Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 II / DC-S5 IIX preliminary evaluate: Digital Images Evaluate

Product pictures by Richard Butler

The Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 II is the corporate’s newest model of their mid-range full-frame stills and video mirrorless digital camera. It provides section detection autofocus to its 24MP CMOS sensor and makes use of the L mount shared with Leica and Sigma.

Panasonic additionally introduced the DC-S5 IIX, a variant with a extra intensive video characteristic set, which is able to arrive later within the yr.

Key specs

• 24MP BSI CMOS sensor with on-sensor section detection
• As much as 30fps e-shutter capturing with C-AF and Uncooked seize
• 96MP multi-shot high-resolution mode
• 6K 3:2 open-gate video seize as much as 30p (4:2:0 10-bit)
• 6K or DCI/UHD 4K from full sensor width as much as 30p
• DCI/UHD 4K as much as 60p (S35), limitless file occasions
• Twin conversion achieve sensor with express ‘Twin Native ISO’ achieve choice
• Cooling fan
• Twin UHS-II card slots
• Non-obligatory paid improve for Uncooked video output

Further options in S5 IIX

• Uncooked video output
• Video recording to SSD over USB
• All-I compression modes
• Inner ProRes seize
• Wired/wi-fi IP streaming

The S5 II can be out there from the final week of January for a beneficial worth of $1999 (€2199), with the S5 IIX not hitting the cabinets till the top of Might. The S5 IIX will command a $200 (or €300) premium over the much less video-centric model.

An non-compulsory paid improve for the S5 II will add Uncooked video output, and can value $200/€200.

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What’s new? | The way it compares | Physique and controls | Preliminary impressions | Pattern gallery | Specs | Press launch

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What’s new?

Section detection AF

The most important information is the inclusion of on-sensor section detection: a expertise Panasonic has not beforehand used. Section detection basically works by producing two views of the scene from barely completely different views (sometimes by forming separate pictures that ‘look’ via the left and proper sides of the lens) and evaluating them. Simply as with human imaginative and prescient that makes use of two eyes set aside from each other, this permits the digital camera to ascertain an understanding of distance and depth within the scene.

Evaluating the 2 pictures lets the digital camera calculate how far it must drive focus with a view to deliver the 2 views into alignment, at which level the aligned topic is in focus. That is particularly priceless in video mode, because it permits the digital camera to refocus to a distinct distance with out overshooting and in addition, critically, means the digital camera can verify that it is nonetheless in focus with out having to maneuver the lens. This implies section detection could be decisive in conditions the place it should maintain focus, as it might confidently keep there.

Panasonic says it helps to enhance monitoring skill, efficiency in low gentle ranges and backlit situations and when coping with a number of topics (staying locked in your chosen topic higher as a result of it is aware of which one within the scene it’s).

Topic recognition AF

Within the S5 II, Panasonic has mixed its newfound depth consciousness with an enhanced model of its present topic recognition monitoring system, which has been educated to acknowledge each people and animals.

There are three distinct recognition modes that slim down your supposed topic sort, to maximise your success charge. Human + Animal monitoring mode is the broadest and can monitor any of the themes it has been educated to acknowledge, and we’re informed will prioritize animals. Human mode has a hierarchy of topics it might detect, with the very best precedence being eyes, then faces, then heads, then our bodies; it is going to deal with crucial of those it might discover. Lastly, Face/Eye detection solely focuses on eyes and faces within the scene.

In all three modes, the digital camera will begin looking out out of your chosen AF level and the realm instantly round it, which means It’ll deal with the desired topic sort if it is discovered below your AF level. This technique makes it attainable to make use of the AF level to specify a person topic in a bunch (you may as well change its thoughts by tapping on the display or utilizing the joystick to leap between acknowledged faces). It additionally means you’ll be able to go away Face/Eye detection on to specify a non-human topic, with out the digital camera mechanically giving priority to any individuals within the body. Notice that when your AF space is the entire display, Face/Eye mode will select to deal with somebody dealing with the digital camera, not merely the closest human if can detect.

Up to date in-body picture stabilization

Panasonic has additionally improved its picture stabilization system, promising a efficiency twice as efficient as within the S5. For its revised system it is adopted the branding ‘Lively IS,’ although it hasn’t been very particular about how these enhancements have been achieved.

