In the rapidly evolving world of full-frame mirrorless cameras, two notable models have emerged this year from Panasonic and Blackmagic, both enhancing the L-Mount system. The Panasonic Lumix S5 II and the Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K stand out as affordable, full-frame L-Mount cameras capable of 6K raw video recording.
The Blackmagic is marketed primarily as a cinema camera, whereas the Panasonic S5 II maintains a more hybrid, mirrorless design. A comparison by OBP reveals the strengths and weaknesses of each model in various aspects:
- Sharpness: Both cameras deliver similar quality footage. The Panasonic S5 II, however, appears slightly sharper, potentially due to Panasonic’s in-camera processing.
- Aliasing and Moiré: Both cameras perform well in standard tests, showing minimal aliasing or moiré.
- Colors: The Panasonic’s internal codec is weaker compared to Blackmagic’s raw recording. However, when recording Blackmagic RAW with the S5 II, the color performance is comparable.
- Dynamic Range: The Blackmagic offers better highlight rolloff and deeper contrast straight out of the camera. While the Panasonic’s internal codec is less impressive, the S5 II’s raw footage is quite similar to the Cinema Camera 6K.
- Slow Motion: The Panasonic uses a significant crop for high frame rate shooting, whereas the Blackmagic does not crop but changes resolutions and aspect ratios depending on the frame rate. Blackmagic generally provides a better image quality in these modes.
- Stabilization: The Panasonic has built-in stabilization, while the Blackmagic uses gyro data for post-stabilization. The Panasonic might offer a smoother result in handheld shots.
- Indoor Performance: Both cameras handle mixed lighting well. The Panasonic’s weaker internal codec is offset when using Blackmagic RAW with an external recorder.
- Outdoor Performance: In challenging backlight situations, the Blackmagic pushes shadows darker than the Panasonic. Both cameras can be color graded effectively, though Blackmagic’s natural look may have an edge.
- Low Light: The Panasonic performs better in low light, producing cleaner, brighter footage. The Blackmagic shows more noise as expected from raw footage.
- Rolling Shutter: Both cameras have similar rolling shutter performance. Blackmagic’s post-processing gyro data can effectively reduce this effect.
- Battery Life: The Panasonic has a longer battery life, lasting 1 hour 46 minutes compared to Blackmagic’s 1 hour 14 minutes in 6K recording mode.
In conclusion, while the Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K is more affordable and ready to use for raw recording, the Panasonic S5 II requires additional investment for similar capabilities. The choice between them depends on specific needs and preferences in video production.
News source: 4kshooters
