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The unique Lumix S1 launched again in 2019 as Panasonic’s do-it-all full-frame mirrorless, alongside its extra specialised siblings, the high-resolution S1R and later the video-centric S1H. Quick-forward to 2025, and Panasonic is revitalizing its flagship S1 line, with the arrival of its second-generation Lumix S1R II in February, and now – the Lumix S1 II.
At first look, the Lumix S1 II seems to be virtually similar to its 47MP S1R II brother – and certainly it shares the identical sturdy magnesium alloy physique, deep grip, and management structure. Nevertheless, underneath the hood, it’s a distinct beast tailor-made for pace. With headline specs together with a newly developed 24.1 MP full-frame partially stacked BSI CMOS sensor enabling blackout-free 70 fps bursts, 779-point Section Hybrid AF with AI topic detection, 5.1K/6K video as much as 60p, and 8-stop in-body stabilization.
Panasonic’s digicam technique is all about hybrid efficiency. The Lumix S5 II and Lumix S5 IIX confirmed the advantages of mixing sturdy stills and video capabilities in inexpensive our bodies. Now, the Lumix S1 II arrives as a flagship hybrid that makes an attempt to merge one of the best of the S1, S1R, and S1H into one top-end digicam – whereas nonetheless permitting these cameras to shine on their very own deserves.
However with so many cameras in Panasonic’s lineup overlapping on the massive Lumix Venn diagram – is the S1 II nonetheless one of the best of one of the best, or is it only one Lumix too many?
Lumix S1 II: Specs
|
Sensor |
24.1MP full-frame partially-stacked BSI CMOS sensor |
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Lens mount |
L-Mount |
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Processor |
Venus Engine |
|
ISO |
100 – 51,200 (expandable 50 – 204,800) |
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IBIS |
5-axis, as much as 8-stops |
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Autofocus |
779-pt Section Hybrid with topic detection (individuals, eyes, animals, autos) |
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Steady taking pictures |
70 fps (ES), 10 fps (MS), 1.5 s pre-burst |
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Excessive-Res mode |
96MP JPEG/RAW |
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Video |
6K 30p 3:2 open-gate, 5.1K 60p 17:9 / 4:3, DCI/UHD 4K 120p; 10-bit 4:2:2 inner, ProRes RAW/Blackmagic RAW through HDMI |
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EVF |
5.76 M-dot OLED, 0.78x, 60/120Hz |
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LCD |
3.0″ 1.84 M-dot articulating touchscreen |
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Storage |
1x CFexpress Kind-B / 1x UHS-II SD |
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Battery |
DMW-BLJ31, 370 photographs (CIPA) |
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Dimensions |
134 x 102 x 92 mm / 5.3 x 4.0 x 3.6 in |
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Weight |
800 g / 1.76 lb (incl. battery & card) |
Lumix S1 II: Value
At $3,199 / £2,899 / AU$5,299 body-only, the Lumix S1 II instructions a transparent premium over its most evident rivals – a shock, when Lumix is often identified for its aggressive pricing providing among the finest worth round.
Nikon’s Z6 III lands at about $2,100, and in addition incorporates a half-stacked sensor with blistering speeds, though it could actually’t fairly match the S1 II’s video, it’s nonetheless a really succesful hybrid digicam. Additionally, the non-stacked-sensor, however nonetheless superb, Canon EOS R6 II and Sony a7 IV hover at $2,199, each delivering strong hybrid credentials for much much less outlay.
Panasonic is asking you to pay fairly much more for the luxuries of {a partially} stacked sensor and the uncropped 6K open gate video with no overheating limits. When you’ll exploit these headline speeds and video instruments day-after-day, then this works; if not, the S1 II feels a bit overpriced when the Nikon, Canon, and Sony all ship almost the entire efficiency for noticeably much less cash.
Lumix S1 II: Design & Dealing with
The Lumix S1 II is one other pro-caliber physique. It inherits the design language of the S1R II, which itself has slimmed down considerably from the unique S1. Panasonic managed to make the physique solely marginally bigger than the smaller Lumix S5 IIX, which is kind of an achievement. Weighing in at round 798g (with card and battery), the S1 II is about 20% lighter than its predecessor, but it nonetheless feels strong as a brick. Appears to be like-wise, I don’t suppose Lumix cameras look horny, however the S1 II does appear to be it could actually do enterprise.
