Panasonic LUMIX DC S1R Review | 108 Data compared

The Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R is a robust, weather-sealed flagship mirrorless camera featuring a 47.3-megapixel full-frame sensor, a 5.76-million-dot EVF, and highly effective 5-axis IBIS. Key pros include exceptional image quality, a 187-megapixel high-resolution pixel-shift mode, and superior build quality with illuminated buttons and dual card slots. However, the review highlights significant drawbacks regarding its weight and size, noting the body exceeds one kilogram and is heavier than many competitors. While impressive for stills, the Depth from Defocus (DFD) autofocus system can exhibit minor tracking wobbles, and the 4K video functionality is slightly limited by a crop factor compared to the DC-S1.

The reviewer provides a practical, first-impression evaluation of the Panasonic Lumix S1R mirrorless full-frame camera using an early firmware version. On the positive side, the camera boasts excellent ergonomics, top-tier build quality, comprehensive weather and splash-water protection, and strong cold resistance down to -10°C. The flexible, multi-axis tilting display and highly clear 5.8-megapixel OLED viewfinder—featuring a smart image-reduction option for glasses wearers—are highly praised. Performance-wise, it features an effective dual-stabilization system, dual card slots (XQD and SD), convenient in-camera USB-C charging, and a fast autofocus system equipped with impressive eye-tracking and animal-detection capabilities. Furthermore, its 187-megapixel High Resolution mode yields staggering detail, and being part of the L-Mount Alliance with Leica and Sigma ensures a promising, adaptable lens selection. Conversely, the review highlights several drawbacks, most notably the camera’s massive size and weight, making it a heavy "two-handed sword" poorly suited for light travel or airline flights. Video shooters face limitations compared to the standard S1 model, including a continuous 1.09x crop factor in 4K and a restrictive 15-minute recording limit per clip. While the physical hardware layout is excellent,...

Based on the review from Qimago, the Panasonic S1R is described as an impressive, professionally built camera with a robust, weather-sealed body and excellent ergonomics, though its significant size and weight may fatigue users during long shoots. The reviewer highlights several standout features, including a class-leading electronic viewfinder, an effective internal image stabilizer that allows for sharp handheld shots at slow shutter speeds, and a highly functional "Lock" switch to prevent accidental setting changes. Additionally, the camera’s heat management is praised for remaining "cool" even during intensive tasks like high-resolution recording, which helps minimize image noise. However, the S1R faces criticism for its autofocus performance, which is described as occasionally slow and prone to missing contrast, trailing behind current state-of-the-art systems. The user interface and menu structure are also noted as unintuitive, particularly regarding the placement of setup functions and image stabilization settings. While the 187MP High-Resolution mode provides incredible detail in RAW format, it requires a tripod, nearly a minute of processing time, and can occasionally produce color artifacts on metallic surfaces. Ultimately, the reviewer preferred the handling of...

The Panasonic Lumix S1 and S1R full-frame mirrorless system cameras deliver impressive photo and video quality tailored for professionals and advanced amateurs, though they come with physical and financial trade-offs. A major standout feature is the dual image stabilisation system, which synchronises stabilizers in both the camera body and the lens to allow for sharp handheld shots at exceptionally long exposure times. Video performance is highly advanced—especially on the 24-megapixel S1—offering unique 4K recording at 60 frames per second with a high data rate of 150 Mbps, dual memory card slots, and slow-motion/time-lapse capabilities. Furthermore, both models feature a robust, weather-sealed magnesium alloy chassis, a fast autofocus system, rapid overall operational speed, an excellent electronic viewfinder, and a versatile tilt-and-swivel touchscreen monitor. However, these cameras are not ideal for users looking for a lightweight or budget-friendly setup. They are notably heavy and bulky, weighing nearly 1.8 kilograms when paired with the standard 24–105mm kit lens (the body alone accounts for nearly 1.1 kg). Price is another barrier: the S1 body costs €2,500, while the high-resolution 47-megapixel S1R reaches €3,700, with...

The Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R is a high-performance, professional mirrorless camera that mimics the hefty ergonomics of a traditional DSLR. Built with a robust, weather-sealed magnesium alloy chassis, it stands out for its class-leading 5.8-million-dot electronic viewfinder and a highly responsive 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen that allows seamless smartphone-like gesture navigation. At its core, the camera features a 46.7-megapixel full-frame sensor that delivers exceptional detail, excellent noise management up to ISO 3,200, and a powerful sensor-shift image stabilization system. This stabilization technology enables a specialized High-Res shooting mode, combining eight consecutive exposures into a massive 187-megapixel RAW file for static subjects. Storage is highly versatile and secure, utilizing dual card slots that support both fast UHS-II SDXC and XQD/CFexpress standards. Despite its stellar imaging capabilities, the Lumix S1R exhibits some clear operational limits. On the positive side (Pros), the camera boasts magnificent image and video quality, a comprehensive physical control layout with a backlit top status LCD, reliable low-light autofocus down to -6 EV, and highly customisable 225-point focus zoning. However, on the negative side (Cons), the camera body is exceptionally large...

The Panasonic Lumix S1R marks a highly impressive entry into the full-frame mirrorless market, positioning itself as a robust competitor against established professional models like the Sony Alpha 7R III and Nikon Z 7. Built with a magnesium-alloy body, the camera adopts a bulky, DSLR-like form factor that provides excellent grip and handling for all hand sizes while offering thorough protection against dust, splashes, and freezing temperatures. Performance-wise, its massive 47.3-megapixel sensor delivers exceptional high-resolution detail and extensive dynamic range that holds strong even at ISO 6400. The system operates smoothly using continuous burst shooting at nine frames per second, a dual storage slot (SDXC and XQD), and a fast, precise DFD autofocus system equipped with modern face and eye detection. It further elevates its premium status through high-end features, notably an industry-leading 5.76-million-dot OLED viewfinder, a dual image stabilization system, 4K video recording up to 60p, and membership in the L-Mount Alliance with Leica and Sigma to ensure immediate lens variety. Despite its standout laboratory performance, the Lumix S1R does display distinct shortcomings. When isolated strictly on raw image...

The Panasonic Lumix S1R is a high-end, full-frame mirrorless system camera featuring a 47-megapixel sensor that excels at capturing extremely detailed photographs and high-quality video. Built around the Leica L-mount alliance, the camera offers immediate compatibility with a growing ecosystem of lenses from Leica, Sigma, and Panasonic itself. A standout highlight of the hardware is its exceptionally large and responsive 5.76-megapixel electronic viewfinder, which eliminates distracting moiré patterns and provides fluid tracking at up to 120 frames per second. Performance-wise, the camera utilizes an innovative "Depth from Defocus" contrast-detection autofocus system that locks focus in just 0.10 seconds under various lighting conditions. Additionally, its highly effective dual-image stabilization system combines both in-body sensor shifts and lens-based optical stabilization to correct up to 4.2 stops of exposure in the telephoto range. The review identifies distinct strengths and weaknesses for photographers and videographers considering this system. On the positive side (pros), the camera delivers outstanding image clarity, captures uncropped full-frame 4K video at 60 frames per second, and boasts a powerful 23-watt-hour battery capable of shooting up to 2,359 photos on a...

The Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R is a high-end full-frame mirrorless camera that delivers stunning image quality thanks to its 46.7-megapixel sensor without a low-pass filter. Photos and videos are incredibly detailed, and image noise is kept very low even up to ISO 3,200. It features an exceptionally sharp 5.76-million-subpixel electronic viewfinder and a detailed 3.2-inch touchscreen that tilts in three directions. The camera is built like a tank with a weather-sealed magnesium alloy body, an ergonomic grip, and highly customisable controls. Additional standout features include dual memory card slots (XQD and SD), 4K video recording at 60 frames per second, a built-in 5-axis image stabiliser, and a special high-resolution mode that captures massive 187-megapixel files. However, the camera is not perfect, especially for action photography. While it can shoot at 9.3 frames per second, it drops down to just 6 frames per second if you need continuous autofocus to track moving subjects. Furthermore, its autofocus system struggles to reliably track fast-moving objects, making it less ideal for sports. Another major drawback is its physical size, as the body is very large...

