After a brief hiatus, I’m thrilled to dive back into creating content with a special focus on my experience with the Lumix S5II. This remarkable journey, spanning over a year, has been a blend of learning, adaptation, and exploration. As the owner of two Lumix S5II units, serving as my A and B cameras for our media production company, I’ve had the privilege of putting these cameras through their paces in various shooting environments. Switching from Canon’s lineup to embracing Panasonic’s newest masterpiece, has been nothing short of transformative for my work. In this post, we’ll dive into my experience capturing video with the Lumix S5II over the past year.
Transitioning to Lumix S5II
The decision to switch to the Lumix S5II was driven by the many challenges I encountered with my Canon setup. My old setup included the Canon R3 and Canon R6. While this pair was fun to use, the Issues I kept encountering with color grading, overheating, and matching these two cameras, led me to seek a more reliable solution. The Lumix S5II not only offered a seamless experience but also introduced a level of stability and reliability that was previously lacking with the Canon setup.
Key Features and Real-World Applications
Lumix S5II Open Gate Recording
One of the first significant tests for the Lumix S5II was during the Men and Women of Promise conferences. The events provided a perfect backdrop to evaluate the camera’s capabilities for handling extended recording times. Utilizing a setup that included continuous 6K open gate recording, the Lumix S5II excelled in allowing for creative framing and adjustments without compromising on quality. This feature, coupled with limitless recording capacity (besides the size of my memory cards) showcased the camera’s robust performance in a live event setting.
The event required me to capture up to 1 hour at a time of continuous recording. While this task wouldn’t have been a problem with the R3, the R6 would have given up the ghost after 30 minutes. The Lumix S5II allowed me to have two cameras recording continuously for over an hour and one of the two cameras recording in 6K! The 6K open gate recording allows for so much flexibility in how to use the footage in post. These features were such a huge asset in making the videos successful!
Lumix S5II Cooling System and Custom White Balance
Another challenging environment was a shoot at Stonlick Meadows, a wedding venue. The conditions were far from ideal, with extreme heat, humidity, and atmospheric smog from distant forest fires. Despite these hurdles, the Lumix S5II’s cooling system and custom white balance settings shone through, ensuring high-quality footage without overheating or color balance issues.
The cooling system worked phenomenally well in the hot temperatures. I didn’t have to worry about my recording time being reduced due to the temperature. The S5II kept on recording as long as I needed it to. The custom white balance scenes were perfect for going indoor and outdoor. Instead of having to recalibrate my white balance with each new scene, I could just press one button and my settings were ready for the new space!
S5II Image Stabilization
An interview with Emma Evanko, CEO of the Athletes Mental Playbook brought the camera’s versatility to the forefront. The shoot involved a mix of indoor interviews and outdoor B-roll capturing, where the Lumix S5II’s image stabilization played a pivotal role. The S5II paired with an image-stabilized lens made for a great B-roll combo. During this shoot, I was able to capture detail and action shots using a handheld rig. Handheld shooting has become my go-to mode, thanks to the image stabilization in this camera.
Weddings and High ISO Performance
The Lumix S5II’s high ISO performance was tested during our wedding shoots this past year. Even in low-light scenarios, the camera managed to produce clean, usable footage, demonstrating its competence in challenging lighting situations. This capability was invaluable in capturing precious moments without intrusive lighting setups. I was able to position myself in places to get creative with my shots, without worrying too much about the lighting. Throughout the year, we had a couple of moments during twilight and inside dimly lit halls, to maximize this camera’s low-light performance.
Conclusion
Note: This post is based on personal experiences and is not sponsored. Links provided are for convenience and may be affiliate links, supporting the channel at no extra cost.
GET LUMIX S5II CAMERA HERE : https://amzn.to/3UKiOq5
Photography Mini Course: https://cached-out.com/how-to-start-photography/
Lumix S Pro 24-70mm F2.8 – https://amzn.to/3wryuV2
Lumix S 50mm F1.8 – https://amzn.to/3wrLNF4
Lumix S Pro 70-200mm F4.0 – https://amzn.to/3T8UUDx
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