I discovered the grip deep and comfy, and it provided a safe maintain even with bigger full-frame zoom lenses just like the Lumix S 24-105mm f/4 I used for testing. I spent some lengthy days taking pictures handheld with this combo, and located the mixed weight substantial, but it surely’s well-distributed and never fatiguing, saving some wrist pressure. I discovered the grip and steadiness actually got here into their very own with handheld stability in video.
The management structure will probably be instantly acquainted to any Lumix shooter because it’s one that’s shared all through a lot of the vary. I don’t often shoot Lumix, but it surely didn’t take lengthy for me to really feel at dwelling. Panasonic S-line cameras often have in depth bodily controls, and the S1 II continues that custom – virtually each perform has a devoted button or change. There are entrance and rear command dials, an 8-way AF joystick, and AF-ON and AE-L buttons underneath your thumb, in addition to buttons up prime for shortly accessing white steadiness, ISO, and publicity compensation.
All of the buttons and dials really feel prime quality, and they’re additionally weather-sealed alongside the remainder of the digicam, giving further confidence when taking pictures open air. There are additionally a lot of different little touches I recognize, just like the locking mode dials alongside the customizable lock change, which you’ll be able to program to lock particular controls of your selecting.
The S1 II is an especially deep digicam when it comes to customization – virtually each button will be remapped, and there are dozens of choices for video resolutions, autofocus, and different settings. Regardless of all of the settings, Panasonic’s menus and interface stay fairly logically organized, and I discover the UI is among the slickest. That stated, at the same time as an skilled person, I’ll admit it may be overwhelming.
One massive professional is that the picture/video menus are totally separate, with the digicam remembering a complete set of distinctive settings for every mode, so fortunately, you don’t must dive into menus when switching from capturing photographs to recording footage.
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The 5.76m-dot EVF is massive and tack-sharp, with no blackout even throughout bursts, whereas the rear LCD with its tilt-and-articulate mechanism offers an enormous vary of angles for videographers. I may shortly tilt it up for waist-level stills, or flip it out to the aspect for video and vlogging. The slight draw back is that the three” display is a bit smaller than some rivals (which frequently use 3.2”), but it surely’s vivid and usable open air.
The S1 II additionally has all of the ports and connectivity for professionals. The total-size HDMI port is powerful for exterior screens/recorders. The USB-C helps each charging and direct tethering/streaming, in addition to direct to SSD recording, or you should utilize the twin card slots – with 1 UHS-II SD and one CFexpress for sooner writing. The digicam’s built-in Wi-Fi additionally makes wi-fi switch and distant management fairly seamless through the Lumix app.
Lumix S1 II: Photograph Efficiency
The large story with the Lumix S1 II’s efficiency is pace – each in autofocus and burst taking pictures – and it largely delivers on that promise. Having shot with pre-S5II Lumix cameras (which relied on contrast-based DFD autofocus), the S1 II’s Section Hybrid AF is night-and-day higher. Autofocus is now quick, assured, and at last aggressive with different manufacturers.
In on a regular basis taking pictures – portraits, avenue, journey – the S1 II locks focus virtually immediately. Face and eye detection work very effectively; throughout a portrait session, the digicam reliably recognized my topics’ eyes and held focus, even in backlit circumstances. In AF-C steady mode, I tracked transferring individuals and automobiles with a excessive keeper price. Low-light AF can be glorious; the S1 II centered in a dimly lit room the place a few of my older cameras battle.
For quick motion although (e.g. sports activities and wildlife), the S1 II is nice however not class-leading. I took the digicam to a skate park to push its AF monitoring with erratically transferring topics. Panasonic has launched a brand new “City Sports activities” AF mode designed for topics like breakdancers, skate boarders, and parkour athletes. Utilizing this mode, the S1 II did an honest job detecting the skaters and predicting their motion, but it surely wasn’t flawless. My hit price was acceptable, however it’s simply not fairly as sticky as the outstanding autofocus within the Sony A9 III or Canon EOS R5 II.
