The Panasonic Lumix S1R is a high-performance full-frame mirrorless camera designed to replace professional DSLRs. Equipped with a 47.3-megapixel high-resolution sensor, 6-stop image stabilization system, and a high-resolution electronic viewfinder, it meets the needs of professional photographers with cutting-edge technology. In this review, we’ll take a detailed look at the key features and performance of the Lumix S1R, analyzing its pros and cons based on real-world experience.
๐ Panasonic Lumix S1R Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Sensor Type | 35mm Full-frame CMOS |
| Effective Pixels | 47.3 megapixels |
| Total Pixels | 50.4 megapixels |
| Sensor Size | 35.6 x 23.8mm |
| Aspect Ratio | 3:2 |
| Color Filter | RGB primary color filter |
| Dust Reduction System | Ultrasonic vibration type |
| Image Processor | Venus Engine |
| Lens Mount | L-Mount |
| ISO Sensitivity (Standard Output Sensitivity) | Auto / Intelligent ISO / 100 (Extended) / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200 / 6400 / 12800 / 25600 / 51200 (Extended) |
| Shutter Speed | Photo: 1/8,000 to 60 seconds, Bulb (up to 30 minutes), Flash sync speed: 1/320 second or less |
| Continuous Shooting | Mechanical shutter / Electronic first curtain shutter: H: 9 frames/sec (AFS/MF), 6 frames/sec (AFC) |
| Electronic Shutter | H: 9 frames/sec (AFS/MF), 5 frames/sec (AFC) |
| 6K PHOTO | 30 frames/sec |
| 4K PHOTO | 60 frames/sec, 30 frames/sec |
| Buffer Memory | RAW: 40 or more, RAW+JPEG: 35 or more, JPEG: 50 or more |
| File Format | RAW, RAW+JPEG (Fine / Standard), JPEG (Fine / Standard) |
| White Balance | Auto / Clear sky / Cloudy / Shade / Incandescent / Flash / White Set 1, 2, 3, 4 / Color temperature setting |
| Metering System | 1,728-zone multi-pattern sensing system |
| Metering Modes | Multiple / Center-weighted / Spot / Highlight-weighted |
| Exposure Compensation | 1/3 EV step ยฑ5EV |
| AE Bracketing | 3, 5, 7 frames, max. ยฑ3 EV, 1/3, 2/3, 1 EV step |
| AF System | Contrast AF system |
| AF Modes | AFS (Single) / AFC (Continuous) / MF |
| AF Area Selection Modes | Face/Eye Recognition / Tracking / 225-Area / Zone (Vertical/Horizontal) / Zone (Oval) / 1-Area / Pinpoint |
| Focus Assist | AF assist lamp / MF Guide / Focus Peaking |
| Image Stabilization | Image sensor shift type (5-axis), 6.0 stops, Dual I.S. 2 compatible |
| Viewfinder | OLED Live View Finder (5,760K dots), Magnification: Approx. 0.78x, 100% field of view |
| Monitor | 3.2-inch TFT LCD (Triaxial tilt), Static touch control (2,100K dots) |
| Flash | External flash only (sold separately) |
| Video Recording | 4K: 3840x2160 pixels, 60p/50p/30p/25p/24p |
| Audio | Stereo, Wind Noise Canceller / Zoom Noise Canceller |
| Wireless Connection | Wi-Fi 5GHz / 2.4GHz, Bluetooth 4.2 |
| Terminals | USB Type-C, HDMI Type A, Remote / Microphone / Headphone |
| Storage Media | XQD memory card, SD memory card (UHS-I / UHS-II UHS Speed Class 3 compatible) |
| Power Supply | Li-ion Battery Pack (7.4V, 3050mAh, 23Wh) |
| Battery Life | CIPA standard: Approx. 380 images (Rear Monitor), Approx. 360 images (LVF), Power Save LVF Shooting: Approx. 1,150 images |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | Approx. 148.9 x 110.0 x 96.7 mm |
| Weight | Approx. 1,016g (Including Battery and SD Memory Card) |
| Dust / Splash Resistant | Dust and Splash Resistant Construction (IPX5 equivalent), -10โ operation guaranteed |
๐ผ๏ธ Outstanding Image Quality and Resolution
The Lumix S1R’s most prominent feature is its 47.3-megapixel full-frame sensor. This high-resolution sensor adopts a backside-illumination (BSI) structure to improve light collection efficiency, and enhances image quality through low-reflection coating and micro-lens design.
