Panasonic LUMIX DC-S5M2XCE Full Frame Mirrorless Camera with LUMIX S 50mm F1.8 Lens, 4K 60P & 6K 30P Unlimited Recording, Flip Screen, Wi-Fi, Phase Hybrid AF, Active IS, DMW-BLK22 Battery Pack, Black

I’m a former professional photographer now running a design studio. As I looked to modernise my services and attract better clients, I realised I needed to do more with video. After researching the options, everything kept pointing back to the Panasonic S5IIX - a camera that offers serious capability without breaking the bank.If your focus is on video, get this camera - whether for the outstanding in-body stabilisation or those lovely V-Log files that are surprisingly easy to grade. For stills photographers, don’t rule it out either. I’ve now adopted a hybrid workflow, and this camera hits the mark.The S5IIX is aimed more at video shooters, but it’s a perfectly capable stills camera too. I picked it up with the 50mm lens in a bundle deal that made it even more affordable, and the quality of that lens is stunning, with crisp, sharp detail from edge to edge, even wide open at f/1.8. The L-Mount lenses are a collaboration with Leica, and it shows.The body is compact and light - a welcome change after years of using old Canon pro gear that always felt heavy for the sake of it. The Lumix feels solid and well put together, and from what I’ve heard from long-term users, it’s also proven to be reliable — no overheating, no drama.There’s a broad range of third-party accessories if you want to rig it out properly. I’ve used parts from SmallRig, Atomos, Godox and others, but what impressed me is how usable the S5IIX is even without extras.It records 6K 10-bit Open Gate video (full sensor width, 3:2), which gives you loads of room for reframing or vertical crops. I find the image quality genuinely impressive. Stills are equally strong, and the 24MP sensor feels like a sweet spot: enough detail for large prints without huge file sizes.If you want to push things further, there’s a 96MP high-res mode - best used on a tripod with no subject movement, but the results are genuinely stunning and comparable with 100MP medium format cameras.The 14-stop+ dynamic range has few equals, delivering smooth highlight roll-off and clean shadows without obvious noise or banding. Colour rendering is strong, and the files hold up well in grading or Raw editing. The lack of an anti-aliasing filter adds clarity, especially when paired with the Lumix lenses.I had considered using my old Canon lenses with an adaptor, but I’m glad I didn’t. I started with the Lumix 50mm, added the 14–28mm, and plan to get the 24–105mm next. The L-Mount was developed with Leica and their influence is felt. You even get Leica colour profiles in the camera, which is a nice touch.Low light performance is amazing. ISO 4000 often looks as clean as ISO 100 did on my older cameras, which is remarkable. I often check the EXIF to be sure - and this ability opens up situations I wouldn’t have attempted before.The not-so-good?The menu system is comprehensive, to put it mildly - which is both a strength and a challenge. It took a while to get everything set how I like it, and I did end up watching quite a few videos to understand certain features. The PDF manual is massive, so online guidance was more helpful at first.The blacked-out branding on the front looks great, but the dark top dial markings aren’t ideal. They’re hard to see in low light and should have stayed white for usability. Battery life is decent, but if you spend a lot of time in the menus or playback, it drains quicker, so I picked up two spares and a dual charger.SummaryThere are enough features on this camera to write about it all day, but here’s the bottom line: you’re getting a tool used by top professionals, without the price tag that usually comes with it. Whether you’re producing video content, shooting stills, or combining both, the S5IIX is capable, flexible, and solid.The lens ecosystem is excellent, with strong options from Panasonic, Leica, and Sigma. It’s also surprisingly future-proof. You can record straight to an SSD, load LUTs, shoot full-sensor Open Gate, or just set it to auto and capture great results.If you’re comparing cameras in this range, it’s hard to find anything that offers more for the money - especially if you’re aiming to grow creatively or professionally.Some of the features worth knowing:• Phase-detect autofocus – fast and reliable, even in low light• Active IS – enhanced stabilisation for handheld video• Dual native ISO (640 / 4000) – cleaner high ISO than you’d expect• Real-time LUTs – monitor or bake in your intended look• Unlimited recording – no time limits, no overheating• Direct SSD recording via USB-C – great for ProRes and long-form work• Timecode sync – via HDMI or USB-C, useful for multi-cam setups• Waveform and vectorscope – built-in tools that usually need an external monitor• Full-size HDMI – a small but important detail for rigging• Support for 4:3, 3:2, 16:9, 1:1, 65:24 and 2:1 formats – ideal for everything from stills and social to cinema and panoramic work• Anamorphic support with in-camera desqueeze – shoot 4:3 at 3.3K with real-time preview for 1.3x to 2.0x lenses, making it easy to work with affordable anamorphic glass without needing an external monitor• Minimal focus breathing – a major benefit for video shooters using native lenses• Weather sealing – durable enough for use in less-than-ideal conditions• Customisable buttons – quickly tailor the camera to your shooting style• Shutter angle mode – use 180° shutter for consistent motion blur across frame ratesThat’s my take. This camera has already changed how I approach my work, and I haven’t even scratched the surface yet.

This camera is amazing, it’s way above my abilities at the moment but I’m learning fast. I own a couple of decent Sony cameras, one is a low level DSLR but this one is on a whole different level and is the first mirrorless camera I’ve owned. The instruction manual is huge but very comprehensive and easy to find your way around. Unfortunately it’s not a printed copy, it can be downloaded but it’s too big to print off. I do prefer to read something on paper rather than a screen but online does allow you to easily find the section you need.It’s a very substantial sturdy camera but not so heavy that you can’t carry it around. I am a bit scared of dropping it so at the moment it’s either around my neck or on a tripod, a case is on order. The battery life is second to none, I charged it initially and throughout testing it’s not needed recharging and still shows 2 bars.Using the manual, I’ve been able to take a few better than decent photos, make adjustments and generally play around with the settings. The auto focus is my go to setting for now but as I understand the dials and settings more that will change. The screen and view finder give a beautifully clear image of the picture you’re about to take. I find the way the rear screen moves and rotates is very useful.The picture quality is amazing, better than anything I’ve taken on my other cameras. The depth of image really shows almost making some appear 3D. I love the little square in the view finder that allows you to focus in on certain areas or open it up to the whole screen. It’s the first time I’ve managed to blur everything other than the focal point. I’ve found all the dials and controls I’ve used to be very responsive.There is an option to add a flash but I’ve been so impressed with the low light level photos I’ve taken I won’t be purchasing one.I’ve not done much with the video function other than to make sure it works, to be honest I’ve not used that function much in previous cameras so I’m not sure I’ll get much use with this one either I’m more of a stills person. It is very easy though to move from still photography to video recording.As I’ve only used Sony cameras in the past this is taking a bit of getting used to but I have to say it does without doubt produce the best images I’ve ever shot.