@@rudermanphoto Also, I think the s-series bodies are the best low light cameras I have ever used. More so then my A7SIII and R6, which I consider really good. It’s such a pleasant grain pattern like mentioned above.
Got mine from a well-established refurbished photography gear shop in Italy (RCE FOTO). It was 900€, less than a thousand shots taken, basically brand new... helluva deal!
Thanks for this fantastic review! I recently upgraded to the S1R after using my S5 for almost three years, and I’m honestly surprised by how many people complained about the autofocus and the body. In my experience, both are excellent-the autofocus is fast and reliable, and the build quality is top-notch. The S1R feels great in hand, and the image quality is superb. If anyone has the opportunity to get a good second-hand one, go for it-you won’t regret it!
I really appreciate this review of the S1R, especially since it’s so rare on RUclips. I am using two S1, and I’ve come to understand why a CF express card is useful on S1R. A quick replaying looks great!
I love this camera, £1300 with 700 frames taken. Owned for 7 months now, with Sigma hsm 28/1.4 as 40/1.4 plus a Voigtlander apo 50 /2 and Otus 85. For my slower work it's superb, and even the autofocus works with L mount Sigma lenses rather than adapted. The sensor is excellent, screen/evf sharp and clear, and it articulates perfectly for landscape or studio. I saved a packet buying this and older lenses and nobody could tell the difference with a new camera. I would buy another one as prices drop even further as I could use this for 10 years easily maybe more. It's very well built. See the tear down online. Rugged pro camera for a bargain inspire of its minor faults. Setting up the autofocus is a bit tricky but once set it's fine for many things just not super fast action maybe. Sensor is gorgeous enough, colour is great and it is a very feature rich camera, Japanese style. I do hope Panasonic release a new version and don't drop the lineup, they just need better marketing and timing and pricing, as the original price was perhaps too high.
Nice! Got the same combo, S5II for fast movement and low light and S1R for basically everything else. People talking about Lumix AF being unusable simply don't inderstand the DFD because you have to set it up for the scene. You can shoot running children, fast moving cars, birds in flight. You just have to think about the AF setup before doing it. Sure, modern PDAF cameras allow you to just point the camera and press the shutter button, not actually having to know anything. But this doesn't mean DFD isn't capable. Have fun!
The S1R can do 4K60 without a crop. It just doesn’t have V-LOG or RAW recording options. That being said, it can shoot HLG and Cinelike D, which are quite capable. There are also 5K modes up to 30p. The reason it got ignored for video was simply because the S1H (and later S1) had V-LOG. Most people simply don’t understand HLG and much less how to edit it, so they’re missing out on the amazing value this camera provides.
Well said. Love mine and for product photography or landscapes - just brilliant. It is also called into duty sometimes as my "C" or "D" camera in a pinch - shooting 5k video.
I have this camera (as well as a Lumix G9 and Pentax 645z) and love it. It is not the best sensor for high ISO long exposure work but otherwise it does the job. The sheer size of this body was actually one of the things that attracted it to me in the first place. I feel like mirrorless bodies are too small for full frame size chunky lenses. You get better handling with a chunky heavy body. And DAMN it's made well. Great piece of kit. The range of lenses in the line-up now is awesome and just getting better by the year - especially the Sigma glass. L-mount is where it's at.
Agreed, it is awesome to shoot with the bigger body - the weight is not even that bad after you get used to it, just super noticeable when switching between the S1R and S5ii haha And yeah sigma has been putting out some banger lenses, I’m keen to see what else Panasonic can release to make the L mount even better.
I have been a long time S1R user, first the lens kit new, then an amazing value on body only used. It is the best value unquestionably. I do take issue with the focus assessment, it is a generalization from people who have not made the effort to learn the settings. My primary cameras are the 1DX and S1R, secondary is EM1X, this S1R is no worse than the other two for focus tracking with the caveat being the blurring phenomena in tracking with high shutter rate action. When I cover sporting events the S1R has been exceptional with a high percentage of tack sharp images out of tens of thousands of frames. Where the S1R has weakness is high ISO action, but the camera responds extremely well to the 'Denoise' feature in ACR/Lightroom, but it is a heavy pattern noise relative to S1 and 1DX but similar to EM1X. Paired with a Ninja V it has incredible video options.
Thanks for your review. I picked up a new S1R at a heavily discounted price in 2021. Build and image quality are stunning. Feature set is so rich it takes a while to get to know the camera and make the most of it. I do mainly landscape photography and autofocus performance is a non-issue for me. For me, weight of a complete outfit is the only downside and sometimes makes me take a lighter M43 kit instead. I had the chance to try a Leica SL2 and liked its simple ergonomics, but lack of tilting screen was a major negative for me. The SL3 would be great, but what a price!
Great video, and thank you for testing this product! The Panasonic S1R has been quite a niche product since its release in 2019. Similarly, there are very few tests of L-mount lenses available. However, I genuinely believe that Panasonic cameras offer excellent value for money. When comparing cameras with similar specifications from other brands like Sony, Nikon, and Canon, Panasonic’s pricing is much more affordable. I am a Panasonic S5 user myself, and to be honest, I was initially worried about its autofocus. But after using it for a long time, I found that it hasn’t significantly impacted my shooting experience. Even though people are saying that the second generation of the S1R is about to be released, I would still consider getting the first generation as my high-resolution camera. Buy the way after watching your review of the LUMIX S PRO 50mm lens, I decided to get one myself. I’m really looking forward to it!
