What’s Changed? When stacked up against the S1R II you might be wondering what the advantage is with the S1 II. The main difference is in the sensor, with “stacked” being the operative word. The Panasonic S1 II is equipped with a partially-stacked sensor – the first of its kind for Panasonic and similar to what Nikon did with the Z6 III. Partially-stacked sensors shorten the distances between key circuits, allowing for fast readout speeds that benefit autofocus tracking and reduce rolling shutter effects when filming motion. This comes at the cost of overall resolution, so if you’re looking for a high-megapixel camera, the S1R II is a great choice for you. This camera is designed more for action shooting.

Expanded AF Performance. The S1R II and S1 II both have the same hybrid contrast and phase-detection AF system but the S1 II is benefitted by the latest AI-driven tech for more accurate eye and face detection. There is also a new “Urban Sports” AF mode for skateboarding, parkour, and breakdancing. Burst shooting is possible up to a whopping 70 frames per second.

Bridging the Photographer/Videographer Gap. In-body image stabilization, 6K30p open gate capture, ProRes RAW internal recording, 15 stops of dynamic range, anamorphic support, tally lights, and a new Cinemascope video format all help make the S1 II a reliable tool for video. For photographers, the 70 fps burst shooting with 1.5 second pre-capture is a great feature for wildlife, event, and sports photographers. The 370-shot battery rating is a slight improvement over prior models. Photo and video shooters alike can take advantage of a nearly-no-lag EVF, dual card slots, and articulating LCD.

Expanded Workflow. Panasonic has beefed up their connectivity with the LUMIX Flow app for monitoring and organizing scenes with your smart device. The LUMIX Lab allows you to shoot with your smartphone, download creator LUTs, and stream up to 4K30p. The S1 II is also tether-compatible with Capture One and you can dump footage directly to an SSD over USB-C. It has a built-in streaming encoder so you won’t need any extra hardware to stream with this camera. If you don’t have access to WiFi you can tether off your smartphone via USB-C. Direct IP streaming over Ethernet is possible with an adapter. When paired with the DMW-XLR2, 32-bit float audio recording is unlocked.

A Few Physical Features. Dual record buttons can be programmed as something else when in photo mode and a locking feature will prevent controls you choose from being adjustable mid-shoot, adding a layer of security to your workflow. The carbon fiber shutter mechanism has a protective curtain to keep dust away from the sensor when changing lenses. While most of the L-mount Lumix cameras have dual SD card slots, this one is equipped with one SD slot and one CFexpress Type B slot for recording internal RAW video (and for faster writing performance overall). The sealed buttons and magnesium alloy shell ensure weatherproofing. The S1 II is an excellent hybrid powerhouse for indie filmmaking, pro and consumer photography, documentary work, and B-cam footage.