Your launch event feedback & wishes for 2025

[dirk]

Yesterday was a great day for the L-Mount alliance. Panasonic introduced 3 new bodies and together with the other Lumix and Leica/Sigma bodies we have a lot of choice in all different kind of price levels.

I am focusing atm on the new and old Lumix line up.

Here the most important information:

Lumix S1IIe

2.800€. Improved version of the S5IIx. Same 24MP sensor, but the rest better (body, AF, speed, processor, EVF, tilting screen etc.). More expensive than launch price of S5IIx to be able to offer both at different price levels. Ability to copy SD/CF card directly to SSD in future FW. User shall decide depending on budget and required tech.

Lumix S1II

3.500€. New 24 MP half-stacked sensor. Improved version of S1H and merger with S1. All features are better than with S1H and it is 800 USD cheaper than the S1H at launch. Same body as S1IIe and S1RII. optimized for video, best rolling shutter of all 3. Highspeed 10/70fps (m/e). Biggest buffer of all 3 (ca. 180 images), but not yet a sports camera. Ability to copy SD/CF card directly to SSD in future FW.

Lumix S1RII

3.600€. New BSI (non stacked) 44MP sensor. Replaces the S1R. In almost all features better than S1R and with some on par (i.e. EVF). AF etc. same as with S1II and S1IIe. Image quality for photography better than S1R and S1II. Not just resolution, also colours etc. Highspeed 10/40fps (m/e). Because of sensor and MP, rolling shutter risk with video and electronic shutter. Smaller buffer than S1II ("only" 70 images). Ability to copy SD/CF card directly to SSD in future FW.

The following 4 (old) bodies stay in the product line. Products now on all price levels for different target groups

S9 (no EVF, street price 1.200€)
S5 (street price 999€),
S5II (street price 1.700€)
S5IIx (street price 2.000€)



And here the feature comparison from Josh's youtube review:




What is your feedback to the products announced yesterday and the Lumix lineup in genaral? What do you like most (please your individual ranking) and what are you missing the most (again with your ranking)?

 

[dirk]

I am happy with the new line up and features in general.

The biggest positive surprise for me was the announcement about a future FW update, to be able to copy all images from the SD/CF card directly to a SSD card without a PC. That is a big advantage for me. You can make backups during vacation without taking a laptop with you. That is really a huge added value for me.

The biggest negative for me is clearly the missing pixel binning option, which we have in Leica cameras. I do not know whether this is only a FW thing or whether Leica does not allow Panasonic to use it. But this is clearly the biggest negaive and at the same time on the very top of my wish list

I do not have yet another really negative point yet. I have to use my S1RII longer to make up my mind. It could be the buffer/writing speed on the S1RII. But atm I do not see this as an issue, since I use only the mechanical shutter with 10fps maximum. Same for rolling shutter. That does not happen with a mechanical shutter

But I find the price gap between S5 (street price 999€) and S5II (street price 1.700€) too big. Maybe we'll get a surprise after all? Something for around 1.400€ with EVF? Maybe a rangefinder style body? ok, now I am dreaming...