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Home → Reviews → Cameras and Lenses

Panasonic S1R

The S1R is Panasonic's high-end, high-resolution, full-frame mirrorless beast

By Spencer Cox 27 Comments
Last Updated On April 12, 2020

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The Panasonic S1R, announced in February of 2019 alongside the Panasonic S1, is one of the newest full-frame mirrorless cameras on the market today. It’s a bit of a quirky camera, but its specifications are no joke: 47 megapixels, 9 FPS, 4K 60p video… and $3700, body only.

Panasonic S1R Front View

It wasn’t long ago that Sony was the undisputed king of the hill in the world of full-frame mirrorless. Leica had a small lineup of extremely expensive cameras, and rumors swirled that a few other companies (especially Nikon, Canon, and Panasonic) were working on mirrorless behind the scenes. That was it.

Today, barely a year later, no fewer than six companies have announced full-frame mirrorless cameras: Leica, Sony, Nikon, Canon, Panasonic, and Sigma (though the Sigma Fp has yet to ship, and it’s more of a video-oriented camera). The competition ballooned practically overnight.

Hong Kong Blue Hour Taken with Panasonic S1R
DC-S1R + LUMIX S 24-105/F4 @ 105mm, ISO 200, 1 second, f/5.0. 187 megapixels.

Although Nikon and Canon have gotten much of the attention in the intervening year, Panasonic is doing its best to keep pace alongside them. Specifically, Panasonic joined the “L Mount Alliance,” teaming up with Leica and Sigma for a shared camera/lens/accessory ecosystem. The alliance is still getting its feet off the ground, but could be a formidable presence if the three companies play their cards right.

So far, there are three full-frame Panasonic S cameras (interestingly, more than Canon or Nikon at the moment): the S1, S1R, and S1H. In this article, I’ll focus on the S1R – the high megapixel option of the three – and explain its most important pros and cons.

But before going into all that, the “con” that will stand out above all to most photographers is price – $3700 body only for the S1R, and $4600 as a kit with the Panasonic 24-105mm f/4. Many of the other lenses for the L-mount are also quite expensive; you’re basically looking at Sigma lenses if you want a good price.

Here’s the full list of compatible lenses at the time of this article’s publication, from least to most expensive:

  • Sigma 45mm f/2.8 C – $550
  • Sigma 35mm f/1.4 A – $700
  • Sigma 24mm f/1.4 A – $850
  • Sigma 20mm f/1.4 A – $900
  • Sigma 50mm f/1.4 A – $950
  • Sigma 85mm f/1.4 A – $1200
  • Panasonic 24-105mm f/4 – $1300 ($900 as a kit with S1 or S1R)
  • Sigma 135mm f/1.8 A – $1400
  • Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 A – $1400
  • Sigma 35mm f/1.2 A – $1500
  • Panasonic 70-200mm f/4 – $1700
  • Panasonic 24-70mm f/2.8 – $2200 [Not yet shipping]
  • Panasonic 50mm f/1.4 – $2300
  • Leica 50mm f/2 – $4500 [Not yet shipping]
  • Leica 35mm f/2 – $4600 [Not yet shipping]
  • Leica 75mm f/2 – $4750
  • Leica 24-90mm f/2.8-4 – $4950
  • Leica 90mm f/2 – $5150
  • Leica 50mm f/1.4 – $5300
  • Leica 16-35 f/3.5-4.5 – $5500
  • Leica 90-280mm f/2.8-4 – $6400

It’s certainly possible to create a good lens set from this list. Personally, I’d pick a wide-angle Sigma (probably the 14-24mm f/2.8), the Panasonic 24-105mm f/4 (or Sigma 45mm f/2.8), and the Panasonic 70-200mm f/4. That’s still an expensive system compared to many other mirrorless kits – heavy, too – but it’s not unreasonable.

That’s especially true if you get the standard Panasonic S1 rather than the S1R that this review covers. For a bare-bones kit, the S1 plus the Panasonic 24-105mm f/4 isn’t a bad choice at all, and that combo totals a fairly reasonable $3400. If you opt instead for the S1R that this review covers, plus the 24-105mm, the price jumps up to $4600.

Forbidden Palace Taken with the Panasonic S1R
DC-S1R + LUMIX S 24-105/F4 @ 60mm, ISO 400, 1/60, f/8.0

But what are you getting for the money? Below is a list of the Panasonic S1R’s specifications, as well as comparisons to other mirrorless cameras available today.

