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at a similar price, it’s considerably
bigger. In a market where one of
the key advantages of mirrorless is
considered to be reduced size and
weight, does Panasonic’s approach
really make sense?
Features
Before we consider the bigger
picture, though, first let’s take
a look at the Lumix S1’s core
specifications. Panasonic hasn’t
skimped on the features in any
way, making the camera a serious
competitor to the Alpha 7 III and
Z 6. Indeed in some respects it
surpasses both, particularly
when it comes to video.
Based around a 24-million-pixel
full-frame sensor and Panasonic’s
Venus Engine processor, the S1
offers a standard sensitivity range
of ISO 100-51,200, which can be
extended to ISO 50-204,800 for
those willing to take a hit on image
quality. Burst shooting operates
at up to 9 frames per second
with focus fixed, or 6fps with AF
adjustment between shots. If this
isn’t fast enough, you can use
Panasonic’s 6K Photo mode to
record 18MP stills at 30fps, or 4K
Photo to shoot at 8MP and 30 or
60fps. The buffer is pretty huge:
at a bare minimum, 74 images
can be shot at 9fps in raw + JPEG
before the camera slows down.
With a fast card, the buffer will
clear in a little over 20 seconds.
This brings us onto the subject
of storage. Panasonic has included
dual card slots, a feature which
some photographers now consider
to be essential at this price point.
But unusually it has chosen to
use two different types, with one
accepting the familiar SD format
and compatible with the high-
speed UHS-II standard, while
the other takes the less-commonXQD. The latter promises greater
robustness and faster write
speeds, but at a considerably
higher price. There’s an argument
that you’re getting the best of
both worlds, but I suspect most
photographers would prefer dual
SD slots. You can set the camera
so it records simultaneously or
sequentially to the cards, or record
different file types to each slot.
One crucial feature is 5-axis
in-body stabilisation, which works
with every lens you can mount
on the camera. It also operates
synchronously with optically
stabilised lenses, via Panasonic’s
Dual I.S. 2 system, to give up to
5.5 stops of stabilisation. It’s
difficult to over-state how useful
this is for getting sharper images
across a wider range of shutter
speeds when shooting handheld,
while also allowing you to
experiment with subject motionblur. If you mount a manual lens,
the camera will prompt you to
enter the focal length when it’s
turned on, so the IS system can
work correctly.
The IS unit also enables a
high-resolution multi-shot mode
that outputs 96MP files, which
works in a similar way to that on
other high-end Lumix models.
It produces a composite of 8
exposures, with the sensor moved
precisely between them to give
full-colour sampling of the scene
for increased detail and colour
accuracy. Unusually the camera
only records raw files (which are
pretty huge, at around 184MB),
requiring the high-resolution
images to be generated on a
computer later. Two modes
are available, with the second
designed to eliminate blurring
artefacts due to objects
moving between exposures.The S1 delivers excellent image
quality that’s at least a match for
its 24MP full-frame rivals
24-105mm at 24mm, 1/125sec at f/8, ISO 100