Panasonic Lumix S1 IIE Evaluation

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Panasonic Lumix S1 IIE Evaluation


Introduction

The S1 IIE is the brand new third-tier mannequin within the Panasonic Lumix vary of full-frame mirrorless cameras. This can be a hybrid photograph and video digicam that gives 24 megapixel photographs and as much as 6K video. It replaces the unique Lumix S1 that was launched approach again in 2019. The S1 IIE is positioned under the S1 II and above the S5 IIX fashions. The Lumix S1 IIE joins the costlier S1 II and S1R II because the smallest and lightest mannequin in Panasonic’s vary of full-frame mirrorless cameras, with all three sharing an equivalent physique and management structure. The Panasonic S1 IIE contains a 24.2 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor that provides 14+ stops of dynamic vary video recording in V-Log. It introduces a brand new Cinemascope video format (2.4:1) obtainable in varied body charges together with 6K 60/50p with out cropping. 6K Open Gate recording at 30p is offered and a future firmware replace guarantees the addition of Arri Log C3 compatibility. Different standout video highlights embrace as much as C4K 60p recording with no crop and inner RAW recording in 5.8k 30p and C4K 60p to a CFexpress Kind B card. The S1 IIE additionally supplies HFR (Excessive Body Price) recording at as much as 120fps and Gradual & Fast seize at as much as 180fps and it has a full-size HDMI Kind A terminal. On the stills aspect, the most recent Venus Engine processor permits for 30fps high-speed blackout free steady taking pictures with AF/AE, 10fps with the mechanical shutter, and there is additionally pre-burst taking pictures for as much as 1.5 seconds. Auto-focusing is additional improved with the addition of a brand new City Sports activities AF mode for road dance, freestyle soccer, skateboarding, BMX and parkour. The weatherproof Lumix S1 IIE has a thumb-controlled AF joystick on the rear, one UHS-II SD and one XQD / CFexpress reminiscence card slot, Bluetooth 5.0 and 5GHz/2.4GHz Wi-Fi connectivity, USB Kind-C charging, UVC/UAC plug and play webcam assist, HEIF assist and Seize One compatibility. Different key options of the Panasonic Lumix S1 IIE embrace an 8-stop Twin Picture Stabilizer, a free-angle 3.0-inch touchscreen LCD with 1.84m-dot decision, and a 5.76m-dot, 0.78x magnification OLED viewfinder. The Panasonic Lumix S1 IIE is offered in June 2025 priced at £2,399 / €2,799 / $2,499 body-only within the UK, Europe and USA respectively.

Ease of Use

The S1 IIE is designed to be an reasonably priced step-up from the favored S5 II mid-range full-framer, bridging the hole between that mannequin and the costlier S1 II and S1R II cameras.

Though Panasonic have not formally stated so, the S1 II and S1 IIE collectively change the unique S1 mannequin that dates all the way in which again to 2019 when Panasonic first launched their full-frame vary.

The S1 IIE measures 134.3 x 102.3 x 91.8mm and weighs in at 712g / 1.57 lb physique solely, which is far smaller and lighter than its direct predecessor. The unique S1 was one of many largest and heaviest mirrorless cameras available on the market, measuring 148.9 x 110.0 x 96.7mm and weighing 899g physique solely.

Panasonic have achieved this by basically reusing the design of the Lumix S5 II, presumably standardizing on one chassis to make the digicam smaller for finish customers and likewise cheaper to supply.

So for those who’re an S5 II proprietor seeking to improve, you will in a short time rise up to hurry utilizing the brand new S1 IIE, and for those who ever wish to improve from this new mannequin to both the S1 II or S1R II, the truth that all three are identically designed will certainly make for a straightforward transition.

This does imply that the the big standing LCD on high of the S1 which was helpful for rapidly checking the digicam’s key settings has been eliminated on the newer mannequin as there’s merely no room to accommodate it, one of many few design concessions of this new mannequin in comparison with its predecessor.

Then again, if in case you have been contemplating the Lumix S-series however had been postpone by the comparatively massive measurement of the flagship S1 our bodies, then the S1 IIE is unquestionably small and lightweight sufficient to warrant a second take a look at the vary.

