Panasonic has announced a new full-frame box-style mirrorless camera, the Panasonic Lumix DC-BS1H. This appears very similar to the existing Panasonic Lumix BGH1, which has a Four Thirds type sensor and the Micro Four Thirds mount. As a full-frame model, the BS1H has the L-mount.
The new Lumix BS1H is said to combine the cinema-quality video performance of the Lumix S1H in a box-style body.
Inside it has a 24Mp full-frame sensor with Dual Native ISO technology and it’s capable of 6K full-area recording with a dynamic range of 14+ stops with V-Log.
Thanks to its connectivity and portability, the BS1H is suitable for integrating into a camera system suited to a wide range of shooting situations.
6K Resolution
With an active resolution of 6,024 x 4,016, the BS1H is capable of capturing 6K video with an OLPF (Optical Low Pass Filter) to suppress moire and false colour.
The image sensor also has Dual Native ISO which helps the BS1H reduce the level of noise visible in the footage even at the maximum ISO setting of 51200.
Ultising the full-frame image sensor, the Lumix BS1H is capable of 6K/24p, 5.4K/30p (3:2 aspect ratio) or 5.9K/30p (16:9 aspect ratio) high-resolution video recording. It also provides 10-bit 60p 4K/C4K HEVC video recording when using the image area equivalent to Super 35mm or 4:2:2 10-bit 4K 30p recording in H.264 from the full sensor. This high-resolution data can also be used for creating 4K videos with better image quality or to enable cropping down to 4K.
Dynamic range and colour
According to Panasonic, the BS1H captures up to 14+ stops of dynamic range when V-Log is employed, which is almost the same as from a Panasonic Cinema Camera.
Using V-Log results in very flat footage but captures the full-colour information so that there’s greater scope for grading in post-production. In addition, the Lumix BS1H uses the colourimetry of the VariCam line-up of cinema cameras and its CMOS sensor achieves a wide colour gamut known as V-Gamut, which is the BS1H’s optimum colour space and achieves a colour space that is wider than BT.2020.
V-Log has a log curve similar to that of negative film while V-Gamut encompasses a larger colourspace than film.
In addition to HDR (High Dynamic Range) video recording, the camera records video with a designated gamma curve compatible with ITU-R BT.2100, and the user can now choose Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) in Photo Style.
The Lumix BS1H also features real-time subject detection that draws on advanced deep learning technology to target subjects such as humans and animals for the focus – even if they are moving.
The Lumix BS1H is capable of 4:2:2 10-bit 4K 60p/50p HDMI output and has a new heat dispersion structure which means it offers unlimited video recording in a variety of recording formats, including 4:3 Anamorphic mode.
There are also two options for raw workflow. [5.9K] / [4K] / [Anamorphic (4:3) 3.5K] 12-bit RAW video data can be output over HDMI to save Apple ProRes Raw on the Atomos Ninja V or there’s the option to save Blackmagic Raw on the Blackmagic Video Assist 12G HDR.
Panasonic Lumix DC-BS1H price and availability
The Panasonic Lumix BS1H is set to go on sale for £2,999/$3,407.99 from mid-November 2021.
You can pre-order the Lumix BS1H from Adorama in the US.