If the extensive video specification of the Lumix GH5 isn’t quite enough to fulfill your demands, the GH5S may very well be what you’re searching for. Panasonic’s latest video-focused mirrorless camera is the Lumix GH5S.
Panasonic thinks that the GH5S will give the highest-ever video image quality seen in a Lumix camera, as it was explicitly created with professional filmmakers in mind when it was developed.
Panasonic Lumix GH5s Features
The sensor is physically more significant than a typical Micro Four Thirds sensor because of its enlarged construction, a feature of the first GH1 and GH2 models. Instead of just cutting down from the 4:3 aspect ratio of the sensor, the Lumix GH5S can shoot in a variety of aspect ratios, and it is still able to utilize the entire breadth of the image circle that is projected by the lens.
Panasonic Lumix GH5s Build Quality
The design of the Lumix GH5S is almost identical to that of the GH5. The only things that distinguish the GH5S from the GH5 are a flash of red around the collar of the mode dial on the top of the camera and a more prominent red record button (in addition to the ‘S’ designation on the front of the camera).
The design of this mirrorless camera is very hefty, but the GH5S feels solid and robust in hand owing to the broad, purposeful grip. This is even though the camera itself is mirrorless. This is made possible by the magnesium alloy complete die-cast front and back frame. Additionally, the camera features a respectable amount of weatherproofing since it is resistant to dust, splashes of water, and freezing temperatures down to -10 degrees Celsius.
Dual SD memory card slots that are compatible with UHS-II and Video Speed Class 60 SDXC cards are included, and in addition, there is a terminal for HDMI Type A. This camera, like the GH5, also has an HDMI port.
Panasonic Lumix GH5s Autofocus
Since many of the other features of the GH5 have been carried over to the GH5S, it should not be surprising to see that the 225-area AF system has also transitioned.
Contrary to many competitors, including those that utilize an autofocus system that combines phase-detection and contrast-detection technology, the GH5S relies only on the more laborious contrast-detection method. Nevertheless, focusing is still lightning fast (with a stated AF speed of just 0.05 seconds), and the GH5S can focus in light settings as low as -5EV, darker than moonlight.
In addition to the Multi AF mode, there is a Custom Multi mode. This mode gives you the ability to freely pick the AF-area group, also known as Zone AF, and gives you the ability to modify the focus area group size and location.
Panasonic Lumix GH5s Performance
The metering system in the Lumix GH5S is the same 1,728-zone metering system that we’ve seen in the Lumix GH5 (and quite a few other Lumix cameras, for that matter), and as we’ve seen before, it’s a consistent performer; we didn’t find that we needed to reach for the exposure compensation button in the majority of the situations we tested it in.
Its white-balancing algorithm also delivers the goods, providing results that appear natural. However, if you seek more warmth in cloudy settings, one of the specific presets can give you the extra bit you want.
Panasonic Lumix GH5s Image Quality
While compared to the available low resolution, the 10.2-megapixel photos produced by the GH5S hold up very well when looking at stills before going on to video recording. The camera is superior to its sister, the GH5, when handling greater sensitivities.
It has far less luminance (grain-like) noise, and its dynamic range is also somewhat improved. As a result, individuals interested in shooting a significant quantity of still photographs and recording video will be better served by the GH5, which has a more excellent quality.
The 4K footage captured by the Panasonic GH5S has a shallow noise level. The inbuilt 4:2:2 10-bit recording contributes a significant amount of information over the tonal range, which results in highly detailed video captured at a rate of 400 megabytes per second (mb/s).
But capturing light is more important than having a high resolution, and it has to be seen how effectively the GH5S achieves this. This puts the camera into a log image style, which enables you to capture more information in the shadows and highlights. Moreover, v-log L is pre-installed, whereas it was an expensive add-on option in earlier versions.
When used with any of its native ISO settings, the Panasonic GH5S can capture over 14 stops of dynamic range. This is virtually the same number of stops as movie cameras made by Arri or Red.
