Panasonic has announced updated information concerning the Panasonic Lumix S5IIX full-frame mirrorless camera’s video features and announced a firmware update for the Lumix S5II.
S5IIX Video Features
When Panasonic announced the S5II and S5IIX cameras at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in early January, Panasonic specified that the S5IIX would be able to deliver RAW video output and All-Intra ProRes recording using an attached USB-C SSD.
Those features remain true, but Panasonic has announced that the S5IIX will also offer Blackmagic RAW recording. Further, Panasonic has revealed that the camera will offer expanded compatibility with external devices, plus support for Atomos Nina V, Atomos Shogun Connect, and the Atomos Ninja V+.
Panasonic has additionally outlined the S5IIX’s recording modes: when using a full-frame image area, the camera records 12-bit 5.9K resolution 16:9 video (5888 x 3312 pixels) at 23.98p, 25p, and 29.97p.
For APS-C video at 4.1K (17:9 aspect ratio and 4128 x 2176), 12-bit video recording is available at up to 59.94p. 3.5K APS-C video (4:3, 3536 x 2656) is available at up to 29.97p.
A full breakdown of the S5II and S5IIX’s features is available to peruse in PetaPixel’s launch coverage. The S5IIX is slated to begin shipping later this month.
S5II Firmware Update
Panasonic has also announced that the S5II firmware update that adds RAW data output over HDMI will also include support for Blackmagic RAW. Further, Live View Composite, which is pre-installed on the S5IIX, will be included in the new firmware update.
It’s worth noting that the RAW data output functionality for the S5II requires the Software Upgrade Key DWW-SFU2, which is a $200 paid upgrade.
Even with this upgrade key, which enables RAW video output over HDMI, the S5II cannot record directly to an SSD or do IP streaming — these features are exclusive to the S5IIX, regardless of the firmware.
While the Panasonic S5II is already available, the new firmware update will release on June 13.
S5II and S5IIX Signal a Major Shift for Panasonic
The S5II and S5IIX finally add phase detection to Panasonic’s mirrorless Lumix cameras. The AF technology has been a long time coming, and despite differences in high-end video features, the S5II and S5IIX promise identical autofocus performance.
Users have been clamoring for Panasonic to add PDAF to its cameras for a long time, and the move has been well-received so far. Shortly after revealing the S5II, Panasonic announced that preorders exceeded its expectations and, unfortunately, its ability to meet the unexpectedly high demand.