Panasonic launched the Lumix S1RII, the improved version of its 2019 Lumix S1R camera. The new camera includes a range of improvements, including a new back-side illuminated CMOS sensor measuring 44.3 megapixels, reduced body size, and enhanced autofocus. The capability to record 8K video at 30 frames per second is one of the features of the Lumix S1RII that has seen the greatest improvement in terms of video recording for Panasonic’s full-frame family.
Even though the new sensor in the Lumix S1RII is one notch smaller than the 47.3-megapixel sensor in the old model, it has better video capabilities. The camera can now record 5.8K Apple ProRes RAW HQ or ProRes RAW, without an external recorder, and it is a big draw for videographers and content creators who want a do-it-all, hybrid camera.
The S1RII is also equipped with a new and quicker autofocus mechanism that uses the phase-detect AF along with the old contrast AF system. This yields better face and eye detection, alongside improved AI-enhanced tracking capability for subjects on the move, including humans, animals, automobiles, and the like. All this makes Lumix S1RII highly suitable for camera and video recorders who wish to achieve instant and precise focusing.
With regards to stills photography, the camera is capable of capturing full-resolution 12-bit RAW frames at a maximum of 40 frames per second with its electronic shutter, or 10 frames per second (9 with 14-bit RAW) with its mechanical shutter’s High-Speed Plus mode. The S1RII also features a handheld high-resolution mode, which can capture 177-megapixel stills by slightly moving the sensor and combining several exposures.
In-body camera image stabilization has also been enhanced, and it now delivers up to eight stops of camera shake compensation. In video recording, it utilizes cropless electronic image stabilization with distortion correction to minimize peripheral distortion while maintaining the angle of view.
The Lumix S1RII can be purchased in late March for $3,299.99. It features a range of options for photographers and videographers seeking high-performance performance in an extremely compact and lightweight body.