Thank you so much for the kind words! While I believe the S1Rii will probably come out sometime in the next 6-12 months and just be a rebadged SL3, and I’m sure it’ll be an incredible camera - it will cost probably 3-4x what the S1R does on the used market, which makes it far less attainable making the S1R still an excellent camera if your budget doesn’t allow you to drop 4-5 grand on a high resolution camera brand new. I absolutely love the Lumix cameras and I think they are seriously underrated for photography + L mount glass is sensational, especially that 50 1.4!!! You are going to love that thing, just hit the gym to make sure you can carry it around 😂
Exactly! I think this would make an incredible first camera for someone - but I feel like you’d be spoiled with the incredible build and image quality that it might be hard to get anything else after - using the S5ii after this feels like a downgrade in almost every department except for AF.
I love my s1r. If it had vlog and the new phase detect, it would be my main camera over my s5II's. It's still my main headshot/studio camera and main photo camera on bigger remote assignments for those megapixels if needed later. Spot on with your full review, nice job! I feel focus is fine for photo. I do mostly spot focus and select my not usually fast moving subjects. It's honestly almost just as good as the s5II's used that way in my opinion. I've used it on some mountain bike action shoots and got great results. I wouldn't count on it with all area focus and finding the subjects that way. Using flat profile in video is pretty nice too. I'd prefer vlog, but I've used my s1r next to the s5II's often. Heavy, but for the features and build quality... I'd take that weight over the s5II build quality. I love how Lumix color and how they handle highlights.
That must have been a lucky purchase, mate, because I just opened up mpb and they want $1899 USD for it. (Granted, "Like new.") But that's not the primary point. The point is this baby is Leica specs on a Lumix sticker. Makes utter sense. Doesn't matter. I watch you regardless. You could review toast at this point.
Yeah that price I paid is indeed the result of me offering $300 under what the seller wanted for it, seeing as the camera had been up on fb marketplace for months - it’s certainly cheaper then usual but I still think it’s doable to find these at the 1100-1200 USD price point if you shop around! Haha thank you, might have to make some toast reviews too then ;) 💖
Regarding the light button... you're not alone, that is neat. Also, on the pricing, there is one on FB marketplace in my area for $1300 USD (with 32k shutter). Would be tempting if I wasn't looking in the opposite direction for a small travel / hiking camera (probably a M43).
Glad to hear I’m not the only one who thinks that! It’s so minor but such a nice detail and I wish more manufacturers implemented it. Yeah this really isn’t a viable hiking or travel camera, although I still intend to take it with me travelling because the results it can deliver are just that good, will just need to hit the gym, or just keep using it and naturally develop the sheer strength needed to carry it around 😂
@@rudermanphoto My first camera was a Panasonic (LX-2), and there is something very appealing about returning to the brand for a nice travel setup in their M43 line. I just wish they hadn’t put the G9ii in the S5 body… take advantage of the smaller sensor size!
@@kennethhughes8392 meanwhile I just wish the S9 had a hotshoe and an EVF - that would have really been the perfect little travel camera then, and you’d get all the benefits of the S5ii’s sensational sensor, but unfortunately it just has a few too many compromises for me to be super interested in it - maybe the Mark II will fix these issues and then I’ll be first in line to get one.
I must admit I've been looking at the S1 recently and amazed that they can be picked up for under £600, that's about the same price as a tidy Fuji XT3. I shoot with Fuji at the moment so the step up in weight is a bit off-putting but I do like the ergonomics of holding a chunkier camera. Certainly something I'm considering. I mainly shoot landscapes and family photos so the auto focus would be fine for me I'm sure.
Do it, I think you’ll end up loving it! Compared to the XT3 honestly the autofocus will be the same anyway, you aren’t going to notice a huge difference. The weight is certainly big but honestly just keep both systems around, they’re so cheap it’s not hard to justify that route and then you get a nice compact retro style camera in the Fuji and a full frame weapon with the S1!
I use my s1r for years now. The af is really good. For portrait work the eye af is good. For sports and fast moving subjects it sucks. But for street and architecture the s1r is great.
This was made when Lumix, while losing market share at the time, was doing quite well with the release of the GH5 and G9. During this time Lumix was committed to functionality and quality at as little compromises as possible, hence the huge size and impeccable build quality. It was this ethos that got me into the Lumix brand in the first place when I bought my GH5, it is a little tank that was dust, splash and freeze proof, didn’t overheat, offered insane video options, so on and so forth. Lately it feels like Lumix has lost sight of what made them special with the relative success of the S5 and now S5ii lumix has all but abandoned their professional line of camera. They haven’t released a pro series lens since the launch of the S line cameras, never finishing the golden trio of f2.8 zooms or making buddy lenses to the 50mm f1.4, nor have they made super telephoto lenses to pair with the S1R, which would be great for wildlife. I have an S5iix, G9ii, S5 and GH5 and they’re all great cameras, but this most recent announcements, along with the disappointing release of the S9 has me quite concerned. They really needed to announce that they were working on follow ups to the S1R (which I would assume is to use the same 60mp PDAF sensor for the Leica SL3) and eventually S1H. I really want Lumix to succeed, they need to flesh out their camera line with entry to pro level for an upgrade path and investment security.
