We’re all accustomed to firmware on our electronics these days. A bug fix here, a moved menu option there. However, Panasonic has just dropped new firmware for the LUMIX S5II and S5IIX that’s nothing short of monumental.
The S5II family was already the cream of the crop when it came to video-oriented hybrid cameras – but Panasonic has truly pulled out all the stops to make these the most versatile, powerful products in the category.
Not only do we have native Frame.io integration, there’s upgrades to everything from image stabilization to autofocus performance. This almost makes the S5II and S5IIX perform like completely new cameras, but you get these features free simply by updating your firmware!
Frame.io
This is something that LUMIX users have been dreaming of, and now it’s here: compatibility with Adobe’s Camera to Cloud directly from the camera, using the Frame.io platform.
By connecting to Frame.io, either by WiFi or USB tethering, both JPEG / RAW photos and proxy videos (yes, proxy videos – more on that below) can be seamlessly shared to the cloud for quick and easy collaboration, comments and approval while you’re still on-set.
This revolutionizes workflow, enabling clients or colleagues to provide feedback so you can get all the shots you need before the shoot wraps. Your editors can even get cutting while you’re filming!
Proxy recording
The ability to capture proxy video is another workflow hack to make life so much easier – whether working conventionally or in conjunction with Frame.io.
A proxy is a low-bitrate version of your video, which you can capture simultaneously with your full-fat footage. This gives you or your team easier editing and post-production options, as the proxy can be worked with – online, or on less powerful devices, or for rough cuts and workprints – rather than wrestling with hi-res files.
Then, once the groundwork is done, the full-size video can be dropped into the timeline to replace the proxy for exporting.
Enhanced image stabilization
While shooting with a gimbal is always best practice, it’s not always practical, possible or affordable. If you’ve just invested in a new camera and glass, you may not have enough funds for extra kit. Sometimes the working environment is too confined for extra bulk. And sometimes your gimbal runs out of juice, breaks down, or you just plain forget it.
Whatever the reason, having the best in-camera image stabilization possible will one day save your bacon – whether you’re stealing some guerrilla pickup shots, working minimally, or you’ve yet to purchase a gimbal.
The S5II and S5IIX’s E-Stabilization has just received a new HIGH mode for shooting video. This electronic correction uses algorithmic compensation to correct large shakes, and improved distortion correction is now offered when shooting with wide-angle lenses – helping to minimize that “Jell-O effect” in the corners!
Enhanced autofocus
LUMIX already offered a quantum leap in autofocus performance, by adding Phase Hybrid AF to the S5II family. Now things are even better still, thanks to the addition of subject recognition algorithms first seen in the groundbreaking LUMIX G9II.
Not only does the new firmware imbue the cameras with more accurate recognition for the human body, they also receive Animal Eye AF for superior performance with animals, along with the introduction of Car AF and Motorcycle AF to automatic detection.
The improved autofocus leapfrogs the AF performance of rival systems, making the S5II and S5IIX just as ferocious for solo shooters as they are for teams with dedicated focus pullers.
Pre-burst shooting
Last, but by no means least, is one of the most useful features for stills shooters capturing fast-paced subjects. The new SH PRE function enables the camera to start recording when you half-press the shutter, rather than waiting until you press it all the way.
We’ve all been there, patiently half-pressing to maintain focus on our subject while waiting for it to do its thing – whether it’s a bird about to take flight or a basketball player about to perform a crossover. Unless your reflexes are instantaneous, though, you’ll often miss that decisive moment.
With Lumix’s pre-burst shooting, though, you’re already firing frames while you’re half-pressing – so even if you’re slow off the mark fully depressing the shutter, the camera is already recording the frames from the half second before!
Make sure to add these superpowers to your camera by downloading the latest firmware now – V3.0 for the LUMIX S5II and V2.0 for the LUMIX S5IIX.
