Panasonic LUMIX DC S1 Review | 108 Data compared

The DPReview conclusion of the Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 highlights it as a premier stills/video hybrid, praising its excellent 24MP image quality, class-leading build quality, and effective 5-axis image stabilization. It is noted for delivering superb oversampled UHD 4K video, alongside a highly responsive user interface, illuminated buttons, and a superior, high-resolution electronic viewfinder. DPReview However, the review cites the camera's significant weight and the Panasonic Depth from Defocus (DFD) autofocus system as primary drawbacks, noting that the latter is less reliable for fast-moving subjects than competitors. Users may find the continuous AF creates a distracting "focus wobble" and the overall package is heavy compared to its mirrorless competition.

The PCMag review of the Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 describes a robust, 24.2MP full-frame mirrorless camera featuring excellent 5-axis stabilization, a superior electronic viewfinder, and durable dust/splash protection. It is praised for high-end video capabilities, including 10-bit 4K output and a 96MP high-resolution multi-shot mode, though it is quite heavy at 2.2 pounds. Conversely, the camera is held back by a contrast-based autofocus system that causes focus hunting and limits continuous shooting to 6fps. With an MSRP of $2,499.99 for the body, it is pricier than competitors like the Sony a7 III and faces a limited native lens selection for the L-mount system, say PCMag. PCMag Australia

The Panasonic Lumix S1 is a rugged, full-frame mirrorless camera praised for its exceptional dynamic range, superior color tonality, and robust low-light performance up to ISO 12,800. Key strengths include a comfortable, ergonomic grip, intuitive physical controls, and a high-resolution 5.76 million-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF). Shotkit However, the camera is notably heavy and large for a mirrorless system, and the rear LCD screen features an over-engineered, potentially fragile flip mechanism with an exposed cable. Additional design concerns noted in the review include a minor physical gap in the battery grip's construction.

The Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 is the company's first mid-range, full-frame mirrorless camera, built around an impressive 24.2MP CMOS sensor that delivers class-leading performance matching its top competitors, the Sony A7 III and Nikon Z 6. Achieving an overall DxOMark score of 95, the sensor's standout strengths (pros) include an exceptional Portrait color depth of 25.2 bits—the second-best result for a 24MP full-frame sensor—and a wide Landscape dynamic range of 14.5 stops at base ISO 100. Furthermore, its lower pixel density translates to a superb low-light Sports score of ISO 3333, maintaining low noise levels and offering a distinct dynamic range advantage in the highly useful ISO 800 to 1600 range. On the downside (cons), the sensor marginally trails behind the class-leading Sony A7 III in low-light capability, scoring –0.16 EV behind it due to Sony's superior noise reduction at the highest ISO settings. Sony's dynamic range is also noted to be more consistent across its entire ISO spectrum, whereas the Panasonic's performance fluctuates slightly before experiencing an uplift at ISO 800. Despite these minor limitations at extreme ISO values, the...

The Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 is a full-frame mirrorless camera praised for its exceptional ergonomics, robust build, and intuitive menu structure. Unlike smaller mirrorless competitors, its larger and heavier body provides a comfortable, well-balanced grip when paired with big full-frame lenses. Key strengths include a highly customisable button layout, a crisp 5.76-megapixel electronic viewfinder, and a fully functional dual-axis tilting touchscreen. It delivers outstanding image quality with impressive dynamic range, allowing photographers to lift shadows EV in post-processing with minimal noise. Performance is further boosted by 5 to 6 stops of dual image stabilisation, a 96MP super-resolution mode, and rapid video capabilities up to 60fps in 4K resolution. However, the camera has several notable downsides, including its substantial weight, mediocre battery life, and a dual card slot configuration that requires two different types of memory cards. The face, eye, body, and animal autofocus tracking can feel overly nervous and unreliable when trying to switch between multiple subjects. Additionally, some dials lack locks and can shift accidentally, while the live view and viewfinder response becomes intensely sluggish during long exposures in manual...

The Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 is described by Photo Review Australia as a robust, high-performance, full-frame mirrorless camera tailored for hybrid professionals, boasting excellent build quality and extensive customization options. Key advantages include exceptional 4K video capabilities with no crop using the full sensor, superior resolution, and unique in-camera shooting ratios like 65:24 and 2:1. However, the camera's notable drawbacks include its significant weight and bulk, making it heavier than many competitors, alongside a mixed SD/XQD card slot configuration rather than dual matching slots. Furthermore, achieving the highest-end video recording capabilities necessitates an additional, paid software upgrade key.

making its continuous tracking less than perfect for video work. Design Bulk: The body and accompanying L-mount lenses are significantly larger and heavier than most contemporary mirrorless rivals. Vlogging Barriers: The rear screen tilts horizontally and vertically but cannot fold out entirely, making it unsuitable for self-recording or vlogging. Battery Demand: Despite utilizing a physically large battery, the high-power demand drains the camera's charge quickly.

