Introduction

Ease of Use

Unboxing the Panasonic Lumix GH5S

Measuring 138.5 x 98.1 x 87.4 mm and weighing 580g body only, the Panasonic Lumix GH5S is the same size as the GH5 model that it now sits alongside at the top of Panasonic's mirrorless camera range (along with the recently released Lumix G9 camera), but it weighs in at 65g less. In fact, the two cameras are virtually identical in appearance, apart from the subtle red ring that surrounds the GH5S' shooting mode dial and its new bright red movie record button.

Front of the Panasonic Lumix GH5S

So if you're already a GH4/5 user who's upgrading to or adding the GH5S, you'll feel instantly at home using this new camera. It also means that means that if you have already invested in Panasonic or third-party accessories for your GH5, such as the BGGH5 battery grip, you should be able to seamlessly use them with the GH5S too. If you've never used a GH5 before, then please read our in-depth Panasonic GH5 review first, as we're going to be concentrating on the differences between the two models here, rather than repeating what we said about the GH5.

For stills photographers, the new sensor inside the GH5S brings three main benefits. Firstly, it's the first ever Panasonic mirrorless camera to be able to record 14-bit Raw files, which offers a little more dynamic range than the 12-bit files that the G9 and GH5 produce. Secondly, the GH5S has a true Multi-aspect Ratio sensor, much like the one on the LX100 compact camera, so that you can record both stills and video in the 4:3, 3:2, 16:9, or 1:1 formats without affecting the angle of view.

Front of the Panasonic Lumix GH5S

Thirdly, while some will lament the reduction in resolution to 10 megapixels, the resulting larger 1.96x pixel size has turned the GH5S into a low-light monster, with an extensive ISO range that's simply amazing for a Micro Four Thirds camera. If you typically shoot for publication on social media, or don't make prints larger than A4 at 300dpi, then the GH5S still offers enough resolution for your needs, with the main added benefit of really good low-light performance.

Furthermore, Panasonic have added the innovative Dual Native ISO Technology, as previously seen on the Panasonic EVA 1 professional Super35 4K cine camera. This effectively offers two base ISOs of 400 and 2500, which you can choose to manually switch between, or let the camera decide when to do so. This system helps to ensure that images taken at ISO 800 and above have much less background noise than on a more conventional camera like the 20 megapixel GH5. Finally, the GH5S can focus in lower light than the GH5, down to -5EV from the GH5's -4EV, which rounds out its credentials as a great camera for low-light shooting for stills or video.

Rear of the Panasonic Lumix GH5S

Talking of video, the new GH5S goes one step further than the GH5 by being able to record Cinematic 4K movies at 60fps, the first mirrorless camera to do so. Whereas the GH5 can record in C4K at 24fps, the new GH5S can additionally do so at 25, 30, 50 and 60fps. There's also a new 240fps full HD slow-motion mode on the GH5S, up from 180fps on the GH5. The GH5S comes with V-Log L already installed in-camera, something that is an optional paid extra on the GH5, and this profile can be used for both video and still photos. Finally, the GH5S provides Timecode IN/OUT compatibility via the flash sync port, with a BNC conversion cable supplied in the box.

The Panasonic GH5S is a pretty fast stills camera, offering 7fps burst shooting with Full AF/AE tracking for up to 60 JPEG / 14-bit RAW images, or 11fps with the AF/AE set at the first frame, but it's actually slightly slower than the GH5, which offers 7.5fps burst shooting with Full AF/AE tracking or 12fps with the AF/AE set at the first frame, both for up to 600 JPEG images at the highest image quality or 60 RAW files.

Top of the Panasonic Lumix GH5S

One minor improvement on the Panasonic GH5S compared to the GH5 is a slightly longer battery life of 440 shots, up from 410 on the older model, but we doubt you'd notice on a day-to-day basis. Similarly, the EVF on the GH5S now has a refresh rate of 120fps versus 60fps on the GH5, which again you may not spot.

