I’ve done several ‘Demob’ videos over the years for various Lumix cameras and ‘Don Frankie’s New Shooter’ is the latest in the series. This time for the LUMIX S5II.
It’s also a chance to celebrate some new technology from the Panasonic Lumix Engineers, top of the list – PDAF (Phase Detection Auto Focus) and Active Stabilisation (200% better stabilisation than ever before thanks to the new engine – and LUMIX were already the leaders in this field.
It’s nice to have PDAF (it’s taken a few years of development) as an option and I think users in the events, wedding & documentary, You Tubers & product demo makers are going to love it – its up there with the best. And, it will only get better as Lumix engineers develop the Deep Learning algortihms even further to include other image types and improve on the existing Human, Face & Eye, and Human & Animal settings.
You can fine tune the AF settings in camera and also choose response & Speed settings to adjust the time it takes to AF on subjects.
The Active Stabilisation is incredible and in the following video I found using a shoulder rig very easy and stable throughout to shoot narrative style video.
We shot ‘Don Frankie’s New Shooter’ on The LUMIX S5II (with 20-60 Kit Lens) and a hack of a shoulder rig involving joining two shoulder rigs from Zacuto and 8Sinn together. We used a Tilta VND filter, D Tap V mount power for the camera and Atomos Ninja V+. Super easy setup, and the extended shoulder rig length to the back of the LCD screen meant I could touch switch between characters for auto focus.
So a quick run through the camera’s new features over the old:-
Really impressed with the performance of just the kit lens (which is the only lens I had with the FW required for the new AF at the time).
The AF is lightning fast and you can adjust response and speed. You can also make AF Micro Adjustments for different lenses where there might be slight AF errors occurring. The AF Deep Learning algorithms for a kick start are awesome and I can see these getting better and better as they add more image subject matter to the learning – such as animals and cars etc…
ACTIVE Stabilisation & IBIS well what can I say? The best in the business – you can put away your gimbal for a lot more shots now!
Audio with the new 4-channel update is excellent (just like the GH6) and you can monitor individual channels.
Love the Colour Shade Compensation adjustment in the blue and red channels for non-Lumix lenses – like vintage correction or Sigma legacy EF lenses. Works well changing the colour differences on the periphery – from centre of lens to outer areas.
There’s now of course, 6K 30p/25p 4:2:0 10-bit Open gate recording.
You get 30fps burst speed (RAW) on the electronic shutter now which is very cool. Looks like 6KPhoto mode is now no longer needed!
Apple Pro Res RAW Video Data Output (FWUP DMW-SFU2) will be available separately for £200.
4:2:2 10-bit C4K/4K 60p/50p Unlimited Rec Time. I know its cropped but the image is sharp and hey S35 ain’t so bad!
High Frame Rate mode supports 4:2:2 10-bit C4K/4K 48p, FHD 120p/100p plus S&Q mode gives you 10-bit C4K/4K 1-60fps, FHD 1-180fps for example.
The REAL TIME LUT mode allows you to bake in a LUT like a picture profile with upto 10 reservations for the function (and of course V-Log mode).
You can touch switch between AF target subjects or using the new 8-directional Joystick. I was using a Tilta VND and didn’t suffer any PDAF/Hybrid AF issues using it with it. Very happy.
The announcement of a big brother stealth style (no coloured livery) camera – the S5IIX. The S5IIX will support USB-SSD Recording upto Apple Pro Res HQ modes, Wireless/Wired Live Streaming, Apple Pro Res Raw HDMI output included, All Intra codecs, •USB tethering to smartphones, all-black stealth design together with everything else the S5II can do. Lookout for a test soon.
The S5II’s HDMI delay still isn’t the best but seems slightly quicker than before and you hardly notice it with PDAF.
Anyway, enjoy my video of the PDAF and Active stabilisation demo in a narrative film setup.
If you want my S5II LUT that I developed for this shoot, you can download here: Driftwood S5II LUT FREE
or Sigma legacy EF lenses. Works well changing the colour differences on the periphery – from centre of lens to outer areas.
