Choosing between Panasonic Lumix S5 vs Fujifilm XT4 is a very hard decision. These cameras are among the very best mirrorless models for advanced enthusiasts/amateurs right now, and the price difference between them is very narrow. Panasonic Lumix S5 comes with a bunch of cool features, but Fujifilm XT4 offers an impressive autofocus performance for video recording. Both deliver extraordinary image quality.
Below, we will learn more about how Panasonic Lumix S5 and Fujifilm XT4 compare to each other:
- Their build quality and handling, which one is easier to operate
- The key features of Panasonic Lumix S5 vs Fujifilm XT4
- The comparison of their autofocus performance for still shots and videos
- Why Panasonic Lumix S5 is still a valid choice for videography
- Why Fujifilm XT4 is arguably more versatile for various conditions and purposes
Panasonic Lumix S5 vs Fujifilm XT4: Build Quality
Panasonic Lumix S5 will amaze you right away with its build quality. It has a robust magnesium alloy frame that feels as if it is truly made for professional use. And, unlike its older sibling that we discussed previously in Panasonic Lumix S5 vs S1, this particular model is much more compact and portable. Read also: Fujifilm X S10 vs Sony A6400.
On the rear, you find a fully articulating 3-inch touchscreen that is responsive and very easy to use. There is also an electronic viewfinder with 2,360,000 dots and an adjustable frame rate. Although the EVF resolution is not very high, it performs really well and without lag, even in low light conditions.
Overall, the handling is great, and Panasonic Lumix S5 is well-balanced despite being deceptively compact. The grip is solid and confident, thanks to the textured rubber finish, and the control layout is sensible enough for intuitive access. The camera works with the L-mount system, so it is compatible with not only Panasonic Lumix S lenses but also various Leica and Sigma lenses.
Fujifilm XT4, on the other hand, comes with a classic old-school design of a 35mm SLR. It has external exposure controls, a physical ISO dial, and a shutter speed dial. Most of the lenses also have manual aperture controls. That said, all of those controls also have automatic settings, so you can swap easily between full manual control, program AE, auto ISO, shutter priority, and aperture priority. This camera also has a 3-inch fully articulating rear touchscreen, but the EVF here has a higher resolution of 3,690,000 dots.
Hence, the handling is really great. You don’t need to fumble through menu screens to change your configuration – you don’t even need to turn the camera on to do so. Fujifilm XT4 also has a very good build quality and is weather-sealed. Fujifilm XT4 works with the Fujifilm X-mount system, which has a good range of lenses, but it can also work with other lenses by using an adapter.
| Panasonic Lumix S5 | Fujifilm XT4 | |
|---|---|---|
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| Product Dimensions | 7.6 x 6.1 x 5.59 inches | 3.65 x 5.3 x 2.51 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 2.46 ounces | 1.16 pounds |
| Best offer | Check price | Check price |
Panasonic Lumix S5 vs Fujifilm XT4: Features
Panasonic Lumix S5 has a 96MP high-resolution mode, which is really cool. This mode even has the ability to capture JPEG + RAW shots. On top of that, you get in-body image stabilization that ensures clear images in all shooting conditions. When paired with a compatible stabilized lens, the dual IS can have shake compensation of up to 6.5 stops.
Another unique feature of Panasonic Lumix S5 is the Live View Composite mode, in which you can see in real time what the image sensor is seeing during low-light conditions. This is very useful for capturing night scenes and astrophotography.
For video recording, Panasonic Lumix S5 also offers several awesome features. In addition to being able to capture either 4K/60fps 10-bit 4:2:0 or 4K/30fps 10-bit 4:2:2 footage internally with a bitrate of 200 Mbps, it also has a free firmware upgrade that enables 5.9K RAW video recording. Because of this, Panasonic Lumix S5 remains a very good choice for videography, especially if you don’t really need autofocus in your videos. You will also appreciate the V-Log enhancements, anamorphic modes, dual native ISO, and waveform monitoring.