The Panasonic GH5S has sacrificed a couple of key features compared to the GH5 which could be deal-breakers for for quite a lot of people. First up is the 6K Photo mode, as unlike the GH5, the GH5S doesn't have an electronic first curtain shutter, and the new 10 megapixel sensor doesn't actually have enough megapixels to create 6K video (18mp are required).

The Panasonic Lumix GH5S In-hand

Perhaps more importantly, the new GH5S does not feature built-in image stabilisation, unlike every other Panasonic mirrorless camera that has been released. Panasonic have responded to feedback from some professional users who complained that the IBIS system in the GH5 produced jittery video footage in certain situations, such as filming in rough off-road conditions, and consequently they've taken the somewhat brave decision to fix the GH5S' sensor in place inside the camera, rather than employing the same floating design as found inside the GH5.

This then either requires very steady hands to obtain smooth footage, reliance on the few Panasonic lenses that have built-in stabilisation, or far more likely the use of a gimbal to help stabilise the camera during shooting. While some users already did this with the GH5/4 anyway, there are a lot of would-be purchasers for whom this decision alone will push them towards the GH5, or an alternative low-light video camera such as the Sony A7S II.

Image Quality

All of the sample images in this review were taken using the 10M Fine JPEG image size option, which gives an average image size of around 5Mb.

The Panasonic Lumix GH5S produced images of outstanding quality during the review period. It offers noise-free images at ISO 80 to 6400, with limited noise starting to appear at ISO 12800, an excellent performance for a Micro Four Thirds camera. ISO 51200 and 102400 exhibit quite visible noise and loss of fine detail, while the fastest setting of 204800 looks much better on paper than in reality.

The various Photo Styles and Creative Controls allow you to quickly and easily customise the look of the camera's JPEG images before you take them, while the Intelligent D-range and HDR modes extract a little more detail out of the shadow and highlight areas. The night photograph was excellent, with the maximum shutter speed of 60 seconds and 30-minute Bulb mode allowing you to capture plenty of light.

Noise

There are 14 ISO settings available on the Panasonic Lumix GH5S which you can select at any time if the camera is in one of the creative shooting modes and the Extended ISO menu is set to On. Here are some 100% crops which show the noise levels for each ISO setting for both JPEG and Raw formats:

JPEG	Raw
ISO 80 (100% Crop)	ISO 80 (100% Crop)
ISO 100 (100% Crop)	ISO 100 (100% Crop)
ISO 160 (100% Crop)	ISO 160 (100% Crop)
ISO 200 (100% Crop)	ISO 200 (100% Crop)
ISO 400 (100% Crop)	ISO 400 (100% Crop)
ISO 800 (100% Crop)	ISO 800 (100% Crop)
ISO 1600 (100% Crop)	ISO 1600 (100% Crop)
ISO 3200 (100% Crop)	ISO 3200 (100% Crop)
ISO 6400 (100% Crop)	ISO 6400 (100% Crop)
ISO 12800 (100% Crop)	ISO 12800 (100% Crop)
ISO 25600 (100% Crop)	ISO 25600 (100% Crop)
ISO 51200 (100% Crop)	ISO 51200 (100% Crop)
ISO 102400 (100% Crop)	ISO 102400 (100% Crop)
ISO 204800 (100% Crop)	ISO 204800 (100% Crop)

File Quality

The Panasonic Lumix GH5S has 2 different JPEG image quality settings available, with Fine being the highest quality option. Here are some 100% crops which show the quality of the various options, with the file size shown in brackets.

Fine (5.3Mb) (100% Crop)	Standard (2.58Mb) (100% Crop)
RAW (18.3Mb) (100% Crop)

Aspect Ratios

Thanks to its multi-aspect ratio sensor, the Panasonic Lumix GH5s can shoot the same angle of view across four different aspect ratios, as shown below.

4:3

3:2

16:9

1:1

Night

The Panasonic Lumix GH5S maximum shutter speed is 60 seconds and there's also a Bulb option for exposures up to 30 minutes long, which is excellent news if you're seriously interested in night photography. The shot below was taken using a shutter speed of 30 seconds at ISO 160. The camera takes the same amount of time again to apply noise reduction, so for example at the 15 second setting the actual exposure takes 30 seconds.

