Panasonic S5

After our multiple days of testing, it’s clear why Samsung added the additional autofocus sensor.

It not only helps with average shots by ensuring clear views and, in return, artifact-free shots, but it provides less blurry Space Zooms, which is Samsung’s technology for zooming in on a faraway point with optical and digital zoom combined.
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https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/18/cnn-underscored/samsung-galaxy-note-20-ultra-review/index.html

Off this auto focus test, the AF does seem to prefer the center of the frame.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEiVeFTB0JA

That's for the Lidar reference.
 
ahalpert said:
Here's a video From CDA-Tek showcasing their LIDAR autofocus module on the BMPCC4K:


Never mind the abrupt focus pulls - programming could easily change that.

My larger concern is threefold -

1. Since you're just taking a distance reading, what if your lens is miscalibrated? Doesn't PDAF care not for distance but just for results on the sensor?

2. In this example, it works very well in the center of the frame. Could this implementation work for all parts of the frame and for all focal lengths and could it track objects and eyes, etc?

3. The article says that the device monitors the distance to the nearest object. What if you're shooting through some leaves at someone? Seems like there is a lot of potential for foreground objects to foul things up

https://www.cined.com/pbc-pocket-cinema-camera-controller-update/
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Wow - if this thing works in practice, and proves itself on the job, the A7SIII dosen't look that attractive to me anymore - might keep my Blackmagic and just get this little beauty. I presume it will work with the original Pocket too, not just the 4k?
 
Now with the price revealed I'm wondering if this becomes the de facto GH6. Priced more or less the same as the GH5 on launch, slightly lighter (a welcome feature for this tired old frame) but requires new lens purchases. Difficult to see a GH6 and an S5 coexisting in the same price territory, unless the GH6 delivers additional meaningful features. Internal ProRes, possibly 8k, more?

Where's my crystal ball....... (muttering)
 
ahalpert said:
S5 press text has leaked: https://www.l-rumors.com/panasonic-s5-will-cost-1999-and-here-is-the-full-leaked-press-text/

$2k 4k60p 10-bit 4:2:2 (cropped? Not sure) dual native ISO (doesn't say which), 4:3 anamorphic support
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The anamorphic support and dual native ISO settings (640 and 4000 in V-Log, same as for the S1H) were mentioned in the leaked specs document from earlier in this thread. The 4K 60 mode is still an APS-C crop (also from the specs document), because this is due to a sensor readout speed limitation (assuming the same sensor as the S1H, which seems likely given the specs).

The thing I'm not still not clear about, is what Panasonic's plan is for the S1. If the $2000 price is correct for the S5, that is exactly the same price as what the Panasonic S1 is currently selling for today. And the S1 requires the $200 SFU2 filmmaker upgrade to get a similar video feature set.

So is the S1 going to be discontinued, a little over a year after it was initially released? Are they going to continue selling both (the S1 for people that want a larger body, S5 for people that want a smaller body)? Is this an admission that the large body mirrorless camera bodies of the existing S-series were not that appealing to people? It's kinda hard to make sense of the strategy here.
 
Everyone is throwing in the SFU2 for free for a while now.

Not sure of the S1 plan since it's selling for $2k as well. Maybe it just becomes the better EVF version for people who dont mind the weight.

I dont think the S1 has anamorphic support
 
davedv said:
... The thing I'm not still not clear about, is what Panasonic's plan is for the S1..
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Uh .... as someone who guessed $1,300 for S5 .... (I am taking my crystal ball to a repairman) ... I'd say that, if S5 has a decent video AF, S1 is going to be eased out and S1H will be discounted, now with A7SIII and R5 out.

But, hey, at least, Panasonic is staying in the game.

PS. I wonder if GH6 can fit into that $1,300 range. Olympus M1 MKIII is still $1,700, however, which is a pretty steep price given the uncertainty over the company's future.
 
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There have been lots of rumors that the GH6 would use a new 41 megapixel sensor for 8K recording:
https://petapixel.com/2020/05/08/rumor-panasonic-gh6-to-have-41mp-sensor-better-af-system-and-more/

And that Panasonic is working on a time-of-flight autofocus system:
https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/...-camera-sensor-for-a-perfect-autofocus-system

Of course this is all speculation. When the GH5 was announced with 4K 60fps recording and a 6K photo mode, Panasonic did make a point about how they were working toward 8K recording for the 2020 Olympics:

Panasonic-GH5-photokina-2016-6.jpg

Then of course the Olympics got postponed until 2021, but they still haven't released a consumer camera with 8K video features. Keep in mind that Panasonic is a worldwide Olympic sponsor, and that companies usually try to take advantage of the marketing push around that event:
https://www.panasonic.com/global/olympic/history.html

So I would be a bit surprised if Panasonic didn't announce at least one 8K camera before the 2021 Tokyo Olympics (although if the Tokyo Olympics get canceled entirely, then who knows).

