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PANASONIC LUMIX S5 II X
BACK IN BLACK X FACTOR LUMIX Panasonic’s S5 II X is the murdered-out version of the full-frame Lumix that’s built primarily for filmmakers W hen the full-frame Panasonic Lumix S5 II mirrorless camera launched at the end of
features filmmakers will love. But, just maybe, some they won’t. The camera has a matte-finish body with blacked-out logo badges, but also black markings on the controls and main dial. Nobody will have issues with the stealth name and logo, but making the markings on the control dials black is a bit of a gaffe. Especially when Panasonic launched the camera to the European press at a nightclub in London, where it was almost impossible to read the markings. Cue lots of iPhone torches being used to see the settings. Many high-end manufacturers use luminous paint on the markings so they can be seen in low light. If you own an S5 II X then a few dabs of white paint will work a treat. That’s style over substance for you. It’s one of the few gripes we have about a camera that’s simply a stunning performer, punching way above its weight when you consider the £2299/$2198 asking price – not a huge amount more than the £1999/ $1999 body-only price for the S5 II and definitely worth it.
last year, it became an instant sales smash – the biggest-selling full- frame camera the company had ever launched. A lot of the success was due to the great price and spec, but the biggest difference was that it was the first Lumix to have advanced on-sensor phase detection, when all major mirrorless brands already had it. The S5 II was the first product of the L2 Alliance between Panasonic and Leica, and the Lumix does have some groundbreaking spec neither brand had, including hybrid phase detection autofocus instead of the contrast detection system. With a 779-point phase detection system on its brand-new full-frame sensor, the camera flew off shelves – despite Panasonic warning that a higher-spec version, the S5 II X, was to follow with even better features specifically for filmmakers. Now, the S5 II X is here – and it builds on the original with a lot more
ALL THE GEAR With an external monitor for ProRes Raw and SSD for ProRes, the S5 II X is a camera for all reasons
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