Panasonic Lumix S5 Mark II X body

Panasonic Lumix S5 Mark II X body

The Panasonic S5 II X is a slightly meaner version of the basic versions!

• Raw video recording via HDMI (available as a paid upgrade for the S5 II)
• Video recording directly via USB-C to an external hard drive
• ALL-Intra and ProRes recording
• Wireless and wired IP streaming, Tethering via phone via USB connection

A hybrid camera that has enough features for professional use! Panasonic has always offered top-class features for videographers, the quality of the optics is also high-quality and thanks to the L-Mount, the range also includes Leica and Sigma lenses. The mechanical quality is very good, the weather protection and sturdy construction have also withstood the abuse of professional users.

New features thanks to updates:

The Panasonic S5 II is now a much better camera than when it was released! The camera software is at version 3.1 and the camera has been improved, which for some manufacturers would have been almost a separate camera model.

Frame.Io Camera to Cloud support - Transfer images (including RAW) and video files directly to Adobe's cloud service via Wifi or USB tethering. Either directly after shooting so the entire team can see the footage, or for example after the shooting day.

Proxy video recording: Saves a small video file in addition to a higher quality version, suitable for quick social sharing and editing larger projects quickly and before rendering, you can replace large files.

Updated object-aware autofocus: The autofocus was the biggest upgrade in the S5 II model and now includes competitor-style animal eye, car and motorcycle-aware autofocus. According to YouTube testers, the update is significant

New Enhanced Stabilizer Mode: The Panasonic S5 II includes very good video stabilization and now in E mode with electronic zoom this is truly gimbal-level. It's worth watching the comparison videos, so Panasonic is in a league of its own when it comes to video shooting compared to its competitors.

Small improvements: Pre-burst preview, Real time LUT support, Lumix LAB app compatibility and yes, Leica Monochrome black and white presets for those relaxing Sunday photo shoots.

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In short: new 24MP sensor, completely new focusing system, better video stabilization, new viewfinder, wider video settings and codecs, active cooling. same mechanical quality and good ergonomics.

• All-new phase-detection autofocus
• Up to 30FPS continuous shooting with electronic shutter and continuous focus
• Full-frame 24MP BSI CMOS sensor, ISO 100-51200
• 5-axis image stabilization, up to 6.5 f-stop stabilization
• 6K 30P, 4K 60P with Super35 cropping, no time limit
• Active cooling means it doesn't overheat when shooting videos
  
• Two UHS-II memory card slots
• Weatherproof frame

New sensor, autofocus and updated image stabilization

As you can see from the feature list, this S5 Mark II is a completely new camera and not a minor version update. The biggest change is the new processor and sensor. The sensor resolution is 24.4MP, suitable for a camera that combines video and photography, and for the first time, the focus is handled by phase detection technology.

Panasonic's autofocus used to be based solely on contrast detection, and this had been refined to a great extent, but competitors had passed it by with their own technologies. But now the Panasonic S5 II makes a handsome return to the competition with a new phase-detection autofocus system.

Phase detection eliminates the pumping motion from the focus system and the biggest change is the ability of continuous focus to track a moving subject. There are some differences, for example, animal eye detection or special features such as helicopter and insect shooting programs are missing. But the system just works, i.e. AF is on and the job is done accurately without any glitches.

The image stabilization, like Panasonic's IBIS type, is sensor-moving. Now a new Active IS setting has been added to the stabilization for video shooting, as the name suggests, this works well when moving with the camera as well as when walking with the camera. Several YouTube camera vloggers think this is the best stabilization system at the moment!

The image stabilization system allows the sensor to be moved to combine eight frames into a single 96-megapixel high-resolution image. This feature also has an additional setting that removes subject movement from images (e.g. trees swaying in the wind, etc.). The feature now has its own quick setting on the mode dial.

Video recording features

Panasonic S5 II X video horror. Settings and image quality are even for professional use. But the camera was also announced as a special model for video recording, the Panasonic S5 Mark II X. This special model has a few additional features, such as recording directly to an external disk via USB-C and internal ProRes Raw recording, but otherwise the image quality and camera are the same. It is also possible to purchase a Raw video recording upgrade for an external recorder for this basic model.

