Panasonic writes:

With the latest firmware update, the S5II/S5IIX cameras are now natively integrated with Frame.io Camera to Cloud, the leading cloud-based collaboration platform that allows users to share and collaborate while editing still images and videos. By connecting the camera to the internet via Wi-Fi or USB tethering, you can automatically upload images (JPEG/RAW) and Proxy videos directly from the camera to the Frame.io platform. Sharing media via the cloud enables seamless real-time feedback remotely. This integration allows editors and collaborators to access footage or images, connecting the production process to post-production enabling a much more efficient content creation process.

Topaz just released the brand new Photo Ai 3.0 (Click here). I use this software a lot and I think it does an impressive job. The updates are really big too!

Press text:

Photo AI’s creative potential has been unlocked in this version, allowing the creation of your own workflows for the first time with presets, flexible ordering of enhancements, panel docking & collapsing, enabling RAW color and lighting adjustments, and a standardized Topaz UI across all of our applications.

Presets

Save your commonly used filter combinations into a single stack, including the filter settings and selections. Presets will then appear in the enhancement menu so that you can reuse your favorite settings and selections across any of your photos with a single click. This will speed up the process of editing large batches of hundreds or thousands of photos at a time. You can also delete old presets by hovering over them in the enhancement menu.

Docking & Collapsing

You can now dock the floating control panel on the right side of the viewport for easy access, or undock it and move it to where you need on top of your working preview area.

The right panel is also now collapsible, making more space for viewing your image while editing. For maximum space, try undocking the control panel while in collapsible mode.

Reordering

You can now re-order and combine your enhancements in any order on the right panel, allowing you to more dynamically chain effects together. For example, you can now sharpen the entire image first before denoising the background and then sharpening again with just the subject. Changing the order of the filters will affect the way the output is processed, and this freedom will allow you to achieve results that otherwise were not possible within Photo AI.

RAW Balance Color & Adjust Lighting

On top of RAW Denoise, you are now able to adjust the color balance and lighting for RAW files inside Topaz Photo AI using our AI-based filters. This allows you to get the best quality possible out of your image straight from the camera and inside the application without having to make these adjustments in an external application even for RAW files.

Other Updates

On top of these exciting updates, both Face Recovery and Preserve Text can now be applied to the image multiple times, allowing you to control the strength of the effect on different subjects and areas of the image independently. We have also added other performance improvements and fixes under the hood. Take a look at the full changelog for more.

UI Refresh

Topaz Photo AI has been updated with a standardized Topaz UI framework, with new colors and icons coming to Topaz Labs apps for a unified, streamlined look.

Changelog

• Refreshed user interface with Topaz UI style
• Implemented drag and reorder enhancements
• Implemented basic preset functionality
• Implemented docking and undocking feature
• Enabled Text Recovery to be added multiple times
• Enabled Face Recovery to be added multiple times
• Enabled Adjust lighting for RAW images
• Enabled Balance color for RAW images
• Fixed Adjust lighting crash on M3 with macOS 14.4 and above
• Fixed switching models on Denoise not updating the preview
• Fixed export output suffix not matching enhancements order
• Added preference for RAW Adjust lighting strength
• Added camera profile for Panasonic G9M2
• Added noise profile for Sony ILCE-6700

The new cards will be displayed at the NAB show and be soon available for reorder on their official storefront at Amazon and BHphoto.

Press text:

Lexar’s new Rugged Series includes the ARMOR GOLD SD UHS-II V60 Card. This card offers a max read speed of 280MB/s and a max write speed of 210MB/s,¹ features an IP68 rating, and supports seamless 6K video capture. The ARMOR SILVER PRO SD UHS-II V60 Card also clocks in at a max read speed of 280MB/s and delivers a write speed of 160MB/s.¹ It is also rated IP68 and supports 6K video as well. In the SSD category, the ARMOR 700 Portable SSD leverages USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 to provide max read/write speeds of 2000MB/s¹ and an IP66 rating lets users know that its design protects against both water and dust² and is built to withstand up to 3-meter drops and falls.²

Reminder: The Silver Lexar cards are on discount at Amazon and BHphoto:

Full specs and preorder at BHphoto (Click here).

List of features (courtesy CineD).

• 36 x 24mm full frame 6K 6048 x 4032 sensor.
• Open gate 3:2, full height 6:5 anamorphic and Super 35 for creating cinematic content.
• Choice of models with L-Mount, PL or locking EF lens mounts.
• Records full resolution up to 36 fps or 120 fps windowed.
• Built-in 4″ HDR 1500 nit LCD screen.
• Records Blackmagic RAW and H.264 proxies.
• Extremely fast dual CFexpress card recording.
• Ethernet or mobile data for mobile remote streaming.
• Optional Blackmagic URSA Cine EVF.
• Features 12G-SDI for monitoring with status overlay.
• Professional mini XLR input with 48 volt phantom power.
• Complete streaming solution for YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and more.
• High capacity BP-U series batteries.

They also launched a Full Frame 12k camera and teased the launch of a stunning 17K 65mm(!) camera later in the year.

Dpreview published the full S5II review. It earned the Gold Award and this is the conclusion:

The Panasonic S5II is a capable full-frame mid-range camera with the right balance capabilities to serve those who want to shoot both photos and video. It offers outstanding image quality with pleasing colors, the best toolset in its class to support video shooters. The AF system is competitive, though it’s not quite as good as the best cameras in its class. It’s an excellent all-around camera and is a great option for those who need to do a bit of everything.

Panasonic S5II at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama.

Western Digital this week is previewing the industry’s first 4 TB SD card. The Sandisk 4TB SD card is being showcased at the NAB trade show for broadcasters and content creators and will be released commercially in 2025. No info about the pricing yet…