Panasonic Lumix S1H Assessment: Nonetheless the Video Champ

A 12 months into its life, the Panasonic Lumix S1H is now not alone when it comes to skilled mirrorless video cameras. Not too long ago, the 8K-shooting Canon EOS R5 and 4K/120p Sony A7S III have stolen headlines, however the world of professional video isn’t nearly excessive resolutions and body charges. The Lumix S1H stays distinctive in its function as a real workhorse video digicam.

In a technique, the S1H really stands out extra at present because of the presence of youthful rivals from Sony and Canon. Its comparatively modest efficiency — full-frame 6K/24p or 4K/30p, cropped 4K/60p — is definitely a sign of Panasonic’s concentrate on reliability. Certain, there are issues the S1H can’t do, however for the filmmaker who simply wants detailed, clear, 24p footage, this digicam is the apparent selection. In each bodily design and software program performance, it’s constructed to carry as much as the calls for of an actual manufacturing.

In actual fact, I might argue the S1H is much less of a hybrid mirrorless digicam and extra of a small cinema digicam, regardless of having the shape issue of the previous. As such, it’s positively not the digicam for everybody — however the $4,000 price ticket in all probability made that clear.

Designed for actual life, not a spec sheet

The S1H is constructed on the identical platform as Panasonic’s different S1 cameras such because the Lumix S1 and S1R with a cumbersome, though ergonomic, design. Bodily, it differs in a single key space over the S1 with the addition of a cooling fan sandwiched between the again panel and the LCD display screen. This fan, greater than the rest, is what makes the S1H particular. The place different mirrorless cameras can shortly overheat when taking pictures high-resolution or high-frame-rate video, the S1H can carry on ticking indefinitely.

The LCD display screen can be distinctive, resting in a double-hinged mechanism that lets it straight tilt up and down or flip out to the facet. The additional flexibility makes it simpler to maneuver round microphone and HDMI cords or the rest plugged into the digicam. The highest LCD can be bigger and exhibits extra info than its counterpart on the S1 and S1R.

In fact, all of this does make the S1H even greater and heavier than its cousin, the Lumix S1. At 2.56 kilos, it’s not precisely in the identical league because the 1.35-pound Sony A7S III. The S1H is a digicam that can finest serve you atop a sturdy tripod. Once more, it’s higher to consider it as a miniature cinema digicam somewhat than a hybrid mirrorless digicam. Sure, you can take nice pictures with it — however you in all probability received’t wish to.

In any other case, the S1H carries over just about of all the design options of the S1, together with climate sealing, considerable bodily controls, and the attractive 5.7 million-dot digital viewfinder. There’s one further distinction: The place the S1 and S1R have one SD card slot and one XQD/CFexpress slot, the S1H makes use of twin SD playing cards. Excessive-speed V90 SD playing cards are completely high quality, even for 6K video, however this does imply you miss out on the insanely quick switch speeds of CFexpress on the subject of offloading footage to a pc.

A medley of resolutions and body charges

Panasonic has graced the Lumix S1H with a wealth of decision and body price decisions, a lot of that are nonstandard and all of which include distinctive limitations. It’s a little bit of a large number, however I’ll do my finest to elucidate every and the way it is likely to be used.

Let’s begin with 6K. The very best-resolution the S1H can provide with its 24-megapixel sensor, 6K is recorded as 5952 x 3968 pixels, a 3:2 side ratio that makes use of the complete sensor space, a recording mode often called “open gate.” Which means you’ll have to crop the footage in put up to realize the usual 16:9 side ratio, however you’ll have somewhat room to regulate the framing. If outputting to 4K, you’ll even have some flexibility to crop.

Regardless of these freedoms, 6K isn’t the automated selection. It’s restricted to 24 frames per second (24p) and makes use of the h.265 codec, with 10-bit 4:2:2 colour and an information price of 200 megabits per second (Mbps).

Subsequent is 5.9K (5888 x 3312), the closest you may get to 6K in a 16:9 side ratio. This makes use of the identical codec as 6K, however the barely decrease decision permits for body charges as much as 30 fps. In case you’re taking pictures a 24p mission, you might have considered trying the additional flexibility of the three:2 6K footage, however for 30p tasks, 5.9K is your restrict.

Then there’s 5.4K (5376 x 3584), one other 3:2 choice. In contrast to 6K, this information a cropped area of the sensor and permits for body charges as much as 30p.

Two flavors of full-width 4K can be found, commonplace Extremely HD (3840 x 2160) and DCI (4096 x 2160). Each could be shot at 24 or 30 fps with 10-bit 4:2:2 colour at 400Mbps. You can too shoot cropped 4K as much as 60 fps from an APS-C, or Tremendous 35, area of the sensor. This tops out at 200Mbps. There are additionally 4:3 anamorphic 4K modes (3328 x 2496) that may be de-squeezed to cinematic side ratios when utilizing anamorphic lenses. All of this makes 4K the sweet-spot decision for the S1H.

However Panasonic didn’t cease there. Practically a 12 months after its announcement, the S1H acquired a firmware replace including 5.9K RAW video output over HDMI (and sure, the S1H incorporates a full-size HDMI port). With an Atomos Ninja V or one other suitable recorder, footage is saved within the Apple ProRes RAW format. RAW video isn’t for the faint of coronary heart, however this characteristic has made the S1H much more useful for skilled clients.

