Panasonic reveals details of full-frame S1H
Posted on Aug 27, 2019
Panasonic has finally revealed the specs of its filmmaker-focused S1H full-frame mirrorless camera, the first to offer 6K recording at 24p. It also records 10-bit 60p in 4K/C4K, HD in 180fps and will cost £3599 when it goes on sale from 19 September
It has a newly-developed 24.2-megapixel full-frame sensor, the same resolution as the S1 which went on sale recently. But the S1H has Panasonic’s Dual Native ISO like its bigger VariCam and EVA1 siblings. The S1H is claimed to have more than 14 stops of dynamic range as well as V-Log / V-Gamut that make its output very similar to the colours from the VariCam range.
The S1H can record 6K/24p and 5.4K/30p in a 3:2 aspect ratio or 5.9K/30p in widescreen 16:9. It is the world’s first full-frame digital interchangeable lens system camera to enable 10-bit 60p 4K/C4K HEVC video recording when using in Super35 crop mode. There is 4:2:2 10-bit 4K30p recording in H.264 captured from the full area of the sensor.
The camera is marginally larger than the recently-introduced S1 and S1R and has a cooling fan, which keeps heat to a minimum and allows unlimited recording time in all recording modes. The camera also boasts HDR (High Dynamic Range) in HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma), 4:2:2 10-bit HDMI output, and Anamorphic 4:3 modes plus tally lights, a waveform monitor and a V-Log View Assist function.
There is 5-axis in-body Image Stabilisation and if used with Panasonic’s own S-series lenses which have 2-axis Optical Image Stabiliser, there is a claimed 6.5-stop improvement in the ability to use longer shutter speeds. The new rear monitor, real view finder and status LCD are all large displays offering high resolution and high visibility, and the camera has a rugged, weatherproof design.
Like the S1 and S1R, the H-model uses the Leica L-Mount system. More than 45 L-Mount interchangeable lenses, including over ten Lumix Pro S lenses, will be available from Panasonic, Leica and SIGMA by the end of 2020. A variety of mount adapters/converters allow use of a wide range of modern and legacy lenses.
The S1H features an OLPF (Optical Low Pass Filter) to suppresses moiré and boasts a maximum ISO of 51,200.The Dual Native ISOs are 640 and 4000.
The VFR (Variable Frame Rate) lets users record over-cranked / under-cranked video in C4K/4K (60fps, maximum 2.5x slow motion in 24p) and FHD (180fps, maximum 7.5x slow motion in 24p). In addition, HFR (High Frame Rate) video with sound is also recordable with active auto focus. Unlike the S1, shooting in fast frame rates gives full manual control over exposure.
The S1H has two SD card slots, compatible with the high-speed, high-capacity UHS-II and Video Speed Class 90 cards. The 7.4-V 3,050mAh high-capacity battery is the same as the other S-series cameras.
The 4:2:2 10-bit 4K 60p/50p HDMI output is via a full-size Type A terminal and the camera is also compatible with Time Code IN/OUT synchronization through the flash synchro terminal and comes bundled with a BNC converter cable and BNC cable.
The 3.2-inch, 2,330K-dot 3:2 aspect rear touch-screen monitor features approximately 150% higher luminance compared to the S1R/S1, GH5 and GH5S. The screen display both tilts and rotates.
The S1H also captures still images in 14-bit Raw and offers High Resolution mode where eight images are recorded then internally combined to create a 96-megapixel equivalent (12,000 x 8,000-pixel) picture.
However, Panasonic has not fitted phase detection autofocus, staying with contrast AF. But it has face/eye detection technology.
Panasonic has also revealed a new standard zoom lens, the S PRO 24-70mm f/2.8 which will cost £2249 and goes on sale from 26 September 2019.
Comprising 18 elements in 16 groups, the LUMIX S PRO 24-70mm F2.8 uses 3 aspherical elements and 4 ED (Extra-low Dispersion) lenses. It features a mechanism to suppress focus breathing, has a rugged dust/splash-resistant design, an 82mm filter thread and uses an 11-bladed circular aperture.
We will have a hands-on first look at the camera out soon.
