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Panasonic
Panasonic Lumix S5II
Finest for most individuals
The Panasonic Lumix S5II made a severe splash within the full-frame mirrorless market. It is the primary Panasonic digital camera to utilise part detection autofocus, which suggests it might probably lastly compete with the likes of Sony and Canon. Mix this with industry-leading IBIS and an aggressive worth level, and it is easy to see why individuals are excited.
Execs- Glorious worth
- Excellent video and photograph capabilities
- Nice autofocus and IBIS programs
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Panasonic
Panasonic Lumix S5IIX
Finest for video professionals
The Panasonic Lumix S5IIX is actually the identical digital camera because the S5II, but it surely has just a few key upgrades particularly designed for skilled video shooters. The S5IIX can document ALL-I and ProRes codecs internally, in addition to output Blackmagic RAW over HDMI. It could additionally document to SSDs through USB-C and has a horny all-black paint job.
Execs- Inside ProRes and ALL-I recording
- USB-SSD assist
- ProRes RAW and BRAW over HDMI
Introduced alongside the Panasonic Lumix S5II in early 2023, the S5IIX is a really comparable digital camera, however one with some significant upgrades for skilled video shooters.
The 2 fashions look very comparable, are priced fairly equally and share many of the similar options. This could imply that it is onerous to decide on between them.
In the event you’re unsure which mannequin is best for you, then you definitely’re in the proper place. We have had hands-on expertise with each cameras, and we have in contrast each facet that can assist you make the proper buy in your wants.
Specs, availability and pricing
The usual Lumix S5II was introduced in January 2023 and has been obtainable to buy since then. It carries an MSRP of $1999 / £1999 / €2199.
The S5IIX was additionally introduced in January, however its full capabilities weren’t revealed till not too long ago. It is up for preorder now and can be transport by the top of Might. The S5IIX retails for $2199 / £2299 / €2499.
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Panasonic Lumix S5II Panasonic Lumix S5IIX Sensor Dimension Full-frame Full-frame Video Decision 6K/30 6K/30 – ProRes at as much as 5.8K/30 Photograph Decision 24.2MP 24.2MP Battery 16Wh Li-ion 16Wh Li-ion Dimension 134.3 x 102.3 x 90.1mm 134.3 x 102.3 x 90.1mm Weight 740g 740g Water Resistance Mud and splash resistant Mud and splash resistant Lens L-mount L-mount
Design
The 2 digital camera our bodies are an identical, other than the paint jobs. The unique S5II has typical Panasonic styling, with white logos and legends, in addition to the signature pink accents on the dial and document button.
The S5IIX has a stealthy all-black end, with the one splash of color being the pink document button. This seems to be very swish, but it surely has a sensible function, too. Having a darker digital camera physique signifies that it is much less more likely to seem in reflections, like if you happen to’re capturing via a window for instance.
There’s a fairly large draw back to this design, although, and that is the truth that the buttons are fairly onerous to make out in low-light situations. After all, if you’re used to the format, it will not matter as a lot, however it may be a hurdle if you’re new to the system.
The cameras carry over a number of the design choices from the unique Lumix S5, and that is an excellent factor. The design is ergonomic and sturdy, with a flip-out display and a very good OLED EVF.
Connectivity is nice, too, with a full-size HDMI port, headphone and microphone sockets and twin SD card slots. There is a USB-C port on each cameras, however its capabilities are completely different on every.
On the Lumix S5II the USB port can be utilized both to cost the digital camera, or to switch recordsdata to your laptop, however on the S5IIX it will get an enormous improve. The S5IIX can use the USB-C port to document straight onto portable SSDs – and you may want to take action if you wish to benefit from the brand new high-bitrate codecs.
It is a great point, in our view, as transportable SSDs are a less expensive choice than CFexpress playing cards, and so they’re sometimes cheaper than high-capacity SD playing cards, too.
Images options
Photographic options are precisely the identical on each cameras, and the S5IIX is only designed as an improve for video makers. Nevertheless, that does not imply that it might probably’t take nice pictures, each cameras are very spectacular stills shooters.
In both case, you get 24.2MP stills in addition to a 96MP sensor-shift high-resolution mode, for occasions if you want severe element. You can even shoot bursts of as much as 30fps with the digital shutter, or 9fps with the mechanical shutter, that means each cameras are an honest selection for sports activities and occasions.
The in-body picture stabilisation and part hybrid autofocusing impressed us most in video capturing, however they’re equally useful for stills. We have been in a position to take lengthy exposures of as much as about 1 second in size utterly handheld due to the sensible IBIS system, it is great things.
Video options
Shifting on to the video options, that is the place you will discover the true distinction between these two cameras. Whereas each can document at as much as 6K decision (3:2) the S5II solely presents LongGOP recording modes – maxing out at a bitrate of 200Mbps at 6K/30.
The S5IIX, alternatively, can document in ALL-Intra at as much as Cinema 4K decision 60fps, which has a bitrate of 800Mbps. And if that is not top quality sufficient, you may leap as much as ProRes 422 HQ at 5.8K 30fps, which has a whopping 1.9Gbps bitrate.
Which means you have got extra knowledge to work with in post-production, and extra flexibility with the way you color grade and manipulate your footage. It additionally means you may match your footage extra carefully with that {of professional} cinema cameras, which might be invaluable if you happen to’re doing skilled video work.
As well as, the S5IIX brings with it assist for Blackmagic RAW and ProRes RAW output over HDMI, as long as you have got a appropriate recorder. Nevertheless, this characteristic can be coming to the S5II within the type of a firmware replace. So, if you happen to sometimes shoot with an Atmos or Blackmagic Video Help, then the hole between these two cameras begins to slim.
The S5IIX additionally advantages from some stay streaming options, resembling the power to broadcast RTSP over Wi-Fi and ethernet. We’ve not totally explored these capabilities simply but, but when stay broadcasting is in your wheelhouse, chances are you’ll wish to examine these out.
Elsewhere, the cameras characteristic an identical specs. Each have glorious and dependable autofocus, in addition to class-leading picture stabilisation.
Conclusion
The S5IIX and S5II are basically the identical digital camera, solely the X provides some options which can be geared in direction of skilled video capturing. So, technically, the S5IIX is the superior system. Nevertheless, we do not suppose most individuals will want these options, so the usual S5II stays our high advice.
Panasonic
To summarise the adjustments, the S5IIX provides inner ALL-I and ProRes recording, USB-SSD recording, stay streaming options and an all-black end. ProRes RAW and BRAW over HDMI are new, too, however they’re going to be coming to the S5II through a firmware replace in June.
If you realize that you will benefit from any of those options, then the S5IIX is the one to go for. We do not personally want such high-bitrate codecs, however we’re large followers of recording to SSD for the comfort and value financial savings – that alone is well worth the worth of admission to us.
Panasonic
On the finish of the day, it is all about the kind of work that you will be doing along with your digital camera. If it is largely photographic work, then there is not any must spend the additional on the X, because the efficiency is not any completely different. Nevertheless, if you happen to’re trying to take your video work to the subsequent degree, then you definitely would possibly wish to make investments that little bit further.
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