Apparently, that very same 5.9K RAW output can be coming to the newer, and less expensive, Lumix S5.

Taking pictures expertise and video high quality

I shot a mixture of full-frame 4K/24 and cropped 4K/60 and was actually impressed with the outcomes of each. The S1H provides Panasonic’s “true” V-Log profile, not the V-Log-l of the GH5 collection, which implies it ought to match as much as a Panasonic VariCam cinema digicam. The corporate claims 14 stops of dynamic vary, which is solely unbelievable for inside, non-RAW recording. From pores and skin tones to vibrant particulars, I actually like the colours that come out of the S1H. Word: I used to be unable to get an Atomos recorder in time for this evaluation so haven’t but examined the RAW output — though I’m unsure if my 8-year-old pc would even be as much as the duty.

Strictly talking, I don’t assume many individuals can have a necessity for the 6K mode. It’s overkill for many of us. However I’m glad Panasonic included it. For one, some clients will love the crop and reframe potential of 6K open-gate recording. Moreover, by outputting the complete 5.9K as a substitute of 4K for RAW, Panasonic can keep away from the issues that come up from line-skipping that plague the Nikon Z 6, one other 24-megapixel digicam with RAW output however which is restricted to 4K decision. Requiring simply 8 megapixels, outputting 4K from a 24MP sensor means many pixels merely get ignored, resulting in a softer picture than what 4K is definitely able to.

Internally, the S1H makes use of the identical codec because the GH5, however its bigger sensor, and using the complete V-Log profile, can help you get extra out of it. Assuming you began with a halfway-decent publicity and white steadiness, you’ll don’t have any drawback grading the footage to get the look you need.

I mentioned the S1H is finest used atop a sturdy tripod, however I really shot it handheld for essentially the most half. Due to the in-body stabilization, handheld footage is easy and pure, however the weight of the digicam — particularly outfitted with the big Lumix S 24-70mm f/2.8 lens, supplied for this evaluation by Lensrentals — will definitely make you wish to restrict handheld use as a lot as doable.

The big, prime LCD and the location of the controls make for an important person expertise. Buttons can simply be reprogrammed just by holding them down and deciding on a brand new choice from the ensuing menu. The person interface is likely one of the extra intelligently thought-out designs of any digicam, and makes navigating the S1H’s many settings and sub-menus a breeze.

If there’s one potential pink flag, it’s autofocus. Panasonic’s distinctive focusing system, referred to as Depth from Defocus, merely can’t preserve tempo with the phase-detection techniques of Sony and Canon. A pending firmware replace will deliver the enhancements launched within the Lumix S5, which is definitely welcome, however I nonetheless discovered that digicam to lag behind the competitors.

To be clear, I don’t assume the kind of quick, correct, eye-tracking autofocus required by one-person YouTube crews is mostly a make-or-break characteristic on this planet {of professional} video and cinema Panasonic is concentrating on with the S1H. Nonetheless, it’s one thing to concentrate on because it does restrict the conditions during which the S1H could be efficient.

Our take

The Lumix S1H is a digicam that solely Panasonic would construct. Just like the Micro 4 Thirds Lumix GH5S, the S1H has a narrowly outlined goal buyer within the video skilled, and but nonetheless carries over all the nonetheless photograph performance of a high-end hybrid digicam. That makes it a little bit of an oddity, and a few filmmakers will undoubtedly surprise why they shouldn’t simply spend money on a cinema digicam — however the place will you discover a full-frame, 5.9K RAW cinema digicam with picture stabilization for $4,000? You received’t. Even after factoring in the price of an exterior recorder, beginning at about $600, the S1H is a cut price for what you’re getting.

There’s a cause Panasonic hasn’t dropped the worth of the S1H after being available on the market for a 12 months, even with the Sony A7S III coming in beneath it at $3,500. No different hybrid digicam has put a lot emphasis on reliability and practicality, nor blended that with such quite a lot of commonplace and anamorphic body sizes. I want 4K/60 may very well be recorded with out the crop, and Panasonic’s autofocus leaves room for enchancment, however these received’t be points in most manufacturing environments for which this digicam is meant.

If I have been to start out a YouTube channel, I’d attain for the A7S III — but when I have been to provide a movie, then there’s no digicam I’d somewhat have on my set than the Lumix S1H.

Is there a greater different?

Some creators might desire the Sony A7S III in the event that they want higher-frame price 4K or extra dependable autofocus, however essentially the most intriguing different comes from Panasonic’s personal camp. The Lumix S5 will obtain RAW 5.9K output later this 12 months, which ought to give it equal video high quality to the S1H for individuals who don’t thoughts utilizing an exterior recorder. You’ll need to make do with its pitiful Micro HDMI port, however with a price of simply $2,000, that’s not a foul deal.

How lengthy will it final?

The S1H is knowledgeable machine constructed to carry as much as the calls for of such clients. Whereas 8K cameras are on their method — and no, you don’t want one but — 4K and 6K will proceed to be greater than sufficient decision for the foreseeable future. There’s no cause the S1H received’t stay viable for a few years to return.

Must you purchase it?

Sure. Purchase the Panasonic Lumix S1H for those who want a video digicam that doesn’t simply ship excellent picture high quality, but additionally skilled reliability and suppleness.

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