The Panasonic LUMIX S1II delivers impressive features and performance

The new LUMIX S1II from Panasonic is a video-first hybrid camera with plenty of impressive features for event videographers, content creators and more. We put it to the test to see what it has to offer in terms of features and performance.

Inside the LUMIX S1II

At its core, the LUMIX S1II features a new-to-Panasonic, partially stacked, 24-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor. The new sensor design promises 3.5 times faster readout over previous sensors, yet it avoids some of the pitfalls typical of stacked sensors, like a smaller dynamic range.

The LUMIX S1II shoots in resolutions up to 6K open gate (5,952 x 3,968 pixels) at up to 30 frames per second (fps). At 5.1K open gate (5,088 x 3,392 pixels) it captures up to 60 fps. Open gate shooting allows for video capture using the full height of the sensor. This results in an image with a 3:2 aspect ratio that can be cropped and stabilized as needed.

Video options

Along with 6K and 5.1K open gate, the S1II offers dozens of other resolutions and frame rates. These include Full frame 6K (5,952 x 2,512 pixels) at up to 60 fps, Cinema 4K (4,096 x 2160 pixels) and UHD 4K (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) at up to 120 fps (with a 1.17 crop), Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) at up to 240 fps and everything in between. One note on the crop factor when recording 4K120p: Yes, it’s there and will need to be considered. However, it’s not significant enough to be an issue in most situations.

There are 19 menu pages of video quality options. Don’t worry; you can filter by frame rate, resolution and other key attributes to find what you need faster. Plus, there is an option to add your most-used resolutions to a favorites list for easier access. Most video formats capture 10-bit 4:2:0 color with some bumping it up to 4:2:2 for more accurate color reproduction.

Available file formats for video include MP4, MOV, Apple ProRes and ProRes RAW. However, as is to be expected, some formats can’t be recorded to SD card. Instead, you’ll need to use CFExpress, SSD or an external recorder. The camera supports ProRes RAW video recording internally at up to 5.8K30p. As for HDMI RAW, it will output resolutions up to 6K open gate. When recording externally, proxies can be configured to record simultaneously to internal media. Media stored on one card can also be copied to another card for backup.

We talked about open gate shooting, but the S1II also supports full-frame, APS-C and cinematic 2.4:1 video aspect ratios. This gives you plenty of flexibility to capture the framing that best fits your use case.

Finally, Panasonic has since released Firmware Version 1.1 for the S1II, and it’s a free download. The update brings in-camera focus stacking for deep depth-of-field shots, a multi-frame display that lets you preview up to three aspect-ratio guides at once and wireless tethering to Capture One over Wi-Fi or a USB-LAN adapter. If you also want ARRI LogC3 to match Alexa footage, you can still add it with the DMW-SFU3A paid key.

Image quality

Overall, the camera gives you that cinematic LUMIX look we’ve come to expect from LUMIX cameras. The footage looked great straight out of the camera, but it was also easy to color grade in post-production.

With V-Log and V-Gamut picture profiles, the S1II promises 14 or more stops of dynamic range. We can confirm that the camera captured detail in both the shadows and highlights, even when there were brightly sunlit and heavily shaded areas in the frame together — when a small herd of free-range cows lumbered into the shadow of an oak tree, for example.

The LUMIX S1II boosts low-light performance with its dual native ISO system. This latest iteration features a higher upper-level native ISO to decrease noise in low-light situations. To test this, we steadily increased the ISO while letting the camera compensate for exposure. We found that noise was not an issue, even at the highest ISO.

The camera’s Dynamic Range Boost Mode extends its dynamic range even further. It records one video streams at two ISO levels simultaneously. This mode is only available in certain resolutions and frame rates. Plus, fair warning, it’s likely to show more rolling shutter effect with fast-moving subjects than other recording modes.

AI-powered autofocus

Like previous LUMIX cameras, the S1II features AI-powered Phase Hybrid autofocus. Human subject detection still comes with face/eye and full body options, but the S1II adds an Urban Sports mode that can recognize the human form even in unusual orientations. Think breakdancing, BMX or skateboarding. This helps capture in-focus footage when other subject detection modes don’t see your subject as human-shaped.

On our first outing with the camera, we kept AI subject detection off and relied on standard AF and manual focus — and we regret it. Shooting with subject detection turned on is much easier and much more reliable. When we did finally turn on subject detection, we mostly leaned on the human and animal detection modes. 

The AI isn’t perfect, but it worked 90 percent of the time, giving us much more confidence in quickly capturing clear, sharp footage. The times it didn’t work, the subject was most likely too close or too far away for the system to accurately recognize.

The S1II supports subject detection AF recording in resolutions all the way up to 6K. For high frame rate recording, subject detection is available in 4K at up to 96 fps. We had fun pairing high frame rate recording with animal subject detection to capture slow motion video of some calico cat antics.

