The Panasonic S1R, announced in February of 2019 alongside the Panasonic S1, is still one of the highest resolution 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, 5K video… and $3700, body only.
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.
But these days, no fewer than six companies have announced full-frame mirrorless cameras: Leica, Sony, Nikon, Canon, Panasonic, and Sigma. The competition ballooned practically overnight.
Although Nikon and Canon have gotten much of the attention in the intervening years, Panasonic is doing its best to keep pace alongside them. Specifically, Panasonic joined the “L Mount Alliance” a few years ago, teaming up with Leica and Sigma to create a shared camera/lens/accessory ecosystem. This means there were already plentiful lenses and accessories available for Panasonic’s full-frame lineup almost from day one.
So far, there are three full-frame Panasonic S cameras (interestingly, more than Canon or Nikon at the moment): the S1, S1R, S1H, and S5. 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, especially the ones from Leica; you’re basically looking at Sigma lenses if you want a good price, as well as a few from Panasonic.
Still, there’s a pretty complete lineup of reasonably priced lenses if you look closely. The biggest difficulty is the ultra-wide side of things, where the cheapest option is the $1100 Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 L-mount. Whereas the midrange and telephoto ranges both have some good, inexpensive options. (Many of them are heavier lenses, though, in exchange for their wider apertures and higher image quality.)
But what are you getting for the money? Below is a list of the Panasonic S1R’s specifications.
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
- Internal Video Maximum Resolution: 5K @ 30 FPS (4K @ 60 FPS)
- External Video Maximum Specs: 4K 60p 4:2:2 recording over HDMI with Atomos Ninja V
- 1080p Video Max Frame Rate: 180 FPS
- 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)
That’s not a bad set of specs at all. Six things stand out to me because they are not particularly common to see today:
- High resolution sensor shift mode that outputs 187 megapixel photos
- LCD screen that tilts both vertically and horizontally
- Illuminated rear buttons
- Dual card slots – one SD, one XQD
- High resolution 5.76-million dot electronic viewfinder
- Heavy weight of 1016 g (2.24 lbs) despite being mirrorless
The first five 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 sixth 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 Feature | Panasonic S1R | Panasonic S1 |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Inner Diameter | 51.0 mm | 51.0 mm |
| Flange Distance | 19.0 mm | 19.0 mm |
| Sensor Resolution | 47.3 MP | 24.2 MP |
| High Resolution Mode | Yes, 186.9 MP | Yes, 96.0 MP |
| Sensor Type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor Size | 36.0 x 24.0mm | 35.6 x 23.8mm |
| Low-Pass Filter | No | No |
| In-Body Image Stabilization | Yes, 5-axis | Yes, 5-axis |
| Sensor Pixel Size | 4.27 µ | 5.93 µ |
| Image Size | 8368 x 5584 | 6000×4000 |
| Image Processor | Venus Engine (2019) | Venus Engine (2019) |
| Max Buffer Capacity (14-bit RAW) | 40 images | 90 images |
| Native ISO Sensitivity | ISO 100-25,600 | ISO 100-51,200 |
| Boosted ISO Sensitivity | ISO 50; ISO 51,200 | ISO 50; ISO 204,800 |
| Dust Reduction / Sensor Cleaning | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Electronic / EVF | Electronic / EVF |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 5.76 million dots | 5.76 million dots |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 100% | 100% |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.78x | 0.78x |
| Built-in Flash | No | No |
| Flash Sync Speed | 1/320 | 1/320 |
| Dual Card Slots | Yes | Yes |
| Storage Media | 1x SD (UHS-II), 1x XQD | 1x SD (UHS-II), 1x XQD |
| Continuous Shooting Speed | 9 FPS (No AF); 6 FPS with AF | 9 FPS (No AF); 6 FPS with AF |
| Shutter Speed Range | 1/8000 to 60 seconds (mechanical); extends to 1/16,000 with electronic | 1/8000 to 60 seconds |
| Shutter Durability | 400,000 cycles | 400,000 cycles |
| Electronic Front-Curtain Shutter | Yes | Yes |
| Autofocus System | Contrast Detect | Contrast Detect |
| Number of AF Points | 225 | 225 |
| Focus Peaking | Yes | Yes |
| Focus Detection Range (f/2 lens, ISO 100) | -5 to +19 EV | -5 to +19 EV |
| Illuminated Buttons | Yes | Yes |
| Focus Bracketing / Focus Stacking | Yes | Yes |
| Video Maximum Resolution | 5K @ 30 FPS; 6K @ 60 FPS | 5.9K @ 30 FPS |
| 1080p Video Max Frame Rate | 180 FPS | 180 FPS |
| HDMI Out / LOG | 4:2:2 10-bit HDMI Output / Yes | 4:2:2 10-bit HDMI Output / Yes |
| Headphone Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Rear LCD Size and Type | 3.2″ Touchscreen | 3.2″ Touchscreen |
| Articulating LCD | Yes, dual direction tilting | Yes, dual direction tilting |
| Rear LCD Resolution | 2,100,000 dots | 2,100,000 dots |
| Top LCD | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi Functionality | Built-in | Built-in |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | DMW-BLJ31 | DMW-BLJ31 |
| Battery Life | 360 (LCD); 340 (EVF) | 380 (LCD); 360 (EVF) |
| Weather Sealed Body | Yes | Yes |
| USB Version | Type-C 3.1 | Type-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 mm | 148.9 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.
On the next page of this review, we’ll take a look at the Panasonic S1R’s controls, build quality, and handling.
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