The Panasonic LUMIX S1 is a robust full-frame mirrorless camera praised for its exceptional low-light performance, which rivals top-tier competitors with minimal image noise even at high ISO levels like 51,200. It stands out as a highly functional tool for filmmakers, offering uncropped 4K video recording at 24 and 30 frames per second with no recording time limits, alongside an advanced 5.76m-Dot OLED electronic viewfinder and natural-looking 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization. The camera features dual card slots supporting both XQD and SD formats, a bright 3.2-inch triaxial tilt touchscreen, and reliable face-detect autofocus when utilizing final firmware lenses. It also provides advanced tools like a paid $200 firmware upgrade for 10-bit internal capture and V-log, alongside built-in exposure assists like zebras and a movable histogram. However, the camera's massive physical size and weight pose a significant drawback, as it is heavier and bulkier than comparable full-frame mirrorless models and even some DSLRs. In terms of video performance, high-speed modes (such as 1080p at 180 fps) lock the camera into auto exposure, which can result in overexposed subjects and removes manual...

The Have Camera Will Travel review highlights the Panasonic Lumix S1 as a heavy, professional-grade mirrorless camera boasting a 24.2-megapixel sensor that delivers exceptional image quality and top-tier low-light performance up to ISO 20,000. Key advantages include an outstanding EVF, a highly usable tilting touchscreen, and robust, video-friendly features like dual card slots and a full-size HDMI port. Have Conversely, the review notes significant drawbacks, primarily the camera's large, heavy body that negates the typical weight advantage of mirrorless systems, making it more akin to a traditional SLR. Additionally, the reviewer found the battery life underwhelming, requiring active management of settings to avoid quick power drain despite the high-capacity battery. Have

The Panasonic Lumix S1 is a robust full-frame mirrorless camera that excels in demanding environments like weddings and events due to its superb ergonomics, weather sealing, and highly effective AI-driven face detection autofocus. The reviewer found its control layout intuitive, featuring well-labeled, backlit buttons that facilitate easy adjustments while looking through the viewfinder. Optically, the system is strengthened by the L-mount alliance; the 24-105mm f/4 is a sharp, affordable workhorse, while the 70-200mm f/4 and "beast-like" 50mm f/1.4 provide stellar image quality and bokeh, often rivaling or complementing high-end Leica glass.

The Panasonic Lumix S1 is a robust 24.2-megapixel full-frame mirrorless camera built around the Leica L-mount alliance. Its standout features include a premier 5.76-million-dot OLED viewfinder, dual memory card slots (SD and XQD), and a highly effective 5-axis sensor-shift stabilisation system providing up to 6 stops of compensation. Photographers and videographers alike benefit from impressive 4K video capabilities (unlimited up to 30p and 30 minutes at 60p), a 96-megapixel High Resolution composite mode, advanced object and animal autofocus tracking, linear manual focus options, and illuminated rear buttons for dark environments. However, the camera has notable drawbacks, primarily its massive size and heft, tipping the scales at over 1kg, which makes it feel closer to a heavy pro DSLR than its mirrorless rivals. Despite the massive 3050 mAh battery, it suffers from a fast battery depletion rate during photo use, lagging behind competitors like the Sony A7 III. Furthermore, continuous autofocus restricts the mechanical burst speed to a modest 6fps, a 1.5x APSC crop is applied to 4K 50p/60p video, and the 3.2-inch tri-axial touchscreen cannot angle forward for vlogging. Finally,...

Panasonic Lumix S1 Review Summary The Panasonic Lumix S1 is a robust, high-quality 24.2MP full-frame mirrorless camera tailored for professional and advanced enthusiast photographers and videographers. It features an impressive 5-axis in-body image stabilization (IBIS) system providing 5.5 stops of compensation, uncropped 4K video recording up to 60p, and a class-leading 5.76-million-dot OLED electronic viewfinder. Built to last with a sturdy grip and robust dual-tilt 3.2-inch touchscreen, the camera excels in lab tests for image clarity. Its moderate resolution allows it to deliver a massive dynamic range and stellar low-light performance, noticeably outperforming competitors like the Sony A7 III and Canon EOS R by keeping image noise exceptionally well-controlled up to ISO 12,800. Key Pros and Cons Stunning overall image quality with a huge dynamic range. Highly impressive video specifications featuring uncropped 4K capture. Accessible price point relative to its high-resolution sibling, the S1R. Large and heavy body compared to other mirrorless alternatives. Iffy contrast-detect autofocus tracking that is less reliable for fast sports. Limited lens lineup compared to established rival systems.

