Mastering the Panasonic Lumix S5ii Camera for Photography

Captured on a Panasonic Lumix S5ii with Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8

Over my 20 years of working in photography, I’ve been very fortunate to work with some of the best cameras and photographic equipment available. From iconic cameras like the truly incredible Nikon D700 - possibly my favourite DSLR of all time - or the revolutionary Canon 5D Mark II, to the truly unhinged Sigma 200-500mm f2.8 EX DG Telephoto Zoom lens (look it up, you won’t be disappointed).

Each and every camera and lens has had its quirks, unique foibles, frustrations and brilliance. From inexplicable decisions in the design or ergonomics, to unexpectedly useful features that I didn’t even know I needed. No matter what you use, your camera offers something in return, and I believe the mark of a good photographer is being able to capture amazing images regardless of the equipment.

The joy of photography is capturing light onto a medium, be that film, digital or something else entirely, and then seeing that light reproduced as an image, freezing time for posterity. In 2026, it has never been easier to take incredible, vivid, dynamic, pristine images using even the cheapest cameras. Modern technology has made cameras and lenses functional and operational in ways we couldn’t comprehend even five years ago.

But these are ultimately tools for a job. And with that in mind, I have recently found myself using the Panasonic Lumix system for work. I actually first used a Panasonic back in 2018. It was the Lumix GH5s camera, an MFT (micro four thirds) camera body which was regarded as one of the best small cameras for capturing footage on the market.

That little camera was excellent for run and gun style shooting, enabling me to create short films and documentary work in some very tough situations. It was sturdy, small, reliable, easy to use and produced great footage (I sometimes regret selling it). But I still worked with Nikon cameras ( a Nikon D500 and Nikon D750) for still imagery, mainly because I still had an extensive selection of F-mount lenses.

As time moved on and mirrorless cameras evolved along with my work, video and still shooting became more and more integrated into one body. I sold lenses I no longer needed, and consolidated my equipment to meet modern needs.

By 2023, I had moved onto the Panasonic Lumix S5ii camera body, with L-mount lenses from Sigma. Here was a roust, highly customisable body that produced best-in-class video work alongside beautiful imagery. I still used my old Nikon DSLR for images, but was utilising the Lumix more and more due to the form factor ease of using one system.

In 2026, Sony, Nikon and Canon dominate the market thanks to their legacy, heritage, and aggressive marketing. But the modern iterations of these companies are all relatively new (the Nikon Z mount is only a few years old and effectively renders old Nikon equipment redundant. The same applies to Canon RF equipment). I remember when Sony first launched their Alpha DSLR series in the late 2000s. They were trying to enter a market dominated by the Big Two without much of a system themselves (ignoring the old Minolta mount it adopted). But fast forward 15 years and Sony, unencumbered by a legacy, has come to dominate the market, thanks to their innovation in mirrorless cameras, especially their autofocus ability.

For its part, the Panasonic Lumix range uses Sony sensors in many of its models anyway, but being a much smaller, younger company, has suffered somewhat from a lack of brand awareness over the same period. They innovated tech, but failed to capture market share like Sony. So when work brought me to the s5ii in 2023, I was surprised at how incredible this camera is to work with. So much so that I sold my old Nikon equipment, leaving the brand and system after almost 20 years and choosing not to upgrade into the Z system. This isn’t because Nikon are bad, far from it in fact, with the Z8 and Z9 being considered two of the best cameras currently available. However, I found the Lumix not only meets my needs, but does so in an incredibly versatile, customisable way.

As mentioned, cameras are tools, and I need them to work all the time, every time. My Lumix S5ii bodies have not failed me there. They are almost infinitely customisable, rock solid, and the L-mount lens system offers a huge range of lenses from a variety of manufacturers. The images look fantastic, are great to work with and edit, and the video options are too numerous to list. And all of this comes at a price point that is far more affordable, competitive and justifiable than the other big names. Lumix delivers exceptional value for money from its system and, at the end of the day, the output is what matters most, not the marque on the body.

I challenge anyone to look at an image and accurately state what camera it was taken with - a good photograph is a good photograph after all. It just happens that I currently capture mine with the Lumix system, a system I'll be utilising more of in the coming months and hopefully expanding my use with new bodies and lenses. So, for anyone thinking about buying a new camera, I can highly recommend this underrated system - the cameras offer exceptional photographic quality and output, incredible video options, and all in affordable, robust bodies.

And to prove this isn't an ad or sponsored content, I still use my Fuji XT-5 as well, due to it being a fun little camera which reminds me of what first drew me to photography, all those years ago.