On the 1st February, Panasonic launched its latest cameras, the Lumix S1 and LUMIX S1R. Designed for photography and video, the LUMIX S1 and S1R are built around the wide diameter L-Mount and offer media creatives all the benefits of a full-frame high sensitivity sensor.
The 24.2-megapixel-CMOS is the heart of LUMIX S1, the camera performs at the highest standards in photography as well as offering advanced video recording with well-retained highlight and shadow details. The 47.3-million-pixel CMOS sensor for LUMIX S1R it is the world’s highest resolution full frame mirrorless camera that offers images of unprecedented quality exhibiting exceptional detail, rich graduation and superior colour reproduction.
Powered by a new Venus Engine, both models incorporates a high-speed, high-precision AF system ensuring the cameras meet the exacting demands of professional photographers in all shooting situations. To capture the decisive moment, the photographer frames the image using the world’s highest resolution electronic viewfinder with unrivalled clarity via a 5.76-million-dot OLED display.
Panasonic LUMIX S1R
Designed to Meet Professional Expectations
Developed for professional photographers, the LUMIX S1R has been built to withstand heavy use with magnesium alloy die-cast front and rear panels and sealing at every joint, dial and button. The camera is resistant to dust, splashes and operates at temperatures as low as -10°C.
The shutter unit is designed to endure 400,000 actuations. It allows mechanically driven exposure times as short as 1/8000 sec to ensure the capture of fast moving subjects even using open aperture settings of fast lenses in the bright sunshine. The external flash can be synchronised with the industry’s fastest shutter speed of 1/320 second.
High-Speed Precision Focusing
Combining contrast detection and Panasonic’s unique DFD technology with ultra-fast processing creates a focusing system that provides both speed and precision. To achieve extremely fast and accurate focusing, the Venus Engine, CMOS sensor and new LUMIX S lenses communicate at up to 480 fps allowing the system to react in 0.08 seconds.
Focus acquisition and tracking is enhanced with Advanced Artificial Intelligence Technology that detects humans, cats, dogs and birds. Identifying the subject helps the system anticipate movement patterns and allows the autofocus to keep tracking the subject even when its back is turned. Face, eye and pupil detection ensure that portraits are focused correctly.
- Artificial intelligence adds to autofocus performance
- Eye-AF and animal recognition added to face detection
- Nine frames per second burst shooting with full resolution
Ground Breaking Image Detail
The detail gathering ability of the full-frame 47.3-million-pixel CMOS-sensor (36 x 24 mm) is boosted by absence of a low pass filter, ensuring the finest textures in any scene will be captured accurately. New aspherical micro lenses over each pixel improve the light-gathering abilities of the sensor so low noise levels are maintained at high ISO settings. The LUMIX S1R offers an ISO range of up to ISO 25.600, making it ideal for working in low light conditions.
- New micro lens design to ensure best efficiency
- Low noise even at high ISO
- High resolution mode for 187-Megapixel images
Panasonic LUMIX S1
High Resolution, High Sensitivity, High-Speed Precision Focusing
- 2 Megapixel full-frame sensor
- 6-stopDual Image Stabilisation for Still and Video Mode
- Real View Finder with 5760K OLED display
The LUMIX S1 full frame mirrorless camera uses a 24.2-million-pixel CMOS sensor (35.6 x 23.8 mm) that provides a wide dynamic range and excellent signal to noise ratios at high ISO settings. Efficient pixel design, combined with the high-powered Venus Engine processor, allows standard ISO settings to reach ISO 51.200. When extra resolution is needed, a High Resolution Mode can be used to create images with a staggering 96 million pixels.
Just like the recently announced Olympus OM-D E-M1X, the LUMIX S1 features dual memory slots. However, Panasonic has plumped for one UHS-II SD card slot and one XQD card slot, and is set to provide CFexpress support in the near future.
Just like the S1R, the Lumix S1 is donated with Venus Engine, CMOS sensor and new LUMIX S lenses communicate at up to 480 fps allowing the system to react in 0.08 seconds.
The Real View Finder offers refresh rates of up to 120 fps and a virtually non-existent lag of just 0.005 seconds for smooth and realistic tracking of motion while panning with moving subjects. The display resolution, matched with a 10.000:1 contrast ratio, ensures a very clear and detailed view. The finder magnification can be adjusted from 0.78x to 0.74x or 0.7x for the comfort of the photographer.
Class Leading Video
Dedicated filmmakers or those who shoot film often will likely prefer the S1’s smaller resolution and ability to shoot internal 10-bit 4K video. However, that’s not to say you won’t find plenty of video oomph within the S1R. You can still record 8-bit internal 4K video at up to 60fps. Slow-motion footage can be achieved in both 4K and full HD, with the former allowing for 2x slow motion at 60fps and the latter an impressive 6x slow motion at up to 180fps.
Footage can be recorded in camera on SD and XQD cards or externally through a HDMI Type-A port. The camera features a 3.5mm mic socket and 3.5mm headphone port, while the hotshoe supports Panasonic’s DMW-XLR1 microphone adapter.
That’s really all of the discernible differences between the LUMIX S1R and S1. The former features the same 5.5 stops of in-body image stabilisation, boosted to 6 stops when paired with an S-series lens’ 2-axis OIS. It still shoots 9fps bursts in AF-S and 6fps bursts in AF-C. And, you’re still treated to a dual card slot that will accept a UHS-II SD card and an XQD card, with CFexpress support on the way.
Panasonic LUMIX S1 and S1R Comparison
Choosing between LUMIX S1 or LUMIX S1R will depend on your preferences as a photographer. The S1 is perhaps the more versatile choice and will also appeal to those who favour video, while the S1R’s big 47.3MP sensor and advanced High Resolution Mode will be favoured by landscape photographers or those working in a studio.
| Panasonic LUMIX S1 | Panasonic LUMIX S1R | |
| Megapixels | 24.2MP | 47.3MP |
| Image stabilisation | 5.5 Stops (6 stops with Dual IS) | 5.5 Stops (6 stops with Dual IS) |
| FPS | AF-S 9fps, AF-C 6fps (14-bit RAWs) | AF-S 9fps, AF-C 6fps (14-bit RAWs) |
| Buffer for burst shooting | JPEG 999+, RAW 90 | JPEG 50, RAW 40 |
| Video (HDMI output) | 4K 60fps 4:4:2 10-bit (Optional) | 4K 60fps 4:2:0 8-bit |
| Slow-motion video | FHD 180fps (NTSC) / 150fps (PAL) | FHD 180fps (NTSC) / 150fps (PAL) |
| High Resolution Mode | 96MP | 187MP |
Three Lenses for LUMIX S-System
- LUMIX S PRO 50mm F1.4
- LUMIX S PRO 70-200mm F4 O.I.S.
- LUMIX S 24-105mm F4 MACRO O.I.S.
Based on the Leica L-Mount and specially focusing on professional use, the LUMIX S Series pursues uncompromising standards in its cameras and lenses. While aall interchangeable lenses of the LUMIX S Series provide high performance,those marked “LUMIX S PRO” push the boundaries of optical performance further for approval against Leica’s stringent standards.