lol bro Panasonic video division doesn’t exist anymore lol died with the EVA 1. Varicam line was supposed to continue but nope. We will see what their next move is after the new year. I can’t see them releasing for Black Friday because they would have to make the announcement now
I agree with all your sentiments, I guess that’s what makes it so much more frustrating seeing the recent releases seemingly seem to have forgotten about the professional market, as Panasonic is clearly more then capable of producing unbelievable pro cameras like the S1R and S-Pro lenses. I am optimistic though that we will see some sort of updated S1Rii/S1Hii in the coming months, the SL3 release looks like what the S1Rii will probably become, I read online that there may be some sort of sales quota the SL3 has to hit before the S1Rii can be announced, so as to not step on its toes - I imagine there’s probably quite a bit of that kind of politics amongst the L mount brands, (probably also why we haven’t seen a 28mm prime from any L mount manufacturer except for a dated sigma DSLR lens, so as to not encroach on the Leica Q) Time will tell going forward what Panasonic decides to do - with that said the talks of people deciding to switch systems because they still haven’t released a new flagship camera is rather funny, Canon only updated the R5 with the Mark II this year, and the R5 came out at the same time as the S1R did, the cameras are still more then capable of delivering amazing pro grade results and while yes I’d love a shiny new flagship I can’t say I’m underwhelmed with the performance of any of my Lumix gear so far, with satisfaction much greater then when I was shooting on Fuji professionally, even if the feel in the hand of the more recent cameras is no where near as nice as the S1R.
@@jockturner1547 okay bud. Just trying to respond to your comments about them creating a line that’s “pro”. That’s literally what that division was. Lumix was the entry level division but they didn’t see eye to eye. Typically cams are announced before Q1 so in order to allow for pre orders they would launch the cam most people are waiting for, the successor for the s1h. They don’t have a flagship camera currently as they are building out the other lines to gain new users and have market share.
Great video. I would still advise to get the S1H. It takes great photos and can shoot amazing video. The s1H is a great cinema level camera that can take great photos.
I had a chance to pick up an S1H from the guy who sold me the S1R for $1600 aud but turned it down because I don’t need 4 L mount bodies, although now I think about it maybe I should have gone for it!
@@rudermanphoto Wow 4! I do photography as well but video has been a real winner for me $$$ wise so it's just a really good option to have a cinematic level camera at your finger tips while also being able to take high end photos. The S1R looks amazing but if you can get the S1H for around the same price or a bit more used I'd definitely advise going for the S1H.
@ unfortunately the S1H is much more expensive used seeing as many still consider it so good for video - if I find it again for that price and I’m in the financial position to go for it I’d definetly do it - but at the moment they sell for quite a bit more then the S1R does!
I have the S1 and S1H and I absolutely love using them both for photos and of course video. So much so that I often leave my other cameras such as the A1 and Canon R5 etc.. at home. I'm very tempted to get the S1R, but I already suffer from GAS as it is. The thing I love most about the S1 series of cameras are the screens, the build and feel and the image quality that comes out of these cameras. If I had one complaint, it's the 70-200 2.8 that I own. That thing is a monster lol ... especially compared to the Sony 70-200 mark II.
Is it the Lumix 70-200 2.8? I hear that lens is amazing but yes also extremely heavy, like all the S-Pro lenses. It’s why the 70-300 is appealing, it’s much lighter and still very sharp, but the variable aperture is unfortunate. I may look into the Sigma 70-200 2.8 as I hear that’s great and lighter weight but there is something special about the S-Pro lenses that almost makes the weight worth it.
@@rudermanphoto Yeah, it’s the 2.8 version. Weight never bothered me, so I’m fine using it. It’s just a tank. It’s the only S-Pro lens I have or used but hear they are all chunky. I’d be curious to see how the sigma is too. I have the 28-70 Sigma and that is a very capable lens. Very sharp too.
@@PatrickChondon I had the Panasonic 70-200 and it had issues with connection on all my bodies (Adorama shipped it with no padding in the box at all and it was literally bouncing around inside the box, it was my last order from them). I'm not sure that was the cause of the issue, but It would loose communication because it was a tad bit loose, moving it a bit would reconnect. None of my other lenses ever had this issue. I sent it back and the sigma 70-200 was released shortly after. I LOVE he sigma version over the panasoinc for what I do. I really like the stepless iris ring for video, smoooth.
Dang, choosing the s1/s1h over the A1... must say the A1 has me tempted for the Sony side. I went from Canon 5D2-4 to Sony a7r2/a7s2 then to Lumix S series. Always had Lumix m43 floating around. Still love those little lenses and fast sensors for high video framerates.
@@powdersuber Sorry to hear about the connection issues. It sounds like it all worked out. How do you find the weight of the Sigma compared to the Panasonic?
This is a great review but you did mention the high resolution mode. I have a og (lol) S5 and cannot figure out how to edit those files. I know it isn't the topic but if anyone knows... Anyway great review. I've been looking for one of these.
Amazing video, I have a s5ii and a bunch of vintage glass (FD, Nikkor, Helios)... is the S1R view finder good enough to focus with (peaking etc) as I hate the s5ii screen (especially in daylight). Cheers :)))
Check Facebook marketplace and see how long some listings have been up for - this one was initially 1600 aud (1071 usd) but had been up for like a month so I offered $300 under and he took it.