Panasonic S1R Specifications

  • Mount Inner Diameter: 51.0 mm
  • Flange Distance: 19.0 mm
  • Sensor Resolution: 47.3 MP
  • High Resolution Mode: Yes, 186.9 MP
  • Sensor Type: CMOS
  • Sensor Size: 36.0 x 24.0mm
  • Low-Pass Filter: No
  • In-Body Image Stabilization: Yes, 5-axis
  • Sensor Pixel Size: 4.27 µ
  • Image Size: 8368 x 5584
  • Image Processor: Venus Engine (2019)
  • Max Buffer Capacity (14-bit RAW): 40 images
  • Native ISO Sensitivity Range: 100-25,600
  • Boosted ISO Sensitivity: 50, 51,200
  • Dust Reduction / Sensor Cleaning: Yes
  • Viewfinder: Electronic / EVF
  • Viewfinder Resolution: 5.76 million dots
  • Viewfinder Coverage: 100%
  • Viewfinder Magnification: 0.78x
  • Built-in Flash: No
  • Flash Sync Speed: 1/320
  • Dual Card Slots: Yes
  • Storage Media: 1x SD (UHS-II), 1x XQD
  • Continuous Shooting Speed: 9 FPS (No AF); 6 FPS with AF
  • Shutter Speed Range: 1/8000 to 60 seconds (mechanical); extends to 1/16,000 with electronic
  • Shutter Durability: 400,000 cycles
  • Electronic Front-Curtain Shutter: Yes
  • Autofocus System: Contrast Detect
  • Number of AF Points: 225
  • Focus Peaking: Yes
  • Illuminated Buttons: Yes
  • Focus Bracketing / Focus Stacking: Yes
  • Video Maximum Resolution: 4K @ 60 FPS
  • 1080p Video Max Frame Rate: 180 FPS
  • 4K Video Crop Factor: 1.09x
  • HDMI Out / LOG: 4:2:2 8-bit HDMI Output / Yes
  • Headphone Jack: Yes
  • Rear LCD Size and Type: 3.2″ Touchscreen
  • Articulating LCD: Yes, dual direction tilting
  • Rear LCD Resolution: 2,100,000 dots
  • Top LCD: Yes
  • Wi-Fi Functionality: Built-in
  • Bluetooth: Yes
  • Battery: DMW-BLJ31
  • Battery Life: 360 (LCD); 340 (EVF)
  • Weather Sealed Body: Yes
  • USB Version: Type-C 3.1
  • Weight (Camera Body + Battery and 1 Card): 1016 g (2.24 lbs)
  • Dimensions (grip to monitor): 148.9 x 110.0 x 86.0mm
  • Price (MSRP): $3700 (check current price)
This Panorama landscape photo, taken with the Panasonic S1R, shows the Zhangjiajie mountains in China.
DC-S1R + LUMIX S 24-105/F4 @ 26mm, ISO 100, 1/320, f/5.6

That’s not a bad set of specs at all. Seven things stand out to me because they are not particularly common to see today:

  1. High resolution sensor shift mode that outputs 187 megapixel photos
  2. LCD screen that tilts both vertically and horizontally
  3. Illuminated rear buttons
  4. Dual card slots – one SD, one XQD
  5. High resolution 5.76-million dot electronic viewfinder
  6. 4K video at 60 FPS; 1080p video at 180 FPS
  7. Heavy weight of 1016 g (2.24 lbs) despite being mirrorless

The first six points are all in the S1R’s favor. They’re features you’ll only find on high-end cameras today, and even then there’s not another camera with all these features.

The seventh point stands out in the other direction. Whereas most mirrorless cameras are known for their light weight, the S1R weighs 1016 g (2.24 lbs) – just as much as a typical DSLR. For comparison, the Nikon D850 weighs an almost identical 1005 grams (2.22 pounds).

While most photographers will consider this a negative, some DSLR shooters will prefer the familiar heft and substantial grip on the S1R. Personally, as a travel photographer, the added weight definitely was a negative in my book. But there’s no denying that the S1R is well-built, and the weight is part of that. It has a tank-like feel to it – something I wouldn’t say about any mirrorless camera from Nikon, Canon, or Sony at the moment.

