Rank #4 in Best Mirrorless Cameras 2026: 10 Ranked, and Why the Spec Tables Lie
Panasonic Lumix S5 II with 18-40mm Lens
Price and rating as shown on Amazon when we collected them. Both change.
The Panasonic Lumix DC-S5M2 is a full-frame mirrorless body sold here with the S-R1840E 18-40mm lens for £1,199.00, ranked fourth in this guide. The listing carries a 4.3 rating from 34 ratings, and the bullets promise a 24.2MP full-frame CMOS sensor, C4K 60p/50p 4:2:2 10-bit recording without a time limit, 6K 30p/25p, Active I.S. and Dual Native ISO.
The spec table on that same page is where it gets untidy. Maximum shutter speed and minimum shutter speed are both listed as 1/4000 seconds — the same figure in both rows, with nothing to separate them. Video capture resolution is given as 2160p, while the bullets claim 6K 30p recording, and 2160p is 4K. Image stabilisation is typed as Optical, while the bullets and the product features field both say Active I.S. On price, this kit sits £500 above the £699 full-frame S5D kit with an 18-40mm lens that appears elsewhere in this guide. Everything on this page comes from the Amazon listing, not from our own testing.
How those 34 ratings break down
An average hides its own shape. This is the spread behind the 4.3 stars.
Specification
Exactly as published on the Amazon listing, field for field.
| Price | £1,199.00, body with the S-R1840E 18-40mm lens |
|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3 out of 5, from 34 ratings |
| Effective still resolution (as listed) | 24.2 — no unit given; the bullets say 24.2MP |
| Photo sensor size | Full Frame (35mm), CMOS |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000 seconds |
| Minimum shutter speed (as listed) | 1/4000 seconds — the same figure as the maximum |
| Video capture resolution (as listed) | 2160p, while a bullet claims 6K 30p/25p |
| Image stabilisation type (as listed) | Optical, while the bullets and the product features field say Active I.S. |
What buyers actually say
Quoted from customer reviews on Amazon
Verified purchase“Moved from crop sensor Canon 90D to this full frame camera not fully realising that it is targeted at video content creators. But what a stunning stills camera this is.The Mega Pixels are down from 32 on the 90D to 24 but to be honest having access to again to a 35mm frame totally outweighs that.Whilst the magnification of the crop sensor will be missed I can not say this is a deal breaker. Images are wonderful and the autofocus system simply because it is biased and designed for video is amazing for stills. Quick and accurate.”
Verified purchase“I love it ! For long video recording as also the stills”
What it is up against
The rivals it was ranked against in Best Mirrorless Cameras 2026: 10 Ranked, and Why the Spec Tables Lie.
Questions people ask
What is the effective still resolution of the Panasonic Lumix S5 II?
The spec table gives 24.2 with no unit, and the bullets describe a 24.2MP full-frame CMOS sensor, so the two agree on the figure even though one omits 'MP'.
Why are the maximum and minimum shutter speed both given as 1/4000 seconds?
We cannot tell from the listing. The Panasonic Lumix S5 II table shows 1/4000 seconds in both rows and offers no second figure for either.
Does this kit include a lens?
Yes. The listing sells the black Lumix DC-S5M2 body together with the S-R1840E 18-40mm S lens for £1,199.00.
What video resolutions does the listing claim?
The bullets claim C4K 60p/50p 4:2:2 10-bit unlimited recording and 6K 30p/25p 4:2:0 10-bit. The spec table's video capture resolution field says 2160p, which is 4K rather than 6K.
What mount and stabilisation does the listing state?
Compatible mountings are listed as Leica L, and image stabilisation type as Optical, while the bullets and the product features field describe Active I.S. with Dual Native ISO.
How is this camera rated by buyers?
4.3 out of 5 from 34 ratings, with the breakdown bars at 65, 17, 11 and 7. Those bars total 100 rather than 34, so read them as shares rather than numbers of buyers.
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