The brand new Panasonic S1 IIE has the identical tank-like construct high quality and weather-proof exterior shared by the entire different Lumix S-series cameras. Its magnesium alloy full die-cast mud and splash-proof physique has all of its principal seams tightly sealed towards moisture ingress.

As you’d count on of a flagship digicam, the S1 IIE is absolutely weather-sealed and splash/dust-proof and freeze-proof right down to -10 levels Celsius (the S5 II solely goes right down to 0 levels Celsius).

The Panasonic S1 had top-of-the-line, if not the most effective, digital viewfinders that we ever had the pleasure of utilizing, and fortunately the brand new S1 IIE continues to make use of precisely the identical viewfinder as the unique mannequin.

The OLED unit has a decision of 5.76-million-dots, gives 100% area of view, and a magnification ratio of 0.78x with a 50mm lens at infinity. It operates at a local fee of 120fps with a minimal lag of lower than 0.005 sec, which helps to make it fully flicker-free.

The brand new S1 IIE makes use of the identical 3.0-inch, 1.84 million dot vari-angle LCD display because the S5 II mannequin, which gives barely much less decision than the unique S1’s display however much more versatility.

This may be tilted all the way in which out to the aspect of the digicam, turned forwards for selfies and vlogging, and turned in the direction of the again of the digicam to assist defend it when the digicam is not getting used. It’s totally helpful as an help to taking pictures video in addition to extra uncommon compositions when you may’t at all times get a watch flush to the viewfinder.

You can too freely rotate the monitor whereas a cable continues to be plugged in to one of many 4 ports on the aspect of the digicam, making video manufacturing even simpler.

The S1 IIE has the most effective in-body picture stabilization system of any Lumix full-frame digicam, providing 8 stops within the centre and seven stops on the edges of the body and seven.0-stops even within the telephoto vary with Twin I.S.2.

There’s an Lively I.S. mode which supplies extremely steady video recording by optimising horizontal, vertical and rotational correction. That is particularly efficient in historically difficult situations for handheld taking pictures, corresponding to utilizing telephoto lenses or filming whereas strolling.

There’s additionally a newly developed cropless E.I.S. video distortion correction choice which helps stabilize video footage with out cropping the angle of view, though this function solely works with a couple of wide-angle lenses that may apply in-camera corrections.

There are two reminiscence card slots, with the S1 IIE utilising one UHS-II SD slot and one XQD / CFexpress slot housed in a devoted compartment on the aspect of the physique.

The S1 IIE gives as much as 340-shot battery life when utilizing the Reside Viewfinder and 380-shots when utilizing the rear LCD display, barely worse than the unique, growing to round 1,100 photographs utilizing the Energy Save LVF mode.

It contains a 24.2 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor that’s most likely the identical because the one discovered within the S5 II – Pansonic say that it is “impressed by the traits of the LUMIX S5II”, and it makes use of the most recent technology Venus picture processing engine.

There’s a particular Excessive Decision mode which captures 96-megapixel equal photographs by quickly taking 8 separate photos and mixing them into one.

This mode now not requires the digicam to be mounted on a tripod or different steady floor to make sure ample sharpness. The newer S1 IIE can moreover seize its excessive decision photos while hand-holding the digicam even on the full 96-megapixel decision, which makes it much more versatile than its predecessor, though it is nonetheless finest suited to non-moving topics.

The S1 IIE has an expanded ISO vary of 50-204800 which is ever so barely higher than the S1’s 80-204,800 vary.

Twin Native ISO is a brand new function on the S1 IIE that’s borrowed straight from the S1H and Panasonic’s broadcast line of video cameras. This mechanically switches between native ISO settings of 80 and 400 with out growing noise by altering the way in which the digicam reads out the picture sensor.

You may manually change between the LOW and HIGH settings or select Auto and depend on the digicam to take action at varied ISO ranges.

As you’d count on of a severe digicam launched in 2025, in contrast to its 6-year-old predecessor the brand new S1 IIE has a hybrid distinction and phase-detection auto-focus system with AI monitoring that rapidly and exactly detects human eyes and faces and follows a topic’s actions easily.

Providing quick and reliable 779-area metering, the brand new system is ready to detect goal topics in tough situations corresponding to low mild and backlighting and, as soon as locked on, will stay monitoring them even with different transferring objects within the body.

