Digital Photographer - USA (2019-07)

and the results at ISO 25,600
are good on the whole, but it’s
wise to be a little cautious. The
noise reduction can be a bit too
enthusiastic in some areas. As usual,
the RAW files are better, having more
detail but more luminance noise.
Another benefit of a moderate pixel
countonafull-framesensoristhattheS1’s
dynamicrangeisveryhigh.Ifyouneedto,
low-ISO raw files can be brightened by as
much as 5EV with a relatively modest increase
in luminance noise. That’s a huge adjustment:
a 2 or 3EV alteration is more likely to be used
to balance exposures in a landscape, and the
S1 takes that in its stride.
While other manufacturers have plumped
for phase detection or hybrid AF systems
for their full-frame cameras, Panasonic has
decided to stick with contrast detection for the
S1. However, it’s impressive. It’s undoubtedly
snappy enough to deliver sharp shots of fast-
moving subjects – but it doesn’t make action
photography as easy as it is with the Sony A7
III or the Nikon Z 6, as the tracking in the S1
isn’t as reliable.
We can’t test the impact of the promised
optional firmware update yet, but the standard
S1deliverssuperbquality4Kvideoin-camera.

Features

There’sanexcellentarrayof

usefulfeaturesforphotographers

andvideographersalike

BuilDquality

Whileit’slargerthanthe

mirrorlesscompetition,the

S1feelssolidandbuilttolast

qualityoFresults

TheS1outputsstunningvideo

andstillswithwellcontrolled

noiseandattractivecolours

hanDling

Ittakessomegettingusedto,but

theS1offersasuperbblendof

directandtouchcontrols

valueForMoney

It’soneofthepricier24Mpfull

framemirrorlessmodels,butit

hasalottooffer

Megapixels(effective)

24.3

Maxresolution

6,000x4,000

sensorinformation

23.8x35.6mmCMOS

shutterspeed

1/16,000-60sec,

Bulbto30mins

isosensitivity

100-51,200,

expandableto

50-204,800

exposuremodes

PASM,IntelligentAuto

Meteringoptions

Multiple,Center-

Weighted,Spot,

Highlight-Weighted

Connectivity

USB-C,HDMI,remote,

mic,headphone,

Wi-Fi,Bluetooth

weight

899gbodyonly,

1,021gwithXQDcard

andbattery

Dimensions

148.9x 110 x96.7mm

Batteries

Lithium-ion7.4V

storage

XQD,SD/SDHC/SDXC

UHS-I/UHS-II

lCD

3.2-inchtriaxial-tiltLCD

with2,100,000dots

viewfinder

OLED Live Viewfinder

with 5,760,000 dots

Panasonic Lumix S1

TheS1isasolid,high-quality

camerathatdelivers superb

video and stills in many

situations; it only lacks in

credentials as a action and

sports camera

overall

100%

touChControl

Lots of control is available via the touch-

screen,evenadjustingtheAFpointsize

DriveMoDeDial

There’snoPhotoModecontrol,butdrive

modedialoptionsarecustomisable

eyesensor

ThissensordetectswhentheEVFis

inuse and turns off the main screen

JoystiCK

UnlikeonthePanasonicG9,thejoystick

on theS1iswellpositionedforthumbuse

1 2

3 4

12 3 4

PANASoNiC LuMix S1