Panasonic LUMIX S S1II Black 2025

The S1 II brings a 70fps burst, 8-stop IBIS, and the best battery life we've tested, 1150 shots per charge. Video is stacked with 6K and 4K at 120fps. The 24.1MP sensor is the trade-off, and US prices swing by USD 1,103, so shop carefully.

Let's talk burst speed first, because 70fps is absurd. That's mechanical and electronic, which means you can rattle off a sequence faster than most cameras can focus. The 779 AF points with Eye AF, Animal AF, and Subject Detection put autofocus near the top of our database. In practice, that means tracking a soccer player or a bride walking down the aisle feels less like hoping and more like pointing.

The partially stacked sensor is the quiet hero here. It's not the highest resolution at 24.1MP, but the readout speed is what enables that 70fps burst and the 5.1K 60p open gate recording. Video specs are stacked: 6K, 4K at 120fps, 10-bit, Log, and RAW output. The 8-stop IBIS is best-in-class territory, which means handheld video looks steadier than it has any right to. The 5.8M-dot EVF is a standout too, sharp enough to make manual focus feel precise instead of like a guessing game.

Against the Sony a7R V, the Panasonic gives up a lot of resolution, the Sony's sensor is in a different league for detail. But the S1 II fights back with that 70fps burst and 8-stop stabilization, both of which embarrass the Sony. The Nikon Z9 is a monster in every way, but it's also heavier and pricier, and the Panasonic's battery life actually beats it. The Canon EOS R6 Mark III is the closest philosophical match, both hybrid shooters, but the Panasonic's open gate 5.1K 60p recording is a feature Canon doesn't match here. The Fujifilm X-H2S is smaller and cheaper, but it's APS-C, so the full-frame look and low-light headroom aren't the same. The OM System OM-1 is a different beast entirely, lighter and more travel-friendly, which explains why the Panasonic's travel score is the weak link in this group.

Pricing is all over the place right now. In the US, we're seeing a spread of USD 1,103 across 8 listings, from USD 2,895 to USD 3,998. That's a huge gap, and it means shopping around isn't optional, it's the whole game. The lower end of that range puts this camera in serious value territory given the video and stabilization chops. At the top end, you're paying flagship money for a sensor that's only average in resolution. If you're in Canada, the single CAD 4,295 listing is your only data point, so cross-border comparisons get tricky. Our advice: don't pay the high end of that US spread. The camera is good, but not USD 1,103-more-than-the-cheapest-listing good.

The Panasonic LUMIX S1 II lands with a spec sheet that reads like a wish list. A 24.1MP partially stacked CMOS sensor, 70fps bursts, 8 stops of stabilization, and 6K video all in a 717g body. In our database, the battery life sits at the absolute top of the charts, and the stabilization and autofocus aren't far behind. This is a camera that wants to do everything, and mostly pulls it off.

But the numbers tell a more nuanced story. The sensor resolution is middle of the pack for full-frame, and the travel score of 71/100 hints at the trade-off: this is a workhorse, not a featherweight. For wedding and event shooters, it scores 92/100. For beginners, 91.7/100. The overall 90.7/100 puts it in rare company, but the weak spots are worth knowing before you swipe a card.

Travel and street shooters should look elsewhere. The 71/100 travel score is the weakest area, and at 717g, this isn't a camera you'll forget is around your neck. The 24.1MP sensor also means landscape photographers who want maximum detail for large prints will find the resolution limiting compared to the Sony a7R V. And if your workflow demands internal full-frame RAW video, the external recorder requirement is a dealbreaker, not an inconvenience.

The LUMIX S1 II is a camera that rewards people who shoot everything. Wedding photographers get the battery life and autofocus. Videographers get 6K, open gate, and RAW output. Sports shooters get 70fps. The 24.1MP sensor is the compromise, and it's a real one if you're cropping heavily or printing huge. But for the hybrid shooter who wants one body that does stills and video at a high level, this is one of the best options in our database right now. Just find a deal on the price.