Panasonic Lumix S5 - experiences, thoughts?

[Geoffrey Cox]

I recently bought an S5 and am pretty pleased with it but am quite green and very much getting used to it still, though gladly footage looks good with just point and shoot.

So was wondering of others have experience of this machine to offer any sage advice?

One thing for me at the moment is the best colour profile to use. I like to get the footage out of the cam as close to what I end up using as is reasonable. I also much prefer a natural, representationally committed look. V-Log is interesting to me as I have not had easy access to it before and this camera ships with it but it opens a whole can of worms in terms of post-production, a can I am reluctant to open. The flatish profiles (like 709, Flat and Natural) are more practical for me. And then there is HLG but that requires a minimum of 10-bit recording (not sure I can justify the stresses on my system with 10-bit) plus it needs specialist screens to actually monitor it which I don't have.

The other more general issue is the various auto modes. For years now I have always tried to do everything in manually but I am aware that as camera technology has improved this may no longer be the best approach - so maybe auto iso and / or aperture is the way to go - demos I have seen look pretty good using some automation. Autofocus is another matter but can still have its place (tracking focus on the S5 is pretty decent but very much not a leader).

I find the use of a couple of ND filters pretty essential for outdoor stuff but then I generally do. The Breakthrough ones are really good and the best fixed filters out there that I can see.

Anyway just a thread to share S5 experiences.

[Josh Hayes]

Hi Geoffrey, I see your post is from some time ago. I don't have a ton to add, but like the idea of having an S5 thread going. I got my S5 around the same time as you. I LOVE the camera. Coming over from the Panasonic GH camera series (I used those starting with the GH1 many moons ago, and before that the Sony V1U and Panasonic HVX). It's nice to be in the full frame world. So my thoughts on the camera will be through a GH centered lens of sorts since those are my primary cameras.

Few things I encountered in the beginning. I had a bunch of notes then but barely remember them now that I've been using it a lot since (primarily for documentary shooting).
-My primary lens is the Sigma 24-70mm 2.8. It's half the price of the Panasonic S Pro and it's phenomenal.

-I have to be careful that when I find an L Mount lens that it is a full frame and not for example an APS-C lenses. If it's the latter a variety of useful features of the camera are totally disabled. I encountered this for example using the Sigma 56mm 1.4. I couldn't figure out why Variable Frame Rate and a slew of other things wouldn't work initially until I realized it was that.

-Being able to adjust the strength/gain of Peaking is AMAZING. Gamechanger. Sometimes in documentary I'm in a situation where I need to pop the camera out without a monitor to get something quickly and I can do so with complete confidence now in just the screen.

-The LUT View Assist modes are dope

-At first glance, it looks like you're mentioning some of the Function buttons that you'd expect carried over from the Lumix GH series cameras. But then you really the amount of customizable buttons is insane. It's almost every button. Haven't seen that on any other cameras. It's almost too much. But it's not.

-Recording: the physical flashing red light indicator on the bottom of the camera makes it easier to see the cam recording, and turning on the red light recording indicator (the red outline box on the LCD display is clutch).
-I found the Slow & Quick dial manual confusing at first, didn't realize it was VFR. Seemed kind of sophomoric to call it that like it was named by a 5 year old. Have since realized that's a fairly common naming convention. My mind still thinks. in VFR or sometimes over and undrercranking.

-turning on all three parts of the Image Stabilizer mode is useful specifically if you're emulating a tripod. So long shots and slow pans left to right. They're not a friend to movement. I've used it in Run&Gun shooting a lot (filming across the street and things like that) when I'm on a handheld rig but want to suddenly get a diff feel.
-Custom Modes are still your friend here. I love going from Manual to C1, C2, C3 (1-3). Usually I have two different variable frame rate setups on C-1 and C-2. And my C-3(1-3) options change.

Anyway, some initial thoughts. Thought somebody else could throw their hat in the S5 ring! Solidarity :)

[Josh Hayes]

p.s. forgot to mention another new option I did. The ability to set it so when the camera turns off and back on, you can have it maintain the same focus it had before shutdown. So if you're not moving the camera buy cycling it, or just at a similar distance to subject, it's not starting all over from zero.