Fortunately although, the S1 II’s sheer burst pace means you get a whole lot of choices to seek out that fleeting second – and the quick readout of the half-stacked sensor meant I couldn’t see any jello-like results on any of my topics.
For professional sports activities photographers, 70fps will probably be music to your ears for these essential moments, however for almost all of customers, I feel taking pictures at 70fps is simply overkill. In testing, 70fps generated so many near-identical pictures that culling turned such a chore. Extra realistically, I might select a far slower fps – which fortunately the digicam permits. We’re frequently bamboozled by massive numbers with new gear, however this can be a massive case of asking your self for those who would ever truly use this burst pace.
Stills from the S1 II are glorious. Panasonic remains to be claiming 14 stops of dynamic vary regardless of the transfer to a half-stacked sensor, which in idea ought to restrain dynamic vary, however there weren’t actually any damaging results I may see whereas pushing my photographs to the boundaries in vivid daylight. In our lab checks (see under), our lab supervisor, Ben, additionally discovered that the dynamic vary outperformed its non-stacked Canon and Sony rivals.
Particulars from the 24MP sensor are sharp, and ISO efficiency was incredible, with clear pictures all the best way as much as ISO6400, the place fantastic noise begins to look, however doesn’t actually turn into any kind of challenge till after 12,800.
The reasonable decision can’t fairly supply the identical resolving energy as its S1 IIR brother – though there’s a 96MP Excessive Decision multi-shot mode if it is advisable to seize a static scene with enormous element. I discovered this works exceptionally effectively, even handheld, due to Panasonic’s excellent IBIS, though you do want a really static topic – however for topics like merchandise and meals, that is invaluable.
Colours are pleasing, with Lumix’s normal correct and impartial coloration science – which is nice as a baseline for modifying. If you would like some extra distinctive colours in your JPEGs, then the S1 II presents each a choice of pre-made Photograph Kinds, together with my private favourite, Leica Monochrome. Or, you may add customized LUTs to the digicam, with heaps out there within the Lumix companion app to get you began.
Lumix S1 II: Pattern Pictures
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Lumix S1 II: Video Efficiency
Lumix cameras proceed to face out as among the finest hybrid video cameras round – and the Lumix S1 II isn’t any exception. With its oversampled 4K and 6K capabilities, the digicam produces among the finest 4K footage I’ve seen from a hybrid digicam. Recording in 4K 60p (which is taken from a full sensor readout downsampled from 6K), the footage is exceptionally crisp, though I shot largely in 5.1K 60p for just a little extra room to crop and pan with my remaining footage.
Panasonic can be persevering with to push open gate with the S1 II providing a prime spec 6K30p video in 3:2 (full sensor readout) open gate. What’s open gate, and why do you want it? If, like me, you movie a whole lot of content material in each vertical and panorama for various platforms, then a 3:2 ratio offers you extra space to play with for cropping into completely different side ratios later, somewhat than filming the identical photographs a number of occasions, or lacking one-time-only occasions.
The S1 II can shoot at 4K 120p, but it surely makes use of a smaller APS-C crop, which suggests your lens’ focal size is 1.24x higher than regular, which is one thing to keep in mind. However on this mode, picture high quality held up decently, and when flicking between full decision and cropped footage, there was no noticeable change. Rolling shutter efficiency is great in each the total sensor decision and cropped modes, doubtless due to the brand new half-stacked sensor. Strive as I’d, I couldn’t see any results on my fast-moving topics, until I whipped the digicam round sooner than would ever be regular to do.
Colours in video are very impartial and correct, though video will be captured utilizing Panasonic’s built-in LUTs function for some bespoke coloration baked proper into the file. Or in case you are completely happy to dig into post-production modifying later, you can too use Panasonic’s V-Log, which presents 14+ stops of dynamic vary. Or you will get 15+ stops utilizing Dynamic Vary Enhance for max latitude in your recordsdata – though this does make the readout of the sensor slower.
