Varicam35: Will the Lumix S1 be a good tiny Varicam 35?

[lonewolf2koc@hotmail.com]

I'll be on couple of 3rd world countries in a few months and in serious consideration for a super compact form factor camera that has similar (but can't be exact in quality) as the VC 35, HS, or LT. I need for it to perform well in low light and challenging contrast lighting situations. There are too many instances where big form factor cam is causing too much film permit hassles, mounting on motorbike to get POV shot, on small canoe, and so forth.. The Lumix S1 looks like a good candidate. Reasonable at ~$2.7K with the bundled Sigma EF mount converter. I can use all of my existing Canon EF primes and zooms photo lenses. Will the S1 be a good companion considering that it has the V-Log mode that's found on all Varicam models? I picked this over the GH5s because of the existing EF lens arsenal and the fact that it's only $300 more expensive and I'm getting full frame sensor vs. Micro 4/3.

 

[Run&Gun]

Good question. We've been mixing "DSLR's" in with big cameras for years, now, with varying results. Sometimes it's great and no one notices a difference and sometimes it's horrible and even the most disinterested viewer that couldn't care less could tell the difference watching on their old iPhone 4. If you can lay your hands on one and shoot a few tests, that would be the best-case scenario and answer your question for you. How many bits is it recording in V-log? The thing that scares me about some of these little cameras that offer log, is that they're recording in 8-bit which isn't enough when you have to really push and pull the image around in post and you're better off shooting a baked-in look at those lower bit rates. Which I think is one of the reasons that the C300 still stands up today. We pretty much always shoot a baked-in, ready-to-air look when we still use them. There's very little, if any, post that has to be done to the images we hand them. Of course, if it's giving you 10-bit V-log, then you will probably be fine if you have to manipulate it in post to get what you want. But as always, you're best off shooting it as close to what you want in the field to start with. Nail the exposure and life gets a lot easier.

 

[Milan O.]

I've used my GH5S together with my Varicam LT. Even though I've used different lenses they can be matched pretty well. I assume that Panasonic uses similar colour science for the S1, so it will probably work well as long as you're recording in 10-bit V-log.

 

[Cary Knoop]

I assume that Panasonic uses similar colour science for the S1

If they truly use exactly the same color science for log as the GH5 does, I would definitely skip this camera.

Frankly, I think the Panasonic photography division which makes the GH5 (and perhaps also the S1 and S1H), needs a lead color scientist who will as his or her first action immediately get rid of V-Log-L and implement proper color science.

 

[Mitch Gross]

The S1 is a great camera but do not confuse it with a Varicam. With some relatively minor massaging you can match but the big brothers do offer more. Not a criticism just reality.

That said, if you wish to use a small, lightweight camera with EF lenses and matches well with the Varicam using proper full V-Log and 10-bit recording, I highly suggest you take a look at the EVA1.

 

[DLD]

Good question. We've been mixing "DSLR's" in with big cameras for years, now, with varying results. Sometimes it's great and no one notices a difference and sometimes it's horrible and even the most disinterested viewer that couldn't care less could tell the difference watching on their old iPhone 4. If you can lay your hands on one and shoot a few tests, that would be the best-case scenario and answer your question for you. How many bits is it recording in V-log? The thing that scares me about some of these little cameras that offer log, is that they're recording in 8-bit which isn't enough when you have to really push and pull the image around in post and you're better off shooting a baked-in look at those lower bit rates. Which I think is one of the reasons that the C300 still stands up today. We pretty much always shoot a baked-in, ready-to-air look when we still use them. There's very little, if any, post that has to be done to the images we hand them. Of course, if it's giving you 10-bit V-log, then you will probably be fine if you have to manipulate it in post to get what you want. But as always, you're best off shooting it as close to what you want in the field to start with. Nail the exposure and life gets a lot easier.

The S1 10-bit upgrade is scheduled to come out in July and is free for camera purchases made through July, 31. After that, it's $199. Adjust the testing accordingly.

IMO, if the supposed 14-stop DR in V-Log is correct, then the IQ will be top notch. Plus, it has a reasonable AF and a great low ISO performance. For stills, it has the 96 MPX pixel shift HiRes mode.