Panasonic consolidates as video specialist

Panasonic’s association with quality video shooting is consolidated with the launch in February of its new videographer’s camera, the Lumix GH5S.

The GH5S incorporates a 10.2-megapixel Digital Live MOS Sensor and Venus Engine with ‘Dual Native ISO’ technology delivering a maximum ISO of 51,200.

‘I say old fellow, would you mind explaining exactly what Dual Native ISO is?’ – you might ask. To which the response from Panasonic is: ‘Thanks for asking. According to the press release, Dual Native ISO is a technology that seamlessly bridges two separate native ISO circuits…In the GH5S, Dual Native ISO minimises noise generation by choosing the optimal circuit to use according to the sensitivity before gain processing…’

Or, cutting the technobabble, the GH5S selects whether it should be shooting in high sensitivity (800-51,200) or low sensitivity mode (160-800), and can be switched manually from high to low sensitivity and back again. Seamlessly.

The GH5S offers a number of other specialist video capabilities. A slightly larger
sensor (physical size) provides sufficient space to allow all aspect ratios to have the same angle of view – including Cinema 4K; 4K; Anamorphic 4:3 in video recording; and 4:3, 16:9 and 3:2.

Variable frame rate has been increased to up to 240 frames per second in Full HD (maximum 10x slower); and the GH5S also records ‘overcranked / undercranked’ video in C4K/4K (60 fps, maximum 2.5x slower)i. A V-Log L profile and LUT (Look Up Table) are pre-installed in the camera, so users can immediately play videos recorded in V-Log L.

The GH5S is also broadcast studio ready in that it is compatible with Time Code IN/OUT via the flash sync terminal and bundled BNC converter cable.

Panasonic claims excellent autofocus in low-light environments, with -5EV luminance detection in Low Light AF. Live View Boost allows scenes to be electronically illuminated
in almost total darkness to check accuracy in Live View before shooting; and to support this, the magnification ratio in MF Assist has been increased to 20x.

Night Mode can be selected to put a red cast over the viewfinder and/or the LCD
display.

Other features include 4K 10-bit 4:2:2 25/30p video recording to SD Card and 4K quality video at 50/60 fps in Cinema 4K (4096 x 2160). The GH5S has a weather-sealed body, large-capacity batteries, dual UHS-II SD Card slots and Bluetooth and Wi-fi connectivity.
It will be available in Australia in February 2018. Body only price is $3499. It is compatible with the DMW-BGGH5E – Accessory Battery Grip: RRP $399; and the DMW-XLR1E – XLR Microphone Adaptor: RRP $499.

Press release: Panasonic LUMIX GH5S- January 2018

‘Informative video’: http://bit.ly/GH5S-Video-Whats-New