Mmmbeats

I guess for me, with the whole IBIS vs low light thing - stabilisation is not a *problem* at the moment, whereas sensitivity often is.  IBIS would give me an improvement in an area that I'm currently comfortable with, whereas the improved ISO performance will remove the biggest problematic limitation I currently have with my setup (and in fact, only serious drawback to using the system IMO).

Well, this is the image they posted on their article, which kinda looks suspicious (doubt the article image actually reflects proper test result).

And this is the one in the database for the GH5:

Here a comparison on DPReview: https://***URL removed***/reviews/image-comparison/fullscreen?attr18=daylight&attr13_0=panasonic_dcgh5&attr13_1=panasonic_dcgh5s&attr13_2=sony_a6500&attr13_3=sony_a7sii&attr15_0=jpeg&attr15_1=jpeg&attr15_2=jpeg&attr15_3=jpeg&attr16_0=400&attr16_1=400&attr16_2=400&attr16_3=400&normalization=full&widget=1&x=0&y=0
Here you can compare some still life shots: http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM

Which is *exactly* what I've been wishing for. 

What 2.8 zooms with IS would be a good pairing?

I'd say ISO12800 is the 3200 on GH5, that is, the new territory to avoid, so ISO10000 on GH5S the new 1600 limit on GH5; as my most optimistic bet... about 2 stops and a half for lowlight, not bad. Imagine a f2.8 to let you see light as could be a f1.2 pick. With about 1.15x of crop coupled to SB 0.64x XL version, the new GH5S is the new FF* in town!
Even though, from other samples I've seen I'd even include 12800 (where others have also compared 12800 on GH5S to 3200 from GH5 too, so I believe I should not be too much optimistic over here).
 
* Sorry guys but I love to provoke a few minds from these boards... LOL :-)

In producing "The Middle Path" did you change any of the defaults such as highlights/shadows or knee adjustments? V-Log L?

If it helps I think this is a good mental checklist -
1) Shutter speed - (180 degrees, so no need to worry about that).
2) ISO - (Native ISO, or as low as possible, so no need to worry about that for now)
3) Now select aperture to match your intention for the shot.  This is a really key thing, because depth-of-field is a really powerful tool in your storytelling arsenal.  In my opinion - use shallow depth of field sparingly - when you really want to heighten the sense of isolation of the subject. Also, remember that contrast within a story is important - so sometimes deep DoF, sometimes shallow, sometimes inbetween.  Think about the story relationship between the subject and the surroundings!
Back to exposure -
So you've selected your shutter speed, provisional ISO, and aperture....
4) Underexposed?  Increase the ISO, or lighting if possible.  Your camera will have a maximum usable ISO that you will have to discover for yourself in terms of acceptable noise.
5) Overexposed?  Add ND, or reduce lighting if possible.
That might seem like a lot to think about, but honestly, I do all of the above in a matter of seconds before I hit record.  It just becomes instinctive.
Some curve balls -
There's a tiny bit of leeway around the 180 degree rule. You can adjust Shutter Speed a little bit here and there and get away with it if you need to.  Best to stick to 180 degrees most of the time though.
Another exception is if you're doing a shot with literally no movement, like a product shot or a cut-away.  Then the 180 degree rule goes out of the window and you can use even very high shutter speeds with no problems.
Having said that you should make your aperture the creative decision and then base your other settings on that, sometimes you have to compromise.  Especially, you will sometimes not have enough light available for the aperture you desire, and have to shoot more open than you would ideally like, at least that is my experience.

Usability - yes it's subjective, but having used both systems I can say that they are streets apart in terms of the ease of use of the menu buttons, function set, and general workflow.  This is a general Panasonic advantage over Sony I think (I'm no fanboi, I know full well that Sony have their own advantages - but making their gear easy to use hasn't generally been one of them in my experience).
Reliability - I've experienced no reliability problems with either system, but all the overheating stuff I've read about would seriously concern me if I was a potential owner.  Also, I'm referencing things like battery life, which I've always found better to manage on the GH5.
Portability - Real world use, the a7S is almost always going to be a bigger, heavier package because of the full-frame glass.
Adaptability - there's no incentive to adapt down from FF.  GH5 users adapt all kinds of lenses, all the time.  Again, real world usage, the GH5 is going to be more usefully adaptable by far.
a7S wins for low light (obviously).  Picture quality I don't think there's much in it.  I'm always happy with the results I get, and always see fantastic footage around from both systems.  Sensor size is completely meaningless to me, and I don't understand why other shooters are hung up on it (bearing in mind that the GH5 produces stunning images, and can be made to shoot extremely shallow DoF if required).

