I have realized myself recently rather like shooting high-contrast scenes. I like it, but it is difficult at the same time. Even being careful, I often make mistakes. I wonder if a full-size camera with a wider dynamic range would be able to do it better.
I’m not going to bore you with the rest of the story because it’s a long one, but besides the dynamic range issue, there are a few other things I think about the appeal of full-size cameras, and for the first time in my life, I’m interested in FF cameras.
I am not in a financial position to afford a FF, but I started to think about the possibility of buying more cameras.
If I were to use a FF camera, the Pentax K-1II would be the most likely candidate. Although my existing lenses are basically APSC-specific, there are a few that can be used with FF, such as the FA limited.
Price-wise, it’s becoming a realistic price that I might be able to manage if I push myself a little bit, so it’s a real consideration.
However, the K-1II is a minor-changed version of the K-1 released 7 years ago, and I am not excited to introduce a new camera to my K-3III in terms of functionality and performance, and above all, it is heavy and big. I am not without a feeling that the K-3III is already enough to enjoy SLR cameras.
On the other hand, among the full-size mirrorless cameras that are currently crowded in the market, there are some realistically priced ones that are not necessarily expensive, and I’m interested in them as well.
![パナソニック｜Panasonic LUMIX S5II 標準ズームレンズキット ミラーレス一眼カメラ ブラック DC-S5M2K [ズームレンズ]](https://thumbnail.image.rakuten.co.jp/@0_mall/biccamera/cabinet/product/7577/00000010900158_a01.jpg?_ex=128x128)
As you know, both of these models have been attracting a lot of attention from entry-level users due to their reasonable price range. The S5II from Panasonic, which was released in February, is so popular that orders are flooding in and the supply of pre-orders alone may be delayed until May. The Canon R8, which is scheduled for release in April, is another high-profile product for which a supply delay has already been announced.
However, although both of them are a little cheaper than the previous models, they are not available at mass-market prices and not everyone can afford them. I was just beginning to think seriously about financing the K-1II, since I have nothing else to go on, when I noticed a reminder email from “Kakaku.com” that the LUMIX S5 standard lens kit now drops less than 200,000 yen. It’s unmarked S5, not S5II.
Ho!
The S5 became an older model with the release of the S5II, but it is still being sold alongside the S5 as an active model. I wonder if this means that there are still quite a few in stock from the manufacturer. Naturally, the price has been gradually decreasing, and now we see a retailer who has lowered the price even further.
The S5II seems to have a good reputation not only in terms of price but also in terms of functional performance, and is often compared in new product reviews with the S5, saying, “S5II’s XX is better than the S5. The S5 has been relatively undervalued, but if you think about it calmly, it was the model I was drooling over until a few months ago. If I can get it at a low enough price, it suddenly looks shining.
As of the date of writing this article, the combination of S5 body and 20-60 zoom lens is almost 100,000 yen cheaper than the same lens kit of S5II, and at the same or slightly lower price range than the K-1II body, this is a situation I can’t afford to throw away.
My mind was suddenly turned hot, and I immersed myself in a price survey of the S5. Indeed, while there were a few retailers who had already lowered their prices, there were also many who had not yet followed, and I confirmed that there was a considerable variation in prices.
So what about the used market? Buying a used digital camera is risky and difficult, but since this model was released in 2020, I thought it would be worth considering if we could find one out there with a short history of use and a low shot count.
Sure enough, used ones are starting to drop in price. As with new equipment, the price ranges vary considerably from store to store. Originally, it is difficult to understand the “market price” of used Panasonic cameras because they are not distributed in large quantities like Canon and Sony, but I felt so especially at this time. It was as if I was looking at an auction site.
Speaking of auctions, What’s going on with Yahoo Japan! I thought of that and went digging.
I thought of that and went digging, and there were many, many auctions. It may be that the number of S5’s that come up right after they become the old model increases at auctions first, before second-hand shops. They are all cheaper than buying at a used specialty store, but of course the risk is high, so I checked out a few sellers who had a lot of experience with cameras and few complaints, and as a result, I found a good one.
I found myself winning the bid with the momentum, as a result.
I ended up picking up a FF mirrorless SLR Lumix S5 + 20-60 zoom for considerably less than I had initially thought I would pay for a K-1II body.
Anyway, here is the S5 that came to my hand.I thought the black body would look cooler in monochrome, so I did one in monochrome finish (L-monochrome with a Leica flavor, since I went to the trouble of finishing it).
It arrived in a cleaner condition than expected (“almost new” according to my amateur judgment of its appearance), and I checked the shot count with *Hidden command on the body and found that it sold for less than 1,700 shots. Good job, it is less than the seller’s self-report.
- *The link is to a hidden command operation explanation for the G9 pro, but the same applies to the S5
When I compared its size side by side with my mainstay PENTAX K-3III (with SIGMA 17-70), it looked like this.
Compared to the catalog specifications, the K-3III seems to be larger in both WHD by a millimeter and about 100g heavier in body weight. The difference in size can be seen even in the photo, although it is slight. The S5 is more compact than the K-3III, probably due to the “mirror-less” design, even though the sensor size is larger.
Both cameras have a classic mechanical design that I like.
At the moment, I am half happy to have the new gear, and half feeling “I’ve made a mess”. I’m going to go ahead and write a blog post about it. One thing is clear: I have to work hard and earn money this year. Phew.
