Panasonic’s ‘best hybrid mirrorless camera’ announced

Angled view of the new Lumix S1RII L-mount camera, fitted with the S-R14105GC 24-105mm kit lens. (Source: Panasonic.)

Unveiled the day before the opening of the CP+ trade show in Yokohama, the Lumix S1RII is equipped with a new 45.9-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor that delivers an effective resolution of 44.3 megapixels and is capable of 8.1K 25p full-width video recording as well as 5.8K RAW video recording plus 6.4K Open Gate. A firmware update later this year will add 8.1K Open Gate recording to these capabilities. The new camera can also record and FHD resolution full-area 10-bit video 4K 120p/60p (NTSC) or 4K/50p (PAL) accompanied by 32-bit float audio when captured with the Lumix XLR2 Microphone Adaptor. ProRes 422 and ProRes RAW recording are also supported at up to 5.8K 25p for internal recording. V-Log recording supports up to 14 stops of dynamic range expansion plus an extended ISO range of 100 to 51200 for stills or 200 to 51200 for video. HLG recording is also available with an ISO range of 320 to 51200. The S1RII also provides videographers with a false colour tool and CINE A2 profile. Dual Native ISO capabilities are supported in some modes with a maximum ISO 102400 setting.

The new camera takes over from the S1R as flagship model in the series, improving on its pro-level capabilities while being 20% smaller and lighter than its predecessor. This comes partly through its smaller battery, although improvements to power efficiency have caused little loss in shooting capacities. Its weather-sealed magnesium alloy frame is splash-resistant, dust-resistant and freeze-resistant down to -10 degrees Celsius. The 3-inch 1,840,000-dot triaxial tilting touch-screen monitor ensures the camera is adaptable to any shooting style. The OLED Live View Finder has a resolution of approximately 5.76 million dots plus a display speed of 120 fps during live view in photo recording mode.  It has a magnification of approximately 78x with the 3:2 aspect ratio and an eyepoint of 21mm.A new Photo/Video switch on the camera’s top panel makes it easy for users to change modes instantly and also access their custom settings.

Stills photographers will welcome the sensor’s high-speed readout, which works together with the L2 Technology engine to usher in the fastest-ever burst shooting for the series with up to 40 fps High Speed Burst recording. Landscape photographers will appreciate the multi-shot, high-resolution mode, which supports hand-held shooting at up to 177-megapiuxels and delivers flawless detail and higher dynamic range. The updated real-time recognition Phase Hybrid AF system includes DFD technology and supports AI tracking, which quickly and precisely detects human eyes and faces and follows a subject’s movements, enabling dynamic subjects to be captured accurately and effortlessly. The S1RII also provides an SH pre-burst mode that starts recording shots before the shutter is fully pressed, so you never miss a shot.  In-body image stabilisation (IBIS) claims an eight-stop camera shake compensation, in line with the new 2024 CIPA Standardised testing. The new ‘cropless E.I.S.’ function provides advanced digital stabilisation without cropping in on the field of view, achieved by using lens correction information to smooth out shaky footage.  (Note: this revolutionary feature is only available on LUMIX L Mount lenses.)

Panasonic has introduced a new ‘LUMIX Flow’ app, which works with the camera and the user’s portable device (phone or tablet) to refine the production workflows for photographers, videographers, broadcasters, event media teams and solo content creators. It includes a range of features, from storyboard creation and shooting to on-site checks during filming and enables users to convert their smartphone for use as an external monitor. It also offers automatic data organisation, enhancing connectivity and production workflow for videographers across scenarios, such as short films, documentaries, music videos and corporate promotional videos.  The Lumix S1RII is also compatible with the ‘LUMIX Lab’ smartphone application, allowing LUTs to be loaded directly into the camera. Frame.io integration enables the efficient transfer of photo and video files directly to the Cloud, enabling faster collaboration anywhere in the world and reducing the need to upload files. In addition, Capture One is now available for the first time in a Lumix camera, with support for tethered shooting, assisting a diverse range of creators across various studio production scenarios.

The new DMW-BG2 battery grip. (Source: Panasonic.)

Released simultaneously with the Lumix S1RII is the new DMW-BG2 battery grip (shown above). Weighing only 316 grams it carries copies of the main camera controls, including shutter button, joystick and front and rear dials and accepts an additional DMW-BLK22 lithium-ion battery pack that extends shooting capacity to approximately 660 images. Its weather-resistant sealing is in line with that in the S1RII camera body.

The Lumix S1RII will be available in Australia in late March 2025 from leading photographic retailers at an RRP of AU$5499 for the body alone or $6999 for the body plus 24-105mm kit lens. The DMW-BG2 battery grip has an RRP of AU$649. Further details can be found at http://www.panasonic.com.au/.