Which camera is right for you?

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  Panasonic

  Panasonic Lumix S5II

  Finest for most individuals

  The Panasonic Lumix S5II made a critical splash within the full-frame mirrorless market. It is the primary Panasonic digital camera to utilise part detection autofocus, which suggests it will probably lastly compete with the likes of Sony and Canon. Mix this with industry-leading IBIS and an aggressive worth level, and it is easy to see why individuals are excited.

  Professionals

  • Glorious worth
  • Very good video and photograph capabilities
  • Nice autofocus and IBIS techniques

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  Panasonic

  Panasonic Lumix S5IIX

  Finest for video professionals

  The Panasonic Lumix S5IIX is actually the identical digital camera because the S5II, however it has a couple of key upgrades particularly designed for skilled video shooters. The S5IIX can file ALL-I and ProRes codecs internally, in addition to output Blackmagic RAW over HDMI. It may possibly additionally file to SSDs by way of USB-C and has a gorgeous all-black paint job.

  Professionals

  • Inner ProRes and ALL-I recording
  • USB-SSD assist
  • ProRes RAW and BRAW over HDMI

Introduced alongside the Panasonic Lumix S5II in early 2023, the S5IIX is a really comparable digital camera, however one with some significant upgrades for skilled video shooters.

The 2 fashions look very comparable, are priced fairly equally and share a lot of the similar options. This could imply that it is laborious to decide on between them.

When you’re undecided which mannequin is best for you, then you definately’re in the fitting place. We have had hands-on expertise with each cameras, and we have in contrast each side that will help you make the fitting buy to your wants.

Specs, availability and pricing

The usual Lumix S5II was introduced in January 2023 and has been accessible to buy since then. It carries an MSRP of $1999 / £1999 / €2199.

The S5IIX was additionally introduced in January, however its full capabilities weren’t revealed till lately. It is up for preorder now and can be transport by the tip of Could. The S5IIX retails for $2199 / £2299 / €2499.

• 	Panasonic Lumix S5II	Panasonic Lumix S5IIX
  Sensor Measurement	Full-frame	Full-frame
  Video Decision	6K/30	6K/30 – ProRes at as much as 5.8K/30
  Photograph Decision	24.2MP	24.2MP
  Battery	16Wh Li-ion	16Wh Li-ion
  Measurement	134.3 x 102.3 x 90.1mm	134.3 x 102.3 x 90.1mm
  Weight	740g	740g
  Water Resistance	Mud and splash resistant	Mud and splash resistant
  Lens	L-mount	L-mount

Design

The 2 digital camera our bodies are similar, apart from the paint jobs. The unique S5II has typical Panasonic styling, with white logos and legends, in addition to the signature purple accents on the dial and file button.

The S5IIX has a stealthy all-black end, with the one splash of color being the purple file button. This appears very swish, however it has a sensible objective, too. Having a darker digital camera physique signifies that it is much less prone to seem in reflections, like if you happen to’re capturing by way of a window for instance.

There’s a fairly large draw back to this design, although, and that is the truth that the buttons are fairly laborious to make out in low-light situations. After all, while you’re used to the structure, it will not matter as a lot, however it may be a hurdle while you’re new to the system.

The cameras carry over a variety of the design choices from the unique Lumix S5, and that is factor. The design is ergonomic and sturdy, with a flip-out display and a very good OLED EVF.

Connectivity is nice, too, with a full-size HDMI port, headphone and microphone sockets and twin SD card slots. There is a USB-C port on each cameras, however its capabilities are totally different on every.

On the Lumix S5II the USB port can be utilized both to cost the digital camera, or to switch information to your pc, however on the S5IIX it will get an enormous improve. The S5IIX can use the USB-C port to file straight onto portable SSDs – and you will want to take action if you wish to reap the benefits of the brand new high-bitrate codecs.

This can be a good thing, in our view, as moveable SSDs are a less expensive choice than CFexpress playing cards, they usually’re sometimes cheaper than high-capacity SD playing cards, too.

Images options

Photographic options are precisely the identical on each cameras, and the S5IIX is only designed as an improve for video makers. Nevertheless, that does not imply that it will probably’t take nice images, each cameras are very spectacular stills shooters.

In both case, you get 24.2MP stills in addition to a 96MP sensor-shift high-resolution mode, for instances while you want critical element. You can even shoot bursts of as much as 30fps with the digital shutter, or 9fps with the mechanical shutter, that means each cameras are a good alternative for sports activities and occasions.

The in-body picture stabilisation and part hybrid autofocusing impressed us most in video capturing, however they’re equally worthwhile for stills. We had been in a position to take lengthy exposures of as much as about 1 second in size utterly handheld due to the good IBIS system, it is great things.

Video options

Shifting on to the video options, that is the place you may discover the true distinction between these two cameras. Whereas each can file at as much as 6K decision (3:2) the S5II solely provides LongGOP recording modes – maxing out at a bitrate of 200Mbps at 6K/30.

The S5IIX, then again, can file in ALL-Intra at as much as Cinema 4K decision 60fps, which has a bitrate of 800Mbps. And if that is not prime quality sufficient, you possibly can bounce as much as ProRes 422 HQ at 5.8K 30fps, which has a whopping 1.9Gbps bitrate.

Which means that you will have extra information to work with in post-production, and extra flexibility with the way you color grade and manipulate your footage. It additionally means you possibly can match your footage extra carefully with that {of professional} cinema cameras, which might be invaluable if you happen to’re doing skilled video work.

As well as, the S5IIX brings with it assist for Blackmagic RAW and ProRes RAW output over HDMI, as long as you will have a appropriate recorder. Nevertheless, this function can be coming to the S5II within the type of a firmware replace. So, if you happen to sometimes shoot with an Atmos or Blackmagic Video Help, then the hole between these two cameras begins to slim.

The S5IIX additionally advantages from some reside streaming options, similar to the flexibility to broadcast RTSP over Wi-Fi and ethernet. We’ve not totally explored these capabilities simply but, but when reside broadcasting is in your wheelhouse, it’s possible you’ll wish to verify these out.

Elsewhere, the cameras function similar specs. Each have wonderful and dependable autofocus, in addition to class-leading picture stabilisation.

Conclusion

The S5IIX and S5II are basically the identical digital camera, solely the X provides some options which are geared in the direction of skilled video capturing. So, technically, the S5IIX is the superior gadget. Nevertheless, we do not assume most individuals will want these options, so the usual S5II stays our prime advice.

Panasonic

To summarise the adjustments, the S5IIX provides inner ALL-I and ProRes recording, USB-SSD recording, reside streaming options and an all-black end. ProRes RAW and BRAW over HDMI are new, too, however they will be coming to the S5II by way of a firmware replace in June.

If you already know that you’re going to reap the benefits of any of those options, then the S5IIX is the one to go for. We do not personally want such high-bitrate codecs, however we’re huge followers of recording to SSD for the comfort and price financial savings – that alone is well worth the worth of admission to us.

Panasonic

On the finish of the day, it is all about the kind of work that you’re going to be doing along with your digital camera. If it is principally photographic work, then there is no have to spend the additional on the X, because the efficiency isn’t any totally different. Nevertheless, if you happen to’re seeking to take your video work to the subsequent degree, then you definately would possibly wish to make investments that little bit further.