They’re pretty similar, but I’d say the image rendering on the S1R is a bit nicer, skin tones look better and contrast especially in black and white is really nice. That said the S5ii is awesome too, I think they compliment each other well and you can easily shoot them side by side on a shoot and not have to do much work to get them looking similar.
This camera was $2000-$3000 for the last few years, Idk what happened, maybe it was the SL3 coming out but it being now available second hand for sub $1000 USD is nuts!
@@RonEMarksyou need to try local and you’ll need to negotiate on a camera that has been listed for a little while to get a sub 1k price but I think it’s still doable. Remember eBay fees are like 10-13% so it’s rare to find great bargains there, have alerts on for fb marketplace and pay cash and that’s how you can get good deals on cameras.
In terms of low light, I think the best performing bodies are supposed to be the S1 and first generation S5 (also the S1H???) The astro photographers I know of prefe rhte S1 and S5 original over the S1R. There might be others that might disagree though.
Yeah good low light performance has never been a strongpoint of high resolution sensors so that makes sense, would be interested to try the OG S1 or S1H to see what their performance would be like.
Thank you! I don’t have any experience with the 28-45, it looks like a great lens but also it’s gigantic and very heavy, especially with how limited the focal range is. I have the 28-70 2.8 and the 24-70 2.8 II and both are solid choices, I kept both because the 28-70 is just an awesome little travel lens, it’s like 85% as good as the 24-70 and half the price - but I kept the 24-70 because it’s a perfect pro lens with weather sealing, premium build and the extra 4mm on the wide end makes a pretty noticeable difference in my opinion. If I could only have one I’d pick the 24-70 2.8 II but I could definitely survive with just the 28-70 if that’s all my budget allowed for.
The viewfinder has 5.76m dots, whether you are playing back a photo or just looking through it, the resolution doesn’t change. It’s one of the best viewfinders I’ve ever used! 100% coverage and a lag of just 0.005 seconds makes it a joy to use.
@@rudermanphoto oh Thank you you for your response. I´m quite a while interested in this camera but the fact S1R II is coming 2025 and the weight of this camera is holding me back. Would love to pair this camera with a sigma fp l. Just for stills.
@@000dreamweaver the S1R ii will be drastically more expensive then this camera and likely weigh just as much haha If it’s within your budget I’m sure the S1Rii will be an amazing choice but with how inexpensive the original is you are getting so much camera for your money it’s not even in the same league.
Other then the likely much better autofocus I’m not entirely sure I agree - it’s hard to compare full frame to m4/3, both have their strengths but for portrait work I’d much rather have the 47 megapixels of the S1R.
@@rudermanphoto on these points is disagree. Have you shot with thr G9ii in low light? It's much better than the original G9 and any other m43 cameras than have come before. DoF/bokeh is overrated. I no longer prefer that look.
@@raizt1596 I’ve shot with an XH2s which is APSC and was meant to have “incredible” low light performance and full frame still wipes the floor with it - the new small sensored cameras are certainly great but there’s no replacement for a larger sensor when it comes to superior low light performance.
Only Fuji stuff I have left is my X-Pro1, Zeiss Touit and 23 f2. Can’t say I miss the XH2s or XT5 for pro work, the lumix is just much better suited for my needs - but I’ll never get rid of the Xpro1 or Touit!
![Jack Harlow - Hello Miss Johnson [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Q86_nlRoIGw/mqdefault.jpg)
Also , I feel like the grain pattern in panasonic cameras are underrated af
It’s so lovely! Even super high ISO noise still has a fairly pleasing look to it.
no grain in digital sensors P.
@@rudermanphoto Also, I think the s-series bodies are the best low light cameras I have ever used. More so then my A7SIII and R6, which I consider really good. It’s such a pleasant grain pattern like mentioned above.
I have the S1R + the S Pro 24-70 and its a killer combo, i think this camere its the most underrated camera ever
Got mine from a well-established refurbished photography gear shop in Italy (RCE FOTO). It was 900€, less than a thousand shots taken, basically brand new... helluva deal!
Thanks for this fantastic review! I recently upgraded to the S1R after using my S5 for almost three years, and I’m honestly surprised by how many people complained about the autofocus and the body. In my experience, both are excellent-the autofocus is fast and reliable, and the build quality is top-notch. The S1R feels great in hand, and the image quality is superb. If anyone has the opportunity to get a good second-hand one, go for it-you won’t regret it!
I still have S5 how does it compare?
I take mine to work almost everyday, I work by Brooklyn bridge. I also own s5ii sigma fpl canon r5c fuji ex4 but the S1R is favorite by far❤
I really appreciate this review of the S1R, especially since it’s so rare on RUclips. I am using two S1, and I’ve come to understand why a CF express card is useful on S1R. A quick replaying looks great!
nice review as always
I love this camera, £1300 with 700 frames taken. Owned for 7 months now, with Sigma hsm 28/1.4 as 40/1.4 plus a Voigtlander apo 50 /2 and Otus 85. For my slower work it's superb, and even the autofocus works with L mount Sigma lenses rather than adapted.
The sensor is excellent, screen/evf sharp and clear, and it articulates perfectly for landscape or studio. I saved a packet buying this and older lenses and nobody could tell the difference with a new camera. I would buy another one as prices drop even further as I could use this for 10 years easily maybe more.
It's very well built. See the tear down online. Rugged pro camera for a bargain inspire of its minor faults. Setting up the autofocus is a bit tricky but once set it's fine for many things just not super fast action maybe.