Stunning Detail Reproduction
The sharpness of images captured with the S1R is truly impressive. Even when shooting with the 24-105mm f/4 kit lens, you can fully utilize the sensor’s resolving power. The ability to capture even the tiniest details sharply in landscapes or architectural shots is a significant advantage for large print production or cropped editing.
Excellent Dynamic Range
The dynamic range of RAW files is also impressive. It preserves highlight and shadow details well, providing ample room for post-processing. This is particularly beneficial for landscape photography or high-contrast scenes.
Outstanding High Sensitivity Performance
Despite its high-resolution sensor, the S1R’s high ISO noise control is excellent. It delivers usable quality up to ISO 6400, and even at ISO 12800, you can obtain quite clean images after JPEG processing. This is a significant advantage for wedding or performance photography in low-light environments.
๐ Innovative Image Stabilization System
The Lumix S1R features a 5-axis in-body image stabilization (IBIS) system. This system provides 5.5 stops of correction on its own, and when used with Dual I.S. 2 compatible lenses, the correction effect can be increased up to 6 stops.
Stable Handheld Shooting
While high-resolution sensors are particularly susceptible to sharpness degradation from minor vibrations, the S1R’s powerful IBIS enables stable shooting even handheld. This effect is especially noticeable when using telephoto lenses.
Utilizing Slow Shutter Speeds
The IBIS performance is so impressive that you can shoot at lower shutter speeds in low-light environments without increasing ISO. You can obtain sharp images even at exposures around 1 second, which is incredibly helpful for night scenes or indoor shooting.
๐๏ธ High-Resolution Electronic Viewfinder (EVF)
The Lumix S1R features a high-resolution EVF with a 5.76-million-dot OLED panel. With 0.78x magnification and support for up to 120Hz refresh rate, it provides a user experience comparable to DSLR optical viewfinders.
Clear Image Confirmation
Thanks to the high-resolution EVF, you can accurately check composition and focus before shooting. It’s particularly useful when using manual focus, especially when combined with focus peaking.
Display of Various Information
The EVF can display various shooting assist information such as exposure details, histogram, and level gauge, making it very convenient. It also supports night mode and live view boost functions, allowing effective use in dark environments.
๐ธ Enhanced Autofocus System
The S1R adopts a 225-point contrast AF system based on Panasonic’s DFD (Depth From Defocus) technology. It further improves performance by adding AI-based subject recognition.
Accurate Face/Eye Recognition
It accurately recognizes and tracks faces and eyes during portrait shooting. Even with multiple people in the frame, you can conveniently select the desired subject using the joystick.
AI-Based Subject Recognition
The camera recognizes various subjects such as people, animals, and cars, and automatically focuses on them. This is particularly useful for sports or wildlife photography.
Areas for Improvement
Due to the characteristics of contrast AF, its continuous AF performance and video AF tracking ability lag somewhat behind competitors using phase-detection AF. There’s room for improvement, especially when tracking fast-moving subjects.
๐ฅ Professional-Grade Video Features
While the Lumix S1R is primarily designed for still photography, its video capabilities are quite impressive. It can shoot 4K 60p and provides high-quality footage with shallow depth of field utilizing the full-frame sensor.
4K 60p High-Quality Recording
The S1R can shoot 4K 60p video with a 0.9x crop. While 4K recording is limited to 15 minutes, 1080p can be recorded without time limits. The video quality is excellent, with impressive sharpness and color reproduction.
V-Log L Support
It supports the V-Log L profile, allowing you to capture footage with a wide dynamic range. This provides more flexibility in post-production and is suitable for professional video production.
Differences from the S1
Compared to the S1 model, which focuses more on video features, the S1R has some limitations. The S1 offers more options such as unlimited 4K 30p recording and 1.5x crop in 4K 60p. Additionally, the S1 is planned to support internal 10-bit 4:2:2 recording through a future paid firmware update.
