother with grey cards. Definitely don't use spot metering, I keep that as broad as possible. Gotta keep an eye on things like heavy backlighting or dark scenes where you expose for a small highlight. But I love the combo of vlog and Davinci RCM. Gives me clean results every time.

[@MrTifoso31]

@@EwenBell thank you for your quick response. I will try that later 🙏

[@jan-martinulvag1953]

Never seen any of your videos before. How is that even possible?

[@EwenBell]

Not a lot of demand for ageing bald white fellas on this platform :)

[@KG_BM]

are you going to make another one of these videos for the S9 too, i think it would be great and only made obsolete by Lumix removing or increasing the recording time limit

[@EwenBell]

Will see if I get time for the S9, although it would be very very similar. Just delete the bird section and the drive dial :)

[@KG_BM]

@EwenBell 😭 understandable. I'm cross shopping the S5ii and S9. Trying to pick between the upper limit functionality vs the cosmetic appeal despite limitations

[@j.e9971]

Amazing video! Was looking for an updated tutorial video for the S5II! Bravo!

[@EwenBell]

Thanks :)

[@DanCorreia-c3s]

Head room? Please forgive my opinion, but your head shot feels unusual with that degree of head room. And please allow me to say that I think your video is excellent! Beautifully shot and presented! Thank you 🙏 Just that head room tho... It's a rather curious composition...