What the corporate has mentioned is that its algorithms have been re-worked and that the digital camera assesses digital camera movement extra exactly. We have been impressed with what we have seen from the S5 II up to now, when it comes to retaining each stills nonetheless and video clips clean. The Enhance IS mode, which tries to cancel all motion for a tripod-like video look, is especially spectacular.

The stabilization system additionally underpins the eight-shot 96MP Excessive Decision mode. The S5 II would not have the hand-held high-res mode from the GH6, and so requires a tripod or in any other case mounted digital camera, nevertheless it nonetheless provides a movement correction mode for stopping artifacts from shifting topics within the scene.

New processor

On the coronary heart of the S5 II is a brand new processing engine that’s the first product of Panasonic’s L² co-development venture with Leica. The 2 firms shared know-how and sources to develop the brand new processor, which we would count on to see in future Leica fashions, too.

Whereas Panasonic says the sensor within the S5 II can be new, from what we have seen its efficiency seems to be just like its non-phase-detect predecessor, which means that its newfound skill to shoot at as much as 30fps in e-shutter mode is extra about having a processor in a position to deal with this pace.

Constructed-in fan

The S5 II features a fan mechanism, to permit video capturing for prolonged intervals. The fan is on the prime of the digital camera, with vents below the forefront and alongside the perimeters of the viewfinder hump, drawing the warmth up and out of the digital camera. As standard, the fan sits outdoors the physique’s sealed space, so the vents aren’t a weak level for its mud and splash resistant design.

The fan means the S5 II can file for limitless intervals in most of its video modes, as examined by Panasonic at temperatures of 40°C (104°F). Panasonic factors out that almost all of its rivals solely quote figures for 22–25°C (72–77°F), which is considerably much less demanding and fewer consultant of common temperatures throughout a lot of the US.

Video

The S5 II builds on the video capabilities of the S5, regardless of utilizing a chip with related ~21ms readout occasions for its 16:9 footage.

The obvious addition to the digital camera’s capabilities is the flexibility to shoot full sensor peak 3:2 ‘open gate’ video. That is out there at as much as 30p and supplies the scope to crop into numerous side ratios or to pan across the body in submit. Alternatively there are 6K choices, both in UHD-style 16:9 side ratio or the DCI-like 18.9:1 format.

Past this are the full-width 4K modes (each DCI and UHD) that are taken from 6K seize. These are supplied at as much as 30p and as much as 10-bit 4:2:2 encoding.

Panasonic’s rivals have more and more added 10-bit seize functionality on this class, however the S5 II goes past these with a variety of help instruments and options that are not as commonplace amongst the competitors, up to now.

Panasonic remains to be distinctive on this a part of the market in offering the S5 II with a waveform show and vectorscopes. These are video-industry commonplace methods of understanding the tone and colour distribution within the picture, and could be vastly priceless when setting publicity and white steadiness. Likewise, the S5 II can specific its publicity time when it comes to shutter angle, which makes it simpler to take care of a wise publicity when switching between seize body charges.

It’s possible you’ll not discover them at first, however the finned vents of the fan on both aspect of the viewfinder present that the S5 II is critical about video.

Syncro scan (the fine-tuning of publicity time to higher sync with flickering gentle sources) is changing into extra widespread, as are the choice of four-channel audio seize and extra video targeted settings show screens. The S5 II’s distinctly Arri-like display, borrowed from Panasonic’s Varicam line, is especially clear and clear, although. Likewise, the flexibility to seize 4-channel audio (with an non-compulsory XLR adapter) is changing into extra widespread, however the S5 II consists of choices comparable to line-level enter and twin enter achieve settings on its mic inputs that its rivals lack.

The S5 II positive factors a few extra capabilities, together with ‘Full-range HLG’ capturing. This ignores the higher and decrease brightness limits which are imposed by the HLG commonplace, which means you keep just a little extra flexibility within the edit. That is helpful each if in case you have HLG as your remaining supposed output or if you happen to’re utilizing it as a Log-like intermediate step.

Anamorphic help

Tying-in with the S5 II’s skill to seize open-gate and 4:3 APS-C footage is an efficient collection of instruments to help capturing with anamorphic lenses. As on earlier Panasonic fashions, the S5 II can stretch the footage horizontally to present a real-time ‘desqueezed’ preview for all kinds of squeeze components. The digital camera can then plot safe-zone markers for numerous output side ratios excessive of this view, so you are capturing the motion in part of the body that can be utilized in your remaining footage.

