“Panasonic LUMIX S5 IIX: The Ultimate Video Camera with Improved Capabilities, including ProRes RAW and Black Magic RAW Support – First Reviews and Coverage of the New Model in 2023”

2023-05-09 19:38:11

In January of this year, Panasonic released the LUMIX S5 II camera – the first camera produced by it with a phase-based focus system and a series of other improvements and changes compared to the previous model. On the same occasion, the company announced that later this year a sub-model called LUMIX S5 IIX with several improved video capabilities is also expected. Now the new model is officially coming to the market and we bring you its coverage and first reviews.

In January we covered the launch of the LUMIX S5 II model and the announcement of the LUMIX S5 IIX on the website. More than five months have passed since then, but today the LUMIX S5 IIX models are finally starting to arrive for testers officially and we are getting first reviews of the model.

What are the differences between the S5 II and the S5 IIX

As mentioned, along with the S5 II, Panasonic announced the S5 IIX. This sub-model is specially designed for video and includes all the existing capabilities of the S5 II (see as stated in our news from January) and in addition:

• Support for a variety of RAW formats including: ProRes RAW and Blackmagic RAW to an external recorder via HDMI (each format is currently supported by a different Blackmagic or Atomos recorder).
• All-Intra recording options in a variety of resolutions allows compressed files but still relatively easy to edit.
• Support for Apple ProRes 4:2:2 HQ in HD (or external with SSD up to 5.8K – note that these are huge files and there is a 30 minute limit).
• 5.8K Apple ProRes recording to an external device (via USB – a Condor Blue handle with an SSD cartridge for recording is currently available on the market).
• 3.3K APS-C mode in 4:3 format.
• Advanced streaming options (via network cable, WIFI or via USB-C cable for mobile up to 4K at 25 frames per second although at a relatively low bitrate of 12.5MB/s).
• Black color with gray lettering on the buttons (only a visual change on the outside of the camera).

All other capabilities as mentioned are very similar if not identical to those of the S5 II which is already available on the market.

Table of resolutions/recording rates internally or to an external device on the S5 IIX

price and availability

The camera is expected to be available abroad at the end of May 2023. Its price will be 2200 dollars.

Reviews and reviews from around the web

A number of video reviews and reviews about the S5 IIX were published online today – here are some of them:

B&H in an overview of the new model

Gerald Enden reviews the S5 IIX with some useful accessories

The Slanted Lens עם ה-S5 IIX

British CVP on the S5 IIX

PRO-AV (British as well) in a short video about the new Panasonic

Ido Gnot

Ido Gnot is the editor and founder of the Megapixel photography website. He has been covering technology news since the late 1990s and has written and edited for a number of leading international magazines. He has been involved in the field of photography since 2009. Ido is also a co-founder of the production company Shooteat.co.il which is engaged in creating visual content for commercial companies.