Hands-on test and review of the new Panasonic S1 and S1R mirrorless cameras from Lok Cheung with help from Darryl Carey.
Lok thinks the Panasonic S1 probably has the best image stabilization in a full frame camera. The S1 and S1R AF with machine learning actually works great. Panasonic’s first full frame mirrorless is huge, but for a very good reason.
You can visit Lok Cheung’s website here for more info on him.
The Panasonic Lumix S1 has a 24-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor matched up with the new Venus processing engine. This gives a maximum standard sensitivity of ISO 51,200, the same as its top rivals, the Nikon Z6 and Sony A7 III.
The 5-axis image stabilization is built in, using vibration measurements from a gyro sensor, information from the CMOS sensor itself and an accelerometer to give a claimed 5.5-stop maximum shake compensation.
The S1’s in-body stabilization mechanism gives another benefit. It has a 96-megapixel High Resolution Mode. This combines the data from eight different exposures, each made with a tiny shift in the sensor position, to produce a 12,800 x 8,000 pixel raw file.
The Lumix S1 uses the full sensor width, so there is no ‘crop factor’ for your lenses, and can capture 4K video at up to 60/50p. It can capture 4:2:0 8-bit video internally to a memory card or 4:2:2 video to an external recorder via HDMI.
That’s not all, though. Later in 2019 a software upgrade will allow 4K 60/50p 4:2:2 10-bit recording via HDMI, and 30/25/24p 4:2:2 10-bit recording internally – plus Panasonic’s V-Log option.
At first I was a bit down on this camera. But, after watching Lok’s review he showed off just how good of a camera the Panasonic S1 is going to be. I might have to wait until the price drops and Sigma brings out some more affordable lenses.
I pre-ordered a Panasonic S1 with Amazon this morning and another with B&H later. I will cancel which ever one that comes second. I hope to be one of the first people to get one.