Introduction

This is the Panasonic S1R Mark II: 44 megapixels, 40 frames per second, and cheaper than all the competition. I’m in Tromsø, Norway, with Panasonic, and we’re going to tell you if you should buy this.

Lens Compatibility and Selection

Of course, the S1R Mark II is an L-Mount camera, and L-Mount has really become a strength. Even just a few years ago, the lens selection was a little limited, but I’ve been shooting with these Sigma lenses like this 28-105mm f/2.8—super fast with great range. I have an f/1.8 zoom with me, and the availability of these lenses means I’m not making any compromises. If you are worried about lens selection, I don’t think it’s going to be a problem.

Video Capabilities

The video specs on the S1R Mark II are pretty crazy. It does 8K at 30 frames per second and 4K at 60 frames per second with a 1.1x crop and full oversampled video. This means you’re going to get better quality than an A7S III.

Image Stabilization

My absolute favorite feature—more important to me than 8K 60—is the stabilization. The sensor stabilization is so much better than any other full-frame camera I’ve ever used. That means I don’t need a tripod—just look at these handheld shots and how steady they are. Even panning shots handheld look great.

Vlogging and Autofocus Performance

Now, let’s test the new Lumix for vlogging-style work, like unboxing stuff, makeup tutorials, and other scenarios where autofocus is crucial. In the past, Panasonic has struggled with autofocus performance, sometimes taking too long to transition or hunting in and out awkwardly.

8K Resolution Comparison

I tested the 8K resolution against major competitors. The Nikon Z8 and Z9 (same sensor) both look great, while the Canon R5 is a little soft. The Sony A7R5 has some serious moiré problems due to the lack of an anti-aliasing filter. The Panasonic, on the other hand, looks really sharp with no visible moiré—it’s a win.

4K 60 and Slow Motion Performance

In 4K 60 oversampled mode, the Lumix has a slight crop, but when zoomed in, it’s a class leader—sharper than any of the other cameras. At 120 frames per second (for slow-motion), the Z8 and Z9 look really good, Canon holds up well but has some moiré, and the Sony A7R5 drops to full HD, making it look bad. The Lumix is again class-leading.

High-Speed Shooting Performance

For sports and wildlife shooters, the S1R Mark II is a powerhouse. It does 40 frames per second at 44 megapixels, similar to the Z8, Z9, and Canon R5 Mark II, which all cost significantly more. However, autofocus isn’t perfect. In a fast-moving sequence, about 2/3 of the shots were out of focus, meaning I wouldn’t rely on the 40 fps mode for action photography.

Resolution and Real-World Sharpness

At 44 megapixels, it’s not quite the 60 megapixels of the Leica S3 or Sony A7R5, but in real-world use, the difference is barely noticeable. When comparing a highly zoomed-in test chart, the 60MP sensor technically resolves more detail, but in practical use, the difference is negligible.

Buffer Limitations for Wildlife and Sports

Although the 40 fps mode is impressive, the buffer fills up quickly when shooting RAW, making it less ideal for extended wildlife or sports sequences. Nikon’s Z8, Canon’s R5 Mark II, and Sony’s A1 still hold an edge here.

Pre-Burst Shooting Feature

A great feature for sports and wildlife photographers is the pre-burst mode, which captures images from 1.5 seconds before you press the shutter. This compensates for human reaction time and ensures you don’t miss key moments.

Design and Build Quality

Panasonic made the S1R Mark II smaller and lighter. Though still a large camera, it never feels too small in hand. The electronic viewfinder is sharp with 5.7 million dots, and the tilting/flipping rear screen provides flexible viewing angles.

Weather Sealing and Durability

The camera is highly weather-sealed. It has been raining throughout my trip, yet I’ve had no problems whatsoever. I don’t even worry about it—I just leave it out in the elements, and it works great.

Animal Autofocus Performance

We tested the S1R Mark II’s animal autofocus on a herd of reindeer, and it performed well. It reliably switched between the eye and body of the closest animal, a major improvement from previous Panasonic cameras. However, when refocusing on a new subject, it took about five seconds—slower than ideal.

Low Light Performance

We tested the camera at night while searching for the Aurora Borealis. The low-light performance was excellent. Manually focusing on stars was easy, as they appeared bright in the viewfinder. The only downside? No illuminated buttons, which would be helpful in the dark.

Studio and Portrait Photography

For portrait work, autofocus is reliable—better than some medium-format cameras but slightly behind Sony’s A1. However, the menu system needs improvement. It doesn’t automatically disable exposure preview when a flash is attached, making setup more time-consuming.

Modern Camera Limitations

Despite its strengths, the S1R Mark II still suffers from common issues seen in modern cameras. There’s no GPS tagging, no built-in cellular or cloud backups, and no anti-theft security features. If the camera is lost or stolen, your images could be compromised.

The L-Mount Advantage

One major advantage of the S1R Mark II is the L-Mount system, which allows cross-compatibility with Leica, Sigma, and other brands. Unlike Canon, which restricts third-party lenses, or Sony, which limits some third-party features, L-Mount offers full compatibility and consumer choice.

Should You Buy the Panasonic S1R Mark II?

It depends on your needs:

Portraits, landscapes, and events: Best value in its class, offering high resolution and strong autofocus at a competitive price.
Sports and wildlife: Capable, but autofocus and buffer limitations make options like the R5 Mark II, A1, Z8, or Z9 better choices.
Videographers: One of the best cameras available, with fantastic stabilization and 8K/4K 60 video.
Vloggers: The first Panasonic camera I can confidently recommend for one-person productions, thanks to improved autofocus and video capabilities.

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