The Panasonic Lumix S1 offers exceptional build quality, a high-resolution 5.76-million-dot EVF, and a 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen, delivering excellent color reproduction and dynamic range, according to the ePHOTOzine review. It stands out for high-quality 4K video capabilities using the full sensor width and 6-stop "Dual IS" image stabilization. However, the camera is quite heavy compared to rivals, and its high ISO noise performance is not quite on par with competitors like the Sony A7 III or Nikon Z6, which use BSI sensors. Additionally, the review notes that 4K recording is limited when shooting at higher frame rates.

However, the camera system does present several notable cons, primarily concerning its physical footprint and adaptation of external glass. Weighing 899g for the body alone, it is a substantial and heavy piece of equipment, and pairing it with high-end native lenses like the 1kg 50mm f/1.4 results in a bulky setup that may fatigue some users. Crucially, the camera struggles when adapting manual Leica M-mount lenses. Because the S1 sensor utilizes a thicker cover-glass stack than Leica bodies, it causes severe smearing of detail away from the center of the frame when shooting near infinity. It also suffers from excess vignetting and color-shifting because the camera lacks the necessary hardware to estimate the aperture and apply lens-specific profile corrections.

The DPReview TV review describes the 24-megapixel Panasonic S1 as an exceptionally capable full-frame camera boasting top-tier image quality, excellent low-light performance, and a high-resolution multi-shot mode. Key strengths include robust build quality, premium ergonomics, effective in-body image stabilization, a high-resolution EVF, and professional 10-bit 4:2:2 video options. DPReview · However, the review highlights significant drawbacks, most notably the contrast-detect Depth from Defocus (DFD) autofocus, which produces a distracting, "jittery" effect in the viewfinder during continuous AF. Furthermore, the S1 is criticized for its heavy, bulky body, underwhelming battery life, a non-articulating screen, and a high launch price.

The Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 is a sturdy full-frame mirrorless camera built around a stabilized 24MP CMOS sensor, offering stellar image quality with minimal noise up to ISO 12800 and usable results through ISO 102400. It distinguishes itself with premium video capabilities and an innovative multi-shot mode that shifts the sensor on a pixel level to construct massive 96MP images of static subjects. For videographers, the S1 is highly versatile, capturing 4K video with up to 10-bit internal depth using HEVC compression, supporting 60fps recording at 4K (with a 1.5x sensor crop), and outputting a clean 10-bit 4:2:2 signal over HDMI. Its ergonomic build features a top information display, backlit controls, an outstanding 5.76-million-dot EVF, and reliable dust and splash protection. However, the camera suffers from notable limitations, particularly its heavy 2.2-pound chassis and its contrast-based autofocus system, which relies on DFD technology. This focus mechanism limits subject tracking to a modest 6fps and causes a distracting wobbling effect in the viewfinder during AF-C mode. Furthermore, at a body-only retail price of $2,499.99, it is $500 more expensive than direct, lighter...

The Panasonic S1 is a highly impressive full-frame mirrorless camera that stands out as a top-tier photographic tool. It is built like a rugged, weather-sealed professional machine with exceptional ergonomics and a deep, comfortable handgrip. Its 24.2MP sensor delivers outstanding dynamic range and class-leading high-ISO low-light performance that preserves strong color accuracy even at extreme settings up to ISO 51,200. Photographers who enjoy using manual glass will find it exceptionally capable, as it handles adapted Leica M-mount and Canon EF lenses remarkably well. Furthermore, it features a best-in-class, massive 5.76m-dot OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF) and a highly effective 5-axis in-body image stabilization system that ensures smooth, handheld video shooting even with adapted lenses. Despite its high praise, the camera possesses several distinct drawbacks. The physical body is quite large and heavy, weighing over two pounds, which moves it away from the traditionally compact appeal of mirrorless systems. The physical design is also highly cluttered with numerous buttons and dials, contrasting negatively with the minimalist, clean aesthetics of competitors like the Leica SL. When it comes to performance, its contrast-based DFD...