I do love my monopod for fast paced event shooting! As heck,  I do not own any  cameras with IBIS! :-o
Get a G80 instead, just is a step up that is worth it. Have that as your IBIS camera for low budget / event shoots. As likely they won't need the 10bit codec anyway for heavy post demands. 

Then get a GH5S for your relatively "higher" end work. 

And either camera can be the B cam to your other one! 

When doing events your GH5S is your B Cam on a locked off tripod while you grab shots on your GH5S. 
On films your GH5S is A cam but your B cam is the G80 just to grab a few extra bonus angles as well. 

 
GH5S + GX85 + GH5

Yeah... starting to think just getting an EVA1 could be better! 

Patience! I am certain in 2018 we will see a successor to the G80 or GX80

 

With luck we'll see the GH6 come out late this year in 2018, other early-mid 2019 is my bet. 

Hopefully a G90 comes out mid/late this year as well. 

Yes - think of it as learning a skill that requires muscle-memory, like driving a car or whatever.

I'm delighted about the improved ISO performance.  My situation is that I do a lot of work in museums and galleries and environments where the lighting is deliberately subdued, yet I have to work as unobtrusively as possible.  I absolutely love working with the GH series cameras but often struggle with exposure in some quite basic situations (on the occasions where I simply can't affect the lighting).
To qualify that a bit - I very, very rarely end up in a situation where I can't expose the image.  f/1.4 on a speedboosted lens usually does the trick, and I'm sure the same would be true of f/0.95 on a native lens, but I hate being stuck with that as an option so often.  That razor-thin DoF is just not the right choice for so much of what I want to capture.
If we really are looking at a 3 stops or so ISO performance advantage over the GH5 then that is a massive, and for me game-changing advance.  To put it in context that would be an increase over my current workhorse GH4 of 16 x the usable light-gathering!!! And that might even be a conservative estimate.
I'm looking forward to two things - exposing at a range of apertures in challenging lighting situations to suit my storytelling ideas (without having to hire in a A7S just for the purpose!); and getting a decent all-purpose f2.8 zoom so I don't have to keep swapping out lenses in the middle of busy events, etc.  That's alone is going to be a Godsend.  I just wouldn't have been able to rely on the low-end exposure before.
Bummer about IBIS though, obviously.

If you think the a7S is a better camera than the GH5 then you are using a very selective set of criteria.  They are both great systems, but the GH5 also has great picture quality, and wipes the floor with the Sony device in terms of usability, reliability, portability, and adaptability. 

Thanks for the tips. I am sure practice is what I need the most, but it's good to know to focus on. When using full manual I sometimes forget that I have put the ISO to 6400 or that the white balance is set to a different setting, but I am sure the fastest way to stop doing these mistake is to keep on doing them until I learn.

Don't sweat it! There will always be naysayers... ; ) Finding anything to try proving your grass is less greener.
@mercer Glenn, time to book your GH5 series driving test! Lucky boy, they only released two versions! ;-) 

If you think the a7S is a better camera than the GH5 then you are using a very selective set of criteria.  They are both great systems, but the GH5 also has great picture quality, and wipes the floor with the Sony device in terms of usability, reliability, portability, and adaptability. 

I doubt we'll see a GH6s for two years. 
GX95 this year, GH6 and G10 year after, GH6s year after that.
I bet GH5s will be as nice paired with the GH6 as with the GH5. I think it will fill its niche for a good while to come.

Well, that of course depends of your pocket deepness. If you can afford, get them both... compare and share your impressions with rest of us. GX80 has nice image but very toyish functionality for longer and serious usage (size, screen, buttons, evf etc).
What I may add, it is that for me seems that goes on unnoticed fact that Panasonic consumer sector for a long time had no any new sub model... it seems as they silently abandon lower market and are focusing completely on top models (variations of mobile phones have in every circle more and more stronger capability and influence). What does it mean for your dilemma - I think that life and comparative practic usability circle of GH5s easy could not be too long, depending of sale rate and very sharp competition (Sony, Fuji, anounced mirrorless Nikon etc).
I have no any suspect that GH6 is already born and greatly at the road of secret maturation with lowlight+ibis integrated combination...