Sensor is gorgeous enough, colour is great and it is a very feature rich camera, Japanese style.
I do hope Panasonic release a new version and don't drop the lineup, they just need better marketing and timing and pricing, as the original price was perhaps too high.
Nice! Got the same combo, S5II for fast movement and low light and S1R for basically everything else. People talking about Lumix AF being unusable simply don't inderstand the DFD because you have to set it up for the scene. You can shoot running children, fast moving cars, birds in flight. You just have to think about the AF setup before doing it. Sure, modern PDAF cameras allow you to just point the camera and press the shutter button, not actually having to know anything. But this doesn't mean DFD isn't capable. Have fun!
Completely agree!!
The S1R can do 4K60 without a crop. It just doesn’t have V-LOG or RAW recording options. That being said, it can shoot HLG and Cinelike D, which are quite capable. There are also 5K modes up to 30p.
The reason it got ignored for video was simply because the S1H (and later S1) had V-LOG. Most people simply don’t understand HLG and much less how to edit it, so they’re missing out on the amazing value this camera provides.
For sure!! I use flat profile in video as well on mine and it's great.
Ninja V changes options with latest firmware.
Well said. Love mine and for product photography or landscapes - just brilliant. It is also called into duty sometimes as my "C" or "D" camera in a pinch - shooting 5k video.
I have this camera (as well as a Lumix G9 and Pentax 645z) and love it. It is not the best sensor for high ISO long exposure work but otherwise it does the job. The sheer size of this body was actually one of the things that attracted it to me in the first place. I feel like mirrorless bodies are too small for full frame size chunky lenses. You get better handling with a chunky heavy body. And DAMN it's made well. Great piece of kit. The range of lenses in the line-up now is awesome and just getting better by the year - especially the Sigma glass. L-mount is where it's at.
Agreed, it is awesome to shoot with the bigger body - the weight is not even that bad after you get used to it, just super noticeable when switching between the S1R and S5ii haha
And yeah sigma has been putting out some banger lenses, I’m keen to see what else Panasonic can release to make the L mount even better.
I have been a long time S1R user, first the lens kit new, then an amazing value on body only used. It is the best value unquestionably. I do take issue with the focus assessment, it is a generalization from people who have not made the effort to learn the settings. My primary cameras are the 1DX and S1R, secondary is EM1X, this S1R is no worse than the other two for focus tracking with the caveat being the blurring phenomena in tracking with high shutter rate action. When I cover sporting events the S1R has been exceptional with a high percentage of tack sharp images out of tens of thousands of frames. Where the S1R has weakness is high ISO action, but the camera responds extremely well to the 'Denoise' feature in ACR/Lightroom, but it is a heavy pattern noise relative to S1 and 1DX but similar to EM1X. Paired with a Ninja V it has incredible video options.
Thanks for your review. I picked up a new S1R at a heavily discounted price in 2021. Build and image quality are stunning. Feature set is so rich it takes a while to get to know the camera and make the most of it.
I do mainly landscape photography and autofocus performance is a non-issue for me.
For me, weight of a complete outfit is the only downside and sometimes makes me take a lighter M43 kit instead.
I had the chance to try a Leica SL2 and liked its simple ergonomics, but lack of tilting screen was a major negative for me. The SL3 would be great, but what a price!
Great video, and thank you for testing this product! The Panasonic S1R has been quite a niche product since its release in 2019. Similarly, there are very few tests of L-mount lenses available. However, I genuinely believe that Panasonic cameras offer excellent value for money. When comparing cameras with similar specifications from other brands like Sony, Nikon, and Canon, Panasonic’s pricing is much more affordable. I am a Panasonic S5 user myself, and to be honest, I was initially worried about its autofocus. But after using it for a long time, I found that it hasn’t significantly impacted my shooting experience. Even though people are saying that the second generation of the S1R is about to be released, I would still consider getting the first generation as my high-resolution camera. Buy the way after watching your review of the LUMIX S PRO 50mm lens, I decided to get one myself. I’m really looking forward to it!
Thank you so much for the kind words!
While I believe the S1Rii will probably come out sometime in the next 6-12 months and just be a rebadged SL3, and I’m sure it’ll be an incredible camera - it will cost probably 3-4x what the S1R does on the used market, which makes it far less attainable making the S1R still an excellent camera if your budget doesn’t allow you to drop 4-5 grand on a high resolution camera brand new.
I absolutely love the Lumix cameras and I think they are seriously underrated for photography + L mount glass is sensational, especially that 50 1.4!!!
You are going to love that thing, just hit the gym to make sure you can carry it around 😂
For the price that’s amazing. Imagine this being someone’s first camera
Exactly!
I think this would make an incredible first camera for someone - but I feel like you’d be spoiled with the incredible build and image quality that it might be hard to get anything else after - using the S5ii after this feels like a downgrade in almost every department except for AF.
Pentax K1 does that illumination thing, in red (for nightvision) or white. Also the screen can go red.
Absolute beast of a camera 📷 🔥 love mine
I love my s1r. If it had vlog and the new phase detect, it would be my main camera over my s5II's. It's still my main headshot/studio camera and main photo camera on bigger remote assignments for those megapixels if needed later. Spot on with your full review, nice job! I feel focus is fine for photo. I do mostly spot focus and select my not usually fast moving subjects. It's honestly almost just as good as the s5II's used that way in my opinion. I've used it on some mountain bike action shoots and got great results. I wouldn't count on it with all area focus and finding the subjects that way. Using flat profile in video is pretty nice too. I'd prefer vlog, but I've used my s1r next to the s5II's often. Heavy, but for the features and build quality... I'd take that weight over the s5II build quality. I love how Lumix color and how they handle highlights.