The Panasonic Lumix S1 and S1R are heavy, robust full-frame mirrorless cameras that deliver top-tier performance for photographers who prefer large bodies and physical control layout flexibility. On the positive side, both models share a spectacular electronic viewfinder featuring a record-breaking 5.76-million-dot resolution and highly responsive refresh rates up to 120 fps. They feature an excellent dual-stabilisation system providing up to 6 stops of shake compensation, a fast 0.12-second autofocus tracking system with human/animal recognition, and an innovative High-Resolution Pixel-Shift mode that can produce up to 187-megapixel images on the S1R. Video features are equally powerful, offering 4K recording up to 60p, with the 24-megapixel S1 presenting better video specifications like unlimited recording times below 60p and professional HLG or future V-Log upgrade options. However, their substantial size and heft stand out as major drawbacks, with the bodies weighing around 1 kilogram alone and ballooning to 1.7 kilograms when paired with the 24-105mm kit lens. This massive footprint makes them more than twice as heavy as some lightweight full-frame mirrorless rivals like the Canon EOS RP. The newly designed 3.2-inch...

The Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R is a robust, professional-grade full-frame mirrorless camera featuring an outstanding 47.3-megapixel sensor, a 187-megapixel High-Resolution mode, and highly effective 5-axis in-body image stabilization, according to dkamera.de. The camera features an industry-leading 5.76 million-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF), a weather-sealed magnesium-alloy body, dual card slots (SD and XQD/CFexpress), and advanced video options. Conversely, the review highlights that the heavy, bulky body may deter travel photographers, and the autofocus system struggles with continuous tracking (AF-C) of fast-moving subjects. While the contrast-detect Depth from Defocus (DFD) system locks quickly on static subjects, the continuous shooting speed drops from 9 frames per second down to 6 when tracking is enabled. Other limitations noted include the absence of a built-in flash and limited continuous recording during 4K/60p video capture.

The Digitalkamera.de review highlights the Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R as a professional-grade, 47.3-megapixel mirrorless camera with exceptional build quality, robust weather sealing, and highly effective 5-axis in-body image stabilization. Key advantages include outstanding image quality with high sharpness and color depth, alongside a 187-megapixel high-resolution mode, a superior 5.76-million-dot OLED viewfinder, and dual card slots (XQD/SD). Conversely, the S1R is notably large and heavy, weighing nearly 1.7 kilograms with the kit lens, which exceeds many DSLR alternatives. While offering precise single-shot autofocus, its contrast-based continuous tracking struggles with fast-moving subjects compared to competitors, and the high-resolution sensor impacts performance with a relatively limited battery life.

The avguide.ch review characterizes the Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R as a robust, highly capable, and versatile "heavy metal" workhorse designed specifically for professional photographers. Priced at 4,699.00 CHF, this full-frame mirrorless camera stands out for delivering exceptional image quality paired with what was, at its release, the highest resolution in its class via a 47.3-megapixel sensor. Panasonic utilizes the Leica L-mount system rather than a proprietary build, giving shooters instant access to a vast ecosystem of lenses from alliance partners like Leica and Sigma. The camera also features strong hybrid capabilities, integrating intuitive touch controls, 4K/UHD video at 50/60p, and advanced 6K/4K photo and post-focus options. Despite its performance, the review highlights several compromises, most notably its large, bulky physical dimensions and its significant weight of 1.020 kg, making it noticeably heavier than competing mirrorless full-frame options. While it is highly customizable and heavily weather-sealed for professional field use, it falls short in continuous autofocus performance (AF-C) during video due to Panasonic's reliance on the often-criticized DFD contrast-focusing technology. Additional drawbacks include a restrictive, short recording limit for high-resolution 4K/UHD videos,...