Panasonic had already announced the very similar S5II and S5IIx cameras in January, and a few weeks later the smaller model (test) went on sale. The S5IIx with more video functions will not be available until mid-June, as the company has now announced.
With the S5IIx, sometimes also called the Black Edition, Panasonic has put the focus on filming. In contrast to the S5II, it can also output RAW video via HDMI or store it on an external SSD. Then, in addition to Apple’s ProRes Raw, Blackmagic Raw is now also available, which was not announced when the cameras were presented.
Also new is support for more external recorders from Atomos, and there is an overview of the formats for them at Panasonic. The camera is also capable of live streaming via WLAN or USB via a connected smartphone. A USB Ethernet adapter for streaming to wired networks can also be used.
Better to use the S5IIx for filming
The RAW output via HDMI can be retrofitted to the S5II with the new firmware 2.0, but not the other functions mentioned. On June 13, 2023, Panasonic wants a digital key with the product name DWW-SFU2 make it available, it costs 199 euros. The recommended retail prices for the cameras without lenses are 2,199 euros for the S5II and 2,499 euros for the S5IIx.
If you can foresee that you will also need the extended video functions such as live streaming, for example, you should go straight to the S5IIx for the surcharge of 100 euros compared to the S5II plus firmware key. When taking photos, the two cameras are identical, this also applies to the “Live Composite” function for composing long exposures, which the S5II now also has with the new firmware 2.0.
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