Panasonic Lumix DC-S1

The Panasonic S1 is a new full-frame mirrorless camera that features a 24.2 megapixel sensor, an expanded ISO range of 80-204,800, the latest Venus image processing engine, and a 5.76-million-dot OLED electronic viewfinder with magnification that can be adjusted from 0.78x to 0.74x or 0.7x. The Lumix S1 offers 4K video recording at up to 60/50p in 4:2:0 8-bit quality directly to SD- or XQD-card or 4:2:2 8-bit through HDMI for up to 30 minutes, while 4K/30p and Full HD can be recorded without a time limit. A future firmware update will unlock the option to record 4K 60/50p 4:2:2 10-bit via HDMI-output and 30p/25p/24p in 4:2:2and add V Log.

The Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 is an incredibly well-built (but heavy) camera with excellent image and video quality. The body has numerous control points and is highly customizable. The S1's built-in image stabilization is effective, and the camera can use this system to produce ultra-high-res stills. Autofocus is speedy and accurate in most situations, though the continuous AF experience can be frustrating when using the EVF. Video quality is excellent, with 4K/60p support and numerous capture controls, with more on the way via a paid upgrade. While it's more expensive than its peers, the S1 is great for a variety of use cases, and is worth your consideration if you don't mind its size and weight.

The Panasonic Lumix S1 offers excellent image quality, excellent video quality and options, with great handling, weather sealing, and an easy to use menu system. There are some unique features, including the ability to shoot 96mp images, and it benefits from the L-Mount alliance, which means there's a growing choice of lenses available.

The Lumix S bodies are Panasonic’s most ambitious cameras to date, combining ten years of Lumix G evolution with the quality of a full-frame sensor and an existing mount providing access to native lenses from Leica and Sigma. The result is a new camera that’s arguably the most professional full-frame mirrorless to date, at least in traditional terms - there’s certainly nothing else like it in design and features. Most obviously the Lumix S is unashamedly large, closer to a pro DSLR in sheer heft than its mirrorless rivals and with build quality which feels the toughest in its peer group. Panasonic’s done a great job with the controls and ergonomics, while being careful not to skip any key features expected at this level but often missing from rivals. So you get a full-frame sensor with great quality stills and video, built-in stabilisation, the best viewfinder in the business, twin card slots, backlit buttons, unlimited 4k up to 30p (or half an hour of 4k 60p with an APSC crop), impressive object recognition and tracking, not to mention an interval timer, 6K Photo, a sensor-shift high-res mode and great wireless. What’s not to like? Not a lot as it happens. Sony remains better-suited for pro action with faster shooting with continuous AF and access to longer lenses, the battery life is ok but not as good as you’d hope for the size of the pack, and on a personal note I prefer a smaller body with a fully-articulated screen, but I equally realise others will prefer Panasonic’s approach. It’s also more expensive than its rivals, but I feel the overall feature-set justifies the premium. As the first bodies in a new system, the Lumix S is a tremendous start, confidently taking on the best of its current rivals with a unique feature-set. I’m impressed by Panasonic’s approach and look forward to putting the rest of the system through its paces.

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