Panasonic Lumix S5 review: A Photography perspective

I don’t usually write about gear. My focus has always been on the craft of photography itself; composition, and the stories an image can tell. But over the past few months, I’ve had a number of people ask me questions about what camera I use, especially after sharing work from weddings and landscapes recently. I thought I’d take a moment to talk about the Panasonic Lumix S5, the camera that’s been in my hand for the last three years.

I’m not a gear collector, I use one camera and one lens, the Lumix S5 paired with the 24–105mm f/4. Simplicity is key. For me, it isn’t about chasing specs—it’s about what works reliably, professionally, and with minimal fuss. And this setup absolutely delivers.

Handling

S5 is a full frame mirrorless camera and although it isn’t the most compact, the handling is excellent, especially when paired with the 24–105mm lens. The combination is balanced and intuitive to use and feels perfect in my hand. The magnesium alloy body is weather-sealed and robust, which gives me the confidence to shoot in unpredictable conditions and it has taken an absolute beating on beaches, in the rain and mud. Feeling is everything - it is a camera that feels good and makes me want to take photographs.

Image Quality

The 24.2MP full-frame sensor delivers images with excellent dynamic range. For my style of work, the files are consistently clean and rich in tone. I’ve printed large format images from this setup with no issue, and the detail the sensor and lens combination delivers is more than enough for any commercial or client-facing work. People are chasing more and more megapixels as cameras evolve, however, at this time, i don’t think it is need; particularly as tools like Adobe Lightroom enhance are able to upscale images if I find myself needing to crop in drastically.

Colour Science

One of the biggest strengths of the Lumix S5 is its colour science. Panasonic’s colour rendering is neutral, balanced, and incredibly workable. I’m not chasing hyper-saturation or artificial warmth. I want to head towards a place of real, nuanced tones—and the S5 delivers them straight out of camera.The color files from the S5 hold up incredibly well in post-production, offering plenty of room for grading without breaking down.

Autofocus

While Panasonic’s contrast-based autofocus system doesn’t rival some of the phase-detect systems on the market, I’ve found it more than sufficient for my type of work. It locks on accurately, eye and face detection perform reliably. I occasionally miss a shot with my son running around but for portraits, architecture and landscapes, this isn’t a concern.

The One-Lens Approach

I only use one lens. The Lumix 24–105mm f/4 stays on my camera 100% of the time. It’s versatile, sharp throughout the range, and offers optical image stabilisation that works hand-in-hand with the camera’s in-body system. This lens allows me to shoot everything from wide architectural frames to tight portraits without switching gear or carrying a heavy bag. That simplicity lets me stay focused on the image, not the equipment.

Video Capabilities

The S5 is widely known for its excellent video features—10-bit 4K recording, V-Log, dual native ISO—but I don’t use these day to day. While it's reassuring to know the camera is fully capable of high-end video work, my focus remains on stills. For anyone who does want to incorporate video, it’s nice to know the camera can handle it without compromise.

Price

In today’s camera market, full-frame mirrorless bodies can easily exceed £2,000 before adding a lens—the Panasonic Lumix S5 stands out as one of the best-value options available. Despite being packed with professional features I want, such as like in-body image stabilisation and dual card slots, the S5 can now often be found for well under £1,500 body-only. Second hand cameras can be found on sites such as mpb.com for as little as £700 at the time of writing in mid-2025. Considering the performance it offers, both for stills and video, it represents a level of value that’s increasingly rare in the full-frame space—making it an ideal choice for photographers looking to maximise quality without overspending.

Final Thoughts

The Panasonic Lumix S5, paired with the 24–105mm f/4, has become a dependable, professional solution for all of my photography work. It’s powerful and capable in a wide variety of environments. I am not moving on any time soon.