That must have been a lucky purchase, mate, because I just opened up mpb and they want $1899 USD for it. (Granted, "Like new.") But that's not the primary point. The point is this baby is Leica specs on a Lumix sticker. Makes utter sense.
Doesn't matter. I watch you regardless. You could review toast at this point.
Yeah that price I paid is indeed the result of me offering $300 under what the seller wanted for it, seeing as the camera had been up on fb marketplace for months - it’s certainly cheaper then usual but I still think it’s doable to find these at the 1100-1200 USD price point if you shop around!
Haha thank you, might have to make some toast reviews too then ;) 💖
@@rudermanphoto - I mean, a good cinnamon raisin versus a sturdy sourdough? You could get all the views, MR!
Regarding the light button... you're not alone, that is neat. Also, on the pricing, there is one on FB marketplace in my area for $1300 USD (with 32k shutter). Would be tempting if I wasn't looking in the opposite direction for a small travel / hiking camera (probably a M43).
Glad to hear I’m not the only one who thinks that!
It’s so minor but such a nice detail and I wish more manufacturers implemented it.
Yeah this really isn’t a viable hiking or travel camera, although I still intend to take it with me travelling because the results it can deliver are just that good, will just need to hit the gym, or just keep using it and naturally develop the sheer strength needed to carry it around 😂
@@rudermanphoto My first camera was a Panasonic (LX-2), and there is something very appealing about returning to the brand for a nice travel setup in their M43 line. I just wish they hadn’t put the G9ii in the S5 body… take advantage of the smaller sensor size!
@@kennethhughes8392 meanwhile I just wish the S9 had a hotshoe and an EVF - that would have really been the perfect little travel camera then, and you’d get all the benefits of the S5ii’s sensational sensor, but unfortunately it just has a few too many compromises for me to be super interested in it - maybe the Mark II will fix these issues and then I’ll be first in line to get one.
I must admit I've been looking at the S1 recently and amazed that they can be picked up for under £600, that's about the same price as a tidy Fuji XT3.
I shoot with Fuji at the moment so the step up in weight is a bit off-putting but I do like the ergonomics of holding a chunkier camera. Certainly something I'm considering. I mainly shoot landscapes and family photos so the auto focus would be fine for me I'm sure.
Do it, I think you’ll end up loving it!
Compared to the XT3 honestly the autofocus will be the same anyway, you aren’t going to notice a huge difference.
The weight is certainly big but honestly just keep both systems around, they’re so cheap it’s not hard to justify that route and then you get a nice compact retro style camera in the Fuji and a full frame weapon with the S1!
call it the leica SL2 and ppl will stop complaining about the AF
Legit
Nice video man ! Love that shot of the penguin !
Thank you!
I use my s1r for years now. The af is really good. For portrait work the eye af is good. For sports and fast moving subjects it sucks. But for street and architecture the s1r is great.
An excellent camera. I like it so much that I have two of them!
This was made when Lumix, while losing market share at the time, was doing quite well with the release of the GH5 and G9.
During this time Lumix was committed to functionality and quality at as little compromises as possible, hence the huge size and impeccable build quality. It was this ethos that got me into the Lumix brand in the first place when I bought my GH5, it is a little tank that was dust, splash and freeze proof, didn’t overheat, offered insane video options, so on and so forth.
Lately it feels like Lumix has lost sight of what made them special with the relative success of the S5 and now S5ii lumix has all but abandoned their professional line of camera. They haven’t released a pro series lens since the launch of the S line cameras, never finishing the golden trio of f2.8 zooms or making buddy lenses to the 50mm f1.4, nor have they made super telephoto lenses to pair with the S1R, which would be great for wildlife.
I have an S5iix, G9ii, S5 and GH5 and they’re all great cameras, but this most recent announcements, along with the disappointing release of the S9 has me quite concerned. They really needed to announce that they were working on follow ups to the S1R (which I would assume is to use the same 60mp PDAF sensor for the Leica SL3) and eventually S1H.
I really want Lumix to succeed, they need to flesh out their camera line with entry to pro level for an upgrade path and investment security.
lol bro Panasonic video division doesn’t exist anymore lol died with the EVA 1. Varicam line was supposed to continue but nope. We will see what their next move is after the new year. I can’t see them releasing for Black Friday because they would have to make the announcement now
@@guidedvisionsmedia I didn’t say anything about the Varicam video division or Black Friday 🥴
I agree with all your sentiments, I guess that’s what makes it so much more frustrating seeing the recent releases seemingly seem to have forgotten about the professional market, as Panasonic is clearly more then capable of producing unbelievable pro cameras like the S1R and S-Pro lenses.
