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Lumix S1 High ISO Range Side-by-Side Examples

Here are some side-by-side comparisons of the Lumix S1's high ISO performance from ISO 3200 through ISO 204800.

Lumix S1 Mirrorless Camera

Categories: Mirrorless Cameras, Sample Images
Tags: Lumix, Lumix S1 Mirrorless Camera
Last updated about 2 months ago // Originally published about 2 years ago

Panasonic has launched some new full-frame mirrorless cameras. The Lumix S1R has a 47 megapixel sensor and sells for $3700 for the body. The Lumix S1 has a 24 megapixel sensor and sells for $2500 for the body.

I’ve been shooting recently with the S1. It has a native ISO range of 100 through 51200. If you’re using the default settings, that’s the ISO range that’s available to shoot with. But you can also enable the option to access an extended ISO range. On the low end, that gets you down to ISO 50. On the high end, it goes up to ISO 204800.

But native ISO and extended ISO are not the same thing. The native ISO is the sensitivity to light that the sensor hardware is designed handle to give optimum results. With the extended ISO range, software takes over to boost the signal. Once you get into the extended ISO range, the image quality tends to deteriorate markedly as you climb further up the ISO ladder.

With a 24MP full-frame sensor, the resolution of the Lumix S1 isn’t nearly as high as some of its competitors–or, for that matter to the S1R. But the lower resolution also means that fewer photosites have to be crammed into the limited physical space of the sensor. And that also means that each photosite can potentially be larger and more sensitive to light. The upshot of all of that is that scaling back on resolution can actually result in better low-light performance. Well, potentially, at least.

Of course, where the “acceptable” threshold is will depend on each photographer’s own tastes and intended uses, but I’ve found the ISO performance to be excellent up through at least ISO 20000. And that’s pretty impressive. But as you move beyond that, the negatives that come with high ISOs–noise and grain, inconsistent colors, reduced dynamic range, and an overall harsher look–become more pronounced.

I’ve posted separately a general set of photos I’ve taken with the Lumix S1 that includes several images at higher ISOs, but I thought it might be useful to post some side-by side comparisons. These are also designed to go alongside my detailed hands-on review.

High ISO Range Side-by-Side Examples

To give a visual sense of how the S1’s high ISO performance translates in real-world shooting, here’s a set of images of the same scene shot between ISO 3200 and ISO 204800.

I haven’t applied any post-processing on these, but the versions you see embedded in the page are necessarily converted from the original RAW to JPG for display (via Lightroom). So I’ve included links in the caption for each image that let you download the original RAW and JPG versions (I shot these with the RAW+JPG option turned on). In other words, the versions at the links are straight out of the camera without any processing. A heads up, though, if you’re using a mobile data plan or other metered web: each RAW file is around 36MB in filesize.

Lumix S1 High ISO Test

ISO 3200. Download original RAW file | Download original JPG

Lumix S1 High ISO Test

ISO 4000. Download original RAW file | Download original JPG

Lumix S1 High ISO Test

ISO 5000. Download original RAW file | Download original JPG

Lumix S1 High ISO Test

ISO 6400. Download original RAW file | Download original JPG

Lumix S1 High ISO Test

ISO 8000. Download original RAW file | Download original JPG

Lumix S1 High ISO Test

ISO 10000. Download original RAW file | Download original JPG

Lumix S1 High ISO Test

ISO 12800. Download original RAW file | Download original JPG

Lumix S1 High ISO Test

ISO 16000. Download original RAW file | Download original JPG

Lumix S1 High ISO Test

ISO 20000. Download original RAW file | Download original JPG

Lumix S1 High ISO Test

ISO 25600. Download original RAW file | Download original JPG

Lumix S1 High ISO Test

ISO 32000. Download original RAW file | Download original JPG

Lumix S1 High ISO Test

ISO 40000. Download original RAW file | Download original JPG

Lumix S1 High ISO Test

ISO 51200. Download original RAW file | Download original JPG

Lumix S1 High ISO Test

ISO 64000. Download original RAW file | Download original JPG

Lumix S1 High ISO Test

ISO 80000. Download original RAW file | Download original JPG

Lumix S1 High ISO Test

ISO 102400. Download original RAW file | Download original JPG

Lumix S1 High ISO Test

ISO 128000. Download original RAW file | Download original JPG

Lumix S1 High ISO Test

ISO 160000. Download original RAW file | Download original JPG

Lumix S1 High ISO Test

ISO 204800. Download original RAW file | Download original JPG

Where to Find Them

The Lumix S1 is now available and retails for around $2500 (body only). You can find them at B&H Photo either as a standalone body or bundled with the very impressive and versatile Lumix S 24-105mm ƒ/4 Macro lens.

By David Coleman
Instagram: @havecamerawilltraveldc

Last updated on January 13, 2021

Categories: Mirrorless Cameras, Sample Images
Tags: Lumix, Lumix S1 Mirrorless Camera

I may earn a commission for purchases using links on this page. Learn more.

News & Deals

With the holidays fast approaching, there’s some great deals on photography gear and services available. I’ve put together a roundup of Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2020 Photography Deals. It’s a running list as new deals are announced, so be sure to check back.

Canon announces new EOS Rebel T8i DSLR. Canon has announced their new T8i DSLR. 24MP APS-C cropped CMOS sensor, 4K24 video, and updated image processing and detection systems. It’s available for preorder from B&H Photo.

New Firmware for the Ricoh GR III. Ricoh has release firmware v1.31 for the GR III. Release notes are: “Corrected — When shooting with the multiple exposure, in rare cases the live view may not display correctly. Improved stability for general performance.” You can download it here.

New Canon 1D X Mark III Pro DSLR Announced. Canon has announced their new flagship model of pro DSLR, the 1D X Mark III. They’re sticking with a 20.1MP CMOS sensor, but it’s a new and improved version and boasts an incredible native ISO range of ISO 100 to ISO 102400 and an extended range that goes up to a jaw-dropping ISO 819200. With revamped autofocus, a new image processor, and all sorts of other bells and whistles, it’s no wonder that Canon is billing it as “The Ultimate EOS.”

New Manfrotto Pro Rugged Memory Cards. Manfrotto, an Italian probably best known for their tripods and studio accessories, has launched a new Pro Rugged range of high-end SD, microSD, and CompactFlash cards. While they don’t have a huge selection of sizes and speeds, the cards are aiming for very fast cards that can put up with rugged demands. For instance, they claim that their V90 rated SD cards can withstand three times the force (20kg / 45 lbs) of a regular SD card. I’ve ordered some to run through my speed tests.

New Sony Alpha a7 firmware released. A firmware update for the Sony a7R IV now lets you control external Sony flashes from the camera’s own menu system. Up to 15 flashes in five groups can be controlled via the camera. It also applies to the a7R III and a7 III.

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I take photos. I travel. I do it for a living. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between.

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