One Year Later: Is the Lumix S5IIX Still Worth It?

After 1 year, here are my thoughts on this camera.
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[@MattAitia]

Look mom I'm on TV! Haha great video, I agree with everything you said. As I've used it more and more I'm starting to notice more cons but for the price vs value factor, you can't go wrong with it. I put it through its paces on some bigger productions and it came a little short in some areas but it's also not intended for that style of shooting. LOVE the image I can get out of it though and super happy with it!

[@NigelBarros]

Stoked to see more of what you do with it Matt!

[@timekeepermedia5142]

in what area did it come short?

[@deonvnzl]

@@timekeepermedia5142 I would imagine the lack of an OLPF resulting in moire. That would make me very hesitant to use my SL2-S on a serious production.

[@RyanFreshhh]

I've been using my S5 for about four years and I really dig it. I'm not at a point where I feel like upgrading, but if/when that time comes, I'd probably get the S5IIX.

[@benja1378]

I honestly feel like the biggest reason for me to get the S5ii(x) while owning the original S5 would actually be the open gate recording and not even the auto focus 😅 it's nice and helpful as a tool when needed but I like the control of manual focusing for most filming

[@Shamil_Kamilski]

It's great that Panasonic didn't let Sony outdo them and continues to make competitive equipment. I love Panasonic cameras and camcorders for their reliability and overall build quality. But this camera would be overkill for my purposes, because I would never use even half of its capabilities. It's also a bit too big to carry around all the time.

[@TalesOfTam]

Completely agree with your concluding thoughts, I think that’s kinda what my channel is trying to express too, don’t obsess over the newest gear because 9/10 what you have already is more than enough and you likely haven’t pushed your creativity to its limit on the camera possess. (Though I’m a massive hypocrite because I got an S5ii recently as well, but it was for a very good price)

[@MrSTravelQuest]

I’m absolutely loving my S5iiX! I was using a GH5 and upgraded to the S5iiX, no regrets. The incredible 6K open gate feature is truly amazing!

[@reflexfilms]

Love your points on this camera For Value I am going to chime in for the original S5 - I use 2 daily for my business and still struggle to justify upgrading to the S5 IIX (I WANT it but i cant justify it) - Camera A with the Panasonic Pro 24-70 f2.8 (and sometimes the 70-200) -Camera B with the Panasonic Pro 16-35 f4 The Panasonic Pro lenses make linear repeatable manual focus a dream to execute (teamed up with focus peaking) I still use the M43 GH7 for tele reach (with the 70-300) up to 1200mm. The GH7 also gets used with the Laowa 7.5mm for when property / real estate clients want uncropped 4k/ 60

[@TheGroovyGuitarDude]

Great video, and all great points regarding the pros & cons! My wife and I picked up the S5iiX earlier this year for our content creation as an upgrade from a Canon EOS R, and have been completely happy with it since. It does absolutely everything we need it to for our work, and does it all quite well! With the S Pro 24-70, I can’t see needing/wanting much more out of a content creation video setup anytime soon. Thanks for sharing your insights man!

[@Wildridefilms]

Moire and false colour are corrected pretty easily in most editing software. You have to blur the green channel slightly. Also the Sony 12 MP cameras like the A7SIII, FX3 etc don't have an OLPF either. The reduce moire by baking in a ton of Noise reduction, like Fuji cameras.

[@NigelBarros]

Yeah I mention that in the video, moire isn't just a lumix issue. While I'm sure you can reduce it in post, I don't think that method is 100% effective

[@RightonOh]

Thanks for the great vid, I also wonder if you have any thoughts on Lumix DC-S9.

[@Dan_photo]

Great video! This is such a packed camera. I think it may be my next purchase.

[@MarioCastillion]

Saving up for my very first Lumix system. This S5IIx sits very high on my wish list :)

[@joshuadavidwallen]

Thanks for the video - I have a Fujifilm X-S20 which I have been using for video, but with X-S20's overhearting issues I sadly know an upgrade will be sooner rather than later. I have been looking at the Fujifilm XH2s but with the poor auto focus - you've made me consider this as a future upgrade.

[@sonacphotos]

I love my S5IIX, other than the size. Its much bulkier than my old Sony. But my god, the feature set, autofocus, etc. Its just SOOOO good.

[@vedroelcitra]

Very good advice!

[@denniszhuang4110]

great review!!

[@marcellmohacsi260]

I was pretty hyped until I learned about rolling shutter. I need a camera mainly now for surf photo and videpraphy.. So now when you said that I kind of back to Sony a7iv.. what do you think? But the stabilization would be a high pro for in water shooting.

[@umpopablebubble]

i am so amped that the dmw-xlr2 whatever it's called will now work even tho it doesnt have the 32bit float like the GH7, have multiple audio sourches in camera is so convenient

[@daniellrodriguezs]

If the GH7 needs the xrl2 for the 32bit to work. Why the s5IIx is only limited to 24bit? 🤔

[@KobusGevelspar]

Thanks! Nicely graded too. The s5iix footage, which settings/profile did you use?

