Panasonic Lumix S1 Review: A Full-Frame Hybrid Tank

This is not the camera I expected when I heard that Panasonic was diving into the full-frame camera market. For one thing, it’s big. One of the selling points of mirrorless cameras has been that by doing away with the mirror chamber of a DSLR, they can be packed into smaller and more portable bodies. But the body of the Lumix S1 is about the same size as a full-size professional DSLR. It’s also heavy.

2026 Editor’s Note: The Lumix S1 was Panasonic’s inaugural full-frame camera, originally launched to compete with the Sony a7 III and Nikon Z6. While Panasonic has since released newer, smaller bodies with upgraded autofocus, the original S1 remains an absolute tank of a camera. On the modern used market, it offers pretty incredible value for hybrid shooters who want professional video codecs, dual card slots, and an indestructible body on a budget.

For another, it’s relatively expensive. Lumix, and for that matter, most mirrorless cameras (with some notable exceptions of high-end models from Sony, Nikon, and Canon), have generally been aimed at what you might consider mid-range pricing. The S1 originally sold for $2,500 for the body.

But the camera team at Panasonic clearly sensed an opportunity here, and the S1 seems designed to go head-to-head with the Sony a7 III, Nikon Z6, and Canon EOS R. As with the Z6 and a7 III in their respective ranges, the S1 is the second model down in the range. There’s a higher-specced model, the Lumix S1R, which sports a 47-megapixel sensor.

In broad strokes, it has a 24-megapixel sensor that produces images measuring up to 6000 by 4000 pixels. It features built-in sensor-shift stabilization (Panasonic claims 5.5 extra usable stops), a native ISO range from 100 through 51,200 (and extended ISO up to 204,800), both mechanical and electronic shutters that shoot up to 9 frames per second, and up to 4K video recording at 4:2:2 10-bit mode.

So here’s my detailed hands-on review after shooting with the S1 for a while now.

Design, build & controls

I’ve already mentioned that the S1 is bigger and heavier than I expected. It hasn’t shaved off much bulk, and it’s about the size of a full-sized DSLR. Putting it into numbers, the dimensions of the body without a lens are 5.9 x 4.3 x 3.8 inches (148.9 x 110 x 96.7 mm), and it weighs 2.25 pounds (1021 grams) with the battery and memory cards inserted.

It’s not an especially pretty camera to look at. It’s rather angular and utilitarian. That’s not a bad thing — a pretty camera doesn’t do much to help you take better pictures — but it does hint at the potential for more refinement. There are no fancy ergonomic considerations with the handgrip; it’s a simple, rounded one-size-fits-all approach.

The buttons and dials are quite spaced out. Rather than cramming all the controls over onto the right side, it has some key controls, like the shooting mode dial, over on the left. Overall, they’re conventional without any surprises or quirks.

The menu system does what it’s supposed to do. It works and is reasonably logically laid out using a traditional categories-tabs-lists approach. By default, the menu is only accessible using the physical buttons, but you can enable touchscreen controls for the back screen.

It features two memory card slots. Slot 1 is for an XQD card (which, thanks to a firmware update, now also accepts ultra-fast CFexpress Type B cards). Slot 2 is for an SD (UHS-II) card.

The back screen is a touchscreen and tilts vertically (it doesn’t rotate). It’s bright and crisp. Crucially, it’s oriented in such a way that it remains visible when wearing polarizing sunglasses — a small point, but one of my biggest pet peeves when cameras get it wrong.

The electronic viewfinder (EVF) is incredibly bright and crisp, working exactly as a premium viewfinder should.

Ports, interfaces, and connectivity

It uses a USB-C port (USB 3.0, type-C). While more cameras are catching up, it’s always a relief to find this faster, universal port standard. It also features a full-size HDMI A port for outputting a robust video stream to an external display or recorder — a huge win for videographers.

It also has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built-in, which is standard on cameras these days, though I haven’t extensively tested the Lumix companion apps.

Battery & power

It uses a large battery that takes up much of the space inside the handgrip. Despite its physical size, I’ve been somewhat underwhelmed by the battery life. There are ways to maximize it (turning off image stabilization and dialing back screen brightness), but with default settings, it drains relatively quickly.

The battery is a Lithium-Ion, 7.2 VDC, 3100 mAh unit, and the specific model number is the DMW-BLJ31.

Shooting photos with the S1

There’s no getting around that this is a big camera. If you’re looking for a size and weight advantage for travel photography, you’ll probably want to look at full-frame options from Sony or Canon. But if size isn’t a critical issue, the S1 has a lot going for it.

