Panasonic S1 Achieved 88% Overall Score and Silver Award at DPReview
The Panasonic S1 is an incredibly well-built mirrorless camera with excellent image and video quality and it achieved an impressive 88% overall score and Silver Award from the experts at DPReview.
What we like
- Excellent Raw and JPEG image quality
- High-resolution mode also offers noise benefit
- Effective 5-axis image stabilization
- Class-leading build quality and weather-sealing; longest-lasting shutter in its class
- Single AF is very fast and precise
- Large, ultra-high-res EVF
- Beautiful oversampled UHD 4K video
- Face, body, eye and animal AF system works well
- Firmware upgrade for 10-bit log footage
- Linear manual focus response for video
- Responsive touchscreen
- AF joystick
- Dual card slots
- Top-panel display
- Illuminated rear buttons
- Impressive slow-motion video modes
- Easy to use, mostly reliable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity
- USB charging
What we don’t
- AF system less reliable than competition
- AF-C wobble can be distracting when using the EVF
- Choosing one face to focus on from multiple in the scene can be unreliable
- One touch magnification of AF point is not possible
- Battery life lags behind competition
- Heavy
- More expensive than peers
- Non-matched card slots (you’ll need XQD and fast SD to make full use of both)
The Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 is an incredibly well-built (but heavy) camera with excellent image and video quality. The body has numerous control points and is highly customizable. The S1’s built-in image stabilization is effective, and the camera can use this system to produce ultra-high-res stills. Autofocus is speedy and accurate in most situations, though the continuous AF experience can be frustrating when using the EVF. Video quality is excellent, with 4K/60p support and numerous capture controls, and more on the way via a paid upgrade. While it’s more expensive than its peers, the S1 is great for a variety of use cases, and is worth your consideration if you don’t mind its size and weight.
Those seeking a stills/video hybrid camera with a solid, weather-sealed body with excellent image and video quality.
Photographers requiring a top-notch autofocus system. Those looking for a lighter, more portable body.
Don’t own the Panasonic S1 yet? Just get it at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.
Read more: Best Memory Cards for Panasonic S1.
Read the full review at DPReview.