The Panasonic Lumix S1R hands on review, Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras
Panasonic launches its Lumix S1 and S1R full-frame mirrorless cameras
the wait is over: Panasonic has officially launched the Lumix S1 and Lumix S1R full-frame mirrorless cameras, along with three new L-mount lenses. With uncompromising quality and a powerful sensor, the cameras are capable of 4K video recording, have precise auto focus, and are compatible with Panasonic, Leica, and Sigma lenses using the L-mount.
Panasonic announced the development of the S Series full-frame mirrorless cameras at Photokina last year, and has now revealed all the details on the prosumer challengers to the likes of Nikon, Canon and Sony.
The Lumix S1 is built around a 24.2 megapixel full-frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm) CMOS sensor, though there’s a High Resolution Mode available that sees eight consecutive images taken at slightly different sensor positions, and then combined into one 96 megapixel-equivalent image. Panasonic says that such a mode would be of use in landscape photography.
On the movie-making front, the professional users that this camera is aimed at can look forward to 4K video at up to 60 frames per second, with full pixel readout possible at 30 fps, and 4:2:2 10-bit internal video recording and 4K/60p HDMI output options available.
The other member of the S Series is the Lumix S1R. Panasonic reckons the 47.3 megapixel full-frame (36 x 24 mm) CMOS sensor at the heart of this model puts it above all other full-frame mirrorless cameras on the market in terms of resolution. And the High Resolution Mode for this model can result in a massive 187 megapixel-equivalent image. 4K/60p video is also present and correct on the S1R.
As
mentioned last year, both cameras make use of Leica’s L-mount for
attaching glass. The sensors of the S1 and S1R have been treated to an
AR coating to nip ghost and flare in the bud. The cameras feature a new
Venus Engine image processor that’s been specifically tuned for the
full-frame mirrorless cameras, and can manage continuous bursts of up to
9 fps (AFS) or 6 fps (AFC).
Panasonic’s
Contrast autofocus with Depth From Defocus technology is shown on the
spec sheet, which looks at two images with different depths of field and
then calculates the distance to the subject. AI technology helps this
combination to achieve the industry’s fastest focus speed and tracking
speed. AI is also used to differentiate between different subjects, such
as humans and animals, even when they’re facing away from the camera.
Though
the cameras have 5-axis body image stabilization to counter the effects
of hand shake, dual image stabilization is possible when the cameras
have a Lumix S Series lens out front.
Framing
up can be undertaken using a 5,760k-dot resolution OLED viewfinder with
reported 0.005 second lag and 10,000:1 contrast, or the 2,100k-dot
tilting monitor. Bluetooth 4,2 and 802.11ac Wi-Fi are cooked in for
remote operation and image transfer.
Source: Panasonic
