Relax dude, this will sell like hotcakes.

hahahaha, no it wont sell like hotcakes and im positive it wont. there is always hype and sales to any new camera, so I know it will sell when its new but that wont hold for a long time. it will get its burst early then poop out.

whos buying it sony user? not a chance. theyre already invested. canon, nope again. nikon, why? obviously more pana shooters. but thats about it.

again, the biggest problem...they have a bad rap for bad af for YEARS and took their sweet time to repair that tainted rep they have. 5 yrs late.

maybe gen 2 of pdaf. you cant even find used lenses to buy for L mount.

Lots of people don’t buy every year. Lots of people still use DSLRs. Lots of people have 10y old M43 gear and might consider upgrading. Some Canon users will be annoyed by their lens policy. Some Sony users sigh a breath of relief that they can finally go back again to a beloved Lumix body with great UX….

There are plenty of opportunities for Panasonic even if it does not meet your needs.

That's all not going to be enough to make this camera a success.
Panasonic is going to sell this to Panasonic users, NOT to anybody else. Its a Panasonic camera for Panasonic users, like Pentax users are Pentax users. The userbase won't grown only shrink, due to poor lens line-up and no 3rd party lens support'.

Don't expect Sigma willing to open up the L-Mount to non-L mount members like Tamron, or other lens manufacturers. Its not going to happen anytime soon.

Maybe they might pick up a client or two from Canon, but most likely they will either end up with Sony or Nikon. The camera market is good for 4 maybe 5 manufacturers and Panasonic is not in the position to survive.
OMD, Panasonic and possibly Fujifilm will all fall victim to being unable to survive. The latter Fujifilm found their niche in the GFX, but I do have my doubts over the survive-ability of the APS-C segment long term. L-Mount could be saved by them if Fujifilm will be forced to go Full Frame due to market demand.

Well, we'll see...

https://petapixel.com/2023/01/19/demand-for-the-s5-ii-is-so-high-panasonic-is-short-on-pre-orders/

Exaggeration is part of the marketing.
I am pretty convinced that after the initial release sales will drop and fall as a stone. 'Demand' here on DPR by 'Want it' looks to be pretty low compared to other cameras recently released. I think the user base here on DPR is a good representation of the total market.

https://www.dpreview.com/products/panasonic/slrs/panasonic_dcs5ii

@Name That Camera
It sucks to be wrong doesn't it....LOL

@Fairlane
It suck to be wrong doesn't it....
Unless you find '10' users 'want it' to be an huge succes .... LOL

https://www.dpreview.com/products/panasonic/slrs/panasonic_dcs5ii

You know what’s a good signal? The amount of Sony users getting out f their way to “prove” in comment section the “superiority” of their system.

It is almost as many as self declared market visionists…

We will see soon enough. Right now it’s “they will sell to nobody”, “but the lens selection”, or “but their AF still needs to mature”.

Maybe they won’t. If they do, people here will invent other nonsense.

Cute too to think DPreview comment section are representative of the market.

lol @Jamajuel you have a point. Really funny how clannish people can get over their photography gear brand. I've shot Nikon, then Cannon for 10 years, have a second body that's Olympus, and now pre-ordering the s5ii and sold my Cannon gear to do it.

Don't get sucked into brand loyalty marketing funnels - just buy the camera that gives you the most for your money. Right now for me, that's the s5ii. If in three years, that's the Nikon, Fuji, or whoever - cool. I'll buy that. Lets reward companies for offering good products for the money - not for being the most popular.

@Jamajuel

> Sony users getting out f their way

<sigh...>

I'm a Sony user, and I think that S5II is a terrific camera, and that Panasonic's ecosystem is great, and their future is bright (unless... an asteroid kills them; something that can happen to anyone).

Panasonic's FF gear is absolutely not my cup of tea (bulk), but, contrary to... err, non-Sony users, I do understand that ergonomics is highly subjective, and that many people will actually prefer S5's form factor.

The recent A7rV samples discussion was a blооdy mess, with all sorts of nоnsense (green cast, "flatness", and whatnot), but nobody said "those Canon/Nikon/etc. users!"; people just dealt with messages at hand.

The word "Sony" seems to provoke certain knee-jerk reactions like nothing else...

I have nothing against Sony. I only tried an A7iii and didn't like the handling. All that means that to me, subjectively, Panasonic was a much better fit. Just like the ominous "color science", this surely is also related to what you're used to.

This tribalism is everywhere and it's annoying.

Not sure about this ('bad rep.'). Photo AF by Panasonic has always been pleasing, video AF is not of interest to me in 99% of all situations (e.g. fast-paced indoors sports with unpredictable movements). My takeaway is that Pany has sorted the AF topic out nicely. Maybe we could just say that there is plenty of choice out there and the user opts for the preferred stuff?

She doesn't think so (5:48):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaVaEKUd6Xk

Nor does the S5/II do this in video mode. Not the end of the world, but not typical or expected behavior, imo, so I'm in agreement with the reviewer. Or maybe it's an option that can be turned off and she overlooked it?

