Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 Mirrorless Review
Paying flagship money for mid-pack performance? The Panasonic Lumix S1 is a $3400 lesson in why specs matter more than the badge on the front.
Overview
The Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 is a camera that doesn't know what it wants to be. At nearly $3,400, it's priced like a flagship, but its performance tells a different story. The one thing you need to know is that it's a jack of all trades and a master of none, landing squarely in the middle of the pack on almost every metric. It's not a bad camera, but for this kind of money, you should expect something special, and the S1 just isn't it.
Performance
Nothing here really surprised me, which is the problem. The sensor sits in the 30th percentile, the autofocus is in the 44th, and video performance is down at the 31st. It's all just... fine. You won't get terrible shots, but you also won't get the kind of stunning, reliable performance that makes you forget about the gear. It handles okay, but it feels like a camera designed by committee, checking boxes without excelling at any of them.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Build quality feels decent and solid in the hand. 95th
- The EVF and battery life are perfectly average, which is better than being bad.
- It has a full-frame sensor, which is the baseline expectation at this price.
Cons
- The price is a complete joke for what you get. 27th
- No in-body stabilization is a huge miss for a modern camera at any price, let alone this one. 29th
- Autofocus performance is middling and won't keep up with fast action. 30th
- It's weak for video and downright bad for vlogging, scoring a dismal 10.7/100 there. 33th
Specifications
Full Specifications
Build
| Weather Sealed | Yes |
Value & Pricing
It's not worth it. Not even close. You're paying a premium price for thoroughly average performance. There are so many better options at half the cost, or true flagship cameras at this price that will blow it out of the water.
vs Competition
Look at the Sony Alpha a7R IV instead. For a similar investment, you get a legendary 61MP sensor that's in a completely different league for photography. If you need speed and modern features, the Canon EOS R7 is a fraction of the price and destroys the S1 for sports and wildlife with its superior autofocus and burst shooting. Even the more affordable Fujifilm X-S20 offers better video features and a more cohesive experience. The S1 loses on value and specs to every single one of its top competitors.
| Spec | Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 Mirrorless | Nikon Z Nikon Z9 Mirrorless Camera | Canon EOS R Canon EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless Camera | Sony Alpha Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera | Fujifilm X-H FUJIFILM X-H2 Mirrorless Camera | OM System OM OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II Mirrorless Camera |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Compact | Mirrorless | Mirrorless | Mirrorless | Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
| Sensor | - | 45.7MP Full Frame | 24.2MP Full Frame | 24.6MP Full Frame | 40.2MP APS-C | 22.9MP Micro Four Thirds |
| AF Points | - | 493 | 1053 | 759 | 425 | 1053 |
| Burst FPS | - | 30 | 40 | 120 | 20 | 120 |
| Video | - | 8K | 4K @60fps | 4K @120fps | 8K @60fps | 4K @60fps |
| IBIS | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weight (g) | - | 1179 | 590 | 726 | 590 | 62 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Af | Evf | Build | Burst | Video | Sensor | Battery | Display | Connectivity | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 Mirrorless | 42.5 | 42.8 | 95.2 | 36.3 | 28.7 | 29.9 | 48.1 | 35.2 | 33.4 | 27 | 40.9 |
| Nikon Z 9 Compare | 97 | 97.5 | 99.6 | 92.1 | 97.4 | 98.9 | 99.2 | 87 | 96.1 | 92.4 | 90 |
| Canon EOS R 6 Mark II Compare | 99.1 | 96.2 | 96.8 | 95.9 | 89.9 | 94.9 | 99.4 | 95.6 | 96.1 | 98 | 90 |
| Sony Alpha a9 III Compare | 98.1 | 99.3 | 98.6 | 99 | 97.4 | 96.4 | 97.1 | 87 | 96.1 | 92.4 | 99.6 |
| Fujifilm X-H 2 Compare | 95.6 | 99 | 87.2 | 92.1 | 100 | 92.3 | 99 | 95.6 | 96.1 | 98 | 98.9 |
| OM System OM 1 Mark II Compare | 98.7 | 98.4 | 75.7 | 99 | 86.1 | 72.3 | 98.1 | 95.6 | 96.1 | 98 | 99.8 |
Verdict
I can't recommend buying the Panasonic Lumix DC-S1. It's an easy skip. This camera exists in a no-man's-land where it's too expensive to be a budget choice and not capable enough to compete with the real high-end options. Save your money and get something that actually excels at what you need.