Panasonic S1/S1R review in progress

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Panasonic S1/S1R review in progress

01 Feb

The Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 and S1R are the company’s mid and high-end full frame mirrorless cameras: both of which are built around the L-mount developed by Leica and now supported by Sigma and Panasonic. Aside from resolution and video features, the two cameras are very similar to one another.

The Lumix S1 is a mid-level, image-stabilized 24MP camera capable of shooting at up to 9 frames per second. It can shoot 4K/60p video from an APS-C region of its sensor or oversampled 4K/30p from its full sensor width. A multi-shot high-res mode lets it create 96MP images. A paid upgrade enables 10-bit V-Log shooting.

The Lumix S1R, meanwhile, is a higher-end, higher-resolution variant. It features a 47MP sensor which can also shoot at up to 9fps, and its multi-shot mode lets it generate 187MP files. The S1R can shoot video at up to 4K/60p with only a slight crop but it pixel bins, so footage will be less detailed than the S1’s output.

Both cameras feature the highest-resolution electronic viewfinders on the market: 5.7M-dot OLED panels that run at 120Hz and promise very little lag.

Panasonic Lumix S1 Key Specifications

24MP full-frame CMOS sensor
Depth from Defocus contrast-detect AF system
5-axis in-body ‘Dual IS’ system
Fully weather-sealed
96MP ‘High Res’ mode
6 fps bursts with continuous AF
5.76M-dot EVF
Dual-hinged 2.1M-dot touchscreen LCD
UHD 4K/60p video capture (1.5x crop); Oversampled 4K/30p with no crop
10-bit HLG built-in, optional 4:2:2 V-Log
One XQD and one SD card slot
380 shots/charge using LCD
USB charging, including from laptop/tablet chargers and portable power banks

Panasonic Lumix S1R Key Specifications

47MP full-frame CMOS sensor
Depth from Defocus contrast-detect AF system
5-axis in-body ‘Dual IS’ system
Fully weather-sealed
187MP ‘High Res’ mode
6 fps bursts with continuous AF
5.76M-dot EVF
Dual-hinged 2.1M-dot touchscreen LCD
UHD 4K/60p video capture with 1.09x crop and pixel binning
One XQD and one SD card slot
360 shots/charge using LCD
USB charging, including from laptop/tablet chargers and portable power banks

The complete Lumix S system at launch

Alongside the cameras, Panasonic has announced 50mm F1.4, 24-105mm F4 and 70-200mm F4 lenses for the L system. They will cost $ 2299, $ 1299 and $ 1699, respectively. Both cameras will also be compatible with the existing Leica SL lenses as well as APS-C ‘TL’ glass.

A battery grip (DMW-BGS1) will also be available for around $ 350.

What’s new and how it compares

The S1 and S1R inherit (and improve upon) many of the features from Panasonic’s Micro Four Thirds cameras, while adding new full-frame sensors, a High Res mode, HLG photos and more.

The S1/S1R have rugged bodies which can hold their own in the elements. The cameras have an incredibly high resolution EVF as well as a dual axis LCD.

The S1 and S1R have redesigned menus, plenty of customizable controls and a cool ‘image stabilization scope’.

The S1 can capture 4K/60p video with a 1.5x crop as well as oversampled 4K/30p footage. You will have to pay extra if you want a 10-bit V-Log workflow, however.

Find out what DPReview editor Richard Butler thinks about the Panasonic S cameras thus far.

360Photography