[@iconicoaom2333]

Is there anyway for you to create a colorgrading tutorial? Really trying to figure out how to get a good image out of my camera

[@kevkeff]

Thanks for the video, i'm thinkng to buy this camera over the a74 and your video help me!

[@raizt1596]

Before the S5ii and iix came our, the most popular camera was the GH5. I wonder if the GH7 will take the crown next. No crop in 4k60 is nice and the new processor and codecs could appeal to the smaller/indie videographers.

[@TopshelfJunior]

Nice video sir, agreed !!! Sidenote.. Where is that HALF-cage on the camera from ?!

[@NigelBarros]

It's in the description!

[@Stone1108]

Hi Nigel, a good grownup review, thanks. Do you happen to know why 32bit float using the XLR2 isn’t possible currently and if we might even get it in future? I won’t jump to conclusions just yet!!

[@KurtMicallef]

Whats the camera strap you are using on it ? How did you mount it ?? Thnaks!

[@filipmichalsaffray441]

Hi Missing Timecode is the biggest con for me in a pro...sure you can got tentacle or Deity TC 1 but would be nice to have TC sync with TRS like Blackmagic camera or USB C like Deity Action 4,5

[@guidedvisionsmedia]

Workarounds are possible for sure! But totally understood!

[@filipmichalsaffray441]

@@guidedvisionsmedia I have 4 Deity TC 1 and they are great value money better than tentacles...the system with the phone app is really great and underrated...

[@NigelBarros]

Yeah I ran into that on a studio shoot once but yeah the tentacle sync just inputs a tone into the mic port so that's how we had to do it

[@frankenstein2735]

whats the rolling shutter on the sony burano? 25k camera. tell us

[@fatimasanchez4253]

Is it true that auto focus switch to contrast af depending on the frame rate?

[@colinthecameraguy]

The GH5s has a Optical Low Pass Filter (but no IBIS) making it my preferred Gimbal Camera!

[@NigelBarros]

Yeah I liked that about the GH5s, my Gh5 has pretty decent rolling shutter performance I just wish the moire was better controlled

[@queensalnd]

How do you find using a dummy battery?

[@thietbigiaTA]

I have bad experience with pre-amps on this camera. I tried few copies but still the same. End up selling it. Really love the image quality tho.

[@LawrenceArnell]

This or the R5C?

[@dreamsandrealms4581]

You had problems with "dead/hot pixels" in higher ISO modes etc?

[@NigelBarros]

I haven't had any issues with that on my S5IIX

[@dreamsandrealms4581]

@@NigelBarros Ok, thanks for answering :) Might buy this camera soon.

[@KaibigangHansoy]

I hope i have this camera :(

[@bingobangobungo3667]

The only thing that’s wrong with or limitation of the camera is boot up!!! When running and gunning when the or fast pace cutting it on and off it can take a while to start up!

[@KurtMIcallefchannel]

Does anyone know what cage he is using please? and that camera strap seems perfect for run and gun work ??

[@NigelBarros]

its in the description :)

[@KurtMIcallefchannel]

​@@NigelBarrosthanks! So the half cage it is what about that strap ?

[@Fastball3267]

insane price with open gate 6k camera with leica color

[@ty-k6708]

This camera is at the top of my list for 2025, but I'm very concerned with the moire. I know every camera suffers from this issue that doesn't have an OLPF, but when I owned my Canon C70, I never really noticed it before and only started hearing about it during my s5iix research. So, i don't know if this alone will be a deal breaker if it's so easy to replicate.

[@frankenstein2735]

bro its heavy, so many times i cant use shots. i have had plenty canon and sony cameras, never had that. moire - rolling shutter - crop in slow mo. if i could turn time back before i sold my canon gear and moved to lumix i would have stayed

[@ty-k6708]

​​@@frankenstein2735 the company that I work for now uses Sony and I haven't experienced the issue quite like when I was testing the s5iix. I don't think I can go to Lumix... At least right now. I wish I was still in the Canon world though, the RF lenses were my absolute favorite to work with, especially now with their new hybrid primes coming out. Part of me is thinking about getting the new Canon c80 next year. But I just had such a bad user experience with my C70 that it has kind of tuned me off from Canon for a while. I guess... For now... The FX3 is my answer.

[@robocoontv3245]

Sony A7s 3 has 8.7ms readout speed? Really? The F6 has 18ms. Can hardly imagine that number. Thx for your content.

[@Wildridefilms]

The readout speed of the A7Siii is around 10ms.

[@jockslifeatliftvideoproduc8528]

It is notably faster than the S5iix.. however this ignores the fact that the A7S3 isnt the direct competitor to the S5iix... that would be the Sony A7iv which has a read out of 26.8ms. The fact the S5ii can even be compared to the A7S3 in most areas other than rolling shutter is commendable

[@robocoontv3245]

@@Wildridefilms that' s strong. Didn't know. Thx

[@A1Bokeh]

i freaking cant stand the crop

[@dawid8837]

affiliate links makes your opinion irrelevant

[@NigelBarros]

lol