I am optimistic though that we will see some sort of updated S1Rii/S1Hii in the coming months, the SL3 release looks like what the S1Rii will probably become, I read online that there may be some sort of sales quota the SL3 has to hit before the S1Rii can be announced, so as to not step on its toes - I imagine there’s probably quite a bit of that kind of politics amongst the L mount brands, (probably also why we haven’t seen a 28mm prime from any L mount manufacturer except for a dated sigma DSLR lens, so as to not encroach on the Leica Q)
Time will tell going forward what Panasonic decides to do - with that said the talks of people deciding to switch systems because they still haven’t released a new flagship camera is rather funny, Canon only updated the R5 with the Mark II this year, and the R5 came out at the same time as the S1R did, the cameras are still more then capable of delivering amazing pro grade results and while yes I’d love a shiny new flagship I can’t say I’m underwhelmed with the performance of any of my Lumix gear so far, with satisfaction much greater then when I was shooting on Fuji professionally, even if the feel in the hand of the more recent cameras is no where near as nice as the S1R.
@@jockturner1547 okay bud. Just trying to respond to your comments about them creating a line that’s “pro”. That’s literally what that division was. Lumix was the entry level division but they didn’t see eye to eye. Typically cams are announced before Q1 so in order to allow for pre orders they would launch the cam most people are waiting for, the successor for the s1h. They don’t have a flagship camera currently as they are building out the other lines to gain new users and have market share.
@@rudermanphoto I think adding the lumix Lab to this cam would be a nice addition competing with the Fuji 50sii
Nice video broski
Thank you my man!
Great video. I would still advise to get the S1H. It takes great photos and can shoot amazing video. The s1H is a great cinema level camera that can take great photos.
I had a chance to pick up an S1H from the guy who sold me the S1R for $1600 aud but turned it down because I don’t need 4 L mount bodies, although now I think about it maybe I should have gone for it!
@@rudermanphoto Wow 4! I do photography as well but video has been a real winner for me $$$ wise so it's just a really good option to have a cinematic level camera at your finger tips while also being able to take high end photos. The S1R looks amazing but if you can get the S1H for around the same price or a bit more used I'd definitely advise going for the S1H.
@ unfortunately the S1H is much more expensive used seeing as many still consider it so good for video - if I find it again for that price and I’m in the financial position to go for it I’d definetly do it - but at the moment they sell for quite a bit more then the S1R does!
@@rudermanphoto I gotta confess your review did make me want to get an S1r lol
@ it’s an amazing camera!! Get one while they’re still cheap lol
I have the S1 and S1H and I absolutely love using them both for photos and of course video. So much so that I often leave my other cameras such as the A1 and Canon R5 etc.. at home. I'm very tempted to get the S1R, but I already suffer from GAS as it is. The thing I love most about the S1 series of cameras are the screens, the build and feel and the image quality that comes out of these cameras. If I had one complaint, it's the 70-200 2.8 that I own. That thing is a monster lol ... especially compared to the Sony 70-200 mark II.
Is it the Lumix 70-200 2.8? I hear that lens is amazing but yes also extremely heavy, like all the S-Pro lenses.
It’s why the 70-300 is appealing, it’s much lighter and still very sharp, but the variable aperture is unfortunate.
I may look into the Sigma 70-200 2.8 as I hear that’s great and lighter weight but there is something special about the S-Pro lenses that almost makes the weight worth it.
@@rudermanphoto Yeah, it’s the 2.8 version. Weight never bothered me, so I’m fine using it. It’s just a tank. It’s the only S-Pro lens I have or used but hear they are all chunky. I’d be curious to see how the sigma is too. I have the 28-70 Sigma and that is a very capable lens. Very sharp too.
@@PatrickChondon I had the Panasonic 70-200 and it had issues with connection on all my bodies (Adorama shipped it with no padding in the box at all and it was literally bouncing around inside the box, it was my last order from them). I'm not sure that was the cause of the issue, but It would loose communication because it was a tad bit loose, moving it a bit would reconnect. None of my other lenses ever had this issue. I sent it back and the sigma 70-200 was released shortly after. I LOVE he sigma version over the panasoinc for what I do. I really like the stepless iris ring for video, smoooth.
Dang, choosing the s1/s1h over the A1... must say the A1 has me tempted for the Sony side. I went from Canon 5D2-4 to Sony a7r2/a7s2 then to Lumix S series. Always had Lumix m43 floating around. Still love those little lenses and fast sensors for high video framerates.
@@powdersuber Sorry to hear about the connection issues. It sounds like it all worked out. How do you find the weight of the Sigma compared to the Panasonic?
This is a great review but you did mention the high resolution mode. I have a og (lol) S5 and cannot figure out how to edit those files. I know it isn't the topic but if anyone knows... Anyway great review. I've been looking for one of these.
The high resolution mode files are saved as the same raw format as regular photos, I edit them in Lightroom.
@@rudermanphoto I use Luminar and for some reason I couldn't do anything with them. Maybe it's me. Thank you though.
Great camera! Use my S1 nowadays!
That thing weighs more than some medium format cameras! :O
It’s a tank!
Weighs less then my RZ67 did though 😂
Amazing video, I have a s5ii and a bunch of vintage glass (FD, Nikkor, Helios)... is the S1R view finder good enough to focus with (peaking etc) as I hate the s5ii screen (especially in daylight). Cheers :)))
Yes!
Manual focusing with it is a dream, it’s almost a blessing the AF is so average as it makes you want to shoot more manual glass on it hahaha
@@rudermanphoto wild, cheers thanks mate!
875US is pretty remarkable. It's about double that used in the US. Best Buy has it new for $2,400 on clearance.
Check Facebook marketplace and see how long some listings have been up for - this one was initially 1600 aud (1071 usd) but had been up for like a month so I offered $300 under and he took it.