Panasonic Lumix GH5s Specs
| Body type | SLR-style mirrorless |
|---|---|
| Body material | Magnesium alloy |
| Sensor | |
| Max resolution | 3680 x 2760 |
| Other resolutions | 3:2 (3840 x 2560), 16:9 (4016 x 2256), 1:1 (2752 x 2752) |
| Image ratio w h | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 |
| Effective pixels | 10 megapixels |
| Sensor photo detectors | 12 megapixels |
| Sensor size | Four Thirds (19.2 x 13 mm) |
| Sensor type | CMOS |
| Processor | Venus Engine 10 |
| Color space | sRGB, Adobe RGB |
| Color filter array | Primary color filter |
| Image | |
| ISO | Auto, 160-51200 (expands to 80-204800) |
| Boosted ISO (minimum) | 80 |
| Boosted ISO (maximum) | 204800 |
| White balance presets | 5 |
| Custom white balance | Yes (4 slots) |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Uncompressed format | RAW |
| JPEG quality levels | Fine, standard |
| File format | JPEG (Exif v2.31)Raw (Panasonic ARW, 12/14-bit) |
| Optics & Focus | |
| Autofocus | Contrast Detect (sensor)Multi-areaCenterSelective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousTouchFace DetectionLive View. |
| Autofocus assist lamp | Yes |
| Digital zoom | Yes (2x-4x) |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Number of focus points | 225 |
| Lens mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Focal length multiplier | 2× |
| Screen/viewfinder | |
| Articulated LCD | Fully articulated |
| Screen size | 3.2″ |
| Screen dots | 1,620,000 |
| Touch screen | Yes |
| Screen type | TFT LCD |
| Live view | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | Electronic |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100% |
| Viewfinder magnification | 1.52× (0.76× 35mm equiv.) |
| Viewfinder resolution | 3,680,000 |
| Photography features | |
| Minimum shutter speed | 60 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/8000 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed (electronic) | 1/16000 sec |
| Exposure modes | ProgramAperture priorityShutter priorityManual |
| Built-in flash | No |
| External flash | Yes (via hot shoe or flash sync port) |
| Flash modes | Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off |
| Flash X sync speed | 1/250 sec |
| Drive modes | SingleContinuous4K PhotoFocus StackingSelf-timer |
| Continuous drive | 12.0 fps |
| Self-timer | Yes (2 or 10 secs, 10 secs w/3 images) |
| Metering modes | MultiCenter-weighted spot |
| Exposure compensation | ±5 (at 1/3 EV steps) |
| AE Bracketing | ±3 (3, 5, 7 frames at 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV steps) |
| WB Bracketing | Yes |
| Videography features | |
| Format | MPEG-4, H.264, H.265 |
| Modes | 4096 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 50p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 30p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 25p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 400 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 400 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 50p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 400 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 400 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p / 100 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 50p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 30p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 25p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 25p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 400 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 400 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM4096 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 50p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 400 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 72 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 400 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 72 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 400 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 400 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 72 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 200 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 200 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 200 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 20 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 200 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 25p / 20 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 200 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 24p / 24 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p / 200 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p / 24 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 60i / 24 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 60i / 17 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 50p / 28 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 50i / 24 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 50i / 17 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 23.98p / 24 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital |
| Microphone | Stereo |
| Speaker | Mono |
| Storage | |
| Storage types | Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC cards (UHS-II V60 cards supported) |
| Connectivity | |
| USB | USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec) |
| USB charging | No |
| HDMI | Yes (Up to 4:2:2 10-bit output) |
| Microphone port | Yes |
| Headphone port | Yes |
| Wireless | Built-In |
| Wireless notes | 802.11b/g/n + Bluetooth 4.2 LE |
| Remote control | Yes (wired or smartphone) |
| Physical | |
| Environmentally sealed | Yes |
| Battery | Battery Pack |
| Battery description | DMW-BLF19 lithium-ion battery & charger |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 440 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 660 g (1.46 lb / 23.28 oz) |
| Dimensions | 139 x 98 x 87 mm (5.47 x 3.86 x 3.43″) |
| Other features | |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| Timelapse recording | No |
| GPS | None |
Panasonic Lumix GH5s Verdict
You won’t find a better video-focused camera than the Panasonic Lumix GH5S. Still, suppose you want to shoot professional quality footage without having to mortgage your house to buy a professional video camera. In that case, the Panasonic Lumix GH5S is not the camera for you.
