I had to sell my A7IV a few months ago due to a family emergency and I was devastated. It was my second camera, my first being a Panasonic GX85. Always missed my Panasonic, but loved my Sony's AF. Now, I feel like everything happened for a reason. I can finally go back to Panasonic again!

Lumix S5 shooter here. To lock the focus on the face, you need to click on the box once it detects the face. Once you do that, you'll notice the AF box now has 4 crosshairs on each side. This confirms the AF lock on the face. Just an FYI for anyone wondering why the focus was shifting away from his face towards the end.

First time I actually think a Panasonic could replace my Sony. Good low light, autofocus and stabilisation combined is a dream.

that auto focus UI is pretty slick

Damn, I was almost 95% set on getting an FX30, but this seems like such bang for the buck, especially considering I can get away with not buying a gimbal for steady shots

glad to see Panasonic coming back with some big hitting features

I'm so impressed with the focus ! Well done Panasonic, this has been a long time coming but well worth the wait and a welcome change.

Yaaaay, first vid for 2023! Thsi channel has been a HUGE part of my 2022, looking forward to enjoy more of your vids Gene this year 🥳🥳

Panasonic always had the best video features with the best LOG profile and color science. Their biggest crutch had always been their auto focus system, but holy cow does their new hybrid phase detect look great! Currently have the S5 right now, but trading it in for the S5 II X as soon as it comes out. Panasonic's price point are always top notch.

Panasonic has come such a long way over the past 10 years!

Phase detect! This is the one thing that stifled Panasonic from competing with Sony and Canon for video. I feel like they were ahead of everyone with 4K 60, no record limits, 10-bit video, & industry-leading IBIS with the GH5. And after taking so long to finally change, they’re now playing catch-up. But I think they are the leaders in video innovation and have an opportunity to really compete again. I have been rooting for them and after the GH6 still with the old contrast-based auto-focus wondered if they were just stubborn to their own demise. Very glad to see they finally adjusted!

Nice Gene, you’re videos are always the first that I watch when a new camera is released, glad that you review this one as well :)

Been using the EOS R for years and was saving for the FX3 but for my needs, this changes everything. I never even considered Panasonic but seeing how it performs against Sony, and for a much better price, I'd be more than happy with this.

3:48 I love those stairs, one of my favorite places to take photos when I’m in town

Awesome review Gene!! Congrats Lumix!

I’d love a series from you focused on all things cinema- behind-the-scenes kind of stuff. I enjoy all you do! Best of luck with the new coffee shop, too!

I use the S5 for all of my videos and I’m jealous. This Phase Autofocus is king on the S5 Mk. II. Very slick.

I'm all for companies that put amazing features in the hands of filmmakers without breaking the bank...that's why I'm a Pany and Black Magic fan. Definitely buying the S5mkii x to pair up with my current S5. Cant move away from the image quality and colour science.

I sold my S5 recently purely off of the autofocus, but I LOVED the camera. I now have an FX30, but definitely picking this camera up in the future.

Been thinking about the original S5 but this comes out with better AF, and I'm more stoked than ever! This is THE camera I am getting next now.

what a SOLID video, it might be the most well made video from Potato Jet for real! makes me wanna film something cool!

Finally, some competition for sony and canon. Who needs 10k 200fps if there's good colors, good focus, good dynamic range and good stabe!

I'm really exited about this. Seeing how much better the S1 has gotten with firmware updates makes me think that AF is going to be insane in a couple years.

Mega! I’ve just bought an S5 and it’s a beast, not enough here yet for me to pay the extra to get what you get but no doubt a great upgrade if I needed it. Great video as always fella ❤

Yet again another cracking video. Thanks for your time.

1 MILL subs! Congrats!!!

Finally the perfect camera is here

6:13 Thank you for showing how this camera is. This seems like a valid contender now as it has phase auto focus. The light flicker thing is neat.

Dude, this makes me so happy. I love my S5, but was debating switching over to Sony for my weddings. It’s a good day!

Very tempting to upgrade from the original S5, Great vid again potato!

Finally! This looks really solid

loved this video man...nice to see someone having fun whilst doing what they love ...liked and subscribed :-)

Damn this is crazy, I remember when you only had 12 thousand subscribers. Congrats

Great video and I certainly enjoy the lumix user interface and customization of the function buttons for quick access. Looking forward for more content on the S5II

Just throwing this out there...Sigma makes a 14-24 f/2.8 zoom and a 16-28 f/2.8 zoom for L mount. Could be good combos with the S5ii.

Fantastic review as always Gene. As you said, needs some improvements. Wishing you and your team a very happy new year. :)

Sweet walk through PJ!

Footage looks luscious. Good video, thanks.

Another superbly useful review!

Really excited for Panasonic's future as a user of the S5.

Panasonic has always been good at keeping videographer in mind when it come to their products

Auto focus seems good. Great video, and thanks for sharing.

I love watching your videos, educational with touch of comedy.

Appreciate what this camera is, knowing where the industry was just 10 years ago.

Syncro Scan, I think you are the first to call that out in the reviews I have been watching. (im watching them all) Love that they added that.

jesus this camera is a beast

Yes, of course, their House can wait. I need to watch the video first. Glad you made the video.

I’m more than happy with my S5. Including the auto focusing.

A7siii price was out of range & it never dropped. I guess I will have to take a good hard look at this camera & consider it over Sony.

Another banger, great job

best review of everyone Got the most information off you. thanks for your effort.

This camera is perfect!