Telling the digital camera the squeeze ratio of your lens additionally permits the S5 II to regulate its picture stabilization system to accommodate the differing efficient focal lengths of your vertical and horizontal seize, bettering the stabilization efficiency.

LUT-applied capturing

The S5 II positive factors the flexibility to import LUTs within the industry-standard .dice format (along with Panasonic’s personal .VLT sort). It will probably retailer as much as 10 LUTs and provides the flexibility to use the LUT to the footage as you shoot. Doing do means you lose post-processing flexibility, placing larger emphasis on getting publicity and white steadiness proper in-camera, nevertheless it enables you to obtain the look you need straight out of digital camera.

S5 IIX options

The cameras’ twin UHS-II SD card slots aren’t sufficiently fast for recording the 4K ProRes modes supplied by the S5 IIX, or the flexibility to file on to an exterior solid-state drive (SSD) over its USB port.

All of the variations between the S5 II and S5 IIX must do with the latter’s video capabilities. The X’s physique has a slightly good all-mono design with blacked-out ‘Lumix’ branding and no pink accents on the management dials, however in virtually each different regard, the 2 look the identical.

Beneath the hood the S5 IIX brings enhanced video modes which are higher suited to intensive post-production work.

• Uncooked video output
• Inner ProRes seize (422 and 422 HQ)
• All-I codecs
• USB-SSD output
• Direct wired and wi-fi streaming (per GH5 II)

S5 II house owners should purchase an improve so as to add Uncooked video out for his or her digital camera, nevertheless it will not include the opposite enhancements of the S5 IIX. Within the US, at the least, the paid improve prices the identical because the distinction in value between the 2 fashions, so until you desperately want the S5 II on a shoot instantly, it might seem to make extra sense to attend till Might for the X to begin transport.

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The way it compares

Just like the S5 earlier than it, the S5 II is clearly aimed on the similar $2000-2500 mid-range full-frame viewers. It is maybe probably the most aggressive phase of the market, full of succesful cameras which are adept at each stills and video capturing. This makes it troublesome to face out, and signifies that real-world AF efficiency and value grow to be the distinction between a powerful spec checklist and an important digital camera.

All 4 cameras are clearly properly specced, with just a few options serving to set the fashions aside. Canon and Panasonic each supply speedy burst capturing charges, with the EOS R6 II reaching the quicker charge with much less rolling shutter and a pre-burst mode. The Canon leads the pack when it comes to picture stabilization score, however this doesn’t suggest it provides the smoothest stabilization in video.

Picture high quality is broadly comparable, with the Sony providing barely higher element seize at low ISO however slipping just a little behind in low gentle situations. The Sony provides probably the most spectacular battery life but in addition the weakest rolling shutter efficiency in video, making it tougher than ever to decide on between the 4 cameras.

The S5 IIX will supply a broader vary of video capabilities than any of the opposite present fashions, at a decrease introductory worth than both the Sony or Canon choices.

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Physique and dealing with

The styling of the S5 II may be very a lot in step with that of the unique mannequin: it is a mid-sized, pretty squared-off design with a really distinct SLR-like form to it (in contrast, say, to Nikon’s Z-series cameras). Regardless of being the smaller mannequin within the firm’s L-mount lineup, it has intensive exterior management factors, together with particulars comparable to a devoted AF mode swap, which are uncommon at this stage.

Regardless of the acquainted look, lots has been redesigned or reworked. Essentially the most important change is the addition of the fan to the digital camera’s viewfinder hump. That is central to the digital camera’s guarantees of video endurance, however is designed to not undermine the physique’s climate sealing.

Past this, the S5 II positive factors a higher-resolution 3.68M-dot OLED viewfinder, and eight-way AF joystick (slightly than the four-directional one on the unique S5), and a full-sized HDMI port.

The S5 II additionally sees its second card slot upgraded to the UHS-II commonplace, permitting using quicker SD playing cards in each slots. Notably, even with the quickest V90-rated playing cards, UHS-II is not quick sufficient to file all of the S5 IIX’s video modes, with probably the most demanding of its All-I seize modes and all its 4K and 5.8K ProRes modes requiring using an exterior SSD. Panasonic says it has been working with third-party accent makers to supply helpful methods to connect fashionable SSDs to the digital camera.

