Japanese electronics brand Panasonic has unveiled its new filmmaker focused full-frame mirrorless camera, joining the Lumix S1 range to take on Sony’s A7 line.
Panasonic claim the Lumix S1H ($5999 body only, $7599 with a kit lens) is the world’s first full-frame digital interchangeable lens camera capable of recording in 6K at 24fps.
The S1H, first announced at the Cine Gear Expo in Los Angeles earlier this year, can also shoot 4K downscaled from 6K, thanks to its 24.2MP full-frame CMOS sensor, and output 4K up to 4:2:2 10-bit and 30fps quality, with support for 4:3 anamorphic mode.
Panasonic senior product marketing manager, imaging Scott Mellish said the S1H is targeted at serious filmmakers.
“What’s put in to this camera is something that most people who are casual videographers don’t really need, but there’s a specific set of requirements for certain people that want these kind of tools and the S1H fits the bill perfectly for them.”
Of particular use to filmmakers is the 14+ stops of wide dynamic range created using V-Log/V-Gamut, allowing for dramatic colour grading versatility Panasonic claim matches that of its professional VariCam range.
Footage from the new Lumix is also fully compatible with V-Log footage shot on Varicam and Lumix GH5 and GH5S cameras to ease post-production workflow.
Videographers in the Hollywood film industry who have used early versions of the S1H in their work have said they’ve come to view it as a more compact version of the Varicam, facilitating tighter angles and greater mobility.
Advanced image stabilisation capabilities also allows videographers to move around more, and in some cases even negate the need for tripods, gimbles or other stabilisers.
5-Axis in-body stabilisation compensates for external movement by “floating” the sensor around inside the camera, and can also be coupled with compatible L-Mount lenses that offer an additional 2-axis optical stabilisation.
Heat dispersion is handled by an integrated “ultra-quiet” fan system that does away with time limits on recordings, allowing for long-form shooting on productions like documentaries, interviews or events.
Mr Mellish said the new cooling techniques don’t compromise toughness allowing the camera to offer “unlimited recordings in all modes… while still maintaining the weather sealing and durability that discerning customers have come to expect”.
He added that while the S1H is distinctly targeted at filmmakers (while other cameras in the range, the S1 and the S1R target all-round performance and high-resolution photography respectively) it’s also a very capable stills camera.
He said the S1H is a versatile tool for videographers and photographers who are increasingly asked to perform both tasks.
In addition to photography and video, the S1H is also capable of recording audio up to 24-bit, 96KHz, and supports XLR inputs through an external adaptor.
The S1H will be available in Australia in October from select consumer electronics and photographic retailers.
A7, Panasonic, Sony, Photography, Lumix, mirrorless, s1h, videograpy, 6k camera