The S1 has a native ISO range from 100 through 51,200. The sensor’s sweet spot is up to around ISO 6400, but I’ve been quite impressed all the way up to ISO 20,000. Where the usable limit lies will depend on your tolerance for grain, but I’ve posted some side-by-side high-ISO examples here.

Image quality

While there’s room for improvement in camera usability, the S1 absolutely shines when it comes to image quality. I’ve been using it with the 24-105mm f/4 zoom lens (often offered as a bundle), and the results are excellent.

The images are sharp, have excellent dynamic range, and feature beautifully smooth tonal transitions. The processing engine that generates the in-camera JPGs leans toward a very realistic and muted look, rather than overdoing the drama or adding noticeable color casts.

Sample images

Here’s a small selection of photos I’ve shot with the S1 to give some real-world examples. I’ve also posted a much larger collection of sample images separately.

Autofocus performance

It has the usual assortment of autofocus modes, including face/eye/body/animal detection, subject tracking, and pinpoint targeting.

However, I’ve struggled to get good results consistently from the autofocus system. I’ve found it to be a bit hit-and-miss as to whether it guesses the part of the frame you want in focus, even when it has registered faces. In low light conditions, I found it had more trouble locking onto focus than it probably should.

Panasonic uses a contrast-based “DFD” system rather than phase-detect. While Panasonic has issued firmware updates (listing improvements to burst exposure and flash sync), I didn’t notice any dramatic improvement in the AF performance. Right now, it’s an issue that would give me pause if I were shooting fast action.

Other still photo features

The S1 has the usual assortment of pro features, including mechanical and (silent) electronic shutter speeds up to 1/8000 of a second, and fast burst shooting up to 9 frames per second.

It also features a special 6K/4K burst mode that can generate up to 30 frames per second at 6K resolution (and 60 fps at 4K). You can output images as RAW (Panasonic’s .rw2 format) or JPG, and specify what should be saved to which memory card. It also offers built-in interval shooting (time-lapse) and stop-motion animation modes.

Shooting video with the Lumix S1

While I’ve been mainly using the S1 for still photos, it has incredibly capable video features, even if it doesn’t push as heavily into cinema territory as the GH5.

You can choose between 4K and 1080p resolutions, with frame rates maxing out at 60 fps. You can record in the older H.264 codec, the highly efficient H.265 codec, or AVCHD. There’s also an option for very high-quality 4:2:2 10-bit internal encoding (limited to 30fps or 24fps internally, but you can push 60fps to an external recorder via HDMI).

For internal recording (saving directly to an SD or CFexpress card), here are the available resolutions, frame rates, and bitrates:

Resolution	Framerate	Codec	Bitrate Mb/s
4K (3840 x 2160)	24	4:2:2 10-bit	150
	30	4:2:2 10-bit	150
	60	H.264	150
	30	H.264	100
	24	H.264	100
	30	H.265	72
	24	H.265	72
1080p (1920 x 1080)	60	H.264	28
	30	H.264	20
	60	AVCHD	28
	30	AVCHD	24
	60i	AVCHD	17
	60i	AVCHD	24

Recommended accessories

The S1 comes with one battery. If you’re looking for a spare, the model number is DMW-BLJ31, and I’ll warn you now that they aren’t cheap.

To take advantage of the burst shooting modes and high-end 150 Mb/s video capabilities, you’ll want a very fast memory card. I was using a ProGrade Digital V90 card, which handled the data flawlessly.

Lumix S1 manual

You can find the official Lumix S1 manual in a searchable PDF format right here.

Bits and bobs

• Touch Shutter: I love the feature that lets you touch a part of the screen to focus and activate the shutter. It’s not unique to this camera, but it’s executed well.
• Shutter Slap: The mechanical shutter is surprisingly forceful considering there’s no mirror. You can actively feel the shudder through the camera body. If you’re shooting long exposures on a tripod, utilizing the electronic shutter is a good idea.
• Packaging: Camera packaging is usually pretty boring, but Panasonic went all out here to make unboxing the S1 feel like an event worthy of a high-end piece of kit.

Wrap up

After shooting with the S1 for a while, I’ve found the image quality to be stellar. The operational aspects (menus and controls) are quite good, and the overall handling is secure. However, I’m underwhelmed by the autofocus system and the battery life.

It also wouldn’t hurt if it were in a smaller, lighter form factor. But overall, I’ve enjoyed shooting with the S1 and have been deeply impressed with the RAW files it produces. It remains a very solid, heavy-duty competitor in the full-frame mirrorless market.

Where to find them

It’s an older model now, so you’ll have a hard time finding new copies in stores. But they often turn up on the used market. These are the go-to sources that I trust when I’m buying and selling used gear:

• KEH
• MPB
• B&H Photo (Used Department)