Hey bud, did you buy the sigma 28-70 of ebay in Straya? I was about to pounce on it :)
Yes from DCexpert!
It was like $950 aud after a coupon, awesome deal.
Can you compare/contrast image rendering, not sharpness, of S1r to S5ii please?
They’re pretty similar, but I’d say the image rendering on the S1R is a bit nicer, skin tones look better and contrast especially in black and white is really nice.
That said the S5ii is awesome too, I think they compliment each other well and you can easily shoot them side by side on a shoot and not have to do much work to get them looking similar.
This camera was $2000-$3000 for the last few years, Idk what happened, maybe it was the SL3 coming out but it being now available second hand for sub $1000 USD is nuts!
No clue either but I can’t complain - makes it all the more worth picking one up now!
eBay prices as of 10-21-24 are $1500-2500 USD used. I’m not finding any sub $1000 anywhere. :(
@@RonEMarksyou need to try local and you’ll need to negotiate on a camera that has been listed for a little while to get a sub 1k price but I think it’s still doable.
Remember eBay fees are like 10-13% so it’s rare to find great bargains there, have alerts on for fb marketplace and pay cash and that’s how you can get good deals on cameras.
In terms of low light, I think the best performing bodies are supposed to be the S1 and first generation S5 (also the S1H???) The astro photographers I know of prefe rhte S1 and S5 original over the S1R. There might be others that might disagree though.
Yeah good low light performance has never been a strongpoint of high resolution sensors so that makes sense, would be interested to try the OG S1 or S1H to see what their performance would be like.
Great video i have a question for you i'm debating between the sigma 24-70 and the 28-45 as my premium zoom , which do you recommend for my s5ii ?
Thank you!
I don’t have any experience with the 28-45, it looks like a great lens but also it’s gigantic and very heavy, especially with how limited the focal range is.
I have the 28-70 2.8 and the 24-70 2.8 II and both are solid choices, I kept both because the 28-70 is just an awesome little travel lens, it’s like 85% as good as the 24-70 and half the price - but I kept the 24-70 because it’s a perfect pro lens with weather sealing, premium build and the extra 4mm on the wide end makes a pretty noticeable difference in my opinion.
If I could only have one I’d pick the 24-70 2.8 II but I could definitely survive with just the 28-70 if that’s all my budget allowed for.
I have a normal S1 and yes its so heavy and af sucks but the price for the value was realy good
I love my S1R
OK, NOW I NEED THAT LEGO OPTIMUS PRIME!!!!)))
I love him so much! He even transforms into a truck but it’s so fragile I don’t like doing that often so it’s strictly a display piece
Do your really get 5 MillionResolution in the Live View Viewfinder? Or just when you click Playback and look threw it?
The viewfinder has 5.76m dots, whether you are playing back a photo or just looking through it, the resolution doesn’t change.
It’s one of the best viewfinders I’ve ever used! 100% coverage and a lag of just 0.005 seconds makes it a joy to use.
@@rudermanphoto oh Thank you you for your response. I´m quite a while interested in this camera but the fact S1R II is coming 2025 and the weight of this camera is holding me back. Would love to pair this camera with a sigma fp l. Just for stills.
@@000dreamweaver the S1R ii will be drastically more expensive then this camera and likely weigh just as much haha
If it’s within your budget I’m sure the S1Rii will be an amazing choice but with how inexpensive the original is you are getting so much camera for your money it’s not even in the same league.
@@rudermanphoto Yes that correct. Heard something about 3700€ which i cannot believe when i look at prices of Canon R5II or something like that.
still waiting for a s5r to drop
People (like me) try the S1R, then sell it because it is TOO HEAVY.
10:57 Nikon cameras does it
MK3 SUPRA 6:20
You can get a G9ii for about the same price. Better camera.
Other then the likely much better autofocus I’m not entirely sure I agree - it’s hard to compare full frame to m4/3, both have their strengths but for portrait work I’d much rather have the 47 megapixels of the S1R.
@@rudermanphoto true, you would likely get more detail for portrait work if pixel peeping.
@@raizt1596 not only, think of the low light improvement a larger sensor gives you + the depth of field advantage too.
@@rudermanphoto on these points is disagree. Have you shot with thr G9ii in low light? It's much better than the original G9 and any other m43 cameras than have come before. DoF/bokeh is overrated. I no longer prefer that look.
@@raizt1596 I’ve shot with an XH2s which is APSC and was meant to have “incredible” low light performance and full frame still wipes the floor with it - the new small sensored cameras are certainly great but there’s no replacement for a larger sensor when it comes to superior low light performance.
Bro.. do u even Fuji anymore ☹
Only Fuji stuff I have left is my X-Pro1, Zeiss Touit and 23 f2.
Can’t say I miss the XH2s or XT5 for pro work, the lumix is just much better suited for my needs - but I’ll never get rid of the Xpro1 or Touit!
the ibis in the s1r is NUTTY. I've still never seen anything else like it..and I buy like everything.
Leica >>>
Sadly underwelming for video and underwelming firmware updates compared to cheaper Lumix cameras
Yeah definitely don’t buy it for video!
I don’t think any of the high resolution flagships are really known for their great video performance though.
@@rudermanphoto Of course, but the lack of log or a 15 min recording limit is absurd when the S9 even has more video capabilities 😅😅🤷🏻♂️
This is a camera for someone who already has a video camera and wants more MP purely for photography reasons, someone like me :)