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Michael Radhakrishnan photo
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1305 Review
75 Karma

Review on πŸ“· Panasonic LUMIX S1 Full Frame Mirrorless Camera: 24.2MP High Resolution Sensor, 24-105mm F4 Lens, 4K HDR Video and 3.2” LCD Display - DC-S1MK by Michael Radhakrishnan

Revainrating 5 out of 5

Worth every penny

This is a spectacular camera. From ultra-clear High ISO video files to outstanding JPG/RAW photos, Panasonic has combined its best efforts in an affordable package. I'm pretty sure the IBIS system is back from the future - it's just amazing. I'm a Canon 5D IV and Fuji X-H1/X-T3 user, so I have no brand loyalty. Whoever makes the imaging equipment that drives the technology, that's where my money goes. I'd drop my other cameras in favor of the S1, but this thing isn't lightweight/small/portable and will draw attention in certain settings. The Fuji system wins here. By the way, the X-H1 is one of the best cameras out there for both photos and videos (despite some unfounded negative reviews that Fuji "overlooked" on this model - NOT TRUE). I would never get rid of my X-H1 again. Canon still has the best skin tones, and let's face it, nothing beats phase-detection autofocus when your subject is moving fast. I didn't get a new Panny S 24-105 f/4 lens with S1 because f/4 isn't very interesting and I already have a couple of fast Canon L lenses. I have the MC-21 Sigma adapter and my Canon taken lenses work great with S1 and IBIS provides stable video. The Canon 35mm 1.4L II works particularly well with the S1 for video and stills. I'm so happy with this combination right now. This is a great time to be a photographer/videographer. The only downside I notice is that despite good battery life I had to buy a few spares and they aren't cheap. In addition, you need to consider the weight of the system before picking up the S1 and leaving home. XQD cards also let you eat mac and cheese for weeks and drink instant soup out of a foam cup if you want to fill that second card slot. I don't want to buy new cards.

Pros
  • Sleek design
Cons
  • There are downsides