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A good 24MP full-frame camera offers enough resolution for various needs. It provides good details, autofocus, and great colors, all packed in a sturdy body. While there are multiple options to choose from, today, we look at two models: the Panasonic S5 II and Nikon Z5 II. Both are great offerings. Which one is the best for your needs? Here’s a quick look.
Autofocus
The Panasonic S5 II offers multiple updates with the firmware updates. You can magnify an area 20x, and focus peaking gives great results. Similarly, with AF-C mode, you get the desired results. The real-time autofocus is also better, and with an animal eye recognition function, you can focus on animals really well. The camera is also great for motorsports since you can focus on cars. The SH pre-burst shooting function further makes it easy to shoot when you half-press the shutter button.
The Nikon Z5 II also features fast autofocus. It works well in harsh light, and when you switch between different lights, the camera detects and latches onto the subject. This is also true even when shooting in autofocus mode. The camera is best when you pre-select your subject type and limit the area of detection. The 3D autofocus tracking system also performs very intuitively.
Specs:
- Panasonic S5 II has 779 autofocus points, has Human + Animal Tracking mode, and Face/Eye detection, as well as Animal Eye, Car, and Motorcycle recognition
- Nikon Z5 II features 273 AF points, and can detect people, birds, dogs, cats, cars, bicycles, motorcycles, trains, and airplanes
Image Quality and High ISO
The S5 II has real-time LUTs, which allow you to choose presets for still images. However, the challenge is that you can’t apply the same to RAW files. The JPEG images are fun and give you film-like images, and you can get a lot of detail from the highlights and the shadows. At ISO 6400, the images are cleaner, but if you push past it, you get more grain. Some can use this to their advantage.
The Nikon Z5 II produces accurate colors, similar to the Nikon Zf. The dynamic range is fantastic, the colors in JPEG are great, and the images look great. Some may not even need to edit the images at all. At the same time, ow-light high-ISO output is impressively clean and retains a decent amount of detail in the shadows.
Specs:
- Panasonic S5 II has a 24.2MP full-frame CMOS sensor, ISO up to 204,800, and can record stills
in 65:24 and 2:1 panoramic formats. - The Nikon Z5 II features a 24.3MP full-frame sensor and ISO up to 102,400.
Build Quality/Ergonomics
The Panasonic S5 II features a similar design to the original camera. The ISO is marked so that you know which one it is without moving your eye from the viewfinder. Panasonic also revamped the viewfinder, and the LCD screen flips inward as needed. The build quality is great, and the camera can withstand rain with ease. It’s very lightweight, which means you can sling it around your torso and use it with ease. Overall, it has an intuitive design and menu.
The Nikon Z5 II also looks identical to its predecessor and features similar ergonomics. The camera really focuses on the LCD, while the insides are similar to those of the other cameras. Overall, the design and build will not disappoint you. And it is weather-sealed, which is just as great.
Specs:
- The Panasonic S5 II features a 3.68m-dot OLED EVF with 0.78x magnification and a refresh rate of up to 120 fps. It also has a 1.84m-dot 3-inch rear touchscreen LCD.
- The Nikon Z5 II comes with a 3.6-million-dot EVF. There is also a 3.2-inch 1.04m-dot LCD.
Conclusion
The Panasonic S5 II costs $1997, while the Nikon Z5 II costs $1846. Both cameras are great in their respective ways, but the S5 II packs more punch with real-time LUT and better autofocus, and is ideal for anyone looking for a hybrid camera. However, if you are a beginner who wants to stick to photo-centric cameras, then the Nikon makes more sense. It offers a fast and accurate autofocus, as well as good image quality and a great build. Plus, you can work with multiple Nikon lenses. The choice, at the end, is yours.
