New LUMIX S1II and S1IIE cameras for professionals capture 5.1K 60p open gate, C4K/4K 120p and oversampled 4K video with a Cinemascope option and up to 15 stops of dynamic range.
With the release of the LUMIX S1II and S1IIE, Panasonic’s S Series line-up now gives professional photographers and videographers strong options depending on shooting style, level of experience and budget. They bring comprehensive workflow support, speed and reliability to a range of environments.
The LUMIX S1II has a 24.1MP full-frame partially stacked CMOS image sensor and runs on the L2 engine Panasonic has been developing with Leica. The L2 Technology engine aims to capture sharp, detailed images with very accurate colour recording and high dynamic range. Users can capture 5.1K 60p open gate, C4K/4K 120p and oversampled 4K video, with internal RAW recording.
The use of a stacked sensor increases processing speed. Earlier on, CMOS sensors operated on a single layer, and signal readouts from each pixel needed to travel to the outside of the sensor before they were processed. In a stacked sensor, processing chips are applied to the back of the sensor – creating a stack of chips that markedly shortens the distance and time the pixel values have to travel. ‘Partially stacked’ just means that the stacked chips are only added to certain parts of the sensor as a way to control the cost.
This engine-sensor combination results in faster readout speeds and processing, making high frame rate recording possible in formats such as 4K 120p and 5.8K 60pi. It also enables the Dynamic Range Boost mode, achieving up to 15 stops in V-Log at frame rates below 30p, exceeding the standard 14+ stops.
On the photography side, black-out free, high-speed continuous shooting of up to 70 frames per second with SH / SH pre-burst shooting up to 1.5 seconds. (SH is for ‘shutter’.) These modes capture from 0.5 to 1.5 seconds of frames immediately before pressing the shutter button. The ‘SH Pre’ option captures these bursts in the camera's 30fps electronic shutter mode.
LUMIX has continued to collaborate with ARRI. As a result, ARRI’s LogC3 wide gamut colour space, matching the ARRI digital cinema cameras, will be included on a Panasonic full frame mirrorless camera for the first time. This will give filmmakers access to cinema workflows and greater flexibility in post. Panasonic has said they expect this feature to be available for the LUMIX S1II, S1IIE and S1RII later in 2025 via the separate DMW-SFU3A Software Upgrade Key.
Among the camera’s creative options, the Open Gate feature – recording the image over the whole sensor without cropping – now has a setting for 5.1K 60p recording to support slow motion. A future firmware update will add multiple frame marker displays.
The LUMIX S1IIE has some design differences compared to the S1II. It is equipped with a 24.2MP sensor with characteristics similar to the LUMIX S5II, and introduces a new Cinemascope widescreen video format (2.4:1) available in various frame rates including 60p without cropping.
In this camera, high-speed continuous shooting achieves burst shooting up to 30 fps with the electronic shutter SH/SH Pre mode, and an extended continuous shooting H+ (High Speed Plus) mode of 10 fps with a mechanical shutter.
Auto Focus and Image Stabilisation
Both cameras share real-time recognition Phase Hybrid Auto Focus with eye and face detection and AI-driven tracking accuracy for people. They can also recognise and accurately capturing dynamic movements like breakdancing, skateboarding and parkour for ‘Urban Sports’ videography. They have upgraded 8.0-stop in-body image stabilisation (B.I.S.) and cropless electronic I.S. video distortion correction, which stabilises without cropping the angle of view.
The camera bodies are equipped with a 5.76 million-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) and 1.84 million-dot tilt and free-angle monitor, and will integrate directly with accessories such as the DMW-BG2 battery grip and DMW-XLR2 microphone adaptor. Efficient operation continues at temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celsius.
Dual recording media options are included to support SD and CFexpress Type B cards, with support for 5.8K 30p / C4K 60p Apple ProRes RAW HQ / ProRes RAW internal recording to a CFexpress Type B card.
Workflow Apps and Software
The S1II and S1IIE are compatible with the common apps and software that used support workflows, for example, Capture One professional editing software, used to prepare images ahead of post production. With Frame.io, they can also be used to set up a smooth progression from shooting to editing, as well as cloud sharing and collaboration.
Support for LUMIX Lab can help simplify image transfer, editing and colour preferences when integrating smartphones and social media sharing into the workflow. LUMIX Flow app assists with storyboard creation, on-site checks during filming, and automatic data organisation after shooting to support the video production workflow. In the updated version 1.1, it now supports wireless connection, a wave form monitor, vectorscope and false colour, and mirroring monitor function. LUMIX Flow app assists with storyboard creation, on-site checks during filming, and automatic data organisation after shooting to support the video production workflow.
These two cameras are capable of setting distinct parameters for photography and videography and transferring settings from one camera to another using an SD card, to make sure of uniform settings across different camera models. www.panasonic.com
