Florida Birds with Panasonic Lumix S1H

Doug Jensen

Doug Jensen

Carbonite Member
I've been working on producing a 4-hour master class training video for the Panasonic S1H since mid-December and I've really enjoyed getting out a couple of times to shoot wildlife footage (mostly birds!) with the camera as I get to know it better and learn it's strengths and weaknesses. This video was shot with a Panasonic Lumix DC-1H using just the naked camera with no cage, external monitor, or viewfinder. Just the camera, a lens, and a tripod (Sachtler FSB-6 with Flowtech75 legs).

I used three of my lenses:
Red 300mm f/2.9 (PL lens)
Canon 200mm f/2.8
Canon 200-400 f/4

Focus and exposure were on full manual. The slow-motion footage ranges from 60 fps to 180 fps. The resolution of the footage ranges from 5.9K down to HD. Some shots are FF but but most are super35. About 25% of the footage was shot with V-LOG and the rest was shot with a Rec709 PhotoStyle I have created called VORTEX-1. Grading was done in DaVinci Resolve Studio 16.

 
I was tempted to say "epic" but it wasn't a RED scnr.
Great shots. I watched on full screen on my 27" iMac and I tip my cap to your skills of smooth panning with the lightweight FSB-6.

What do you like most of the S1H and what would you say is the weakest point?
It you try shooting the "flat profile"?
 
Looks great. I would be interested to know how you feel about the form factor and image quality compared to your F55 etc...
 
Doug,

Nice to see the birds are back, and you are out nailing them as always. Ah the winter light in your area is great. That 200-400 is a monster for the S1H, can you even see the camera?

Look forward to the Master Class as always Doug.
 
docmoore said:
Gorgeous footage.

How robust did the codec seem in grading VLog to 709?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Thank you all for the nice comments. It is nice to hear other people like the footage as much I do. Fun too shoot, too.

The codec seems about the same as S-LOG with XAVC. In fact, sometimes I have used a S-LOG3 LUT because I thought it looked a little better than the Panasonic LUT.
You can push and pull it quite a bit with no ill effects.
 
Clermond said:
What do you like most of the S1H and what would you say is the weakest point?
It you try shooting the "flat profile"?
Click to expand...

No need to waste time with the flat profile because it has V-LOG. If I've got to grade anyway, why not start with the best possible raw material?

The weakest points are no built-in ND filters and the viewfinder can't be angled up to my eye. Other than that, it feels about the same as any other camera . . . except a lot lighter.
Stabilization is amazing. I'll post some handheld footage one of these days that looks like the camera is on a tripod.
 
Bassman2003 said:
Looks great. I would be interested to know how you feel about the form factor and image quality compared to your F55 etc...
Click to expand...

Well, it is a totally different animal than my FS7 and F55, which I will probably continue to use as my primary cameras for wildlife, sports, etc. because of the articulated viewfinders. It is about 1/4 the size and weight of my F55 so that is a big plus!
I'll be using the S1H primarily as my A-camera for interviews, product shots, etc. due to the FF sensor. The FF sensor looks great and the 5.9K files provide a lot of re-framing options in post.
 
The S1H looks great but for wildlife I think the GH5S is a better bet for the extra reach provided by the crop. Pretty light in Florida.
 
I think the gh5s can make a very useful b-cam to the s1h as a wide angle gimbal camera and an on sticks long lens while the s1h carries a 35-100mm range where FF pays its dividends
 
Good stuff Doug. Nice colors. What lens adapter(s) did you use for your Canon lenses? And I know you said everything shot on full manual - but if you happened to test the AF on those lenses at all - would be interested in any feedback on how it performs in the wild.
 
markfpv said:
Good stuff Doug. Nice colors. What lens adapter(s) did you use for your Canon lenses? And I know you said everything shot on full manual - but if you happened to test the AF on those lenses at all - would be interested in any feedback on how it performs in the wild.
Click to expand...

actually there is only one adapter the Sigma MC21. AF works only in single mode not continuos.
It's kinda okay for stills if the subject does't move too fast. It's useless for video.
 
Just to add to what Clermond already said, AF is completely useless on the S1H no matter whether you are using an adapter or a native L-mount.
 
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