LUMIX REMIXED: Panasonic Lumix S5 II

Panasonic finally joins the phase-detect autofocus bandwagon. So should the Lumix S5 Mk2 be your mirrorless camera upgrade?

New camera releases are rarely welcomed with such wild enthusiasm as the announcement of the Panasonic Lumix S5 II. That's because it finally saw the brand introduce a camera with competitive autofocus (AF) capabilities, in the form of a newly developed Hybrid Phase Detect Autofocus system.

At a glance the Lumix S5 II is almost indistinguishable from its predecessor: its button layout and general form-factor are almost identical. We appreciate an 'if it ain't broke' approach, but there are some things we'd have loved Panasonic to change up for the new S5.

For example, there's the lack of tally lights, which alert operators and subjects alike when the camera is rolling. Panasonic has included a REC screen border that can be turned on and off for this purpose, but it's useless for anyone who doesn't have sight of the display.