Announced alongside the S5II at the beginning of 2023, the S5IIX has rudely kept many keen potential owners waiting. But now it’s here, there are some key questions we need to settle. Firstly, what are the main differences between the S5II and the S5IIX? Secondly, if you’re in the market for either one of these cameras, which should you choose and why? And finally, was the S5IIX, touted as the ultimate hybrid camera for creators, worth the wait? In this review, I’m going to dive into all of the above.
The S5IIX costs £2,299 body only, which is £299 more than its sister camera, the S5IIX. So with much of its competition actually coming from within its own stable, what does the S5IIX offer that helps it stand out?
Features
The S5IIX is built around a 24.2MP full-frame CMOS sensor with dual native ISO. It’s the same one that’s housed inside the S5II, newly developed to accommodate a phase hybrid autofocusing system. Both cameras also feature an updated imaging engine, co-developed under the ‘L2 Technology partnership’ between Leica and Panasonic. This is intended to deliver improved resolution and colour while also making the most of the camera’s advanced focusing capabilities and demanding video bit rates.
Carrying a more capable processor also enables the S5II-series cameras to support additional performance enhancing features, such as Active IS. This enables the S5II-series cameras to anticipate and compensate for the up and down motion associated with walking, while allowing for smoother motion when tilting and panning. Active IS is a standard component of image stabilisation within the S5II-series and not to be confused with ‘Boost IS’, which when engaged, offers near-tripod level steadiness.
Because the S5II-series cameras feature a 24.2MP full-frame sensor that’s capable of utilising its full readout, they can be used to produce a range of different video formats. The maximum resolution capability is 6K up to 30fps in 4:2:0 10-bit colour, which gives you great flexibility when capturing content that might need to be delivered in multiple aspect ratios. But it also makes it possible to capture 3.3K with an APS-C crop. The tall 3328x2496 (4:3)
