⇡#The main features of the camera

For the Panasonic, unlike the Nikon, Canon and Sony, a new move was truly radical – S1 and S1R are the first full-frame cameras in the company’s history. With them presents a new line of optics, the new lens mount, new… everything.

Panasonic started in the new world with two close but different according to the orientation of the cameras: Lumix DC-S1, with a lower resolution sensor (24 megapixels) and the expanded possibilities of shooting video, it’s a classic for the company universal machine, whereas the S1R is aimed primarily at professional photographers, video shooting for this model are secondary. We’ll talk specifically about the S1R.

So here they are: S1R Panasonic Lumix – mirrorless camera with full size sensor and interchangeable lenses. The camera is equipped with brand new Leica L-mount that is compatible not only with “native” lenses, but with lenses Leica SL (full-frame line of Leica). Own lenses for the new mount from Panasonic today, there are three: Lumix PRO S 50 mm F1.4, LUMIX’S 24-105mm F4 and LUMIX’S PRO 70-200 mm F4. All of them came to me to test with the camera. In addition to the Leica and the Panasonic SL (line of lenses will expand quite rapidly), it is also planned release optics Sigma is a famous Japanese company, Panasonic has helped in the development of the body and will actively involve in the development of the new series.

The manufacturer positions its new product as a tool for serious professional work. Indeed, here we see a number of impressive characteristics.

⇡#New sensor

At the moment, the resolution of the sensor S1R, amounting to 47,3 MP, is the largest in its class. According to this characterization, the novelty surpasses released last year Nikon Z7 with a resolution of 45.7 MP and Sony a7R III with a resolution of 42.4 per MP. CMOS sensor lacks the low-pass filter, so you can expect that with the new Panasonic we get a huge image resolution with excellent detail, suitable for printing very large format and large opening spaces when cropping images. The flip side of such high resolution, of course, is the enormous weight of personnel, which places special demands on the storage system and image processing. In addition, the development of the sensor has been given attention to reduce the digital noise. The technology is based on the use of aspheric microlenses, “waveguide” for light direction in the pixel and the deep photodiode to more effectively capture light. This technology differs from the reverse illumination (BSI) used in Sony and Nikon cameras with high resolution, which puts the light sensitive area closer to the surface of the chip. The range of sensitivity Panasonic Lumix S1R – 100-25 600 units ISO, expandable to ISO 50-51 200.

⇡#New bayonet

For Panasonic Lumix S1R used Leica L mount lenses with a great diameter (51,6 mm, Canon RF – 54 mm, Nikon Z – 55 mm, Sony E – 46,1 mm), small working segment (20 mm) and a large number of contacts. This allows you to create within the system high-aperture optics of high quality with the theoretical characteristics is higher than for Sony E – however, before Nikon and Canon major advantages of the Leica L does not.

⇡#New processor

The camera has a Venus Engine processor Beauty. According to the manufacturer, this formulation allows to ensure excellent transmission quality textures and colour nuances in lights and shadows.

⇡#New viewfinder

In the chambers (as in S1R and S1) applied a new OLED viewfinder with a resolution of 5.76 MP. At the moment there is no such permission in any of the rival cameras they use, as a rule, the viewfinder with a resolution of 3.69 MP (full frame cameras of Sony, Nikon and Canon).

The viewfinder can be set to update at 120 or 60 frames per second. The manufacturer declares a delay of just 0.005 seconds, and it is also the best performance in the class.

⇡#Image stabilizer Dual I.S.

In the chamber system 5-axis stabilisation, as well as for Z Nikon and Sony a latest generation, there is an advantage to the Canon EOS R. Stabilization works in both photo mode and movie mode (including 4K) at all focal lengths. The manufacturer says about the possibility to remove from hands on exposures six times longer than usual for photographers, the ratio of “1/focal length”.

⇡#Features focus system

The new Panasonic camera uses a system of contrast focus Depth from Defocus AF – the same principle as in the apparatus Panasonic Micro Four Thirds, but with greater computational power. Thus in S1R’s the first time we encounter a new feature in the system of object recognition: if before the camera was able to recognize in the scenes exclusively men, but now they are also joined by representatives of the animal world: cats, dogs, birds, which facilitates accurate focusing and tracking in the frame.

The advantage of a contrast system is a very high sensitivity, autofocus Lumix S1R able to work in almost complete darkness, at-6EV. Declared real focusing speed under favorable lighting conditions is 0.08 seconds. In the darkness she, of course, reduced, but not to critical values, focus works still cheerfully.

Key features in addition to the highlighted above:

• LCD touch display with a diagonal of 2.1 megapixel;
• the shooting speed is 9 frames per second with the focus at the first frame, 6 frames per second with continuous autofocus;
• shooting mode in high resolution (megapixel 187);
• video recording UHD 4K / 60p from 1.09 x crop and bixiga pixels;
• two memory card slots: one for XQD card format, the second for SD cards;
• autonomy – 360 shots on a single charge on the standard CIPS when using the LCD display;
• the possibility of charging via USB cable, including chargers for laptops / tablets and portable batteries.

⇡#Design, ergonomics and control

From the first seconds Panasonic Lumix S1R impresses with its size, weight and appearance. The camera looks quite strict and stylish, but no frills and flirting with the design maximum attention is paid to functionality and reliability.

The camera housing cast, made of magnesium alloy, all seams protected with sealant – Lumix S1R suitable for shooting in all weather conditions, dust – and splash-proof. The manufacturer guarantees proper operation at temperatures up to -10 degrees (in fact, of course, you can use the camera at lower temperatures).

