Super Video Performer

The Panasonic Lumix GH5S was launched in India in February 2018. While the record-breaking GH5 is aimed at ‘stills’ as well as ‘video’ shooters, the GH5S is primarily aimed at video professionals. The GH5S sports a new multi-aspect imaging sensor (10.28 million effective pixels) that Panasonic refers to as Dual Native ISO technology. Interestingly, the GH5S body does not offer image stabilisation!

Design & Build Quality

By design, the GH5S is an interchangeable lens Micro Four Thirds System camera. The outer body uses polycarbonate for strength and lightness, and has a good build quality along with a superb grip. Visually comparing the GH5S and the GH5, the only difference you will see is the letter ‘S’ in red under the name, the red Recording button to the right and a red ring under the Drive Mode Dial to the left of the camera body. The body, like the GH5, is made in China.

Key Features

Let’s first talk about the ‘still’ features. The Panasonic Lumix GH5S is a Micro Four Thirds type interchangeable lens mirrorless camera (Live MOS sensor, size 17.3 x 13mm) with an effective resolution of 10.28 million pixels (as against an effective resolution of 20 million pixels on the GH5 for the same size of imaging sensor). This allows the pixels on the GH5S to be larger, which in turn offer better noise control. The GH5S offers an imaging sensor that is slightly larger than the image circle of the lens and hence the aspect ratio (for stills) can be changed without changing the diagonal angle of view. The aspect ratios on offer are 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 and 1:1.

Autofocussing is by a Contrast Detect AF system. Focus modes available are AFS (Single AF), AFC (Continuous) or AFF (Flexible).