Image stabilization

The LUMIX S1II provides up to eight stops of in-body image stabilization. That’s enough for handheld shooting with a reasonably steady hand. Faster-paced walking shots, though, can benefit from the S1II’s cropless electronic image stabilization option. This, as the name implies, can stabilize video footage without loss in resolution.

The camera also offers a special stabilization mode for anamorphic shooting, complementing the in-camera anamorphic desqueeze options.

Picture Styles for cinema production

For log shooting, the S1II supports the familiar V-Log and V-Gamut picture profiles and introduces a new profile, Cinelike A2, which offers a wide dynamic range and rich color gradation. These complement existing picture profiles like standard, vivid, natural, flat, Cinelike D2 and V2 and others.

There’s even an option to apply the LUT of your choice in real time by loading the LUT you want to use into the camera and then using the Real Time LUT picture style. The LUMIX Lab App is a convenient way to manage LUTs and also provides a hub for creating, sharing and browsing user-created LUTs.

For photographers, too

The LUMIX S1II is a true hybrid camera. Photo and video modes are completely separate, so your settings for each stay consistent when you swap modes using the switch on the top of the camera.

Like video, photo quality benefits from the new partially-stacked sensor and its faster readout speeds. It offers 10 fps blackout-free burst shooting, which is flash-validated to sync up with industry-standard flashes. When it comes to electronic burst capture, the S1II can capture up to 70 frames per second with up to 1.5 seconds of pre-burst buffer.

The S1II’s Hi-Res Shot Mode gives you a 96 MP image, stitched in-camera without the need for a tripod. Along with Hi-Res Shot Mode, the S1II also features Live View Composite Mode for capturing startrails and creating light paintings. Multi-exposure photos, as well as timelapse and stop motion video, can all be created within the camera.

The LUMIX S1II also adds the HEIF format, which supports high dynamic range images that are automatically detected by most sharing and editing platforms.

Besides AI autofocus, the S1II also features AI-assisted auto white balance when editing RAW image files in-camera. This makes it easier to portray accurate colors when recording in mixed light, such as, a room with both warm indoor lamp lighting and cooler daylight from an uncovered window.

Form factor and options

The new LUMIX S1II is slightly smaller than the original S1, but still slightly bigger than the S5IIX. Without a lens, the camera weighs around 800 grams or 1.76 pounds when loaded up with a battery and an SD card.

Dust, splash and freeze-resistant, the S1II is equipped with a free-angle, full-tilt LCD rear monitor. That means it can both tilt and rotate to accommodate lots of shooting angles, including selfies. Overall, the camera feels solid out in the field. During testing, we took it with us on a moderate hike in rugged Northern California. It was a warm day with plenty of wind, dust and, at one point, even some stray water droplets from a small waterfall. The camera performed great.

If you have large hands or need more battery life, there is an optional battery grip available for the S1II. Unlike the grip for the LUMIX S1R II, this grip does not unlock any other features beyond extending the battery and making the camera more comfortable to hold in certain positions, like shooting vertically. However, the battery inside the grip is hot-swappable, so with enough batteries, you could conceivably extend the battery life indefinitely.

Quality of life

Along with the core features already discussed, the LUMIX S1II offers some features with more niche appeal. For event videographers, the S1II is ready for Bluetooth wireless timecode sync.

For anamorphic shooters, the S1II offers in-camera anamorphic desqueeze, which is now a staple for LUMIX cameras. And for cinematographers, there is an option to turn on the familiar VariCam user interface.

Finally, livestreamers will appreciate wired and wireless direct-to-RMTPS streaming and the ability to connect the S1II to a computer as a USB webcam. The camera also features tether support for the Capture One photo editing app, direct camera-to-cloud workflows through Frame.io and compatibility with the LUMIX Flow and LUMIX Lab mobile apps.

Pricing and value

Overall, the Panasonic LUMIX S1II feels good to use and delivers a great image. Priced at $3,199, it isn’t cheap, but the wealth of features makes it worth it. The S1II will especially appeal to professional event videographers and high-end content creators who want a cinematic image, no matter the environment.

For the budget-minded cinematographer, Panasonic is also releasing the LUMIX S1IIE. This “essentials” camera uses the same APS-C sensor from the S5IIX but adds much of the functionality of the S1, including open gate 6K, the S1II shutter mechanism and the option to unlock ARRI LogC3 with a paid firmware upgrade. That makes the S1IIE the most affordable camera to support LogC3 at $2,499.

Both cameras are slated to ship on June 16th, 2025.

Panasonic LUMIX S1II

$3,197.99 at Amazon $3,197.99 at B&H Video

Tech specs