Panasonic Launch Event in London, UK
BRAND PARTNERSHIPS
PANASONIC LUMIX S5IIX LAUNCH EVENT, LONDON
In this fast-paced era of ever-advancing camera technology, the world of photography, video production and filmmaking are constantly evolving with new innovations, technologies, and possibilities.
Earlier this year, I had the privilege of attending the official launch event for the Panasonic LUMIX S5 Mark II X, a new full frame hybrid camera that has brought serious capabilities at an incredible price point. The event was hosted at the stylish venue STEREO in Covent Garden, London.
As a freelance filmmaker, it’s always a real privilege to be involved in the launch of industry leading filmmaking equipment and I always find it humbling that global brands such as Panasonic are keen to work with me.
The launch event at STEREO was a meticulously organised affair that showcased the new LUMIX S5 Mark II X in all its glory. The event began with an engaging presentation by Panasonic's very own Barney Sykes, who delved into the technical details and capabilities of the camera. They went through all of the camera's new features many of which are truly quite groundbreaking in this area of the market.
Following the presentation, there were hands-on sessions where attendees, including myself, had the opportunity to test the camera's capabilities. In what was a VERY low light environment, I think all were impressed with its performance and usability.
The launch event was also a great networking opportunity, where I had the chance to connect with fellow filmmakers, photo and video professionals, as well as Panasonic representatives some of which had travelled all the way from Japan. The exchange of ideas and experiences further deepened my appreciation for the work Panasonic are doing and it’s truly refreshing to see a camera brand that genuinely cares so much about its users, and what professionals such as myself think about their new products. Needless to say a few drinks were consumed, and it was overall a fantastic evening. It was also great to catch up with my fellow Panasonic shooter pal, the legend that is Josh Cameron.
Following the event, we were lucky enough to be able to bring the camera home in order to really get to know it. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed making use of it over the following months and I’m very pleased to currently have this awesome camera as part of my video production equipment inventory. Prior to the launch of the X variant of the camera, I had also had the opportunity to test out the standard S5 Mark II following its announcement. Both cameras are truly superb video cameras, and that’s without even mentioning their super impressive stills photography capabilities. What a versatile piece of kit!
I’d like to say a massive well done to the guys at Panasonic for developing these cracking new cameras, for putting on a superb launch event, and also a big thanks for inviting yours truly along for the ride.
Here are a few little test videos that I created both at the event, and in the weeks that followed the launch of the new cameras, in order to put them through their paces. These little personal projects are a fantastic way to truly test new cameras, and to understand exactly how they perform in a variety of shooting environments, before putting them on real-world video production jobs for paying clients.
I can’t wait to see what Panasonic come up with next!