Panasonic just announced the S1H, a 6K full-frame mirrorless camera aimed at cinema shooters

We all knew it was coming, but we never really knew for sure exactly when. May 31st came and went with nothing but crickets. But today seems to be a day for new gear announcements, so Panasonic has jumped on the bandwagon by announcing the new Panasonic Lumix S1H full-frame camera aimed at video shooters. For the stills folks, it’s a 24.2-megapixel L Mount mirrorless camera. But it’s video where things get interesting.

While it’s not the first, nor the cheapest, camera to shoot high-quality 6K footage, it is the first full-frame mirrorless camera to shoot 6K. And the Panasonic S1H shoots it at 24 frames per second and also offers 4:2:2 10-Bit 4K DCI and 4K UHD. But high-resolution video isn’t the only trick the S1H has up its sleeve.

Like the Panasonic S1 and S1R Mirrorless cameras, the S1H is an L Mount camera as part of the whole Panasonic/Sigma/Leica alliance. And while it is primarily aimed at video shooters, it still seems to be a somewhat formidable stills camera, too.

• Sensor: Full-frame 24-megapixel CMOS
• Lens mount: Leica L
• Max resolution: 6000×4000
• Aspect ratios: 1:1, 2:1, 3:2, 4:3, 16:9, 65:24
• Bit-depth: 14-Bit
• Stabilisation: 5-axis sensor-shift
• ISO: 100 to 51,200 (extended: 50 to 204,800)
• EVF: 5.76 million dots OLED
• LCD: 2.33 million dots 3.2″ “Free-Angle” Tilting Touchscreen LCD
• Mechanical shutter: 1/8000 to 60 seconds / 0-30 minute in bulb mode
• Electronic front curtain shutter: 1/2000 to 60 seconds / 0-30 minute in bulb mode
• Electronic shutter: 1/8000 to 60 second / 0-60 second in bulb mode / 1/16000 to 1/125 sec in movie mode
• Flash sync: 1/320 sec
• Continuous shooting: Up to 9fps 24MP for up to 60 exposures (RAW) / Up to 9fps 24MP for 999 exposures (JPG) / Up to 30fps at 18MP / Up to 60fps at 8MP
• Memory card slots: Dual UHS-II SD/SDHC/SDXC

Sure, it might not be the fast-paced action shooter of something like the Sony A9, but it looks like it should certainly keep up for many photography scenarios. Where it really does shine, though, is when it comes to video. First, let’s take a look at the video formats…

• 6K @ 23.976/24fps (200Mb/s) 4:2:0 10-Bit h.265
• 4K DCI/4K UHD @ 23.976/24/25/29.97fps (150-400Mb/s) 4:2:2 10-Bit h.264
• 4K DCI/4K UHD @ up to 59.94fps (100-150Mb/s) 4:2:0 8-Bit h.264
• Full HD 1080p at up to 119.88fps (100-150MB/s) 4:2:0 10-Bit h.265
• Full HD 1080p at up to 59.94fps (50-200Mb/s) 4:2:2 10-Bit h.264
• HDMI Output: 4K DCI/4K UHD at 24/50/59.94fps 4:2:2 10-Bit

The S1H doesn’t offer the 12-Bit RAW video of something like the Pocket 6K, but it does house a full-frame sensor, and still offers 6K at 4:2:0 10-Bit h.265. It also offers 4K at 4:2:2 10-Bit h.264 internally, as well as 4K output over HDMI if you want to record 4:2:2 ProRes externally to something like an Atomos Ninja V. And if you’re in the mood for some HD, it does that up to 120 frames per second, too, albeit only 4:2:0 at that frame rate.

It supports V-Log, with dual native ISO and HFR at 4:2:0 10-bit with audio recording and autofocus. Presumably, though, it will still suffer from the same autofocus issues as the S1 and S1R if you choose to use lenses adapted with the Sigma MC-21.

It certainly is an interesting looking camera, and the price isn’t that bad, either. It’s available to pre-order now for $3,997.99 and shipping is expected to begin on September 25th.

But what do you think? Is it what you expected? Better? Worse?