Strange. In all reviews and hands-on articles I've seen so far they are very impressed, ESPECIALLY at that price...

If i'm spending that much money, I'll just upgrade to Sony A7 IV.

So you complain about the low drive speed and rolling shutter and then say you’d spend more to “upgrade” to the A74, which shoots slower uncompressed RAW with mechanical, far slower with electronic and has worse rolling shutter?

Hm…

I have seen zero difference between compressed and uncompressed raw and I do heavy image editing so it's 10 fps A7 IV shoots at.

Not so sure we'll ever see one, though I hope I'm wrong. Of cameras I've used (and it's not that many even though I've been doing photography for many decades) the G9 has the best ergonomics. Ergonomics are, of course, somewhat idiosyncratic. Feature wise it still holds up well. Add PDAF, update a few features, and add an improved sensor (not sure one exists in the m43 world). Wouldn't want them to change the body much otherwise.

I supposed by default, you're right, since it's the only camera released thus far in 2023.

with 11.5 more months to decide the title, dont jump the gun.

We all know Canon and Nikon are going to release their next gen cameras this year. Sony most likely will do too. Z6II / Z7II, the R5 and the A7iv are all going to be updated this year. Its highly unlikely that any of those upcoming cameras will be having less features than their current models. So by the end of 2023 we will all know how far Panasonic will be behind again.

Therefore its very doubtfull and unlikely that this Pana camera will make it as camera of the year.

In Micro Four Thirds and bridge camera world Panasonic (LUMIX) makes Leica approved and branded lenses and bridge cameras.

The L-mount was developed by Leica. Currently Leica, Panasonic and Sigma are the L-mount partners.

Recently Panasonic and Leica announced L2-alliance. They said they will be sharing their tech together and I think also designing together, but it's unknown to the general public what this actually means. What Leica has to offer is excellent (manual focus lens) design, whereas Panasonic masters the electronics part. What I have heard, Panasonic used to have the fastest imaging processors in the market, not sure if that holds today. Both manufacturers share exceptionally good design in their products.

Panasonic makes Leicas FF cameras basically, in exchange They can put Leica logos on some of their lenses. I’m sure it’s more complicated than that, but this is what we see. :)

I sold it. haha. The camera has been selling for super cheap. I sold it for $1100 and will buy the S5 II from BH with student discount for $1800. $700 to upgrade. :|

Teacher discount too? (My wife)

Bias is favor for something in a way that's unfair. How do you believe Chris and Jordan have unfairly promoted Panasonic? By liking it because it's the best tool for their video work, and saying so? Oh NOES!

I am not saying its unfair, nor that they unfairly promoted Panasonic. All I am saying is that they tend to forget the 'not so goods' or seem to have overseen some clear omissions in comparison to its peer competitors.

If you like it buy it by all means, its your money.
I just don't have the feel to invest in a camera system from a company that can pull the plug anytime. Panasonic looks to be in the same sort of position as Samsung once was. Samsung may have had the 'best' APS-C camera back in the time. Yet they couldn't get foot on ground. Just like Panasonic can't get any real grip today.

@Name That Camera Well, if Chris and Jordan are biased, Chris needs to brush up on his homework. More than once on DPRTV he's commented on the 'adequate' quality of the Lumix f/1.8 lenses, disregarding the (much) higher quality S-Pro range (albeit coming with hefty weight and - new - price, notwithstanding there are quite number now appearing on the used market at reasonable prices).

DPRTV has tested quite a few m4/3 Panasonic cameras, but that's probably because there are quite a few of them. But this is a digression from the topic.

@Name that Camera
Are you a bot or why do you keep repeating this same nonsense?

Now give some arguments where the S5II is years behind the competition for example the A7IV....

In what way is the S5ii years behind?

I have both the Sony A7IV and Panasonic S5. I already like the S5 a bit better and tend to reach for that camera first. Now that the S5II has phase-detection autofocus, it's a slam-dunk for the Panny. I may be trading in the Sony for an S5II. I most certainly do not believe Panasonic is years behind the competition. It's all about one's personal needs and priorities with any camera purchase.

I think @Name that Camera has been spooked by Panasonic's big leap forward to catch up on autofocus, and in the case of Fuji and Nikon, get ahead in their first attempt. A company that is releasing new gear bodies or lenses every year and announcing plans for the future, and has been doing so for 20 years now isn't one that's leaving the market.

Name that camera is bias and uninformed. Panasonic was the first to mirrorless 10 bit full frame by almost two years. How is that behind? The S2H will take back the throne from the Sony A1 and Canon R3 (which are much more expensive cameras) and lead the pack in video once more. Until I see a fan in a Sony camera they are going to have a hard time beating next generation Panasonic specs like we have already seen in the GH6.

LOL - S2H will take back the crown from A1 and R3.
You seem to be more 'misinformed' then I am. We all know Canon will drop its R1 and Sony will come up with some new high end cameras as well. The S2H will turn out to be another joke by Panasonic. All that effort for nothing in the end. Panasonic will fail this market. They were too late and they won't be able to turn the tide.