I used the GH5s for a number of years. Something that had always baffled me was that subject detection and subject tracking are so good but it never actually manages to focus on the subject that it is tracking especially at 1080p VLog. There are ways to work around it but it meant that you can't really put it on something like a gimbal without someone helping to pull focus which is a no go for a lot of the jobs I was on. Glad to see that this new camera is at least on par with other cameras in its price range. Also, does Gene have some sort of temperature regulation system built into his body? Sunny as all heck, he gets greasy at most. A cold day and everyone is in at least a sweater, he's in a t-shirt.

Gene rolling on the spudcart of wonder. Can't wait for him to put a remote following unit to it

This is a great camera for good cinematic vlogs, its really good and amazing.

Great video. Recently switched to S5ii from Sony a7C and a7R4. Absolutely LOVE it. One thing I miss tho from Sony, is the Super35 Crop applicable to Photo mode as well, enabling me to reach 1.5 or more times the focal length of my lenses... Now I have to buy an additional lense to cover way previous range...

TONY NORTHRUP def saw the Bokeh Blink. He was bummed about it. Great video Jet!

The last 5m of this video when you were sitting down talking, the color looks soooo good. I'm sure if it's a sony a74 recording, it would not look as good.

S5ii is a beast 🔥

finally some good autofocus on a panesonic camera! I always preferred the Panasonic V-LOG colors over any other camera (but canon is still better), so this camera is finally a game changer now

holy hell this camera just took over my whole subscriptions feed (embargo mustve just been lifted) don't worry i choose you potato lol

Cool review, nice spots. Thanks and happy new year from Frankfurt am Main/Germany, Daniel

I was wondering what happened to this channel great to see it’s still going strong

SONY FOR LIFE, but Potato is going to make me get a cart. I love that cart rig.

Wow... Such a nice budget-ish option. Between the body's price and the storage, it can be a VERRRRY competitive all-in-one photo/video camera, for instance for travel, if you don't want to log around your main body

You’re so close to 1 million followers ❤

I’m literally eating chipotle and watching this video😂very thorough video, love it

this new release by Panasonic may only mean one thing: the next GH7 will have Phase Autofocus

The great thing is that Panasonic will improve it even more with updates 🙌

Looks pretty solid!

great review NICE!!

I was thinking of buying a Sony a7iv as an update to my gh5, but this is making me reconsider… great video 😊

i bought the s5 mk II because of your review !!

If I weren't already knee deep in Sony, I would get this. Great camera and great value

Looking forward to this, thanks for the review on this. You are truly lucky. Question: will the S5 cage fit the new s5ii looks pretty much the same size.

A great camera to start 2023

Aww man, have the S5 so tempted to upgrade just for that auto-focus!

Another fantastic video! Might be time to finally upgrade from the GH5 🤣

First-rate presentation, thanks. I'm low end, strictly amateur, and hope to one day see an affordable entry-level cropped sensor camera that has the great Panasonic IBIS + Sony AF. Good to see Panasonic finally moving beyond the DFD system, though from what I've seen on YT it's not all the way there yet.

I love my S5 Mi. Love it. My canon just collects dust sense I got it

hope it dropping a little on the price, still insane how good. thank you for the video you always make em soo entertaining while giving all the information's.

Love the Lefty shirt ! The camera is good too but I prefer the shirt !

I loved Panasonic.. Moved to Sony, and haven't looked back since. But this does look kind of interesting.

The review I needed! I have been doing more youtube and looking at selling my S1H for the S5iix.

You hit it on the money saying Panasonic is more cinema based over photos. If I was getting a new system, I'd definitely take this over a Sony just for the fact it has a waveform to get proper exposure. All this is missing is an internal ND filter and it would give blackmagic some competition. Keep it up man.

I think I am going to grab this. I was on the fence about grabbing the previous s5 because of autofocus. But being able to grab this, and some SURUI anamorphic lenses for it. Use the lenses on the s5 and also maybe a sigma FP as a cheap B camera. Yeah, this is the system to be with in 2023 imo.

Amazing! All we need now is internal ND and then you don't need anything else for run and gun!

Wow, love the price point for this. I'm investing in Sony gear right now, but have always been interested in Panasonic.

I was about to hop on the Sony train from Fuji, especially with the release of the fx30 but man…this cameras KILLER

Im so glad i did not buy the first gen of the s5, i just had a feeling that they would try to fix the mistakes as fast as posssible, im pretty sure the s5ii will be my first full frame camera i bought my canon m50 back in august 2021 so im pretty hyped to finally make the jump to something more professionell, lets create stuff and have fun everyone, have a great year

Bought the original s5 3 weeks ago…. THANK GOD for extended holiday return, I’ll be back at the store tomorrow morning for this upgrade 😂

Sweet vid! What lebs(es) were you walking around to vlog with?

excellent video. Thanks

Shutter angle is huge for this camera! Sorely missed in my Sony A7IV.

Great Video. I love how you always do nontraditional reviews. Like putting cameras in ovens and so on for us to know haha. I have a question for you Gene or anyone else's thoughts on this. I took a break from photography for 8ish years, I was using a Nikon DSLR. The spark ignited again and I want to get back into photography to take family pics and when I go on motorcycle trips. At the same time, I would like to learn how to create Videos and so on. Would you recommend the Sony a74 or the Panasonic S5II? and why? Thanks all.

Great Review

I love the Kondor Blue cage. Blows the SmallRig cage away, lol.💥

Yummy, S5ii so dope, and I'm gonna guess that the 'X' variation is just a beautifully iced cake. Great video. Saving up 2K right now 🤣

Potato you should do a video showing what you use for your editing set up. Ex: keyboard, storage, audio hardware, monitor, etc... Or what you would suggest for professional use on big films. Not beginners.

I see some Leica colors, It looks amazing!! The new AF is great too.