6K Panasonic Lumix DC-S1H Targets Cinematographers

The Panasonic Lumix DC-S1H, teased earlier this year, is now official. It's a full-frame mirrorless camera with a video-centric toolkit, and is the first we've seen with full-frame, 6K resolution. It's also adept as a stills shooter, with 24MP of resolution, Raw capture, and a stabilized image sensor.

We've seen this body design before; Panasonic released a 24MP full-frame model this past year, the S1. The S1H shares the same basic design, though there are some differences here and there—the S1H has dual SDXC card slots, for example, instead of the XQD/SDXC configuration used by the S1 and S1R, and the S1H's rear LCD has a brighter backlight for better visibility when shooting on location.

24MP Sensor for 6K Video

The S1H boasts similar resolution to the S1, but the two cameras use different image sensors. The S1H's imager is tuned for video, and reads out quickly enough to capture 6K video at 24fps using the 3:2 aspect ratio—essentially, the entirety of the sensor. Video is compressed using HEVC (H.265) with 200Mbps 10-bit 4:2:0 LongGOP quality. If you want to push to 30fps, you can do so with a slight sensor crop and reduction in resolution to 5.4K.

Video is more typically captured at 16:9, and the S1H has a load of different resolution options there. You can go full frame width at 5.9K, 4K DCI, or 4K UHD, with 24 and 30fps capture options available. The camera can also push 4K to 60fps, but does crop the sensor down to a Super35mm area to do so. There's also 1080p capture, at up to 120fps, using either the full-frame or Super35mm width.

There are a number of color profiles available, including the flat V-Log/V-Gamma look, and HLG for easier HDR grading. You'll have about 14 stops of dynamic range to work with. The sensor also sports a Dual Native ISO design to reduce noise when recording at higher sensitivity.

New Lenses

The S1H works with L-mount lenses, currently sold by Leica, Sigma, as well as Panasonic itself. Along with the S1H, Panasonic is announcing a pro-grade zoom, the Lumix S Pro 24-70mm F2.8. It sports an all-weather build, just like the S1H body, dual-drive autofocus, and a manual focus clutch. It will ship in October for $2,199.99.

Panasonic also continues to supports its Micro Four Thirds system. It's announced an update to an older lens, with an improved build and faster, quieter focus motor. The Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 25mm F1.4 II ASPH. isn't compatible with the S1H and other L-mount cameras, but is a welcome option for Micro Four Thirds owners. It will go on sale in October for $699.99.

Does Stills, Too

The camera also promises to be as capable as the S1 for still capture. It captures images in 14-bit Raw quality and supports multi-shot capture for 96MP output. Burst capture is available at 9fps with locked focus, or at 6fps when tracking subjects. The autofocus system is contrast based, though, so it's not our top recommendation for action photography.

The S1H is priced at a premium in the world of still imaging, $3,999.99 as a body only. It's a relative bargain compared with high-end cinema cameras, though. It will start to ship at the end of September.

This functioning camera was made from 20 year old computer parts