Here’s a specifications comparison of the S1R versus the standard S1. I’ve highlighted all the relevant differences:

Camera FeaturePanasonic S1RPanasonic S1
Mount Inner Diameter51.0 mm51.0 mm
Flange Distance19.0 mm19.0 mm
Sensor Resolution47.3 MP24.2 MP
High Resolution ModeYes, 186.9 MPYes, 96.0 MP
Sensor TypeCMOSCMOS
Sensor Size36.0 x 24.0mm35.6 x 23.8mm
Low-Pass FilterNoNo
In-Body Image StabilizationYes, 5-axisYes, 5-axis
Sensor Pixel Size4.27 µ5.93 µ
Image Size8368 x 55846000×4000
Image ProcessorVenus Engine (2019)Venus Engine (2019)
Max Buffer Capacity (14-bit RAW)40 images90 images
Native ISO SensitivityISO 100-25,600ISO 100-51,200
Boosted ISO SensitivityISO 50; ISO 51,200ISO 50; ISO 204,800
Dust Reduction / Sensor CleaningYesYes
ViewfinderElectronic / EVFElectronic / EVF
Viewfinder Resolution5.76 million dots5.76 million dots
Viewfinder Coverage100%100%
Viewfinder Magnification0.78x0.78x
Built-in FlashNoNo
Flash Sync Speed1/3201/320
Dual Card SlotsYesYes
Storage Media1x SD (UHS-II), 1x XQD1x SD (UHS-II), 1x XQD
Continuous Shooting Speed9 FPS (No AF); 6 FPS with AF9 FPS (No AF); 6 FPS with AF
Shutter Speed Range1/8000 to 60 seconds (mechanical); extends to 1/16,000 with electronic1/8000 to 60 seconds
Shutter Durability400,000 cycles400,000 cycles
Electronic Front-Curtain ShutterYesYes
Autofocus SystemContrast DetectContrast Detect
Number of AF Points225225
Focus PeakingYesYes
Focus Detection Range (f/2 lens, ISO 100)-5 to +19 EV-5 to +19 EV
Illuminated ButtonsYesYes
Focus Bracketing / Focus StackingYesYes
Video Maximum Resolution4K @ 60 FPS4K @ 60 FPS (APS-C crop); 4K @ 30 FPS (Full width)
1080p Video Max Frame Rate180 FPS180 FPS
4K Video Crop Factor1.09x1.0x
HDMI Out / LOG4:2:2 8-bit HDMI Output / Yes4:2:2 10-bit HDMI Output / Yes
Headphone JackYesYes
Rear LCD Size and Type3.2″ Touchscreen3.2″ Touchscreen
Articulating LCDYes, dual direction tiltingYes, dual direction tilting
Rear LCD Resolution2,100,000 dots2,100,000 dots
Top LCDYesYes
Wi-Fi FunctionalityBuilt-inBuilt-in
BluetoothYesYes
BatteryDMW-BLJ31DMW-BLJ31
Battery Life360 (LCD); 340 (EVF)380 (LCD); 360 (EVF)
Weather Sealed BodyYesYes
USB VersionType-C 3.1Type-C 3.1
Weight (Camera Body + Battery and 1 Card)1016 g (2.24 lbs)1017 g (2.24 lbs)
Dimensions (grip to monitor)148.9 x 110.0 x 86.0 mm148.9 x 110.0 x 86.0 mm
MSRP Price at Time of Article Publication$3700 (check current price)$2500 (check current price)

Clearly, the S1R is very similar to the regular Panasonic S1. That’s why – as I’ll say again in this review’s conclusion – I really don’t recommend spending the extra $1200 on the S1R over the S1. Even if you’re drooling over the 47 megapixel sensor, keep in mind that the standard Panasonic S1’s sensor-shift mode already gives you 96 megapixel images – way more than most people will ever need.

A landscape photo at sunset of Summit Lake, Mount Evans, Colorado.
DC-S1R + LUMIX S 24-105/F4 @ 24mm, ISO 100, 25 seconds, f/6.3

On the next page of this review, we’ll take a look at the Panasonic S1R’s controls, build quality, and handling.

Table of Contents

  • Overview and Specifications
  • Build Quality and Handling
  • Focusing
  • Image Quality
  • Camera Comparisons
  • Summary and Conclusion
  • More Sample Photos
  • Reader Comments
« »

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Filed Under: Cameras and Lenses Tagged With: Mirrorless, Panasonic, Camera Reviews, Panasonic S1R

About Spencer Cox

I'm Spencer Cox, a landscape photographer better known for my macro photography! My photos have been displayed in galleries worldwide, including the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and exhibitions in London, Malta, Siena, and Beijing. These days I'm active on Instagram and YouTube.

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