Night

Intelligent Resolution

The Panasonic Lumix GH5S's Intelligent Resolution feature identifies outlines, texture areas and soft gradation areas of the image and then automatically optimizes the edges and detailed texture areas while using noise reduction to make the soft gradation areas smoother. There are three available strengths - low, standard and high.

Off (100% Crop)	Low (100% Crop)
Standard (100% Crop)	High (100% Crop)

Intelligent Dynamic

The Panasonic Lumix GH5S's Intelligent Dynamic feature adjusts the exposure setting to record more detail in the highlights and shadows, with three strengths available - low, standard and high.

Off	Low
Standard	High

HDR

In the HDR mode the Panasonic Lumix GH5S combines 3 frames taken at different exposures to create a single image with increased dynamic range (JPEG only).

Off	On 1EV
On 2EV	On 3EV

Multiple Exposure

In the Multiple Exposure mode the Panasonic Lumix GH5S combines multiple frames to create a single image.

Photo Styles

Panasonic's Photo Styles are preset combinations of different sharpness, contrast, saturation and noise reduction settings. The 11 available Photo Styles are shown below in the following series, which demonstrates the differences. There is also four Custom options so that you can create your own looks.

Standard	Vivid
Natural	Monochrome
L.Monochrome	Scenery
Portrait	Cinelike D
Cinelike V	Like709
V-Log L

Filter Effects

The Panasonic Lumix GH5S has an extensive range of digital filter effects, denoted by an artist's palette in the shooting mode menu, with 22 different options on offer.

Expressive	Retro
Old Days	High Key
Low Key	Sepia
Monochrome	Dynamic Monochrome
Rough Monochrome	Silky Monochrome
Impressive Art	High Dynamic
Cross Process	Toy Effect
Toy Pop	Bleach Bypass
Miniature	Soft Focus
Fantasy	Star Filter
One Point Color	Sunshine

Sample Images

This is a selection of sample images from the Panasonic Lumix GH5S camera, which were all taken using the 10 megapixel Fine JPEG setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.

Sample RAW Images

The Panasonic Lumix GH5S enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We've provided some Panasonic RAW (RW2) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).

Sample Movies & Video

Product Images

Front of the Panasonic Lumix GH5S

Front of the Panasonic Lumix GH5S

Front of the Panasonic Lumix GH5S

Front of the Panasonic Lumix GH5S

Front of the Panasonic Lumix GH5S

Front of the Panasonic Lumix GH5S

Rear of the Panasonic Lumix GH5S

Rear of the Panasonic Lumix GH5S

Rear of the Panasonic Lumix GH5S / Image Displayed

Rear of the Panasonic Lumix GH5S / Turned On

Rear of the Panasonic Lumix GH5S / Quick Menu

Rear of the Panasonic Lumix GH5S / Main Menu

Rear of the Panasonic Lumix GH5S / Vari-angle LCD Screen

Rear of the Panasonic Lumix GH5S / Vari-angle LCD Screen

Top of the Panasonic Lumix GH5S

Bottom of the Panasonic Lumix GH5S

Side of the Panasonic Lumix GH5S

Side of the Panasonic Lumix GH5S

Front of the Panasonic Lumix GH5S

Front of the Panasonic Lumix GH5S

Memory Card Slot

Battery Compartment

Conclusion

The Panasonic Lumix GH5S is a specialist tool that isn't going to appeal to everyone, but stills photographers and especially looking videographers looking for the ultimate low-light camera will find a lot to like.

Where the GH5 was (and still is) a hybrid camera that excelled at both stills and video, the new GH5S, despite looking identical, is very much geared towards the filmmaker. That isn't to say that photographers should instantly look elsewhere - if you predominantly shoot in very low light, or only publish on social media/make small prints, the GH5S still has a lot to offer, especially as it produces images with excellent dynamic range thanks to 14-bit Raw, and also low noise at high sensitivities, the best of any Micro Four Thirds camera that we've reviewed before.