A harsh message that you just don't want to hear, because you will be loosing a lot of money into a system you have invested in. Of course that hurts.

Now answer the question where the S5 II lags years behind the competition, for example the A7IV! Why is this camera a joke - finally give substantive, technical reasons!!!
Or answer the question of how Sony will solve its stabilization problem in the future with its small mount.
Do you have somewhere on your hard drive the same text that you use copy paste on the word "Panasonic"?

Shellbeach - Am I your dog? No I don't think so!
And I hope you are not treating your lover alike.

I respect your opinion and so you should respect mine.
However you have lost my respect and I am not going to answer questions from demanding people who are offending to me because I out my opinion that you dislike. And so you get an offending answer back from me.
This is how it works. You get back what you seed.

What you should do is take off those pink glasses or use less of the dope that the word Panasonic seem to give you. You are definately one of their topfans that gets easily arroused when somebody speaks up against them.

It must hurt you when people say that Panasonic will pull out of this business before the end of the decade. The truth still is that all of Panasonic upper management messages and signals actually show they are loosing interest due to poor sales figures in the photography segment.

Now justify your claims from a technical point of view! You keep saying the same sentences over and over again - that seems almost pathological to me. As a user of Sony (A7S3), but also Panasonic (S1/5), I can't understand why you keep saying the same things without technical justification. What did Panasonic do to you?

Shelbeach - And you look to be a stalker!
Which actually is pathological.

It is you here whom seem to have some mental problems. Not me.
You need to find help for not being able to cope with an opinion that you dislike. Get a life and get on with it.

I can deal with your opinion, if only you would finally justify this opinion technically for me and everyone else. So now again where exactly is the S5II lagging years behind the A7IV as a camera...explain!

What is it that you don't get?
A7V is not even released, and A7RV is indeed miles ahead in AI, resolution and speed. Now if you compare it to A7IV, then still you are comparing a brand new camera released in 2023, to a camera nearly 3 years old. That's ancient in technology terms, and so you should admit that Panasonic is still lightyears behind any of the competition. But that is so hard for you to admit, that it looks that you cry like a baby for attention to give this Panasonic a place that it doesn't deserve. But that's entirely your problem not mine!

Again no answer to my question. The S5II is in competition with the A7IV, which was available for purchase in 11/2021. S5I already had better specs than the A7IV depending on the use case (Cinema 4k, waveform, LUT preview, shutter angle, Af-S control, color reproduction, cinema noise/dynamics:
https://www.slashcam.de/images/texte/1987-Vergleich-Vergleich_Dynamik.jpg, native lenses corrected for focus breathing without crop utility, stabilization without crop and utility, anamorphic,rolling shutter, ergonomics etc). So now I could say that the A7IV was years behind the S5I, which appeared in 2020? Or are you limiting everything to the Af, which Pana has now improved, also added other things (6k Open Gate, Realtime Lut, Active I.S., video recording (ex 6k) without temperature issues, better body due to full magnesium frame, etc.)?
Everyone buys the camera that fits their needs. And so I can always find a point to claim a camera is years behind, but that statement is quasi nonsense.

Your problem is you can't deal with the truth and have a problem when people tell you something you dislike. Its constantly boggling in your mind. How to get this thread going. You want to be the smartass that thinks he is better than any other person. You just can't handle it.

You then begin to stalk and to troll.
Because you can't stand a different opinion.
Because you can't handle the situation.
Because you think you are superiour.

But all you have is toddlers mind.

Your real problem is.
You have a mental problem, You are síck.
That's what you have and you should seek professional help for your problem.

Goodbye Stalker!

LOL

Now I was about to get into a technical discussion and they still don't talk and instead engage in whataboutism (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whataboutism).

So it's all clear, you just have no answer for me as an owner of cameras of different brands...cute.

A 'technichal discussion' ... get a life.
You know nothing you even mention cameras that haven't released yet. And you also don't have a bunchload of cameras.
You think I am impressed now? Its all boast from your side.
But what you have is delusions of grandeur.

Bye bye my friend!

Uh...compare to cameras that aren't there yet? What's the point of that, please? You compare the cameras that are currently available and fit your needs. Anything else is nonsensical.

I don't have a bunch of cameras, I have the ones that fit my needs. If I want 4k 60p/120p without crop, that's currently not possible with Panasonic, if I want run & gun or scenic without annoying gimbal, I don't want Sony and so on.

Yes, which mental illness do I have now? Delusions of grandeur, borderline, bipolar...mmhh? Gladly I take them all, the main thing is that they answer substantively.

What they are doing with their constant negative repetitions to Panasonic is unfair because they never comment on the content, technically.

What is it you don’t understand of Stop it.
i have had enough of you?

Are those four letters of ‘stop too difficult for you to understand…
It looks like it .You truly are a stalker.

Yes, I am your personal automated Panasonic stalker. But you'll be fine with that.