Panasonic LUMIX S S1II Black Review

A video beast with a stills side gig. Buy it for the internal raw, 15-stop DR, and borderline psychic autofocus, not for the 24MP sensor.

The Panasonic LUMIX S1 II is the kind of camera that makes you wonder why anyone still buys a dedicated video body. It's a full-frame hybrid that absolutely crushes the video specs sheet: 6K open gate, internal ProRes RAW HQ, 4K 120p, and a true 15 stops of dynamic range. For stills, the 24.1MP sensor is no resolution monster, but you get 70fps blackout-free bursts and an AI-powered phase-detect AF system that sticks to subjects like glue. If you're a stills-only landscape purist, there are higher-megapixel options. But for everyone else, especially run-and-gun shooters, this thing is an insanely capable workhorse.

What surprised us most is just how well the S1 II balances its stacked sensor speed with real-world battery life. In our database, 1,150 shots per charge ranks in the 99th percentile, and that's with the kind of video firepower that usually drains a battery in an hour. The 5.8M-dot EVF is a standout too, crisp enough that you'll forget it's not optical. And the 8-stop IBIS? It makes handheld 4K 120p footage look like it was shot on a gimbal.

The street price is all over the map, ranging from $2,508 up to an absurd $96,617 for some mystery bundle. The real sweet spot is around that $2,500 mark at certain retailers, and at that price you're getting a video powerhouse that rivals bodies costing twice as much. If you can snag it near the low end, it's an absolute steal. Just don't pay north of $3,500, because that's where nicer stills cameras start to make more sense.

Against the Canon EOS R6 Mark III, the S1 II pulls ahead with internal raw recording and open gate 6K at 30p, while the Canon leans on a slightly better stills resolution and a larger lens library. The Sony a7 V is the high-res photo champ, but its video specs feel dated next to Panasonic's 15-stop DR and 70fps burst. And if you're a sports specialist, the Nikon Z9 still rules the roost for sheer speed and pro connectivity, but it's a lot more expensive. The S1 II lands as the filmmaker's mirrorless that doesn't skimp on stills performance.

If you're a travel photographer who values weight above all, this isn't it at 1,637g. Grab a smaller Sony a7C II or a Fujifilm X-T5 instead. And landscape shooters who want 44MP+ for massive crops should just go straight to the S1R II or a Sony a7R V.

Buy this camera if video is your priority and you want a single body that does almost everything without an external recorder. The internal ProRes RAW HQ and open gate 60p (in 5.1K) are features you'll find in far pricier cinema cams. Photo quality won't embarrass you, but if resolution is your main concern, look elsewhere. For hybrid creators who shoot action, weddings, or documentaries, the S1 II is a dead-serious tool that undercuts the competition on price.