But video is the GH5S' main attraction, and more specifically video produced using a gimbal or other support, due to the removal of the built-in image stabilisation system. While we can certainly understand the logic behind this design decision, it's certainly going to put off a lot of would-be purchasers who've previously enjoyed the many benefits that in-camera IBIS offers, for both video and stills alike. If IBIS isn't a deal-breaker, then the many improvements that the GH5S offers for video compared to the GH5 are well worth the slight hike in the asking price, especially as V-Log is now included in-camera, rather than being another expense as with the GH5.

In summary, the Lumix GH5S rounds out Panasonic's flagship camera line-up, joining the stills-focused G9 and hybrid GH5, with all three being excellent cameras that do what they do very well.

Ratings (out of 5)
Design	5
Features	4.5
Ease-of-use	4.5
Image quality	5
Value for money	4.5

Main Rivals

Listed below are some of the rivals of the Panasonic Lumix GH5S.

Review Roundup

Reviews of the Panasonic Lumix GH5S from around the web.

Specifications

News

The Panasonic LUMIX GH5S is a new compact system camera designed and developed for professional filmmakers. The GH5S achieves the highest-ever sensitivity and video image quality in the history of LUMIX cameras thanks to a new 10.2-megapixel Digital Live MOS Sensor, Venus Engine and Dual Native ISO Technology. The GH5S is the world’s first mirrorless camera to offer 4K 60p / 50p video recording in Cinema 4K (4096x2160), features internal 4:2:2 10-bit recording, and ships with V-Log pre-installed on the camera.

The Panasonic LUMIX GH5S will be available from end of January 2018 and will retail for £2199 / €2549.99 / $2499 (body only).

Panasonic UK Press Release

Panasonic Announces the Ultimate Hybrid CSC with a newly developed 10.2MP High sensitivity Live MOS sensor

 Introducing the LUMIX GH5S: An exceptional mirrorless camera for videography, designed and developed for professional filmmaker

• Introducing a 10.2MP High sensitivity MOS sensor for improved image quality in low light
• Timecode IN/OUT for easy implementation within multi camera shoots
• True “Multi-Aspect Ratio” Function in both photo and video

Panasonic is proud to introduce the new hybrid LUMIX GH5S with expanded video recording capability and enhanced image quality. Designed and developed for professional filmmakers, the LUMIX GH5S achieves our highest-ever sensitivity and video image quality in the history of LUMIX cameras. Packed with big features to delight videographers and photographers alike

The new 10.2-megapixel Digital Live MOS Sensor and Venus Engine reproduce the darkest areas of the image with increased clarity thanks to the maximum ISO 51200. When shooting in dark environments, videographers can now focus on capturing the perfect shot without worrying about background noise thanks to the newly applied Dual Native ISO Technology.

The LUMIX GH5S is compatible with Timecode IN/OUT which is easy to set using the flash sync terminal and bundled coaxial cable for a BNC terminal. The camera can be used as a Timecode generator for other GH5S models and professional camcorders and the functionality makes multi-camera productions pain-free by instantly synchronizing recordings to other cameras or audio devices.

Both videographers and photographers can now enjoy the same diagonal field of view across all aspect ratios with the True “Multi-Aspect Ratio” function. The newly developed multi-aspect sensor provides sufficient margin to get the same angle of view in 4:3, 17:9, 16:9 and 3:2 aspect ratios.

This feature means you can easily switch between different aspect ratios making the process easier while producing and editing in post-production. The GH5S now also provides the photographer with 14-bit RAW recording, providing greater flexibility within professional RAW development workflows.

The LUMIX GH5 was the world’s first mirrorless camera to achieve 4K 60p / 50p video recording¹ and the new LUMIX GH5S again establishes a milestone by realising the world’s first 4K 60p / 50p video recording in Cinema 4K (4096x2160).² The GH5S is capable of internal 4:2:2 10-bit recording³ for even stronger colour reproduction, while V-Log comes pre-installed on the camera.

