Panasonic takes on Canon with the full-frame, 45-megapixel S1R II mirrorless digital camera

Panasonic’s mirrorless cameras are greatest identified for his or her video powers, however with its newest mannequin, the corporate is lastly getting severe about pictures as nicely. The $3,300 full-frame Lumix S1R II just isn’t solely the corporate’s first digital camera able to 8K video however can hearth off 40 fps bursts of high-resolution (45 megapixel) RAW pictures. It additionally provides a extra superior autofocus system, placing it squarely into the dialog with Sony, Canon and Nikon.

I’ve had a pre-production unit for a number of days now and to this point, I’m impressed. The unique S1R was a chunky 2.24 pound monster, however the S1R II is way lighter at 1.75 kilos and significantly smaller in measurement. That makes it much less burdensome than earlier than — although nonetheless a bit greater than the Nikon Z8 and Canon R5 II. It additionally has one of many fattest grips I’ve ever seen that gave me a agency, safe maintain on the digital camera.

Panasonic made different substantial modifications to the physique, eradicating the highest show and shifting the mode dial from prime left to prime proper. Within the latter’s place a devoted burst mode dial and picture/video/S&Q swap was launched, whereas a brand new autofocus dial was positioned on the again. Dealing with is now close to the highest amongst high-end full-frame cameras in my ebook, matching and even beating my favourite, the Sony A1 II.

Panasonic

The rear 1.8-million-dot show was additionally overhauled and never solely flips out for content material creators but additionally tilts up and down for photographers — placing it on par with the wonderful display screen on Sony’s A1 II. The digital viewfinder has the identical 5.76-million-dot decision and 120Hz refresh price as earlier than, however now provides a extra pure 100% magnification.

The S1R II helps each SD UHS II and quick CFexpress Kind B playing cards (moderately than XQD as earlier than) with a slot for every, whereas additionally permitting SSD recording through the USB-C port just like the S5 IIX and GH7. Different inputs embody mic, headphone and a full-size HDMI slot, together with a 10Gbps USB-C port. The battery is identical because the one on the GH7 and G9 III however delivers simply 350 photographs max on a cost, until you purchase the non-compulsory DMW-BLK22 battery grip. The S1R II will even provide full-float 32-bit audio recording, however solely with the non-compulsory DMW-XLR2 audio accent.

Panasonic takes on Canon with the full-frame, 45-megapixel S5R II mirrorless camera

Capturing efficiency is dramatically higher with as much as 40 fps (RAW 12-bit) burst speeds with steady autofocus enabled, in comparison with a moderately pitiful 6 fps on the earlier mannequin. It may additionally hit 10 fps speeds in mechanical mode or 9 fps with 14-bit RAW output. That matches the lower-resolution Canon R1 (although that mannequin does it in 14-bit RAW mode) and is simply under Sony’s A9 III that may hit a mind-boggling 120 fps burst speeds in RAW mode.

Panasonic additionally overhauled the phase-detect autofocus system so as to add extra pace and AI smarts. It may now lock onto a topic’s face and eyes faster and comply with their actions extra easily, but additionally detect and routinely swap between people, animals, automobiles, bikes, bikes, trains and airplanes. From my observations to this point, it’s not fairly as much as the pace and fluidity of Sony and Canon’s newest fashions, however Panasonic is almost there.

Relating to picture high quality, JPEG pictures look pure with reasonable colours, although I wasn't in a position to open RAW recordsdata on this pre-production digital camera. One huge enchancment is at excessive ISOs in low mild because of the twin ISO sensor that retains noise underneath management all the way in which as much as about ISO 12800.

On the video aspect, the S1R II now helps inside ProRes RAW and 8K video seize, however not each on the similar time. ProRes RAW captured to CFexpress or USB-C is restricted to five.8K however makes use of the complete width of the sensor, so it’s resolution for 4K productions. 8K, in the meantime, can solely be captured in 4:2:0 LongGOP MP4 codecs at 30 fps (4K tops out at 120 fps in Gradual & Fast mode).

That compares to 60 fps max on the Canon EOS R5 II and Nikon Z8, and each of these cameras can try this format in RAW. Sony’s A1 II, against this, also can do 8K 30 fps video however doesn’t help RAW recording in any respect. And naturally, the S1R II helps V-Log recording and guarantees as much as 14 stops of dynamic vary, barely lower than the S1R. It'll additionally enable for exterior ProRes RAW recording at as much as 8K to Atomos recorders through a firmware replace coming after the preliminary launch.

Panasonic’s up to date stabilization system guarantees as much as 8 stops of shake discount, however there are a number of important updates. It reduces edge distortion for video with out cropping, although there’s a small quantity of vignetting if you happen to try this. As earlier than, it helps e-stabilization at common and excessive strengths, and now provides the high-strength mode for anamorphic lenses.

That raises the problem of rolling shutter, for the reason that S1R II doesn’t use a stacked sensor like its important rivals, the Nikon Z8 and Canon R5 II. Distortion is certainly extra distinguished than on these fashions, however readout speeds are comparatively fast so it’s not offensive besides when doing whip pans or filming very fast-paced topics.

At $3,300, the S1R II is priced nicely under the $4,300 Canon R5 II however almost on par with the Nikon Z8, which might presently be discovered at $3,400. It’s set to start out delivery on the finish of March 2025.

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