Sadly, there isn’t any Automated Detection choice that may be turned on to seamlessly change between Human / Animal / Automotive / Bike/Bike / Practice / Airplane as on some rival fashions, so you continue to must dive into the principle menu system. Autofocus works in low mild all the way in which right down to -6 EV with the 50mm F1.4 lens fitted.

The S1 IIE gives blackout-free high-speed burst taking pictures charges at as much as 30fps with the digital shutter “SH” mode, and an prolonged steady taking pictures “H+ (Excessive Pace Plus)” mode of roughly 10fps with the mechanical shutter, each with full-time AF/AE monitoring.

The SH pre-burst mode even begins taking photos for 1.5 seconds earlier than the shutter is absolutely pressed, making certain you by no means miss a shot. It may well shoot stills at 1/16,000sec within the Digital Shutter Pace Precedence mode and video at as much as 1/10,000sec.

The unique S1 featured 4K video recording at as much as 60/50p in 4:2:0 8-bit high quality on to SD- or XQD-card or 4:2:2 8-bit by way of HDMI for as much as half-hour, whereas 4K/30p and Full HD could possibly be recorded with no time restrict.

The S1 IIE ups the ante by providing C4K 60p recording with no crop and the favored Open Gate format has been enhanced, permitting you to shoot in 6K/30p.

It additionally helps 5.8K Apple ProRes RAW HQ / ProRes RAW inner recording to a CFexpress Kind B card and you may document to an exterior SSD through USB-C.

The S1IIE is suitable with the LUMIX Lab sensible cellphone utility, enabling you to load LUTs straight into the digicam.

A brand new LUMIX Move app has not too long ago been launched to boost manufacturing workflows throughout varied situations, corresponding to quick movies, documentaries, music movies, and company promotional movies. This app gives a spread of options, from storyboard creation and taking pictures to file group.

Following on from the S1R II, the S1 IIE helps tethering through Seize One, helping varied creators throughout varied manufacturing situations.

Now let’s take a tour of the S1 IIE’s physique and exterior management structure.

Beginning on the entrance of the Lumix S1 IIE, the huge L lens mount dominates proceedings, together with a hand grip that, whereas narrower than these sometimes discovered on a semi professional DSLR, nonetheless feels excellent for the S1 IIE’s personal form and construct, enabling the digicam to be operated with only one hand.

With the decrease three fingers of your proper hand curled across the S1 IIE’s grip, your forefinger is free to alternate between rotating the entrance management dial that sits barely pleased with the grip at its topper-most edge, and the marginally raised and angled shutter launch button simply atop it, which is responsively springy.

Sitting simply behind these controls are three small raised buttons. From left to proper, these are for manually adjusting white stability, mild sensitivity and publicity settings. The Panasonic S1 IIE’s structure feels ergonomic and its operation – significantly of such key and often used options – nicely thought by way of.

Not like the earlier S1, there isn’t any top-plate LCD display on the brand new Lumix S1 IIE. As an alternative the big taking pictures mode dial has been moved from top-left on the S1 to top-right on the S1 IIE, and there is a Burst/Bracketing Taking pictures dial in its former place.

This smaller however nonetheless chunky, roughly ridged and raised dial over on the left hand fringe of the digicam has 6 totally different settings, which variously present fast entry to the self-timer, time-lapse, excessive decision, burst taking pictures (2 modes) and regular single taking pictures modes.

Beneath the dial is a shiny purple ring, similar to on the S1-series cameras, which has maybe been deployed to lend the cameras a extra skilled air.

Beneath that once more is a model new dial for rapidly switching between the Stills, Video and Gradual and Fast modes, which is a good addition that we want Panasonic had additionally adopted on the S5 II.

Stereo microphones and a vacant hotshoe for an adjunct flash are slotted straight on high of the EVF. There’s no built-in pop up flash on the Panasonic S1 IIE, which might be to be anticipated on a extra superior digicam.

The chunky, roughly ridged and raised taking pictures mode dial over on the top-right makes it straightforward to regulate settings starting from Clever Auto focus to program, shutter precedence, aperture precedence or guide fairly rapidly. On the identical dial we additionally get no fewer than 4 customized modes that work for each stills and video.

