Photography News Issue 63

First look 30

Photography News | Issue 63 | photographynews.co.uk

Panasonic Lumix S1R Mirrorless full-frame cameras are all the rage, at least with manufacturers. We got the chance to try Panasonic’s new 47.3-megapixel Lumix S1R on the streets of Barcelona

Spec at a glance

Prices S1R body £3399.99, S1 body £2199.99, S1R kit with 24-105mm£4199.99, S1 kit with 24-105mm£3399.99 Sensor S1R 47.3-megapixels, CMOS sensor, S1 24.2-megapixels, CMOS sensor Sensor format S1R 24x36mm, 8368x5584pixels. High-res mode 16,736x11168pixels, 6k photo 5184x3456pixels, 4K photo 3504x2336 pixels, HLG photo 6464x4320 full res S1 35.6x23.8mm, 6000x4000pixels. High-res mode 12,000x8000pilxels, 6k photo 5184x3456pixels, 4K photo 3504x2336 pixels, HLG photo 5984x4000 full res Aspect ratios: 3:2, 4:3, 16:9, 1:1, 65:24, 2:1 ISO range S1R 100-25,600. 50 and 51,200 extended S1 100-51,200. 50, 102,400 and 204,800 extended Shutter range 60secs-1/8000sec, Bmax 30mins Electronic front shutter curtain 60secs to 1/2000sec, Bmax 30mins Electronic shutter 60secs to 1/16,000sec (S1R), 1/8000sec (S1) Motion picture 1/25-1/16,000sec Drivemodes Burst shooting in AFS and MF: H 9fps, M 5fps (with live view), L 2fps. In AF-C 6fps max (with live view). 6K photo 30fps, 4K photo 30fps Exposuremodes PASM Monitor 3.2in 2100k dots, tiltable, touchscreen Viewfinder OLEDwith 5760k dots, 100% view, 0.78x, three magnification options Focusing AF works from -6EV to 18EV Focus points 225 area. Auto detection (face, eye, body animal, tracking, zone (vertical/ horizontal), zone (oval and square), single area, single area pinpoint, custommodes, full area touch Video Continuous recording 150min (rear monitor), 140min LVF Actual recordable time 75min (rear monitor), 70min LVF Recording file format S1 MP4, H:264/ MPEG-4 AVC, S1RMP4, H:264, MPEG-4 S1R 4k (3840x2160) 59.94/50/29.97/25/23.98 MP4, high- speed video (3840x2160) 29.97 (sensor output 60fps) S1 4K (3840x2160) 59.94/50/29.97/25/23.98 MP4, high speed video (3840x2160) 29.97 (sensor output 60fps), 4KMP4 HEVC (3840x2160) 29.97 72Mbps Connectivity Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HDMI, USB C 3.1 Image stabiliser Image sensor shift 5 axis/5.5EV benefit. Dual IS 6EV benefit Other key features Dust and splash resistant, USB charging Storagemedia 1x SD, 1x XQD Dimensions (wxhxd) 148.9x110x96.7mm Weight S1R body 899g, S1 body 898g Contact panasonic.co.uk

Words and images by Will Cheung

Panasonic officially unveiled the S-system in Barcelona and I had the pleasure of using the Lumix S1R mostly with the 70-200mm f/4 lens for a couple of hours. I also got to try the S1 and the 50mm f/1.4 and 24- 105mm f/4 lenses. Just a point for clarity. The S1R and S1 are externally the same so handling comments apply to both, and my views and the images shown here were done on pre- production kit. Panasonic has taken a different approach to its mirrorless system. Canon and Nikon have gone for bodyform that’s more compact than its DSLRs while Panasonic has taken the no-compromise route which means the S1R is a very solid beast and DSLR sized. It is weather proof, dust proof and built like a tank. Next to the shutter button is the white-balance, ISO and exposure compensation buttons. That layout works well and means you can control core features with the camera up the eye. For my fingers, the WB button is the easiest to use, which is not ideal as it’s the least used, while the compensation is the most used. The on/off switch is close by too; although in theory ideally placed on the right side I found it serviceable rather than great to use. The exposure button was also rather taut but maybe this is due to the cameras not being final production models. Panasonic makes a great deal of its high 5760K EVF and rightly so. It is really, really, good and the closest electronic screen I have seen to be optical. It has two refresh rates, 60fps and the better, but more power-hungry, 120fps. I likedhaving

the option of three magnifications and camera settings are shown in a black surround outside of the image area. The viewfinder is such an important aspect of a camera and Panasonic has devoted a lot of effort to making sure the image is the best possible. I think it has done a brilliant job and I couldn’t find anything to complain about. The adjustable monitor did its job well and the touch functionality was fine. If I did have a gripe it’s that I found I moved the AF point inadvertently too often. Less

sensitivity would help and there might well be a menu item for that, but I didn’t have time to look for it. I didn’t explore the camera’s function and custom options either so they can wait for the full test. A control I did like was the focus joystick and this even lets you move the AF point diagonally, so it’s faster and much more intuitive than the usual up/down and across. Push the shutter button and you get a low-pitched, low-vibration shutter release. Handholding at slow shutter speeds is perfectly manageable with the in-body, five-

Panasonic has devoted a lot of effort to making sure the image is the best possible