Panasonic's Lumix S1, S1R full-frame cameras make a big first impression

I never thought I'd see a mirrorless camera bigger and heavier than a full-frame DSLR, but somehow Panasonic made it happen. And while there's a lot to like about Panasonic's entrants, the Lumix S1 and S1R -- novelties include a terrific high-resolution OLED viewfinder, HLG-tonemapped HDR photo, a triaxial tilt LCD and more -- the big body isn't among them.

Panasonic's S line is based around the Leica L mount, based on a strategic partnership with Sigma and  Leica  in the L-Mount Alliance. At launch, the S line consists of two pro-focused models: one with a high-resolution 47-megapixel sensor optimized for still-first photography, the S1R; and one with a lower 24-megapixel sensor optimized for video-first photography, the S1. This follows the same strategy Sony and Nikon have been following.

But Panasonic's cameras diverge from the others in two important ways. Nominally, they're more expensive. Available now for preorder with expected availability in April, the S1 runs $2,500 for the body (about £1,910 or AU$3,440). That compares to $2,000 for the Nikon Z6 (£2,100, AU$3,300) or the Sony A7 III (£2,000, AU$3,100). The S1R model goes for $3,700, while the Z7 and A7R III go for $3,400 (£3,400, AU$4,160) and $3,200 (£2,900, AU$4,600), respectively. 

It will be available in kits with the new Lumix S 24-105mm f4 Macro OIS lens; that tacks another $900 to the bill. The two higher-end lenses that will be available when the camera ships are the Lumix S Pro 70-200mm f4 OIS and Lumix S Pro 50mm f1.4.

Panasonic's Lumix S1/S1R is a giant among mirrorless cameras

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When looking at the prices, however, keep in mind that Panasonic tends to "discount" its prices in the US a lot more than Sony and Nikon do, so the effective prices should be a lot closer to its competitors. And I can see the viewfinder, a brand new 5.8-megapixel OLED with a 120fps refresh rate (probably a Sony), bumping up the price.

The other big difference from its competitors is size. It's the biggest full-frame mirrorless body I know of -- it's even bigger and heavier than the Fujifilm GFX and Hasselblad X1D mirrorless medium format cameras -- and it's almost as big as the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV.

The extra girth is predominantly due to the sensor-shift stabilization mechanism. But Panasonic claims that it delivers 5 stops of compensation -- 6 stops with a compatible optically stabilized lens -- so depending on your shakiness quotient, it might be worth the extra burden.

The stabilizer's also an energy vampire. Despite a relatively luxurious 3,050-mAh battery it's rated for only about 350-400 shots. While you're likely to get more than that in practice, it's still low for a pro camera. But Panasonic added an intriguing IS Status Scope which indicates how far from stable you are -- kind of like a temporal level indicator.

Thankfully, though the lenses seemed pretty big, they're roughly comparable to the size and weight of Sony and Canon's equivalents. (Nikon doesn't yet have a 24-105 f4 or 70-200 f4, the two core lenses that Panasonic's launching with.)

The same...

The two models have identical bodies, which is essentially a variation on Panasonic's Lumix G9. Though heavy, it's comfortable to hold with a reasonable control layout that puts all the frequently needed buttons, dials and AF-area selection joystick within reach.

Some notable physical features include USB-C, 5GHz Wi-Fi, a three-way-tiling LCD and dual card slots. The latter includes one SD and one XQD, which will be updatable in the future via firmware to support CFExpress cards.

Though the autofocus and metering systems are similar to those Panasonic's been using in its higher-end Micro Four Thirds models, the updated Venus Engine image processor and improved shutter mechanism eke out more speed, consistency and accuracy from them.

Plus, it adds capabilities like a new HSP file format for saving HDR versions of still images tonemapped with an HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma) profile, animal recognition in the autofocus system and exposure leveling in time lapse.

...but different

The two models differ in a couple key ways. The most obvious, of course, is the sensor. The higher-resolution sensor in the S1R is a new architecture designed for fast readout and high performance in low light. The microlenses that sit atop each pixel are all ashpherical (complex curves, neither fully concave or convex), intended to improve the absorption of red wavelengths.

The sensor on the S1, on the other hand, has better characteristics with respect to video noise and color fidelity. On that camera, Panasonic plans to offer an optional update providing 4:2:2 10-bit output, a V-Log profile and HDR video. In order to add the HDR video support, the update will include an H.265/HEVC codec.

We've gone from one choice for mirrorless full-frame cameras --  Sony  -- to four in less than a year, now that  Panasonic  has joined  Canon  and  Nikon  to compete. But while there's some intriguing new tech in the Lumix S1 and S1R, I wonder if there's enough here to lure entrenched Sony shooters or loyal Canon and Nikon buyers away from those systems.