Panasonic S5iix vs Leica SL2-S for video

[LocalHero1953]

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I mainly use the Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K for video, but support it when necessary with the SL2-S. I mainly use them to record theatre performances.
My most common recording is at 6K/4K at full frame, and 25fps. The BM records BRAW to an external SSD, and the SL2-S to 2x256gb SD cards. I don't record by HDMI to Atomos Ninja or similar, as I want to minimise cost and the amount of kit I carry (often by bicycle!)

I am thinking ahead for the scenario where one of these bodies fails, or a third camera could be useful. I could probably get a second of either of these two, but not immediately. I know I could find a Panasonic S5iix from stock.

Reading the specs for the S5iix, I was surprised to see that it is unable to record 4K at full frame to internal SD card or to SSD via USB-C.
Is that really the case?
Has anyone here got the S5iix to confirm? Or any other Panasonic S models for that matter?

I know it's not the end of the world to shoot at APSC, but it is mentally simpler for me to think 'L-mount, full frame' across all my bodies when I'm planning a recording.

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[Stuart Richardson]

I don't know about the S5 series, but I had an S1 and that could do full frame 4k in camera. But when you say full frame, do you mean using the aspect ratio of the sensor? I just mean the typical UHD 4k pixels using the full area of the sensor (not an APS-C crop). I did not experiment with the 6K (if there was any). But using the majority of the sensor in the 4k aspect ratio and recording internally at a high bit rate was not a problem. I no longer have it so I don't recall the exact specs. My impression was that the video quality was very very good. Better than the SL2 (I sold the S1 when I got the SL2S).

[LocalHero1953]

9 minutes ago, Stuart Richardson said:

I don't know about the S5 series, but I had an S1 and that could do full frame 4k in camera. But when you say full frame, do you mean using the aspect ratio of the sensor? I just mean the typical UHD 4k pixels using the full area of the sensor (not an APS-C crop). I did not experiment with the 6K (if there was any). But using the majority of the sensor in the 4k aspect ratio and recording internally at a high bit rate was not a problem. I no longer have it so I don't recall the exact specs. My impression was that the video quality was very very good. Better than the SL2 (I sold the S1 when I got the SL2S).

I want a video frame that uses the full width of the sensor - most of them (C4K, UHD, 16:9) trim a bit off the top and bottom. When deciding which L-mount lens goes on which camera, I really don't want to be thinking about equivalent focal lengths on a cropped sensor.

The BM CC 6K uses every pixel in the sensor width to do 6K (it's a 24mp full frame sensor). The SL2-S must do a bit of pixel-binning across the full sensor width to achieve 4K. 

Edited October 23, 2024 by LocalHero1953

[Stuart Richardson]

Sorry, can't help you with that one.

[mokona]

On 10/23/2024 at 1:18 PM, LocalHero1953 said:

Reading the specs for the S5iix, I was surprised to see that it is unable to record 4K at full frame to internal SD card or to SSD via USB-C.
Is that really the case?
Has anyone here got the S5iix to confirm? Or any other Panasonic S models for that matter?

It's 4k 60p that is cropped. But 6k/4k 25p is full sensor on Panasonic S5iix

[LocalHero1953]

4 minutes ago, mokona said:

It's 4k 60p that is cropped. But 6k/4k 25p is full sensor on Panasonic S5iix

That sounds good - and is that internal recording and to USB-C/SSD?

Edited October 25, 2024 by LocalHero1953

[mokona]

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yes, internal recording and SSD through usb-c