When Nikon announced their new full-frame mirrorless cameras earlier this year I ripped the manufacturer for not being able to pull off 4K60p. I thought that since I had already been using this resolution and frame rate since 2017, that Nikon should have been able to bring it to me in their new 2018 cameras. I was then schooled by the PetaPixel comments section telling me, essentially, that this was impossible and couldn’t be done with cameras of the size and form factor.
When Canon announced their EOS R and couldn’t reach the 4K60p benchmark either I gave them a pass, thinking that, like was stated in the comments of the other article, that they were just not able to make this format work with current technology.
So, when Lumix announced their first full-frame mirrorless camera on Sept. 25, 2018, in Photokina, they made to sure to prominently display that their camera was unapologetically capable of achieving 4k60p! Yes, if there was ever going to be a mic drop moment at a photo press event it was going to be this. Seriously, had I been the one on stage doing the announcement that would have been it, just announce full frame 4k60p and walk off the stage…nuff said.
But, of course, there was more to this announcement. In addition to bringing 4K60p to the world of full frame, Panasonic was also introducing two camera bodies, one able to shoot 47mp stills while the other able to shoot 24mp stills. I’ve been used to working with micro four/thirds sensors over the last 4 years so I haven’t work with a megapixel range over 20, so to hear that I could get all the wonderful features of my GH5 in a camera body capable of super high megapixel counts was pretty awesome.
Initial lens selection also trumps what both Nikon and Canon announced with their new flagship cameras. By offering a 24-105mm and 70-200mm in addition to a 50mm f/1.4, Panasonic has done what I said should have been done with the other brands by releasing a really usable variety of lenses. I can take this camera and this kit of three lenses and do 90% of the work I would need to do with a camera. Combine that with the fact that there will be 10 lenses total in the next two years, not to mention partnerships with Leica and Sigma, and you’ll have a good variety of flexibility to do any type of work you need.
We also can’t forget dual memory card slots. This was another mic dropping moment for the manufacturer. I loved that you can have a SD and XQD card on the system. Nikon doesn’t really have an excuse now for their single XQD card slot do they. I’ve never used XQD, and I’m not sure I’m ready to adopt the format, but having the option of that or micro SD is really nice and means I don’t have to abandon my current memory card collection.
Finally, what I think I liked most about the Panasonic presentation was their focus on the photojournalist. All too often these events focus on the pretty picture takers, with sweeping vistas and powerful portraits, but don’t delve into the real world of photojournalism. It’s one thing take a beautiful landscape under perfect conditions, it’s a much different thing to take shots of people under duress in difficult, wet or dangerous conditions to get not just beautiful shots, but shots with meaning and purpose that tell a story and affect change.
There are lot of details about the camera that weren’t revealed in the keynote, but which will probably come out in the days, weeks and months to come. The biggest detail that I think was missing was the price, but we’re still a few months away from the camera being released so they might be ironing out the exact details right now. I think if they can get the S1 on the same level as the N6 and A7III, then they’ll trounce the competition, but if they can’t, they’ll be at a disadvantage. If I were to switch from the GH5, though, I’d definitely select the S1R. No matter the price, having access to such a high resolution sensor, along with awesome video shooting capabilities, is what would convince me to sell all my micro 4/3rds gear and hop on to a new system.
Here’s hoping Panasonic does right by their users and continues to release information that makes me want this camera even more. Regardless, Panasonic has a announced a no compromises, full-frame camera with the Lumix S1R and S1, that will give Sony, Nikon and Canon a run for their money in 2019.
