Panasonic finally broke the series of strange announcements and released a flagship camera for photographers and camera operators—the Panasonic Lumix S1RII. The new product received a newly developed 44.3-megapixel sensor, a high-performance L 2 image processing processor, and several fundamentally new functions, including hybrid autofocus supplemented by AI calculations. You can write Apple ProRes RAW HQ 5.8K directly to the memory card, and an 8K recording mode with 14 steps of dynamic range is also available.
New Sensor
So, let’s start with the sensor; this is a Sony IMX366 with a resolution of 44.3 megapixels. Someone still hopes that Sony will install this sensor in the A7 V.
The first-generation camera, the Panasonic Lumix S1R, had a 47-megapixel sensor. However, it lacked hybrid autofocus, and the readout speed was much slower. At the same time, the manufacturer reports that the new camera achieved much higher results in color rendering. It also improved noise reduction.
Panasonic says the new model, the Panasonic Lumix S1R II, delivers the “best photos” of any Lumix camera to date. As expected, the S1RII supports real-time LUTs and works with Panasonic’s popular Lumix Lab app.
New Features
The Panasonic Lumix S1R II camera allows you to shoot with increased resolution due to the Pixel-Shift function. Advanced sensor stabilization will enable you to do this without a tripod, resulting in 177 MP photos.
Images are processed entirely in-camera, so photographers don’t need external software to create high-resolution images.
There is a hybrid autofocus. It includes AI-based subject detection and tracking.
According to Panasonic, the hybrid AF system features 779 phase-detection points, improved subject tracking and recognition, and is significantly faster and more reliable than the original first-generation camera.
With a more powerful processor and faster sensor, the Panasonic Lumix S1RII can shoot full-resolution images at up to 40 fps with continuous autofocus.
The new SH pre-burst mode takes photos for 1.5 seconds before fully pressing the shutter button. This will help you not to miss a critical moment, for example, when shooting wildlife.
The camera’s blackout-free electronic shutter allows continuous shooting at up to 40 fps, while the Panasonic Lumix S1R II’s mechanical shutter reaches a maximum speed of 10 fps.
Video Shooting and Stabilization
The stabilization system has always been one of Panasonic’s main trump cards, and the manufacturer has been improving it for a long time. In the new Panasonic Lumix S1RII, eight exposure steps (with wide-angle and standard optics) or seven steps (when using telephoto optics with optical stabilization) were possible.
It has several modes: active image stabilization works with EIS (HIGH), and it compensates even for strong shaking, for example, when shooting on the run.
At the same time, the EIS system compensates for perspective distortions that occur during video shooting (usually noticeable on the sides of the frame). This is a grave step forward.
At the same time, the Panasonic Lumix S1RII camera is designed for photographers and operators. The new camera is the first Panasonic Lumix model to record 8K video. 14 steps of dynamic range are declared, which is a good indicator.
The camera’s Open Gate mode allows shooting at 6.4K resolution, although a future firmware update enables 8.1K and 7.2K recording in this mode.
Another new feature for the Lumix S series (full frame) is internal Apple ProRes RAW HQ/ProRes RAW 5.8K recording to a CFexpress Type B card.
Design and More
Ergonomically, the camera has also improved significantly compared to the first generation. It now resembles the Panasonic Lumix S5 II in many ways. The overall weight of the full-frame mirrorless camera has dropped to 795 grams. At the same time, the first-generation camera weighed 1020 grams. This is a significantly smaller and lighter body, although the S1R II is still slightly larger than the Lumix S5 II.
The display design has been updated. It is now swivel-tilt, like the Sony A1 II and Sony A9 III.
The updated design gives you more options when shooting from unusual angles, but the screen now opens completely and rotates even when all the side ports are occupied.
The diagonal is 3 inches, and the resolution is 1.84 million dots. It is smaller and has a lower resolution than the first-generation Panasonic Lumix S1R.
The OLED electronic viewfinder (0.78x magnification) has a resolution of 5.76 million dots—precisely the same as in the first generation.
The Panasonic Lumix S1RII is natively compatible with Capture One and Frame.io. It works with Lumix Lab and the new Lumix Flow video editing app.
There are two memory card slots. One supports CFexpress Type B cards, and the other supports UHS-II SD memory cards. The camera also supports external recording to an SSD. This is very convenient when recording long, multi-hour sessions, such as speeches or interviews. However, you should be careful with the USB-C port on the camera itself. It can easily be damaged by accidental contact.
Panasonic Lumix S1RII Price and Release Date
The new Panasonic Lumix S1R II camera costs $3,299 and is already available for pre-order on B&H Photo and Adorama‘s online e-shops. Shipping will start on March 17, 2025.