๐ ๏ธ Robust Body Design for Professionals
The Lumix S1R boasts a robust body comparable to professional DSLRs. With full weather sealing and a magnesium alloy body, it can be used reliably in any shooting environment.
Ergonomic Grip
The deep and wide grip allows for a stable hold on the camera. Even when mounted with large lenses like the 70-200mm f/4, it maintains good balance, ensuring comfort during extended shooting sessions.
Various Custom Buttons
Various custom buttons are placed throughout the body, allowing easy assignment of frequently used functions. The addition of two function buttons on the front and a two-stage switch seen in the G9 expands the range of operation.
Top LCD Panel
The LCD panel on top allows quick confirmation of important shooting information. It’s useful as it displays battery level and memory card status even when the camera is turned off.
๐พ Dual Card Slots and High-Performance Battery
The S1R provides dual card slots that can simultaneously use XQD and UHS-II SD cards. This configuration is suitable for professional workflows such as backup shooting or separating RAW and JPEG storage.
High-Capacity Battery
The new DMW-BLJ31 battery boasts a large capacity of 3100mAh. While it provides a battery life of 380 shots according to CIPA standards, in actual use, many more shots are possible. Using power-saving Using power-saving mode, you can shoot over 1150 images on a single charge.
๐ User Interface and Menu System
Panasonic has improved the user interface for the S series. The new Quick Menu is customizable, and the main menu is more structured, making navigation easier.
Intuitive Operation
The camera provides various input methods including joystick, touchscreen, and dials, allowing operation according to user preference. The combination of joystick and touchscreen is particularly effective when selecting AF points or navigating menus.
Customization Options
Various custom settings allow you to optimize the camera to your shooting style. This provides the level of control that professionals desire.
๐ Lens Selection and Compatibility
At the time of S1R’s release, only three dedicated lenses were available, but the lineup has been steadily expanding since then. The 24-105mm f/4 kit lens provides excellent optical performance and versatility.
L-Mount Alliance
Panasonic has formed the L-Mount Alliance with Leica and Sigma. This allows the use of various high-quality lenses, increasing the system’s expandability.
Using Adapters
Existing DSLR lenses can also be utilized through various mount adapters. In particular, adapters for Canon EF mount lenses support AF functionality, which is convenient.
๐ค Comparison with Competing Products
The Lumix S1R competes with high-resolution full-frame mirrorless cameras like the Sony A7R IV, Nikon Z7 II, and Canon EOS R5. Let’s compare it with each product.
Comparison with Sony A7R IV
- Resolution: A7R IV is higher with 61 megapixels
- AF System: A7R IV’s phase-detection AF is faster and more accurate
- EVF: S1R has a higher resolution EVF
- Durability: S1R has a more robust body structure
Comparison with Nikon Z7 II
- Resolution: Similar level (Z7 II has 45.7 megapixels)
- Video: S1R has an advantage with 4K 60p support
- Dual Card Slots: S1R has XQD+SD, Z7 II has dual CFexpress/XQD
- Lens Selection: Z7 II has a more diverse lineup of dedicated lenses
Comparison with Canon EOS R5
- Resolution: R5 is slightly lower at 45 megapixels
- Video: R5 has an advantage with 8K recording support
- AF Performance: R5’s Dual Pixel AF is superior
- IBIS: Similar level of performance
๐ Conclusion: A High-Performance Tool for Professionals
The Panasonic Lumix S1R is a professional-grade mirrorless camera with high-resolution image quality, excellent durability, and innovative features. It excels particularly in genres requiring high detail, such as landscape, studio, and architectural photography.
Advantages
- Excellent resolution and image quality
- Effective image stabilization system
- High-resolution EVF
- Robust durability and superior ergonomic design
- Flexible customization options
Disadvantages
- Relatively large size and weight
- AF performance slightly lags behind some competitors
- Limited lineup of dedicated lenses (as of initial release)
The Lumix S1R is highly recommended for professional photographers focused on high-quality images. However, users who prioritize video functions or continuous shooting performance might consider the S1 model or products from other brands.
In conclusion, the Panasonic Lumix S1R is an excellent tool that meets professional demands with outstanding image quality and robust performance. For photographers seeking a high-resolution full-frame mirrorless camera, the S1R is undoubtedly an attractive option.
