Which digicam is best for you?

• Specs, availability and pricing
• Design
• Pictures options
• Video options
• Conclusion

• Panasonic

  Panasonic Lumix S5II

  Greatest for most individuals

  The Panasonic Lumix S5II made a critical splash within the full-frame mirrorless market. It is the primary Panasonic digicam to utilise section detection autofocus, which suggests it could actually 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.

  Execs

  • Wonderful worth
  • Very good video and picture capabilities
  • Nice autofocus and IBIS programs

• 

  Panasonic

  Panasonic Lumix S5IIX

  Greatest for video professionals

  The Panasonic Lumix S5IIX is actually the identical digicam because the S5II, however it has a number 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 could possibly additionally file to SSDs through USB-C and has a pretty all-black paint job.

  Execs

  • Inside ProRes and ALL-I recording
  • USB-SSD help
  • ProRes RAW and BRAW over HDMI

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

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

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

Specs, availability and pricing

The usual Lumix S5II was introduced in January 2023 and has been obtainable 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 shall be delivery by the top of Could. The S5IIX retails for $2199 / £2299 / €2499.

• 	Panasonic Lumix S5II	Panasonic Lumix S5IIX
  Sensor Dimension	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
  Dimension	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 digicam our bodies are similar, except for the paint jobs. The unique S5II has typical Panasonic styling, with white logos and legends, in addition to the signature crimson accents on the dial and file button.

The S5IIX has a stealthy all-black end, with the one splash of color being the crimson file button. This appears to be like very swish, however it has a sensible objective, too. Having a darker digicam physique implies that it is much less more likely to seem in reflections, like if you happen to’re taking pictures by 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 circumstances. After all, while you’re used to the format, it will not matter as a lot, however it may be a hurdle while you’re new to the system.

The cameras carry over plenty of the design choices from the unique Lumix S5, and that is factor. The design is ergonomic and strong, 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 completely different on every.

On the Lumix S5II the USB port can be utilized both to cost the digicam, or to switch information to your laptop, 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 may want to take action if you wish to make the most of the brand new high-bitrate codecs.

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

Pictures options

Photographic options are precisely the identical on each cameras, and the S5IIX is solely designed as an improve for video makers. Nonetheless, that does not imply that it could actually’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 section hybrid autofocusing impressed us most in video taking pictures, however they’re equally worthwhile for stills. We have been capable of take lengthy exposures of as much as about 1 second in size fully handheld due to the sensible IBIS system, it is great things.

Video options

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

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

Which means that you’ve got extra knowledge 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 intently with that {of professional} cinema cameras, which could possibly be invaluable if you happen to’re doing skilled video work.

As well as, the S5IIX brings with it help for Blackmagic RAW and ProRes RAW output over HDMI, as long as you’ve got a appropriate recorder. Nonetheless, this characteristic shall 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 stay streaming options, corresponding to the flexibility to broadcast RTSP over Wi-Fi and ethernet. We’ve not totally explored these capabilities simply but, but when stay broadcasting is in your wheelhouse, it’s possible you’ll wish to test these out.

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

Conclusion

The S5IIX and S5II are primarily the identical digicam, solely the X provides some options which might be geared in the direction of skilled video taking pictures. So, technically, the S5IIX is the superior system. Nonetheless, we do not assume most individuals will want these options, so the usual S5II stays our high suggestion.

Panasonic

To summarise the modifications, the S5IIX provides inner ALL-I and ProRes recording, USB-SSD recording, stay streaming options and an all-black end. ProRes RAW and BRAW over HDMI are new, too, however they’re going to be coming to the S5II through a firmware replace in June.

If that you’re going to make the most 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 large followers of recording to SSD for the comfort and price financial savings – that alone is definitely 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 digicam. If it is largely photographic work, then there isn’t any must spend the additional on the X, because the efficiency isn’t any completely different. Nonetheless, if you happen to’re trying to take your video work to the following degree, then you definitely would possibly wish to make investments that little bit additional.