Panasonic S1R with lens 24-105mm

Camera weight with battery without lens – more than a kilogram (1020 g), that is quite impressive for this class of cameras (compared to Nikon Z7 with battery weighs 675 grams, and Sony a7R III – 657 grams). We can say that Panasonic has its own traditions: the large and heavy cameras in each class – prior to this all noted dimensions and weight of the models of GH series, comparable to DSLRs. Now full-frame mirrorless, which weighs one and a half times more than its direct competitors. Win in comparison with the full-frame SLR camera there simply is no, if we talk about “bird”. Optics S1R, of course, smaller, and easier professional DSLRs.

However, all new lenses Panasonic mentioned above and the ones I tested also have impressive dimensions. A complete set of equipment that I have on test, weighed very solid. I admit, with the coffer in which were stacked all three lens and the camera, I was able to handle only a two-hour walk – then enjoy shooting on high-end technology gave way to the banal fatigue and back pain. Thus, planning the shoot, especially if it will occur “on the fly”, it is better to figure out which of the lenses is really worth to take. Hiking with this set of equipment going to be hard, however if you are a real (and physically strong) enthusiast and ready to do anything for the quality of the frame – perhaps it’s your choice.

Let’s review the main design features of the camera.

Viewfinder. Its design mentioned above. Let me remind you, the resolution is the biggest in the class. He also looks unusually large. The viewfinder has a large rubber Eyecup that can be removed, but me working with him was comfortable. The eye sensor next to the viewfinder can be set so that the camera goes into standby mode after the specified number of seconds after you take it from is one of the ways of efficient use of battery life. The viewfinder has proven itself in the image it is “alive” and detailed.

S1R is equipped with a touch LCD display with a diagonal of 3.2 inches and a resolution of 2.1 megapixels, which tilts when shooting in both landscape and portrait orientations.

The top panel is a monochrome LCD displayshowing basic shooting settings. In buttercake even a serious level it is often missing, but this is a very useful and convenient thing.

Drive mode selection the drive on the left top has two positions continuous burst (labelled I and II). They can be configured to set the preferred recording speed or for access to shooting 6K / 4K Photo.

Joysticks and switches. S1R is equipped with an eight-rear joystick to quickly move the AF point, which is a clear improvement compared to the four-way joysticks on models system Panasonic Micro Thirds Foyr. You can choose how fast you are moving the AF point. You can also configure the function that is selected by pressing the joystick (reset the position of the AF point, use as a Fn button, access the menu or you can not assign any function).

Dip switch on the front panel of the camera can be configured to control one of several functions: AF area mode, shutter, self-timer etc.

Left on the back of the camera is the lock lever, and you can choose what you want to use it to block – some individual controls or, for example, to temporarily disable the touch screen.

The illumination of the controls is one of the features that distinguishes S1R from most of its competitors. This is a very useful feature when shooting in low-light conditions, when the controls barely distinguishable. Buttons can be set to either constant light, or so that they fire when the button is pressed the backlight of the LCD display top pane.

Dual memory card slot – another important design feature. That’s what I personally really did not have competing cameras, such as Nikon and Canon EOS Z7 R. S1R allows both serial and parallel recording on two memory cards. In terms of responsible commercial work in the back up materials is no doubt a very significant advantage. One slot is designed to use standard SD cards up to UHS-II, the other for XQD cards. The SD slot allows you to use the card V90, provides maximum high-speed shooting and recording information.

In General, the set of controls and the possibility for flexible adjustment of all the camera can be called unprecedented in the market. For example, the keys adjust the white balance, ISO and exposure compensation can be set so that you have adjusted the settings on the retention and the rotation of the disk or when the disk rotates after a single click; you can make a single disk when configuring the ISO was responsible for changing ISO and the other for the upper limit in Auto ISO mode, or just both regulated ISO; exposure compensation you can choose what scale to set the compensation for the flash. And similar items – great variety. Moreover, the profile settings can be saved to the memory card (!). This is useful for photographers who take the camera in rent and do not want each time to customize again. I must say that configuration files S1 and S1R are not compatible.

⇡#Battery

For Panasonic Lumix S1R installed a completely new and unusual huge battery DMW-BLJ31 with a capacity of 23 WH (3050 mAh, 7.4 V) is not only the camera itself is one and a half times heavier than the competitors, but the battery one and a half times larger, and larger. When shooting reportage enabled the preview frame and hover on the screen and the battery lasted for a whole seven hours with breaks – about 600 frames. According to the CIPA standard 380 stated staff is, of course, with a large margin.

To charge the battery with the battery charger and using a standard USB cable.

⇡#Interface

Panasonic has greatly refined the interface S1/S1R, streamlined menu structure and changing the system quick menu. Each tab of the main menu is divided into subsections, marked by a series of icons. This makes it relatively quickly jump to the desired section.

The quick menu is organized in a matrix format the format 3 × 4 next to the small preview window, or stretched on the entire screen of the array of 6 × 2. I must say, in any case, this is a real breakthrough in comparison with cameras of the G-series which always had very weak organization quick access menu. Needless to say, the elements included in the matrix, tune, and settings for video and photo are displayed in the respective modes separately. There is a touch input. The latter is not only used to navigate the interface, but also allows you to set the focus point.

⇡#Wireless

The camera is equipped with wireless interfaces Wi-Fi 802.11 ac and Bluetooth 4.2. Nothing new here – the camera can be controlled from your smartphone, transfer images wirelessly, but the background transfer using Bluetooth, as for Nikon SnapBridge, not here. Bluetooth is only for quick pairing already “friends” with each other devices.