Video test
Video test
Panasonic Lumix S5 II
PRICE: £1999
PANASONIC.CO.UK
It shoots stills, but Panasonic’s latest Lumix is primarily built for video. Adam Duckworth finds out if it’s a real blockbuster
and OM System. But it has a dual native ISO chip with bases at ISO 100 and 640 in standard gamma, 640 and 4000 in V-Log, plus 400 and 2500 in HLG, with a new processor to drive it. Other highlights include brand- new IBIS – claimed to be improved 200% over the current S5 model – and an unlimited recording time in ambient temperatures up to 40°C. Where the flagship S1H achieves this with a fan that sits behind the LCD, this makes the camera much fatter than its rivals. The S5 II’s fan sits inside the EVF, which means it’s silent and much thinner – virtually identical in size to the old S5. Compared to the S5, the new Mark II has a full-size HDMI socket, a
technically manifests. What can be seen, though, is that the Lumix boasts groundbreaking spec that neither Leica nor Panasonic has had before, including hybrid phase detection autofocus. Current Leica mirrorless models and the range of Lumix cameras have relied on contrast detection systems, something which has been criticised since rivals adapted to a hybrid of phase and contrast detection to improve speed and accuracy. Now, though, the Lumix S5 II has 779-point phase detection autofocus on its new 24.2-megapixel full-frame sensor. This is not a superfast stacked sensor as seen in flagships from the likes of Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm
WORDS AND IMAGES BY ADAM DUCKWORTH
PANASONIC AND LEICA have worked together on cameras for more than a decade, but last year the pair revealed they were going to collaborate even more closely – as part of the new ‘L2 alliance’. This would go further than sharing the full-frame L-Mount and rebranding a few Panasonic compacts as Leica models. The plan was to jointly develop cutting-edge technology. The Panasonic Lumix S5 II is officially the first product of the partnership, even though there’s no official word on how this fact
BUSY UP TOP There’s little in the way of free real estate on the Panasonic’s top- plate, with heaps of handy video settings available at the tip of your fingers
SPECS › Price £1999 body only
› Sensor size 35.6x23.8mm CMOS, 24.2 megapixels, dual native ISO › Exposure modes PASM, Intelligent Auto › Shutter range 1/8000sec to 60secs, plus B up to 30 mins › Movie formats MOV 4:2:0 10-bit Long GOP, 6K in open gate 3:2 and 17:9, 5.9K 17:9 23.97/25/29.97p up to 200Mbps; 4K/C4K 23.97/25/29.97/50/59.94p up to 150Mbps; FHD 23.98/25/29.97/50/59.94p 100Mbps; H.264/MOV 4:2:0 8-bit 4K, 4K anamorphic and FHD 23.98/25/29.97/50/59.94/100/120p 100-150Mbps › Slow motion 4K/60fps, FHD 120fps, 150fps MF only, 180fps MF only cropped › ISO range 100-51,200; 50 and 204,800 extended › Lens mount L › Focusing 779-area hybrid phase detection AF › Stabilisation Image sensor shift, five-axis IBIS › Screen 3in LCD touchscreen, 1.84m dots › Viewfinder OLED with 3.68m dots, 120/60fps › Audio 3.5mm input › Connectivity HDMI, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB-C 3.2, 3.5mm headphone jack
› Storage 2x SD UHS-II › Dimensions (wxhxd) 134.3x102.3x90.1mm) › Weight 657g body only
Issue 104 | Photography News 49
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