• 6K30p 10bit 4:2:0 footage across the entire width of the sensor
• 4K60P 10bit 4:2:2 footage without breaks (with cropping)
• Raw video recording via HDMI
• Video recording directly via USB-C to an external hard drive
• ALL-Intra and ProRes recording
• Wireless and wired IP streaming, Tethering via phone via USB connection
• 4K material is upsampled from a 6K image
• V-Log and V-Gamut and HLG wide gamut recording formats without separate license
  
• Dynamic range over 14 aperture values
• Very good support for LUT files
• Dual Native ISO technology
• Adjustable noise reduction (can also be turned off when recording internally)

• Waveform data, two different Zebra settings, live cropping, shutter angle adjustments and much more!

The Panasonic S5 II largely combines the features of Panasonic's top video cameras, such as the GH6 and S1H, into a smaller body. This means that it offers video recording that meets the requirements of even professional users. The codec settings and video settings are very comprehensive.

The only criticisms can be made about the rolling shutter effect, i.e. the distortion caused by the sensor's read speed when the camera is moved quickly. But this is a 24-megapixel hybrid camera, so it doesn't really lag behind the others here either and there has been an improvement compared to the S1H model.

The Panasonic S5 II supports LUT files very well, you can load these into the camera and choose to preview on the camera's display, an external display via HDMI, or both. In addition, the LUT file can be converted to a picture profile and the camera will directly use the settings to create the video file with the desired color tones without additional editing.

You can also load the S5 II's memory with settings such as the Sony S-Log 3 color profile. This way, you can easily edit materials in real time when shooting with multiple cameras or in multi-camera productions.

Usability and connections:

• Active cooling with fan
• Full-size HDMI connector
• USB Type-C for direct charging and power delivery
• 3.5mm headphone and microphone jack
• Microphone connection also available as line level
• 2x UHS-II memory card slots
• Better electronic viewfinder

The appearance and weight are quite close to the first model. So this is a full-frame camera in a body of the same size, roughly the size of the GH5. The appearance is a bit confusing because there have also been major improvements in usability. The joystick on the back is 8-way instead of the previous 4-way, which means that adjusting the focus, for example, is faster and more accurate.

The electronic viewfinder has a higher resolution of 3.68 million dots (previously 2.36MP). The eye-detection sensor is now located at the top of the viewfinder, so it's not easily confused when using the touchscreen, for example.

The Panasonic S5 Mark 2 includes two SD memory card slots, both of which support UHS-II speed (previously only one), meaning that video recording can be done at the best settings with two card slots. The previous microHDMI connection has been replaced with a more durable full-size connector.

As an accessory for this camera , Panasonic's handy DMW-XLR1 microphone adapter is available. The adapter provides two XLR connectors and two 3.5mm audio connectors, for a total of four audio channels. Golden ears will be pleased with the audio recording at 96kHz 24bit quality!

Manufacturers often have two ways of doing thermal management, either by limiting operating times or by active cooling, i.e. a fan. In the style of Panasonic's Netflix-approved S1H cinema camera, the S5 Mark II has chosen a fan. Cool air is drawn in from under the Panasonic logo on the front and blown out the sides.

4K shooting modes are possible without a time limit and by adjusting the settings, 6K and 5.9K shooting modes can also be used without a time limit and without external power. Shooting is really only limited by battery life. Even if 30 minutes would be enough, this cooling also improves reliability and this camera will certainly be used by many professionals.

In tests, there has been practically no noise from the fans, so there is no need to worry about extra humming in the soundtrack. Panasonic itself tests video recording at a prevailing temperature of 40 degrees, so in the Finnish climate, thermal management will certainly be sufficient.

The body is weatherproof. The cooling air paths are separated from other parts of the camera and do not affect the tightness of the internal components.

Specifications:

• Compatibility: L-mount
• Sensor: 24.2 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor
• Built-in image stabilization
• Burst shooting: 9fps RAW and JPG
• 779 phase detection AF points, DFD contrast-detect AF, 225 AF points
  
• Viewfinder: OLED, resolution 3.68 million dots, magnification 0.78x
• 3' vari-angle touchscreen, resolution 1.84 million dots
• 2x SDXC memory card slot (UHS-II)
• Battery type: Panasonic DMW-BLK22
• Size: 134 x 102 x 90mm
• Weight 740g

The sales package includes:

• Panasonic Lumix S5 IIX Mirrorless Camera Body
• Panasonic DMW-BLK22 Lithium-Ion Battery (7.2V, 2200mAh) battery
• AC Adapter Power Cord
• USB-C to USB-A cable
• Shoulder Strap
• Body Cap

The sales package does not include a charger.