Additionally at your disposal is Panasonic’s litany of codecs and bitrates. The S1 II can document internally as much as 10-bit 4:2:2. When you want much more, you may output RAW to an Atomos (for ProRes RAW) or document ProRes 422 HQ to an exterior SSD.
Lastly, I wish to reward Panasonic’s in-body picture stabilization. The 8-stop IBIS within the Lumix S1 II, I feel, is one of the best round (though my colleague James will swear by OM’s IBIS). For stills, I used to be simply getting tremendous sluggish shutter speeds in low mild, even with the mediocre f/4 aperture of my lens. And for video, the IBIS is gimbal-like for motion. Even on the 105mm full-stretch of my lens, I may stroll (albeit fastidiously) and movie with the IBIS compensating for my motion – and with none jello-like results like so many different IS methods. For heavier motion, like operating or filming from a transferring automotive, you’re undoubtedly nonetheless going to desire a devoted gimbal, however for on a regular basis handheld filming, I’d depart my gimbal at dwelling.
Lumix S1 II: Lab knowledge
For our lab knowledge comparability we in contrast the Lumix S1 II to its three direct full-frame rivals: the Canon EOS R6 Mark II, Nikon Z6 III, and Sony A7 IV.
Decision (line widths/image peak):
As you’d count on, the three ~24MP cameras resolve comparable quantities of fantastic element at decrease sensitivities. Nevertheless, because the ISOs improve, the S1 II’s pictures are extra detailed than equal photographs from the Canon and Nikon cameras, due to Panasonic’s decrease noise ranges.
Dynamic vary (EV):
Dynamic vary is a measure of a digicam’s capacity to document excessive brightness ranges and nonetheless retain element within the brightest and darkest elements of the scene. It is measured in EV (publicity values, or ‘stops’).
The S1 II captures glorious dynamic vary all through our examined sensitivity vary. It matches the earlier class chief, the Nikon Z6 III, at decrease sensitivities, and even manages to beat it at greater ISOs – a powerful efficiency.
Sign to noise ratio (decibels):
This take a look at compares the quantity of random noise generated by the digicam at completely different ISO settings as a proportion of the particular picture info (the ‘sign’). Greater values are higher and we count on to see the sign to ratio fall because the ISO is elevated.
As with dynamic vary, the S1 II beats its rivals for low picture noise ranges. All through our examined sensitivity vary it constantly produces cleaner pictures than the competitors.
Lumix S1 II: Verdict
Panasonic’s Lumix S1 II might be Panasonic’s finest hybrid digicam but. Constructed for many who really feel the necessity for pace – with the digicam’s improve to a half-stacked sensor offering breakneck 70fps burst speeds and super-fast readout pace, primarily banishing rolling shutter.
The 24MP sensor, whereas not the best decision, produces clear, sharp pictures with dependable coloration science and class-leading stabilisation. Autofocus is probably the most reliable but, with improved algorithms and new modes for city sports activities, solely Sony and Canon stay fractionally faster with erratic topics. Whereas 6K30p open gate (3:2) and 4K120p footage, plus limitless recording, make this one other dominant video possibility from Panasonic.
Nevertheless, at $3,199 body-only, the S1 II sits above the opposite half-stacked sensor digicam – the Nikon Z6 III – in addition to non-stacked rivals just like the EOS R6 II and Alpha A7 IV. When you will not benefit from each prime spec this digicam presents, you is perhaps higher off saving some cash.
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Options ★★★★★ |
The S1 II packs a stacked 24 MP sensor, reliable phase-detect AF, 70 fps bursts and uncropped 6K/4K 120p recording |
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Design ★★★★☆ |
A rugged, weather-sealed shell with a deep grip and large EVF feels excellent in hand. Though it is not one of the best trying digicam. |
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Efficiency ★★★★☆ |
Speedy burst charges, class-leading stabilisation and pleasing coloration. Sharp stills and among the finest hybrid video on the market. Although AF monitoring lags behind rivals by a whisker. |
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Worth ★★★★☆ |
Priced at $3,199 body-only, there are a lot of cheaper rivals, but its unmatched hybrid function set justifies the premium for shooters who really exploit each stills and video. |