Although it lacks the ability to capture 5.9K RAW videos, Fujifilm XT4 is already able to record 10-bit 4K/60fps footage internally. It is still among the more advanced cameras in this regard. Fujifilm XT4 also has in-body image stabilization that works very efficiently. According to the company, the system can provide shake compensation up to 6.5 stops without requiring a stabilized lens.
But perhaps the coolest feature of Fujifilm XT4 is the Film Simulation mode. It offers various color profiles that emulate analog film stocks for JPEG still images. They look really beautiful. These film simulations will render shooting RAW files somewhat unnecessary, as they already allow you to acquire artistic shots with impressive dynamic range, highlight, and shadow in-camera.
Panasonic Lumix S5 vs Fujifilm XT4: Performance
The autofocus of Panasonic Lumix S5 is good, but definitely not the very best. This camera’s AF system is strictly based on contrast detection. The DFD algorithm here has been improved to provide faster tracking and more precise locking. Compared to older models, Panasonic Lumix S5 is indeed able to lock its focus more quickly, and it doesn’t struggle as much when locking onto small subjects.
While it is an improvement from Panasonic Lumix S1, it is still strictly based on contrast detection, so it comes with the limitations that one can expect from such an AF system. It works perfectly for still subjects, but it sometimes likes to drift, hunt, and refuse to lock onto moving subjects. Therefore, Panasonic Lumix S5 is usually more favored by people who don’t use autofocus and thus are unaffected by this particular disadvantage.
The continuous shooting speed is good. With the mechanical shutter, you can get about 7 frames per second, and the buffer can hold up to 30 JPEG + RAW frames. Alternatively, you can use the 6K photo mode, which will record a footage at 30 fps so that afterwards you can extract 18MP still images from it.
One of the main advantages of Fujifilm XT4 is the autofocus. It is a hybrid system of contrast-based and phase-based detection. It is very fast and reliable, with excellent face and eye tracking, and it works on moving subjects perfectly. Because of this, Fujifilm XT4 is a very powerful camera for sports and wildlife photography, and for any person who wants to use autofocus in their video recording.
The photo burst is better, too. With the mechanical shutter, the continuous shooting speed is about 15 fps. The buffer has a decent capacity – you can take 35 uncompressed RAW shots, 42 lossless compressed RAW shots, or 200 JPEG shots before it starts slowing down. With the electronic shutter, the continuous shooting speed goes up to 30 fps.
Panasonic Lumix S5 vs Fujifilm XT4: Image Quality
Panasonic Lumix S5 is built upon a tried-and-true platform of Panasonic Lumix S1. Inside the camera is a 24.2MP full-frame image sensor that is capable of delivering truly brilliant images. The ISO performance, dynamic range, and color quality are great, and fairly comparable to what Fujifilm XT4 offers. Skin tones from Panasonic Lumix S5 always come out good and natural.
The low light performance is definitely better. Noise levels are handled very well, hence allowing you to confidently use ISO 6,400 at dusk and dawn. Panasonic Lumix S5 is a great choice for landscape, architecture, and night photography.
Fujifilm XT4 has a slightly higher resolution, 26MP, but the X-Trans CMOS sensor here is an APS-C size. Because of this, you can expect that the low light performance of Fujifilm XT4 won’t be as good as Panasonic Lumix S5. However, Fujifilm XT4 is better in preserving background details and is able to zoom-in better at a given focal length, making it ideal for macro, sports, and wildlife photography.
Detail and color quality are awesome. The overall ISO performance is good, thanks to the dual gain design of the sensor. You get plenty of space to tweak exposure and shadow levels. With Fujifilm XT4, you can underexpose at a low ISO in order to maintain highlight without a significant noise penalty.
Conclusion
If you don’t use autofocus that much, grab Panasonic Lumix S5. It has a really cool feature set, including the ability to shoot 5.9K RAW videos and a 96MP high-resolution mode. The full-frame sensor provides great image quality and low-light performance. However, if you need a versatile camera for a multitude of purposes, Fujifilm XT4 is the better choice due to the impressive autofocus, photo burst, and overall image quality.