The on/of change is extra of an precise lever which sits beneath the taking pictures mode dial, one other slight level of distinction to the S5 II. That is fairly stiff in operation – you virtually must power it – which, to provide it a constructive spin, means this can be a digicam that’s virtually not possible to by accident activate or deactivate.

Flick this lever to on and the digicam is able to take the primary shot simply as rapidly as your finger can transfer from it to the shutter launch button simply in entrance. There’s no ready round with the S1 IIE – it’s prepared when you find yourself.

The management dial on the entrance of the handgrip is mirrored by one the dimensions of a 5 pence piece that sits on the highest plate on the again. Right here it readily (and once more, ergonomically) falls underneath the thumb of the proper hand; thereby persevering with to provide the impression that the structure has been nicely thought by way of.

Finishing the S1 IIE’s top-plate is a one-touch film document button, completed in the identical metallic darkish purple because the ring which sits beneath the drive mode dial. Identical to the shutter launch button, once more this has a pleasant springy really feel to it that makes it simpler to find and activate.

With chunky lugs for attaching the shoulder strap supplied out of the field to be discovered left and proper of the digicam, the right-hand flank supplies a port protected by a sliding change that permits for the insertion of two reminiscence playing cards, one UHS-II SD slot and one XQD / CFexpress slot.

The 4 particular person ports on the left-hand flank present a way of connecting an adjunct microphone and headphones, plus USB-C and full-size HDMI leads, the latter a notable improve from the unique S1.

The rubberized flaps defending these really feel slightly flimsier than the remainder of the digicam, and time will inform whether or not these develop into worn and cease adhering so exactly over time.

Transferring to the rear of the Panasonic S1 IIE, once more that is button festooned with out feeling over-bearingly so. 

The highest-left of the again of the digicam is the place we discover the playback button for reviewing stills and video, together with a brand new Lock change that forestalls the present digicam configuration from being inadvertently modified.

There is a small, devoted LVF button on the aspect of the pentaprism for manually switching between the rear LCD display and the EVF, which maybe feels slightly redundant on condition that the digicam mechanically switches to the EVF if you maintain the digicam as much as your eye (this setting may be turned on and off as desired).

On to the proper of the EVF is a tactile round change for altering the auto-focus mode from single to steady to guide focus, into which is ready the AF space button for choosing one of many seven obtainable AF modes. You may select from Monitoring, Full Space, Zone (Horizontal/Vertical), Zone, 1-Space+, 1-Space and Pinpoint.

Together with the afore-mentioned 8-way AF joystick, the small AF On which can be utilized for back-focusing completes the S1 IIE’s very handily-placed assortment of focusing controls.

This being a Panasonic digicam, we’re supplied with the very helpful Fast menu quick lower button – positioned through the button marked with an enigmatic ‘Q’ located to the proper of the LCD – which supplies fully customizable fast entry to 12 of the digicam’s key settings.

Menu/Set, Show and a shared delete/again button are additionally to be discovered on the rear of the S1 IIE, together with a well-known multi-directional management pad, encircled by a scroll wheel for max fluidity of operation.

The menu screens are comprehensively featured however pleasingly legible and intuitively navigated. That stated, it was additionally good to have the configurable Fast menu function with the intention to circumnavigate them once we wished to get to the related setting swiftly.

On the base of the digicam we discover a single screw thread for attaching the S1 IIE to a tripod, positioned straight in step with the central level of the lens mount.

Picture High quality

All the pattern photos on this assessment had been taken utilizing the 24 megapixel Effective JPEG setting, which supplies a mean picture measurement of round 10Mb.The Panasonic Lumix S1 IIE produced nonetheless photos of wonderful high quality through the assessment interval.This digicam produces noise-free JPEG photos from ISO 50 all the way in which as much as ISO 6400, with important noise first showing at ISO 12800. The sooner settings of 25600 and 51200 show numerous noise, however they’re nonetheless advantageous to make use of for making smaller prints and internet photos. You need to keep away from utilizing the expanded ISO 102400 and 204800 settings if attainable.The Excessive Decision Mode is able to creating 96 megapixel photos, whereas the assorted Picture Kinds and Filters assist you to rapidly and simply customise the look of the digicam’s JPEG and Uncooked photos earlier than you are taking them.

