Climb higher with Panasonic’s proclamation for pros

When last we reported on updates from Panasonic, they were upgrading the firmware of some of their most popular cameras in both the well-established G series and the trailblazing, full-frame S series. Four months later, they’re doing it again (lucky users!) and adding two more lenses to the budding L-Mount lineup, to boot.

Quick firmware update facts

Updates for the Lumix S1, Lumix S1R, Lumix GH5, Lumix GH5S, and G9 will all be available on the 19th of November. Complete details on the S-series and G-series updates are available below, but here are the highlights. The links to the new firmware pages will be available on our Latest Firmware page, so they will be easy to find!

Click here after the 19th to download. As always, if you need any help getting your free upgrade, feel free to call or visit your local Mike’s Camera.

On to the hardware!

New lenses for the L mount

Panasonic has worked hard to develop their full-frame system since announcing their part in the L-Mount Alliance back at last year’s Photokina. The S1 and S1R are, by all accounts, beasts of imaging, and (as I noted above) have been updated regularly. Now, two more lenses have been announced with concrete details. Both are slated to ship in mid-January, but are available to preorder from Mike’s Camera now.

These two join four existing L-mount lenses by Panasonic (in addition to those released by Leica and Sigma, of course), and in their announcement, Panasonic teased an additional five (or more) L-mount lenses to be released by the end of 2020.

S PRO 70–200mm f/2.8

The classic “professional zoom” makes a home on the L system with a bang. For sharp, beautiful zoom shots at a decent price, the f/4 version is more than capable. For truly uncompromising quality, including an astounding seven stop stabilization system, the S PRO 70–200 f/2.8 looks to be the only choice. The new dual AF system gives you both speed and accuracy thanks to its inclusion of both linear and stepping motors, and works silently thanks to its carefully-designed enclosure. Dust/splash/freeze resistance and teleconverter compatibility round off a perfect pick for pros who need a lens on which they can rely.

Contact your local Mike’s Camera to preorder now!

S PRO 16–35mm f/4

On the other end of the zoom spectrum is a new wide angle lens—in fact, the only wide angle L-mount lens from Panasonic. Also shipping in mid-January, the S PRO 16–35mm f/4 takes full advantage of the S-series cameras’ High Resolution mode: preview samples show that this thing is tack sharp, which makes it a very promising choice for landscape photographers. Additionally, wider view, focus clutch (like other S PRO lenses), double-magnet linear AF, and Micro-Step Aperture Control should all intrigue exacting videographers.

Contact your local Mike’s Camera to pre-order now!

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S-series firmware update details

S1 – version 1.3 • S1R – version 1.3
(click names to download on November 19th)

1. Expanded media compatibility

CFexpress Type B card can be used. A CFexpress Type B card boasts a theoretical performance of a maximum of 2,000 Mbps. Realizing an approximately 300% higher transfer speed than that of a conventional XQD card, it supports large-volume photos and videos.

2. Expanded compatibility with Profoto wireless transmitters

Profoto wireless transmitters “Air Remote TTL-O/P” and “Profoto Connect-O/P” can be used, enabling wireless connection and control of external strobes for professional shooting. (All functions may not be available depending on the situation.)

3. Improved compatibility with Sigma interchangeable lenses and mount converter

• It is possible to assign functions to the Fn buttons of Sigma L-Mount interchangeable lenses.
• The performance of Body I.S. (Image Stabilizer) when attaching a lens using the Sigma MC-21 mount converter has been enhanced. It suppresses roll movement.

4. Improved compatibility with Panasonic interchangeable lenses

It is possible to assign functions to the lens Fn buttons when the Panasonic LUMIX S PRO 70-200mm F2.8 O.I.S. (S-E70200) is mounted.

5. Improved AF performance

• [AF+MF] can be used in AFC mode.
• It is possible to set continuous AF on the live view screen in Creative Video mode or in other video recording modes when the video recording area is displayed.

6. Improved performance of High-Speed Video

It is possible to manually set the exposure according to the video exposure mode (P/A/S/M) in High- Speed Video mode.

7. Other major improvements*

• It is possible to select the card slot to save the JPEG images developed by in-camera RAW processing.
• An Fn button can be used for checking the aperture effect while the button is pressed.
• Disabling any physical operation can be assigned to an Fn button.
• AF Assist Light has been added to the Focus tab of the Video menu.
• The luminance level of photos (including 6K/4K Photo and Post Focus images) can be set when playing back them over HDMI output.
• AE can be locked with the [AF/AE LOCK] button when ISO Auto is set in M mode.
• There were cases where a blue clipping effect occurred in V-Log recording. This problem has been improved. (S1 only)
• There were cases where afterimages occurred in V-Log recording. This problem has been improved. (S1 only)

*For more details of the update program, please refer to the firmware update information page of each model to be available on November 19, 2019.

G-series firmware update details

GH5 – version 2.6 • GH5S – version 1.4 • G9 – version 2.0
(click names to download on November 19th)

1. Expanded compatibility with Profoto wireless transmitters

Profoto wireless transmitters “Air Remote TTL-O/P” and “Profoto Connect-O/P” can be used. (All functions may not be available depending on the situation.)

2. Improved AF performance

• [Animal Detect.] has been added to AF mode. Utilizing Advanced AI Technology, animals, including canidae, felidae and birds, can be detected in addition to humans. The focus frame is automatically set on the target subject by analyzing the size and position of the target subject in the viewing image. The camera keeps tracking these subjects even when they turn their back to the camera. (GH5S and G9 only)
• It is possible to switch the subject to focus on by pressing the joystick in [Face/Eye/Body/Animal Detect.] mode. (GH5 and G9 only)
• [AF-ON: Near Shift] and [AF-ON: Far Shift] functions have been added. [AF-ON: Near Shift] preferably focuses on a subject nearby while [AF-ON: Far Shift] preferably focuses on a subject far away.
• A Focus Peaking function is available not only in MF mode but also in any AF mode.
• It is possible to set continuous AF on the live view screen in Creative Video mode or in other video recording modes when the video recording area is displayed.

3. Enhanced video functions (G9 only)

• 4K 30p/25p 4:2:2 10-bit internal recording is supported.
• 4K 60p/50p 4:2:2 10-bit HDMI output is supported.
• Luminance level for 10-bit video is supported.
• VFR (Variable Frame Rate) shooting is supported (FHD 2-180 fps/4K 2-60 fps).
• HDR video recording is supported.
• V-Log L recording and Waveform Monitor (WFM) are available with the Upgrade Software Key DMW- SFU1(sold separately).

4. Other major improvements*

• [AWBw] has been added to WB mode.
• [Highlight Weighted] has been added to [Metering mode].
• [Exposure Offset Adjust.] has been added to the Custom menu, which enables adjustment of the standard exposure value for all metering modes.
• [0.5SEC] has been added for an option of [Duration Time (photo)] in [Auto Review].
• AE can be locked with the [AF/AE LOCK] button when ISO Auto is set in M mode.
• [MODE1] has been added to the Live View Boost function, which increases the frame rate for smooth image displays to enable easier manual focusing.
• [MODE2] has been added to High Resolution mode, which reduced subject’s motion blur. (G9 only)

*For more details of the update program, please refer to the firmware update information page of each model to be available on November 19, 2019.