There may be sufficient commonality between the S5 and the Mark II that the brand new digital camera can nonetheless use the prevailing DMW-BGS5 battery grip, offering house for a second battery.

Battery

There isn’t any separate charger with the S5 II however the Kind 3.2 Gen 2 USB port can be utilized to cost, energy or energy and cost the digital camera.

The S5 II continues to make use of the DMW-BLK22 battery from the earlier model, which suggests it is also absolutely suitable with the identical AC adaptor, DC coupler and devoted battery chargers because the Mark I.

The S5 II doesn’t include its personal charger and as an alternative used the USB-PD commonplace to permit in-camera charging, operation or operation and charging, when related to high-current energy sources.

The digital camera’s battery life score is a slightly disappointing 370 pictures per cost, per CIPA commonplace testing strategies. As at all times, these numbers are inclined to considerably underestimate what number of pictures you’ll be able to sometimes count on (until your capturing model may be very energy-intensive). A 370 shot-per-charge score will sometimes offer you loads of cost for a day’s capturing, however you will need to hold a USB energy supply close to handy for intensive shoots. An influence-saving mode provides a score of 1,250 pictures per cost for viewfinder capturing.

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Preliminary impressions

The Lumix DC-S5 II jogs my memory of the lenticular prints offered in museum reward retailers, which present a distinct picture relying on the angle from which you view them. From one perspective it seems to be the two-year-old S5 with section detection added, however checked out from a distinct place, its specs make it seem like a reputable competitor to Canon’s current EOS R6 II (which we think about to be the most effective of the present fanatic full-frame bunch).

It could appear odd that the addition of section detection (and a quick e-shutter burst mode) may make this a lot distinction, particularly when the earlier AF system labored very properly for some duties. However that provides some impression each of how tight the variations are between finest and worst on this class and the way important the addition of a succesful stills and video AF system could be.

As with nearly each different producer we have spoken to previously yr, Panasonic says the S5 II is geared toward social media ‘content material creators,’ nevertheless it’s not solely clear what it is achieved to ship that, past constructing a digital camera that tries to shoot each stills and video. However I am just a little extra satisfied when it says the S5 II is meant simply as a lot for stills as video.

Video is actually one among Panasonic’s acknowledged strengths, nevertheless it’s necessary to not mistake makes an attempt to bolster these capabilities for being solely video-focused. The inclusion of stills-specific options like its 30fps burst pace, pixel-shift high-res mode and reside view composite choices go a good distance towards making it a real hybrid digital camera, as pleased and succesful at capturing stills as capturing video. And whereas the prevailing DFD AF system labored properly for single stills, a refreshed AF monitoring system can solely increase the S5 II’s attraction to the stills shooter.

Does the S5 II do sufficient to be seen as a critical contender to the likes of Canon’s EOS R6 II and even Nikon’s Z6 II? It helps its case that Leica, Panasonic and Sigma are doing an excellent job of constructing a system across the L-mount, which means there are numerous extra native lenses out there than for Canon or Nikon’s mirrorless techniques.

In the end, although, the S5 II appears more likely to succeed or fail primarily based on its AF efficiency. There’s little purpose to doubt it will be a succesful video digital camera, however the effectiveness of its revised AF system will assist outline how simple it’s to shoot with for each stills and video, and in that division it is squaring up towards some very succesful competitors.

Our first impressions are that the AF monitoring in stills mode is stickier than the Nikon Z6 II’s however a contact behind its Canon and Sony rivals, whereas for video it is higher behaved than all however the Sony.

A possible pitfall is that one among its key stills options – 30fps Uncooked seize – reveals considerably extra rolling shutter than its most direct rival. The Canon EOS R6 II can shoot at 40fps with a readout time of ~18ms: round 30% faster than the roughly 25ms the S5 II takes to shut its shutter.

These are preliminary ideas; we’ll need to verify the S5 II with extra lenses in additional capturing circumstances earlier than drawing agency conclusions. Critically, it will be a query of how properly the stabilization and AF work collectively in run-and-gun video and stills seize. From our use up to now, although, the S5 II seems to credibly be within the hunt. On that foundation, it represents an enormous step ahead for Panasonic, nevertheless you have a look at it.

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Pattern gallery

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