GEAR
PANASONIC LUMIX S5 II X
“A unique feature... the S5 II X can record to an external SSD drive via HDMI or USB”
and fixed on a Sandisk Extreme Portable 1TB SSD. Instead of messing around with memory cards, record all your files to the SSD and use them straight away in post-production. With the massive bit rates of All- Intra files and ProRes, an SSD just makes sense or else you would be flying through memory cards; some bit rate options are only available when recording to an SSD, especially as they are UHS-II SD cards rather than anything faster. For exporting to an external monitor/recorder in Raw, the S5 II X supports Apple ProRes Raw and Blackmagic Raw to compatible devices. The Panasonic Lumix S5 II will also export its footage as Raw if users buy a firmware upgrade. The Lumix S5 II X offers both wired and wireless IP streaming and USB tethering, which are absent on the cheaper model. Compared to the S5 II, the newer machine is the same in a multitude of ways. Both cameras include 14+ stop V-Log/V-Gamut colour, as well as a new real-time LUT function, making it possible for grading LUTs to be uploaded to an SD card and directly applied in-camera rather than in post-production. Each model boasts waveform monitoring, vectorscope and zebra pattern, as well as 48kHz/24-bit audio recording from an external microphone, with high-resolution
The S5 II X is externally virtually identical to the S5 II, using the same 24.2-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor and imaging engine, with hybrid phase detection autofocus. Both the S5 II X and S5 II shoot internal 4:2:0 10-bit 6K in 3:2 and 5.9K in 16:9 at 30fps, plus 4:2:2 C4K and 4K at up to 60fps, with a low- profile heat management system allowing for unlimited recording times. You can see vents at the side of the viewfinder to let heat out from the fan cooling. Like the S5 II, the X model doesn’t come with a dedicated battery charger, just a USB-C mains plug and lead, plus you’ll need spare batteries for all-day shooting. The S5 II X is also capable of recording all its formats in Apple ProRes internally up to 5.8K, as well as MOV and MP4 which the S5 II offers. The X’s recording rates reach 800Mbps as it shoots in All- Intra, whereas the S5 II tops out at 200Mbps because it’s limited to the more compressed Long GOP format. When switching to S&Q mode, the X model can record in 4:2:2 10-bit – while the standard camera is limited to 4:2:0 but still in 10-bit. A unique feature for full-frame mirrorless cameras, the S5 II X can record to an external SSD drive via HDMI or USB; a great idea that other manufacturers would do well to copy. We used a SmallRig cage with an external SSD mount attachment
96kHz/24-bit recording via external XLR microphones using an adapter. Both also have a full-size HDMI Type A terminal, high-speed USB 3.2 Gen 2 and wireless connectivity with Wi-Fi 5GHz, as well as 2.4GHz to provide stable communication with smart devices. There are two UHS-II card slots and the 2200mAh high- capacity battery may be recharged through mains power or USB. The two cameras are also similarly dust and splash resistant. Sadly, the sensor in each is not a superfast stacked sensor as seen in flagship cameras from the likes of Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm and OM System. The reality is that this makes a big difference when trying to shoot action photographs as the viewfinder is not a real-time, blackout-free version. We tried panning with some motorcycles and it’s difficult not to crop the back of the bike off as the EVF can’t keep up. For other stills it’s fine – and the files are nice and detailed – but it’s not a sports stills camera that can compete with a Sony A1, Fujifilm X-H2S or Canon EOS R3. The S5 II X has an electronic shutter that blasts through frames at 30fps, or 7fps using the mechanical shutter. Its high-resolution mode combines four shots to produce a 96-megapixel still. A stacked sensor brings faster readouts and improvements in AF
BLACKOUT The all- black look includes lots of the buttons and dials, making things tough to read unless you’re in full sunshine
JUST A PHASE The new autofocus system is so much better than the older S5 model
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