NoiseThe expanded ISO sensitivity may be set between ISO 50 and ISO 204800 in full-stop increments. Listed below are some 100% crops which present the noise ranges for every ISO setting, with JPEG on the left and RAW on the proper.

File QualityThe Panasonic Lumix S1 IIE has 2 totally different JPEG picture high quality settings obtainable, with Effective being the very best high quality choice. Listed below are some 100% crops which present the standard of the assorted choices, with the file measurement proven in brackets.Effective 8.5Mb)Normal (3.2Mb)  RAW (28.1Mb)  

Picture StylesPanasonic’s Picture Kinds are preset mixtures of various sharpness, distinction, saturation and noise discount settings. The obtainable Picture Kinds are proven under within the following sequence, which demonstrates the variations. There are additionally six Customized choices as a way to create your individual seems.

Filter EffectsThe Panasonic Lumix S1 IIE gives a spread of digital filter results that may be utilized to each JPEG and Uncooked information, with 8 totally different choices obtainable in the principle menu.

Pattern Photos

This can be a number of pattern photos from the Panasonic Lumix S1 IIE digicam, which had been all taken utilizing the 24 megapixel Effective JPEG setting. The thumbnails under hyperlink to the full-sized variations, which haven’t been altered in any approach.

Pattern RAW Photos
The Panasonic Lumix S1 IIE permits customers to seize RAW and JPEG format information. We have supplied some Panasonic RAW (RW2) samples so that you can obtain (thumbnail photos proven under aren’t 100% consultant).

Pattern Motion pictures & Video

Product Photos

Conclusion

Launched alongside the costlier and extra succesful S1 II, the brand new S1 IIE basically bridges the admittedly quite small hole between the cheaper prosumer S5 II and the range-topping S1 II and S1R II fashions.Moderately than the S1 II’s deal with all-out velocity because of its partially stacked sensor, the S1 IIE takes the essence of the S5 II as all-round hybrid digicam with options designed to enchantment to each photographers and videographers alike and provides sure key areas a lift to assist justify the improve.Commendably it additionally shares precisely the identical design and construct high quality because the S1 II and S1R II – the one method to differentitate between them is through their title badges – so that you get the identical person expertise on all three cameras, making for a straightforward improve path from this mannequin sooner or later.Arguably, the S1 IIE is probably a mannequin too far within the now fulsome Lumix full-frame line-up, with the soar from the £1999 / €2199 / $1999 S5 II to the £2,899 / €3,499 S1 II feeling slightly extra justfiied when it comes to the additional options that you simply get for the additional outlay.That is to not say that the S1 IIE is not a step-up from its cheaper, older sbiling, with the improved AF, higher viewfinder and extra superior video all being enticing upgrades, simply that it is not a big soar up just like the S1 II is.Then again, for those who don”t want the speed-driven options that the S1 II gives, then the S1 IIE is a extra wise all-rounder that gives precisely the identical taking pictures expertise at a extra palatable price-point.

Rankings (out of 5)

Design
4.5

Options
5

Ease-of-use
4.5

Picture high quality
4.5

Worth for cash
4

Predominant Rivals
Listed under are among the rivals of the Panasonic Lumix S1 IIE.

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Lastly! The brand new Lumix S5 II is the primary ever Panasonic digicam to have a section hybrid detection AF system, answering the critics of its contrast-based DFD system. However does this highly effective hybrid photograph and video digicam have what it takes to beat its principal rivals? Discover out now by studying our in-depth Panasonic Lumix S5 II assessment, full with full-size pattern photographs and movies.

We have kicked off our Panasonic Lumix S9 assessment with pattern JPEG and RAW photos, product photographs and extra…

The brand new Sony Alpha A7 IV is a brand new 33 megapixel, 4K/60p video, 10fps burst taking pictures, cutting-edge auto-focusing hybrid full-frame mirrorless mannequin that pulls no punches in its bid to be the one digicam that you simply want. Discover out why we expect this is among the finest all-round cameras of 2021 by studying our in-depth Sony A7 IV assessment…

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