Quick Menu
The S1R has two layout styles for the Quick Menu
and both are easier to use than Panasonic’s usual
offering, as the available settings are easier to see
at a glance.Twin card SloTS
Panasonic has given the S1R an XQD card slot
and a UHS-I and UHS-II compatible SD/SDHC/
SDXC slot. The fast cards are recommended for 4K
video recording.Video
The S1R can shoot 4K (3,840×2,160) video at
60fps and 150Mbps, plus other frame and bit-rates.
However, the S1 and the up-coming S1H are more
serious video cameras.4k/6k PhoTo Mode
Video technology enables the S1R’s 4K/6K Photo
mode to extract 8MP or 18MP stills from footage
shot at 60fps and 30fps respectively. It’s ideal for
split-second moments.eaSy cuSToMiSaTion
There’s lots of scope to customise the Lumix S1R’s
controls via the menu, and the process is easy
thanks to the clear display that lets you see what
everything does.FEATURES
eaSy cuSToMiSaTionOpposite
Big for a
mirrorless
It’s big for a
mirrorless camera,
but that means
there’s space for a
large handLeft
Metal body
The magnesium
alloy body is
weather-sealed
and can operate at
temperatures down
to -10°C
Below left
L-mount
Panasonic has used
the L-mount, which
has a diameter of
51.6mm and flange
depth of 20mmdetection for the S1-series autofocus system.
This is claimed to have a vast working range
of -6EV to 18EV, but we found it becomes
quite sluggish in low light. In half-decent light,
however, the S1R gets subjects sharp very
quickly and does a great job of recognising
humans, cats, dogs and birds when that AF
mode is activated.
Panasonic’s GH5 is quite large for a Micro
Four Thirds camera, so we perhaps shouldn’t
be too surprised that the S1 and S1R are both
pretty hefty for single-grip full-frame cameras.
While this makes them a little less appealing
for travel, it means they also have a good-
sized grip, and the controls aren’t as fiddly as
on some other cameras.
Like the S1, the S1R’s OLED electronic
viewfinder (EVF) has 5.76 million dots. That’s
the highest resolution EVF currently available,
and it provides a superb, smooth view with
plenty of crisp detail.
This is paired with a 3.2-inch, 2.1 million-dot
screen with a dual-tilt mechanism. Again this
provides a clear preview of the scene, and it’s
useful whether you’re shooting landscape or
portrait-orientation images. Unlike on some
of Panasonic’s G-series cameras, including
the G9 and GH5, the screen can’t be flipped
out for viewing from in front of the camera,
but that’s probably not a significant issue for
prospective S1R users.
Panasonic has revised its menu layout a
little for the S1 and S1R in comparison to its
G-series cameras. It’s still logically arranged,
but each section is subdivided by a second
column of icons sitting next to the main
icons. However, the navigation system is a
bit confusing when you first start to use it as