Customer Ratings & Reviews

This is my first full frame mirrorless camera, upgraded from an Olympus 4/3 pro camera and WOW, the difference is amazing! The highlights: 1. My business is primarily low light still photography and this camera takes the cleanest pictures all the way up to 51200 ISO. 2. I don’t print pictures bigger than 11x14 so I didn’t see the need for the S1R. File size for a RAW file is just over 18mb per shot for the S1. Much easier to work with and archive and definitely crisp enough for digital media and normal printing. 3. The body is large, just a little bit smaller than a Nikon D850. The lenses are large to go with it. Most of them take 86mm filters and dwarf most mirrorless lenses. I like it though, it’s comfortable to grip for hours and the controls don’t feel cramped. 4. Speaking of controls, Panasonic got the buttons right on this one. Normally I spend hours customizing the buttons and knobs but this camera just needed a few tweaks and I was using it like I had it for years. 5. Menus......there is a lot of them. But they are well organized and you have 2 pages you can populate the settings you use most. Once I set it up, I never leave those 2 pages. 6. View finder resolution is breathtaking, fast, and accurate. I never want another DSLR with a mirror. 7. Lenses are expensive right now, they are also some of the best you can buy. Sigma has announced their ART lenses for the L mount already, I’m patiently waiting for release to buy my 85mm and 35mm primes. Summary: Panasonic snuck a few things into this camera that still photographers will love. Focus peeking when using manual focus is an unexpected surprise. If you use a flash, any of your Olympus/Panasonic gear will work on the hot shoe. It has great video capabilities (see youtube) but it’s a great still camera too. Build quality and features make this a great camera to use. No regrets, great job Panasonic.

Pros: -One of the best mirrorless weather sealing camera around -Nice Grip -Excellent resolution Viewfinder -CF EXPRESS and UHS II compatible -Excellent Low light -Excellent color Rendition -Back illuminated buttons(if needed for some, not needed in my opinion) -4k Quality is great (bear in mind it has a slight crop in 60fps) -Phenomenal image Stability, works best when using panasonic lens with IS Cons: -Big, as big as a Nikon D850 DSLR, but more lightweight -LCD screen doesn't articulate, only tilts in 2 directions -Autofocus is slower than other mirrorless. Sony would be 1st, then canon, then nikon, then panasonic. -Heavy -Battery Life is terrible compared to any other mirrorless, despite the battery being physically larger than any other mirrorless battery, roughly 400 shots in RAW -Not enough small lenses

If you are coming from a GH5, like I am... The led screen is the only thing I have to complain about this camera. Everything else is great. I don't know why the S1 was developed without that functionality, being so pricey and all.

Must unlock vlog for full potential. Love the build quality.