The Panasonic S5 is Officially Announced. What Are Your Thoughts?

The LUMIX S5 is Panasonic's latest full-frame mirrorless camera. Though it may not pack the same "Netflix approved" punch as the LUMIX DC-S1H for filmmakers, it has loads of features that are becoming current industry standards among hybrids. 

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Built around a 24.2MP 35mm full-frame CMOS sensor, the S5 can record 4K 4:2:2 10-bit internal video at 30p/25p and 4K 4:2:0 10-bit at 4K 60p/50p. But there's a 30-minute time limit when recording in those formats. That's one key difference when comparing it to the S1H. However, when recording 4K 4:2:0 8-bit at 30p, Panasonic promises there is no limit on record time. External recording via HDMI will provide 4K 4:2:2 10-bit at 60p/50p.  

Video formats can be recorded in .MOV or .MP4 containers. In MOV full-frame mode, 4K UHD at 29.97p or 23.98p is at 150Mbps 4:2:2 10-bit LongGOP or 100Mbps 4:2:0 8-bit LongGOP. Both shoot H.264/MPEG-4 AVC. In MP4 full-frame mode, 4K UHD at 29.97p or 23.98p is at 72Mbps 4:2:0 10-bit LongGOP, H.265/HEVC. There's also an option for 4K UHD at 29.97p or 23.98p at 100Mbps, but it's at 4:2:0 8-bit LongGOP, H.264/MPEG-4 AVC. 

Similar to other LUMIX models, there's a variety of recording formats available including 4:3, anamorphic mode, Slow & Quick motion, 4K HDR, and interval shooting. Panasonic says the dynamic range of the S5 provides 14+ stops, so expect around 12 or 13 useable stops or even less. Shooters will be able to capture images using V-log / V-gamut, making the S5 a viable crash camera for larger productions using VariCam. V-log is Panasonic's versions of a log curve which preserves more of the image's dynamic range. V-gamut will help deliver a color space that's wider than BT.2020. Tools like a waveform monitor and V-Log View Assist are also featured on the camera. 

Additionally, Panasonic is providing 35 conversion LUTs for VariCam cinema cameras that can be downloaded for free to use with the LUMIX S5. This makes it easy to color match tone and footage when recording V-log with other Panasonic cameras. 

Another Panasonic staple is their dual native ISO. The S5 boasts the feature at ISO 640 and ISO 4000, which helps reduce noise in low light situations or minimize the number of lights needed on set. The maximum ISO is ISO 51,200. As you'd expect in a hybrid, autofocus is part of the S5, which uses contrast-based autofocus in both photo and video modes to track subjects in real-time. Tracking settings for the human eye, face, head, and body are all part of the autofocus capabilities. 

The camera's in-body image stabilization will provide you with smoother footage, and when combined with L-mount lenses that have O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer), it can offer up to 6.5 stops of shake correction. IBIS and O.I.S. will work in video and still mode.  

The S5 features a 3.0" free-angle LCD with touch control. Its LVF (Live View Finder) has a magnification ratio of approximately 0.74x and a minimum time lag time of fewer than 0.005 seconds. The camera also features 2 memory card slots with one compatible with UHS-I SD cards and the second compatible with UHS-II (V90) cards. 

Essentially what you're getting here is a slimmed-down S1H. Panasonic took away the 5.9K internal recording and 12-bit HDMI output and repackaged the body as the S5 to compete with the Sony a7S III and hybrid cameras alike. The difference between the S5 and the a7S III is the Sony is going to have better low light performance and autofocus capability, while the Panasonic offers dual base ISO and color science that's going to be slightly better straight from the camera. But as you know, color is subjective, and better yet, today's cameras can be graded to match any preferred look.

While the L-mount alliance between Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma provides shooters with a variety of glass options, Sony has dozens of E-mount options and other lenses can be adapted to either body. It really is a good time to be a shooter. 

In a future firmware update, Panasonic plans to unlock 4K DCI recording and RAW video output to the Atomos Ninja V over HDMI at 5.9K (5888x3312) 29.97p/25p, 4K (4128x2176) 59.94p/50p, and anamorphic 3.5K (3536x2656) 50p. So the S5 will more closely match the recording capabilities of the S1H. Additionally, video record assist functions like vectors scope, pedestal adjustment, and SS/gain operation will be added as well as new color profiles for stills including L.MonochromeS and L.ClassicNeo.