There is no time limit⁴ for both Full-HD and 4K video recording and the LUMIX GH5S complies with 4K HDR video with Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) mode in Photo Style. A low-bit-rate recording mode 4K HEVC for HLG is available, which enables playback on AV equipment compatible with the HEVC compression format, such as Panasonic 4K HDR TVs.

The LUMIX GH5S also records 4:2:2 10-bit 400-Mbps All-Intra in 4K 30p/25p/24p and C4K 24p and 200-Mbps All-Intra in Full-HD. The VFR lets users record overcranked / undercranked video in C4K/4K (60 fps, maximum 2.5x slower in 24p) and FHD (240 fps⁵, maximum 10x slower).

DFD (Depth From Defocus) technology and ultra-high-speed digital signal processing achieve fast auto focusing of approximately 0.07 sec⁶ and 12 (AFS) ⁷ / 8 (AFC) fps in 12-bit RAW and 11 (AFS) / 7 (AFC) fps in 14-bit RAW high-speed burst shooting. The 4K PHOTO mode enables 60 fps high-speed capture in approximately 8-megapixel equivalent resolution.

Comfortable operation especially in low light

As a camera that excels at shooting in low light, the LUMIX GH5S boasts -5EV luminance detection performance with Low Light AF thanks to the increased sensitivity and optimised tuning of the sensor. Live View Boost is another practical feature that makes it possible to check the composition - even in total darkness - by boosting the sensitivity just for Live View. The magnification ratio in MF assist is increased from conventional 10x to 20x, which is convenient for astronomical photography.

For night mode the red interface provides mild backlighting, letting users see the subject comfortably in dark surroundings.

In order to make the GH5S tough enough to withstand even heavy field use, it is composed of a magnesium alloy full die-cast front/rear frame and is not only splashproof⁸ and dustproof but also freezeproof down to -10 degrees. The GH5S is equipped with a dual SD memory card slot, compatible with the high-speed, high-capacity UHS-II and Video Speed Class 60. Users can flexibly choose the recording method from Relay Recording, Backup Recording or Allocation Recording. The HDMI Type A terminal is provided.

Exceptional image capture without concern

The GH5S has a large LVF (Live View Finder) with a stunningly high magnification ratio of approximately 1.52x/0.76x (35mm camera equivalent) providing smooth display at 120 fps. A high-precision, high-speed OLED display features 3,680K-dot resolution and 100% field of view. In addition to dual dials, an omni-directional joystick enables more intuitive and flexible operation.

The model includes Bluetooth and Wi-Fi® connectivity to offer a more flexible shooting experience and instant image sharing with easy operation. Compatibility with Bluetooth 4.2 (called BLE: Bluetooth Low Energy) enables constant connection with a smartphone/tablet with minimum power consumption. For Wi-Fi, 5 GHz (IEEE802.11ac)⁹ can be selected in addition to the conventional 2.4 GHz (IEEE 802.11b/g/n) for an even more secure and stable connection.

The Panasonic LUMIX GH5S will be available from end of January 2018 and will retail for £2199 / €2549.99 (body only).

For the latest news and information, follow @LumixUK on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram.

  

*¹ 4K 60p/50p(for a Digital Single Lens Mirrorless Camera), 4:2:2 10-bit (for a digital interchangeable lens camera) as of 4 January, 2017

*² As of January 8, 2018 as a Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera that complies with Cinema 4K (C4K:4096x2160) resolution defined by Digital Cinema Initiatives(DCI). According to a Panasonic study.

*³ 4:2:0 8-bit in C4K 60p/50p and 4K 60p/50p recording on an SD Memory Card.

*⁴Until the SD Memory Card becomes full or the battery runs out.

*⁵The angle of view narrows if you select a frame rate with a number of frames 240 or more.

*⁶  Contrast AF with DFD Technology works only with Panasonic Micro Four Thirds lenses.