[Geoffrey Cox]

Originally Posted by Josh Hayes

Hi Geoffrey, I see your post is from some time ago. I don't have a ton to add, but like the idea of having an S5 thread going. I got my S5 around the same time as you. I LOVE the camera. Coming over from the Panasonic GH camera series (I used those starting with the GH1 many moons ago, and before that the Sony V1U and Panasonic HVX). It's nice to be in the full frame world. So my thoughts on the camera will be through a GH centered lens of sorts since those are my primary cameras.

Few things I encountered in the beginning. I had a bunch of notes then but barely remember them now that I've been using it a lot since (primarily for documentary shooting).
-My primary lens is the Sigma 24-70mm 2.8. It's half the price of the Panasonic S Pro and it's phenomenal.

-I have to be careful that when I find an L Mount lens that it is a full frame and not for example an APS-C lenses. If it's the latter a variety of useful features of the camera are totally disabled. I encountered this for example using the Sigma 56mm 1.4. I couldn't figure out why Variable Frame Rate and a slew of other things wouldn't work initially until I realized it was that.

-Being able to adjust the strength/gain of Peaking is AMAZING. Gamechanger. Sometimes in documentary I'm in a situation where I need to pop the camera out without a monitor to get something quickly and I can do so with complete confidence now in just the screen.

-The LUT View Assist modes are dope

-At first glance, it looks like you're mentioning some of the Function buttons that you'd expect carried over from the Lumix GH series cameras. But then you really the amount of customizable buttons is insane. It's almost every button. Haven't seen that on any other cameras. It's almost too much. But it's not.

-Recording: the physical flashing red light indicator on the bottom of the camera makes it easier to see the cam recording, and turning on the red light recording indicator (the red outline box on the LCD display is clutch).
-I found the Slow & Quick dial manual confusing at first, didn't realize it was VFR. Seemed kind of sophomoric to call it that like it was named by a 5 year old. Have since realized that's a fairly common naming convention. My mind still thinks. in VFR or sometimes over and undrercranking.

-turning on all three parts of the Image Stabilizer mode is useful specifically if you're emulating a tripod. So long shots and slow pans left to right. They're not a friend to movement. I've used it in Run&Gun shooting a lot (filming across the street and things like that) when I'm on a handheld rig but want to suddenly get a diff feel.
-Custom Modes are still your friend here. I love going from Manual to C1, C2, C3 (1-3). Usually I have two different variable frame rate setups on C-1 and C-2. And my C-3(1-3) options change.

Anyway, some initial thoughts. Thought somebody else could throw their hat in the S5 ring! Solidarity :)

Thanks for the response Josh - it's a great camera isn't it? It should be getting more love! I am not a pro as such so it is taking me a while to get used to it all but I progress, slowly. I also shoot documentary.

I am interested in the Sigma 24-70mm 2.8 lens you mention. I admit to being pretty lens-ignorant mainly due to cost and experience and am using the kit lens at the moment but would really like to branch out, though at £1000 it is quite an investment! What would you say are the main reasons for using the Sigma in your view?

You mention peaking and this is one of the things I have had a bit of trouble with - quite a bit of the time I cannot get any peaking to show (the various settings for when ti shows confuse me and don't always seem to work) or it is very faint, or too blunt if I increase the intensity, and so focussing can be problematic - what settings do you use (and are they related to the sigma lens)?

Good advice about image stabilisation and it is what I have found too. I will have to look at the maintain focus feature as don't think I have noticed that.

[Josh Hayes]

Hi Geoffrey.

I enjoy the camera indeed. It's a beast.

For the Sigma lens there's not a lot to tell. Basically if you want/can afford a zoom lens that covers a big chunk of the range you'd be shooting at but is "faster" than whatever the kit lens is (I assume) that's it. The equivalent lens made by Panasonic is double that. So it depends on how much depth of field you want out of your images.

For peaking, go into the settings and crank up the sensitivity or gain or whatever they're calling it. You'll see more of it. You won't see it in auto if I remember correctly. But you will in manual most of the time as long as the camera isn't struggling in low light or other challenging situations.