Looking at S5ii v S1rii focused on Low Light/High ISO & AFs only, photo only.

[adjusterbrett]

VERY pointed question for those who have used. I've searched the forum and other forums and online (only to find information related to video or lacking direct comparison).

FOR PHOTO ONLY - Low Light (high ISO) comparison between the two? I have an S1 - have always been impressed by its low light capabilities. S1Rii in reviews tends to be presented as higher resolution with almost no penalty in low light/high ISO. Further have not come across a direct comparison (s5II v s1rii) or for that matter the S1 to the S5ii.

FOR PHOTO ONLY - AFs (AutoFocus - SINGLE only) between the two. If you upgraded from an S1 to either - that comparison is welcomed as well. The S1 is abysmal (in industry terms). Either moving subjects or think swimmer in competition - and the focus grabbing the overspray - water droplets - vs the swimmer from telephoto levels.

Had:A7R2, A7iii, SL2-S, all the Fujis,
Have: SL, S1, TL2, RX1.
Lenses in the herd (AF): Pana 20-60 & 50/1.8, Sig 14-24, 24-70/2.8 vII, 50/1.2, 85/1.4, 105/2.8, 100-400.
I shoot 75% vintage/manual, 25% native. This relates to that 25%.

Thanx in advance for the input.

 

[pdk42]

I have an S5 (and ran an S5ii for a little while too - IMHO the raw stills IQ is identical between them) and also an S1Rii. Noise is generally good on the S1Rii given its resolution, but it can't beat the S5/S5ii for high ISO. It's close, but no cigar !

As to AF, I do mostly landscapes so AF on any of the Lumix S models is all I need. I've never had a problem with the older CDAF S models (I've had an S1, S1R, and S5 at various times).

 

[pdk42]

You may also find this thread interesting. Page 2 has some noise comparisons with the S1 - but shooting long exposures at base ISO and then pushing the shadows. It's not the same as high ISO, but it gives you a feel for the comparative noise performance.

S1Rii loan this weekend

I’ve arranged a free loan of an S1Rii from Panasonic UK this weekend. I’m planning on some head to head IQ tests against the S1R for typical landscape shots - including some long exposure stuff and performance above base ISO. MPB have a Like New one up for sale at the minute at £2700 and...

l-mount-forum.com

 

[adjusterbrett]

VERY helpful - read it twice now. Want to ask Xavier AF questions (can't help myself) about AFs on S1 v S5ii. I run into issues with larger groups (think a greek festival with dancers being photographed - moving, lots of close proximity, lower light, etc or swimming competition where the splashing water (bubbles) tend to reek havoc on even a rented A7V. Right now the S5ii is under 1500US new - really bugging me. Funny story - I bought the S1 used - and in the same week bought a sigma 105/1.4 - and like a moron I strapped it all around my neck and headed out to take some killer portraits of the daughter at a festival - and that combination did not disappoint - however, my back has never been the same - sold the lens - kept the body!! I have utilized the S1 function of shooting 6K (where it basically takes a video then converts to jpg - to sidestep the issues of autofocus in certain scenarios and when I first looked at the S5ii - the fact it seemed to not have this held me back). Probably only use it once a month - but it was good enough to get a ton of usable shots in fast moving situations - think bottom of a roller coaster at an amusement park - prefocus, then pre burst and capture all the moments, as attempts at AFs or AFc were a complete failure from 100 yards and at 300-400mm). I may stall a bit longer, as I'm quite happy with the IQ of the S1, just not the AFs when I use it. It USED to be, here in the US, you would wait six months and the price would only go down, but our tariff happy aristocrat has proven that theory wrong.

 

[xaviergut]

Want to ask Xavier AF questions (can't help myself) about AFs on S1 v S5ii.

Welcome to the forum. I used the S5 original and the S1R always in AFS, even for video, because the AFC was not reliable. But I use the S5II /x and the S1Rii always in AFC, even for landscapes because I forget about that variable and worry about other things (hahahaha).

I run into issues with larger groups (think a greek festival with dancers being photographed - moving, lots of close proximity, lower light, etc

Well, the Panasonic Lumix S1R II features an advanced autofocus system that incorporates Artificial Intelligence (AI). It has this urban sports recognition feature and it is very fast to accurately detect and recognize human eyes and faces, in addition to other subjects such as animals, cars, motorcycles/bicycles, trains, and airplanes... In the social situations that you describe it will identify each person with a square and you have to decide which one to focus on. I try to shoot people in the same focal planes and with sufficient depht of field, but it is a tricky situation.

swimming competition where the splashing water (bubbles) tend to reek havoc on even a rented A7V.

I don't know if the S1R ii will focus better than the Sony A7RV, I just can say that the Lumix one has improved tracking (regarding de S5II): the advanced AI technology enables more reliable and precise AF tracking of moving subjects, even in challenging conditions or when the subject is partially obscured or tilted. It would be very interesting a comparison of both cameras in this regard.

I think the autofocus system on the Lumix S1R II is better and more advanced than that of the Lumix S5 II. This is one of the reasons for the higher price, of course.

Dirk, @dirk, the founder of this forum, made a thread showing the autofocus performance of the S1Rii shooting his son playing hockey, and the images were very good.

Paul @pdk42 explained very well all about the image quality of both cameras. I just can say, and this is a subjective opinion, that with the sensor of the S1Rii you can get the so called "Leica look"... I don't know what the Lumix ingeneers made with the sensor but this is my impression.