*⁷  In AFS, at wide-end with H-ES12060 (CIPA) when LVF display speed is set to 120fps.

*⁸ Splash Proof is a term used to describe an extra level of protection this camera offers against exposure to a minimal amount of moisture, water or dust. Splash Proof does not guarantee that damage will not occur if this camera is subjected to direct contact with water.

*⁹  5GHz Wi-Fi is not available in some countries.

About motion picture recording/4K PHOTO recording

- Use a card with SD Speed Class with "Class 4" or higher when recording motion pictures in [AVCHD] or [MP4(under 28Mbps)].

- Use a card with SD Speed Class with "UHS-I / UHS-II UHS Speed Class 3 (U3)" when recording motion pictures with [MP4] in [4K], [MOV] or [4K PHOTO].   (SD speed class is the speed standard regarding continuous writing.)

- MP4 motion pictures with [MP4] in [C4K/4K]:

- When using an SDHC memory card: You can continue recording without interruption even if the file size exceeds 4 GB, but the motion picture file will be divided and recorded/played back separately.

  - When using an SDXC memory card: You can continue recording without interruption even if the file size exceeds 96 GB or 3 hours 4 minutes in length, but the motion picture file will be divided and recorded/played back separately.

- MP4 motion pictures with [MP4] in [FHD]:

- You can continue recording without interruption even if the file size exceeds 4 GB or 30 minutes in length, but the motion picture file will be divided and recorded/played back separately.

For [C4K/4K 60p][C4K/4K 50p] video output, use an HDMI 2.0 cable that has the HDMI logo on it, and that is described as"4K compatible".

Image Gallery

Click on a thumbnail to see the full version.

First Impressions

The Panasonic LUMIX GH5S is a new flagship compact system camera aimed firmly at videographers, sitting alongside the G9 and GH5 models. Whereas the recently released Lumix G9 is aimed at stills photographers and the popular GH5 at both stills and videographers, the new GH5s has been designed and developed for professional filmmakers. It features a brand new 10.2 megapixel sensor, 4K 60p / 50p video recording in Cinema 4K, internal 4:2:2 10-bit recording, Dual Native ISO Technology, Timecode IN/OUT compatibility, 14-bit RAW recording, true Multi-Aspect Ratios, and it ships with V-Log pre-installed (rather than being a paid upgrade, as on the GH5).

We've spent a little time getting to know the Panasonic LUMIX GH5S, so check out our first impressions of Panasonic's new compact system camera...

Panasonic LUMIX GH5S - Image Quality

At the heart of the Panasonic LUMIX GH5S is a brand new 10.2 megapixel High Sensitivity sensor, which promises to deliver the best video image quality ever in the history of LUMIX cameras. It can record Cinematic 4K movies at 60fps, the first mirrorless camera to do so, and there's also a 240fps full HD slow-motion mode. The main difference between the LUMIX GH5S and the GH5 in terms of video is that the latter can only record in C4K at 24fps, whereas the GH5S can record C4K at 25, 30, 50 and 60fps, which may or may not be a key difference for the videographers out there.

Furthermore, the combination of the larger 1.96x pixel size and the innovative Dual Native ISO Technology which offers of two base ISOs of 400 and 2500 (as previously seen on the Panasonic EVA 1 professional Super35 4K cine camera). This system helps to ensure that images taken at ISO 800 and above have much less background noise than on a more conventional camera like the 20 megapixel GH5, which has a smaller pixel pitch and doesn't have the Dual Native ISO feature. The native ISO range of the GH5S is 160-51200, but this can be extended down to ISO 80 and up to 204800, a much bigger range than that offered by the GH5. You can set Dual Native ISO to either Auto, Low (ISO80-400) or High (ISO800-204800), giving you some control over when it is applied. The new GH5S can also focus in lower light than the GH5, down to -5EV from the GH5's -4EV. So if you do a lot of low-light shooting for stills or video, the GH5S is a better choice than the GH5.