I'm often in the same situation. But, what I've found is that, exactly, GH5 with full open Voigtlanders at ISO 1600 gathered more light than exists for  the human eye - and, the most important, because of m43 DOF, f1.0 in fact don't result in THAT shallow DOF (it is near f2 at full frame measure). In fact, it seems to me that non m43 users don't realise how good and usefully advanced are pro m43 primes wide open in lowlight situations.
To sum up: having fully clean Iso 3200-6400 image from GH5s is dream come true - but not something that in the 95% of real life situation couldn't be achieved by fast primes. But, lacking of Ibis is for me hardly compensable for far more situations.
Keep in  mind that situations when we need to up ISO level to the 12800, even 6400, are in reality such that their color informations are extremely poor.

I'm delighted about the improved ISO performance.  My situation is that I do a lot of work in museums and galleries and environments where the lighting is deliberately subdued, yet I have to work as unobtrusively as possible.  I absolutely love working with the GH series cameras but often struggle with exposure in some quite basic situations (on the occasions where I simply can't affect the lighting).
To qualify that a bit - I very, very rarely end up in a situation where I can't expose the image.  f/1.4 on a speedboosted lens usually does the trick, and I'm sure the same would be true of f/0.95 on a native lens, but I hate being stuck with that as an option so often.  That razor-thin DoF is just not the right choice for so much of what I want to capture.
If we really are looking at a 3 stops or so ISO performance advantage over the GH5 then that is a massive, and for me game-changing advance.  To put it in context that would be an increase over my current workhorse GH4 of 16 x the usable light-gathering!!! And that might even be a conservative estimate.
I'm looking forward to two things - exposing at a range of apertures in challenging lighting situations to suit my storytelling ideas (without having to hire in a A7S just for the purpose!); and getting a decent all-purpose f2.8 zoom so I don't have to keep swapping out lenses in the middle of busy events, etc.  That's alone is going to be a Godsend.  I just wouldn't have been able to rely on the low-end exposure before.
Bummer about IBIS though, obviously.

I'm delighted about the improved ISO performance.  My situation is that I do a lot of work in museums and galleries and environments where the lighting is deliberately subdued, yet I have to work as unobtrusively as possible.  I absolutely love working with the GH series cameras but often struggle with exposure in some quite basic situations (on the occasions where I simply can't affect the lighting).
To qualify that a bit - I very, very rarely end up in a situation where I can't expose the image.  f/1.4 on a speedboosted lens usually does the trick, and I'm sure the same would be true of f/0.95 on a native lens, but I hate being stuck with that as an option so often.  That razor-thin DoF is just not the right choice for so much of what I want to capture.
If we really are looking at a 3 stops or so ISO performance advantage over the GH5 then that is a massive, and for me game-changing advance.  To put it in context that would be an increase over my current workhorse GH4 of 16 x the usable light-gathering!!! And that might even be a conservative estimate.
I'm looking forward to two things - exposing at a range of apertures in challenging lighting situations to suit my storytelling ideas (without having to hire in a A7S just for the purpose!); and getting a decent all-purpose f2.8 zoom so I don't have to keep swapping out lenses in the middle of busy events, etc.  That's alone is going to be a Godsend.  I just wouldn't have been able to rely on the low-end exposure before.
Bummer about IBIS though, obviously.

No red button pal.

Wrote up a blog post sharing my thoughts about the Panasonic GH5S, and my excitement about it being the first stills camera with true timecode capabilities:
http://ironfilm.co.nz/leaked-the-specs-of-the-panasonic-gh5s-finally-we-get-the-first-stills-camera-with-timecode-i-o/
 
 

The problem with the GH5 is not setting timecode, but jamming or syncing to other devices.  This is actually a serious problem specifically because it is such a good potential B-cam.

You GH5 owners are gonna have to paint that button red or hang your heads in shame.  I'm sure someone will make a decal kit with the red ring also. 

You GH5 owners are gonna have to paint that button red or hang your heads in shame.  I'm sure someone will make a decal kit with the red ring also.