DSLR Shooter Video gets to the bottom of which camera truly reigns supreme.
What's the one thing you truly consider when investing money in equipment? While it may include spec, budget, future-proofing, workflow, or ergonomics, more often than not, it boils down to personal preference. Your opinion might have you saying, "I like the look of this lens" or "I like how this image makes me feel," and when you voice that opinion, manufacturers listen and try to create better filmmaking tools
When Panasonic crashed the market with the GH5, a mirrorless 4K camera capable of internal 10-bit 4:2:2 recording, shooters were generally happy. Albeit MFT, recent software updates provide ALL-Intra codec with bit rates of up to 400Mbps, higher resolution anamorphic shooting, HLG recording, and a slew of other features for under $2K. Conveniently, it also fits in the palm of your hand. And to think, it feels like yesterday that we were excited about the Sony DSR-PD150 and its 3-CCD 1/3-inch sensor. 
The differences make determining your personal preference quite difficult, that is unless you can get your hands on both cameras. Caleb of DSLR Video Shooter was able to do just that and highlights the sensor functionality of the GH5 and GH5S in a rudimentary but easy way to comprehend. He suggests that each camera is designed for a specific type of filmmaker, with the GH5S being for shooters wanting to control the image stability of the sensor themselves and the GH5 ideal for those wanting a sensor that can control image stabilization, practically ideal for run-and-gun creators.
Video is no longer available: www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDs32Poh2LI
Still uncertain? There's plenty of solid information out there from DP Review, Kai W, Fstoppers, and Cinema5D. Let us know what you think of the GH5 and GH5S' capabilities in the comments below.
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12 Comments
Well. I like the videos from this guy and I think he is right.
Probably, the main issue are the vibrations you get when you mount a GH5, for instance, on a car due to the IBIS... But I would like to have a hypothetical GH5sB, the one with the same sensor than GH5s plus IBIS. I feel really disappointed because my GH4 is getting old and I wanted to buy a new camera.
In cinematography one can light up a scene, but that is not possible for a documentary, for traveling, etc. I don't understand the move. They just needed to remove the IBIS in the GH5 to have a new target.
In any technological company there are two teams. In the good one there are engineers trying to get the best product. In the evil one there are marketing guys trying to cripple that product and trying to make 2 or 3 from it. In Panasonic the good team was ahead. Now the marketing guys got the revenge: there are several models with different specification. If you want it all, you have to buy them all (now 3 cameras). Besides, the product is getting more and more expensive.
We will have a GH6 with good sensitive sensor and IBIS, but at the same price than a Sony A7s III. Maybe we should move to the Sony products.
Shame on Panasonic.
February 8, 2018 at 11:34AM
It’s too easy to overlook the fact that the max resolution of the sensor is only 3680 x 2760. So the DCI 4K (or even the UHD) is essentially an upscaled video. Although I cannot compare the sharpness or the color reproduction of GH5 and GH5s side by side, it feels like quite a let down coming from GH5
February 8, 2018 at 11:38AM
All of the tests I've read comparing the image quality of the GH5 with the GH5s say that the sharpness is essentially the SAME, despite the GH5 using an over-sampled 5.2K sensor.
And for color the GH5s is slightly BETTER because of it's 14-bit sensor where the GH5 is using a 12-bit sensor.
February 8, 2018 at 12:15PM
GH5S is Multi-aspec ratio, 4:3 is 3680 x 2760 but DCI is 4096, hence the wider view and smaller crop (2X vs 1.86X) on GH5 vs GH5S using same focal length.
February 8, 2018 at 12:43PM, Edited February 8, 12:45PM
Exactly. I've run into people saying they had to uprez to 4K, but totally misunderstanding the multi-aspect sensor. the 4:3 area inside the image circle is a 3680 wide. the 17:9 area is 4096 wide.
February 13, 2018 at 8:34AM, Edited February 13, 8:34AM
GH5-firmware-update
March 1, 2018 at 10:02PM
I am still waiting for a mirrorless to check all the boxes.... I am going to check out the A7R3 and see how close that one gets. I hope they come out with an A7S3 soon. 4k 422 would be nice.
February 8, 2018 at 1:38PM
I would be very surprised if 10-bit 4:2:2 was absent from the A7sIII, Sony is a very competitive company, they won't hold back like Canon sometimes does. I suspect well see the A7sIII at NAB, it is overdue.
February 8, 2018 at 7:17PM
Before selling my GH5 I did an A/B test with the GH5S and the wider FOV on the 5S is pretty significant. Having a native ISO of 2500 is a dream come true for indoor slow mo shooting.
February 9, 2018 at 4:44AM
But this video is son of misinformation, if you visit the official panasonic site, in the specs of both the GH5 and GH5s there's the same indication on image sensor size: 17.3 x 13.0 mm...
http://shop.panasonic.com/cameras-and-camcorders/cameras/lumix-interchan...
http://shop.panasonic.com/cameras-and-camcorders/cameras/lumix-interchan...
February 10, 2018 at 9:08AM, Edited February 10, 9:09AM
The crucial line when comparing the two spec sheets is "in 4:3 aspect ratio". The Gh5s uses the full image circle for 16:9. The 4:3 crop is 17.3x13.0, the 16:9 crop is wider and shorter.
February 13, 2018 at 8:32AM
GH5S is Multi-aspect ratio, 4:3 is 3680 x 2760 but DCI is 4096, hence the wider view and smaller crop (2X vs 1.86X) on GH5 vs GH5S using same focal length.
UGH5-firmware-update
March 1, 2018 at 10:02PM, Edited March 1, 10:02PM