On the stills side, the Panasonic GH5s can now record 14-bit Raw files, the first time ever on a Lumix camera, thanks to its new sensor. The GH5 and even the recent G9 can only record 12-bit Raw files. The GH5S also has a true Multi-aspect Ratio sensor, much like the one on the LX100 compact camera, so that you can record both stills and video in the 4:3, 3:2, 16:9, 17:9 or 1:1 formats.

Take a look at our huge gallery of full-size sample photos and videos taken with the Panasonic LUMIX GH5S camera.

Panasonic LUMIX GH5S - Ease of Use

In terms of its external design and control layout, the Panasonic LUMIX GH5S is virtually identical to its sister camera, the GH5, which continues in the range. The only visual differences between them are the subtle red ring that surrounds the GH5S' shooting mode dial and its bright red movie record button. If you're a current GH5 owner or you've ever used a recent Panasonic mirrorless camera, then you'll quickly feel at home with the GH5S. It also means that if you have already invested in Panasonic or third-party accessories for your GH5, you should be able to seamlessly use them with the GH5S too.

The Panasonic GH5S is a pretty fast stills camera, offering 7fps burst shooting with Full AF/AE tracking for up to 60 JPEG / 14-bit RAW images, or 11fps with the AF/AE set at the first frame.

The LUMIX GH5S features an impressive OLED electronic viewfinder with approximately 3,680k dots, a magnification of 0.76x and a 60fps refresh rate. It also has a vari-angle 3.2-inch LCD screen with 1620K dots on the rear, again exactly the same as on the GH5.

The auto-focusing system in the Panasonic LUMIX GH5S is also the same as the GH5, with 225 contrast-detection AF points, 6 different AF modes, and the same AF speed of 0.05 sec (the recent G9's speed is an ever so slightly faster 0.04 sec). There are also 4 different Custom AF pre-sets available so that you can quickly switch between different AF methods to suit different subjects.

One other minor improvement on the Panasonic GH5S is a slightly longer battery life of 440 shots (up from 410 on the GH5). Two things that the new Panasonic LUMIX GH5S doesn't have though, which the older GH5 does, are the 6K Photo mode, as unlike the GH5 it doesn't have an electronic first curtain shutter, and, perhaps most importantly of all, the lack of an in-body stabilisation system (IBIS) due to the new sensor. This last omission is definitely going to be a deal breaker for some would-be buyers, especially those who have already experienced the great IBIS system on the GH5.

Check out our extensive hands-on gallery of photos of the Panasonic LUMIX GH5S camera.

Panasonic LUMIX GH5S - Early Verdict

The new Panasonic GH5S joins the GH5 and G9 as the third flagship Lumix compact system camera. With the G9 focused on stills, the GH5 as a stills/video all-rounder and the GH5S on video, Panasonic certainly seem to have all the bases covered. The GH5S's body-only price of £2199 is £500 more than the GH5, though, which will probably make it a nicher product than the cheaper and arguably more versatile GH5, while the lack of built-in IBIS has already drawn a lot of criticism online. If you're primarily a videographer who does a lot of low-light shooting, though, the innovative GH5S could be a perfect fit, with the Sony A7S Mark II being the GH5S' main rival.

So what do you think of the new Panasonic LUMIX GH5S? Leave a comment below...

Hands On

Want to see exactly what the new Panasonic LUMIX GH5S camera looks like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Panasonic GH5S camera.

A gallery of hands-on photos of the new Panasonic LUMIX GH5S camera.

Image Gallery

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Preview Images

Ahead of our full review, here are some sample images (JPEG and Raw) and videos taken with the new Panasonic LUMIX GH5S compact system camera. The LUMIX GH5S is a flagship compact system camera that promises the best ever video and low-light image quality from a Panasonic camera.

A gallery of sample images taken with the Panasonic LUMIX GH5S compact system camera running pre-production firmware.

Panasonic LUMIX GH5S Sample Images

Sample RAW Images

The Panasonic LUMIX GH5S enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We've provided some Panasonic RAW (RW2) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).

Sample Movies & Video

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