Panasonic Lumix S1
Added:
Specifications
| Brand | Panasonic |
|---|---|
| Sensor Format | Full Frame |
| Resolution (MP) | 24.2 |
| Body Type | Mirrorless |
| Autofocus | Contrast Detect |
| Base ISO | 100 |
| In-Body Stabilization | ✓ |
| Viewfinder | ✓ |
| Viewfinder Resolution (M dots) | 5.76 |
| Mechanical Shutter | ✓ |
| Burst Rate, Mechanical Shutter (fps) | 9 |
| Burst Rate, Electronic Shutter (fps) | 9 |
| Pre-Burst Buffer | ✓ |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ |
| Open Gate Recording | 6K |
| Slow Motion | FHD 180p |
| Hot Shoe | ✓ |
| Internal Storage (GB) | ✘ |
| Memory Card Slot 1 | CFexpress Type B |
| Memory Card Slot 2 | SD UHS-II |
| Webcam Support | ✓ |
| Battery | DMW-BLJ31 |
| Battery Life (CIPA shots) | 400 |
| Weight (g, with battery and card) | 1017 |
| Width (mm) | 149 |
| Height (mm) | 110 |
| Depth (mm) | 97 |
| Volume (cm³) | 1590 |
| Release Year | 2019 |
| Discontinued | 2025 |
| Release Price (USD) | 2500 |
Description and Reviews
Key Take-Aways:
The S1 is Panasonic’s full-frame hybrid body for stills and video, built for L-Mount lenses. Reviews call it large and heavy and praise its image stabilisation, video quality and tough build, but fault its autofocus, though one review rates its tracking highly.
From Panasonic:
Full-Frame DSLM Camera with 24.2 MP, MOS Sensor, 4K/60p Video Recording
Weight of 1,017 g is with battery and one SD card (Panasonic Japan spec table). Launch price USD 2,499.99 per Panasonic’s US shop listing.
The other specs come from Panasonic USA’s DC-S1 specification page and Panasonic Japan’s DC-S1 spec table. 6K open gate (5952x3968, 24p) arrived with firmware 2.0 and requires the paid DMW-SFU2 Upgrade Software Key. The High Speed Video mode records Full HD at 29.97p from 180 fps sensor output, hence FHD 180p. The viewfinder is a 5,760k-dot OLED, and the lowest standard ISO is 100 (ISO 50 is an extended setting). Panasonic gives 9 fps for both mechanical and electronic shutter with single AF (AFS) and 6 fps and 5 fps with continuous AF (AFC); the table uses the AFS figure. Pre-burst is the 6K/4K PHOTO Pre-Burst mode, and the hot shoe is listed as the Hot Shoe Cover in the accessories. Panasonic lists only memory cards as recording media, so internal storage is 0. Slot 1 took XQD at launch and accepts CFexpress Type B since firmware 1.3 (Panasonic firmware release notes; CFexpress card support); slot 2 takes SD cards up to UHS-II. Panasonic names the DC-S1 among the cameras supported by its LUMIX Webcam Software. The battery is the 7.4 V, 3050 mAh pack that Panasonic’s shop calls the only officially compatible battery. Battery life is the CIPA rear-monitor figure with an SD card, 400 shots; Panasonic also gives 380 with XQD, 380 and 360 with the viewfinder, and 1,150 and 1,100 in power-save viewfinder mode.
Discontinued: Panasonic has published no end-of-production notice; the S1 was listed as discontinued by major retailers in Japan and the US in February 2025 (Photo Rumors, Feb 15 2025; L-Rumors, Feb 14 2025).
Reviews:
- Cameralabs: Panasonic Lumix S1 review, Gordon Laing, May 2019
- TechRadar: Panasonic Lumix S1 review, Matt Golowczynski, Apr 2019
- Digital Camera World: Panasonic S1 review, Angela Nicholson, May 2019
YouTube:
- DPReview TV: DPReview TV: Panasonic S1 Review, Apr 2019
- Gerald Undone: Panasonic S1 Review: LARGE and in CHARGE (S1 vs Sony a7 III vs GH5), Apr 2019
- Gordon Laing: Panasonic Lumix S1 review - BEST pro mirrorless?, Apr 2019
- DSLR Video Shooter: Panasonic S1 Review After 10 Months!, Jan 2020