I also get the sense that the GH5 sold in considerably higher volumes than any of the Panasonic full-frame S-series cameras. So I'm not sure that they will totally abandon the Micro 4/3 line unless sales totally tank or they decide to get out of the still camera business entirely. Even today the GH5 is higher on the B&H best seller list than any of their full frame models, and is currently back-ordered:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1283257-REG/panasonic_dmc_gh5_mirrorless_micro_four.html
 
Yeah, there are even 5 other different MFT models that are higher on the list than the S1/H (GH5, and GX85 - G85 - G9 - G7 - GH5S)...they for sure need that line to stay alive and well.
 
M43 has advantages that differentiate it. It's not just FF but worse. (But if enough people care about its advantages is another question)

Do you really think Panny will pull out good AF? Cmon...
 
ahalpert said:
... Do you really think Panny will pull out good AF? Cmon...
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ToF sensors have been around for about twenty years and have been in many a smartphone for a few years as well.

https://root-nation.com/en/articles-en/tech-en/en-what-is-a-tof-camera/

But the cartel is running out of features and upgrades it doesn't want to include at given price points. Which is why A7S and A7SII had a crappy auto focus and A7SIII nailed it. As the technology improves, newer models have to keep adding stuff like AF, resolution, higher bit rate codecs, IBIS, etc. A feature may be delayed a generation or two but should come out eventually. Albeit at a much higher price than it should.

PS. A Quad Bayer sensor would have done wonders for A7SIII, making it a very good stills model, but it was disabled by Sony. Which is almost as disgusting as what Canon did to R5/R6. And Panasonic is part of the same Three Card Monte table.
 
Supposedly, Panasonic will introduce a new 2200 mAh capacity battery for the S5. The body is smaller so it makes sense that they can't use the the same battery from the S1, S1R and S1H.

What is interesting is that the battery will apparently have the same dimensions as the the GH5 battery (1860 mAh DMW-BLF19) and be compatible with the Micro 4/3 cameras that use that battery:
https://www.43rumors.com/panasonic-...2-it-will-be-compatible-with-the-gh5-gh5s-g9/

This is similar to what Canon did with the R5 and R6, where they introduced a 2200 mAh battery (LP-E6NH) with the same physical specs as the original 1800 mAh LP-E6.

If accurate, this information also points to Panasonic introducing additional smaller camera models in the future that may have higher power consumption than the existing Micro 4/3 lineup. And this would allow existing GH5 users to upgrade to these newer cameras, while still using their existing batteries (albeit with shorter runtimes).
 
Smart of them to release the s5 before the A7SIII ships. (If it has good autofocus) it would be just in time to prevent me from committing to the e-mount system....forever!
 
I also still am hoping for a GH6 with good continuous AF. I was never a fan of FF for video work. The chip is so large that the processing load is kind of wasted. The M4/3s and S35 size seem like the better approach. The GH5 is so easy to work with and has so many positive attributes. Add in great AF with GH5s light sensitivity+ and it gets my vote. Maybe since the R5 & A7sIII have been announced they will let Panasonic have better AF for the next round?
 
The gh5s is excellent in low light and with better color and DR. If you have to manual focus, Panasonic should at least make lenses with decent ring throws, which they suck at as well. The Olympus lenses are better to focus with manually but are heavy and lack ois. The gh5s can’t get a break. You can’t fly it without better AF and you can’t hold it without stabilizing.
 
Yep. If they had put IBIS in the GH5s I would have been pretty set for a while. Shame that these companies are always having us chase something. I guess the new Sony is about a complete of a package for video that has ever been seen in a hybrid. I like supporting Panasonic and I like the ecosystem for video but for gimbals you need the AF. The GH5 AF has improved a lot, it just loses its bearings from time to time and ruins shots.
 
Leaked PR release.

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LUMIX S5 full-frame mirrorless camera is designed especially for content creators. Latest advances in image resolution, image stabilization, and autofocus all in this compact camera that is the signature of LUMIX. Experience extraordinary video recording in 4K 60p, 4:2:2 10-bit. It also offers a Full HD 180fps Slow Motion option as well as 4:3 Anamorphic support. This is what makes S5 perfect for use when talking still photos or as a vlog camera.

With 24.2MP 35mm full-frame CMOS sensor, the LUMIX S5 boasts a wide dynamic range and high sensitivity performance. The adopted Dual Native ISO technology enables the LUMIX S5 to record maximum ISO 51200 crystal-clear high sensitivity video. Dual Native ISO minimizes noise in high sensitivity. V-Log/V-Gamut compatibility offers a 14+ stop dynamic range to capture every detail.

The improved autofocus detects head as well as eyes, face and body. The powerful Dual Image Stabilization with 5-axis enables 6.5-stop slower shutter speed.

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So, let's see if depth from auto focus actually works.
 
And, as a side note, there are rumors that Sony will have a similar camera for a similar price.
 
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