Panasonic has announced the Lumix S5 IIX, a supercharged version of the Lumix S5 II, which boasts even more advanced video features. The S5 II received a maximum 5-star rating in a recent review, with video features that are unmatched at the sub-$2,000 price point. However, the Sony A7 IV has some advantages over it when it comes to video quality. The S5 IIX surpasses the Sony A7 IV on all video quality fronts and ranks among the best mirrorless cameras for video. It can shoot internal ProRes raw to SSD, external BRAW to a monitor, and offers ALL-I compression with the same bitrate to SD card. The camera is only a moderate extra outlay over the S5 II, and cheaper than the A7 IV.
The two camera brands have previously taken different approaches when it comes to video quality. The S5 II offers 6K / 30p uncropped video with 10-bit recording in MOV format, LONG GOP compression, and a 200Mbps bitrate, while the A7 IV has a lesser 4K resolution in 16:9 aspect ratio, but superior ALL-Intra (ALL-I) compression and 600Mbps bitrate. The S5 IIX has gone to new heights and settled the score.
Recording to an external SSD via the USB-C port is now possible in the S5 IIX in addition to the SD memory card, and the camera offers many improved video qualities. This includes Apple ProRes raw, with the 422 HQ 5.8K setting having a whopping 1.6Gbps bitrate, and Blackmagic raw (BRAW) when the S5 IIX is connected to an external monitor like an Atomos Ninja V. It’s also possible to shoot ALL-I compression with the same bitrate to an SD card.
The S5 IIX is only a moderate extra outlay over the S5 II and is cheaper than the A7 IV. Firmware V2.0 was also announced for those that already own the S5 II, making ProRes raw video output and SSD recording possible, albeit via a paid DMW-SFU2 key, which costs $300/£270. The decision for video makers has become clearer, but the practicality of the camera for some may vary depending on the type of production they make.
