Panasonic S5 II vs Panasonic S5 IIX. Is it worth the extra?

We compared the Panasonic S5 II (Amazon, B&H) with the original Panasonic S5 (Amazon, B&H) in the last article.

In this article let’s compare the Panasonic S5 II (Amazon, B&H) with the Panasonic S5 IIX (Amazon, B&H). Is it worth the extra cost, or are you better off with the S5 II?

Similarities

The two cameras are near identical in all but a few respects. They are similar in terms of:

1. Autofocus performance.
2. Same sensor, low light performance, color science and dynamic range.
3. Both cameras do 4K 30 fps and 6K 30 fps in full frame mode. Both cameras crop to APS-C size in 4K 60p. Both cameras have 3.3K anamorphic modes; and both cameras can shoot 120 fps in 1080p.
4. Both cameras, the Panasonic S5 II (Amazon, B&H) and the Panasonic S5 IIX (Amazon, B&H), have a built-in heat dispersion fan system for longer duration recording. Both cameras will still overheat in modes above 4K. Modes above 4K also have a recording limit of 30 minutes, while in 4K there is no recording limit.
5. Audio features are identical.
6. Both cameras can output Prores RAW (the S5 II with a paid firmware update). We’ll have to reserve judgement until the S5 IIX ships to know if there are any real-world differences in the output via HDMI. The Panasonic S5 IIX has ProRes RAW recording of 5.8K via HDMI output when connected to an Atomos Ninja V+.
7. Both cameras have the same focus and exposure aids – Waveform, Zebras, Histogram, Meter, Vector Scope.
8. They are the same size and weight, with the same buttons, EVF and LCD.
9. Both cameras have 5-axis image stabilization (IBIS).
10. Both cameras have similar battery life as published by Panasonic. You get about 45 minutes on the standard battery of regular shooting (4K 60p in APS-C). That translates to about 65 minutes of continuous recording.

Differences

Now let’s look at the few differences, starting with the data rates:

Camera	Panasonic S5 IIX	Panasonic S5 II
Best Internal Codecs	H.264/H.265, ProRes	H.264/H.265
Best Data rate in 4K	400 Mbps / 800 Mbps*	200 Mbps
Internal Color Information	10-bit 4:2:2^	10-bit 4:2:2^
Best External Codec	ProRes RAW#	ProRes RAW via a paid firmware update
External Color Information	12-bit RAW	12-bit RAW via a paid firmware update

*400 Mbps in full frame, 800 Mbps in APS-C mode.

^10-bit 4:2:0 in 6K, 10-bit 4:2:2 in 4K.

#In ProRes RAW 5.8K 30p you will get 1.9 Gbps data rate.

The Panasonic S5 IIX (Amazon, B&H) has twice the data rate in 4K. I don’t know if this one feature warrants a second camera, but it’s possible there are taxes in certain countries that forces their hand.

Is this extra data rate good or bad? It’s good if you’re making films for Netflix or cinemas. The the vast majority of people this camera is aimed at, 400 Mbps is overkill. A single day’s worth of shooting could easily reach 1TB or more. It also adds to the cost a bit:

Camera	Panasonic S5 IIX	Panasonic S5 II
Dual card slots	Yes, SDHC/SDXC, UHS-II	Yes, SDHC/SDXC, UHS-II
Price per GB	$0.63/GB	$0.63/GB
Data Rate (Mbps)	400	200
Data on a 128 GB card	43 minutes	87 minutes
Equivalent Price	$534	$267

You might need more cards, and that costs more money per card. Also don’t forget to factor in extra costs for backing up twice the data (four times if it’s 800 Mbps!).

The Panasonic S5 IIX (Amazon, B&H) also has a few other tricks up its sleeve:

1. It can record to Prores via SSD (USB-C).
2. It has wired and wireless IP streaming (requires a USB-LAN adaptor that needs to be purchased separately).
3. It has USB-C tethering.

To be honest I don’t know many people who can practically use the first option. It’s okay, but having done something similar I wouldn’t recommend it on tough shoots where the camera is moving. It’s easy to bump into the SSD and disrupt the shooting. I’m not saying it’s not doable. I know many filmmakers who do it. I just won’t recommend it as a professional solution.

The streaming protocol is interesting. The Panasonic S5 IIX (Amazon, B&H) doesn’t overheat so live streaming at 4K 60p sounds great (if you have the internet speeds, that is).

USB-C tethering is great for photography. I guess it’s something the Panasonic S5 II (Amazon, B&H) should have as well.

The last difference is that the S5 IIX has an all-black color profile, while the S5 II has a red ring and name tag. This might be a temporary thing, so we’ll find out soon.

Which is cheaper to own?

Let’s look at the differences:

Camera	Panasonic S5 II	Panasonic S5 IIX
Camera body	$1,999	$2,197
Media	$267	$534
Batteries	$540	$540
Total	$2,806	$3,271

That’s a difference of $465. It’s not unsubstantial. You also have to factor in extra costs for backing up the extra data, which the above table doesn’t take into account.

The big question is: Do you really need 400 Mbps?

My thoughts on that below.

My Verdict

Let’s look at difference filmmaking scenarios:

Type of Filmmaking	Preferred Camera
Short documentaries and corporate videos	S5 II
Long form documentaries or B-cam to the same	S5 II
Short or feature films	S5 IIX
Music Videos	S5 II
Journalism	S5 II
Wildlife	S5 IIX
Weddings and Events	S5 II

What is the rationale for the above? It’s simple really. For serious monitoring you do need an external recorder such as the Atomos Ninja V or V+. Think about this: Can’t you spend your money on that recorder and get 400 Mbps in Prores/DNxHR anyway? Why do you need the Panasonic S5 IIX (Amazon, B&H) just for 400 Mbps?

The only reason I’d really recommend the Panasonic S5 IIX (Amazon, B&H) is for live streaming. For everything else, save your money and go for the Panasonic S5 II (Amazon, B&H) with the firmware update. Spend that money on lenses and better backup.

What do you think?