A detailed head-to-head comparison of the Panasonic Lumix S1R II vs Panasonic Lumix S1 II mirrorless cameras.

What exactly are the differences between the high-resolution Panasonic Lumix S1R II and the super-fast Lumix S1 II that were both released in 2025?

We're bringing you this in-depth Panasonic Lumix S1R II vs S1 II head-to-head comparison to explain the differences and help you choose between these two mirrorless cameras.

You can also read our detailed Panasonic Lumix S1R II review and Panasonic Lumix S1 II review to find out exactly what we think of each camera.

Sensor

The sensor is the biggest differentiator between these twon cameras.

The Panasonic S1 II features a partially stacked 24.1 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, which is a first for the Lumix range. This new sensor allows the S1 II to offer higher speed burst shooting modes than the S1R II.

The S1R II features a standard 44.3MP BSI CMOS sensor that offers a lot more resolution than the S1 II at the expense of out-and-out speed.

Both models employ the latest generation Venus image processing engine.

High Resolution Mode

Both cameras offer a special High Resolution mode, which captures 96-megapixel equivalent photos on the S1 II and 177-megapixel equivalent photos on the S1R II, by rapidly taking 8 separate images and combining them into one.

They can capture these high resolution images whilst hand-holding the camera even at the full resolution, which makes it a lot more versatile than earlier Lumix models, although it's still best suited to non-moving subjects.

ISO Speed

The native sensitivity range of the S1 II is ISO 100 to ISO 51,200, which can be expanded down to ISO 50 and up to ISO 204,800.

The S1R II offers a standard ISO range of 80-51,200 and an extended range of 40-102,400.

Dual Native ISO is a new feature on both models that is borrowed directly from the S1H and Panasonic's broadcast line of video cameras. This automatically switches between native ISO settings of 80 and 400 without increasing noise by changing the way the camera reads out the image sensor.

You can manually switch between the LOW and HIGH settings or choose Auto and rely on the camera to do so at various ISO levels.

Video

The S1R II takes advantage of its higher-resolution sensor to be the first Lumix camera to offer 8K 30p video recording with 14 stops of dynamic range. It also features 4K 120p recording without any crop.

The popular Open Gate format has been enhanced, allowing you to shoot in 6.4K, and even up to 8.1K / 7.2K with a future firmware update.

It also supports 5.8K Apple ProRes RAW HQ / ProRes RAW internal recording to a CFexpress Type B card for the first time on a full-frame Lumix camera. You can record to an external SSD via USB-C.

The S1 II's faster sensor provides high-speed video modes including C4K/4K 120p and 5.8K 60p. In addition 5.1K Open Gate recording at 60/50p is available on the S1 II, another Lumix first, and a future firmware update promises the addition of multiple frame marker displays and Arri Log C3 compatiblity.

Other standout video highlights of this model include up to 5.9k 60p recording with no crop, internal RAW recording in 5.8k 30p and C4K 60p to a CFexpress Type B card, and 32-bit float audio support for the first time on Lumix full-frame cameras.

Both cameras provide HFR (High Frame Rate) recording at up to 120fps and Slow & Quick capture at up to 180fps and they have a full-size HDMI Type A terminal.

Autofocus

Both cameras have the same hybrid contrast and phase-detection auto-focus system which provides fast and dependable and providing 779-area metering. Able to detect target subjects in difficult conditions such as low light and backlighting, once locked on it will remain tracking them even with other moving objects in the frame.

Auto-focusing is further improved on the newer S1 II with better eye and face detection and AI-driven tracking accuracy for people plus the addition of a new Urban Sports AF mode for street dance, freestyle football, skateboarding, BMX and parkour. We'd expect to see these improvements rolled out to the S1R II via a firmware update.

Burst Shooting

The S1R II offers impressive high-speed burst shooting rates at up to 40fps with the electronic shutter “SH” mode, and an extended continuous shooting “H+ (High Speed Plus)” mode of approximately 10fps with the mechanical shutter, both with full-time AF/AE tracking.

The SH pre-burst mode even starts taking pictures before the shutter is fully pressed, ensuring you never miss a shot.

The partially stacked sensor inside the S1 II allows it to shoot at at even faster 70fps high-speed blackout free with AF/AE, 10fps with the mechanical shutter, and there's also pre-burst shooting for up to 1.5 seconds.

Shutter Speeds

Both models can shoot stills at 1/16,000sec in the Electronic shutter Speed Priority mode and video at up to 1/10,000sec.

Body and Design

These two cameras are completely identical in terms of their design. Panasonic have essentially reused the design of the flagship Lumix S1R II for the S1 II, presumably standardizing on one chassis to make the camera smaller for end users and also cheaper to produce.

They are fully weather-sealed and splash/dust-proof and freeze-proof down to -10 degrees Celsius.

Viewfinder

The OLED viewfinder on both models has a phenomenal resolution of 5.76-million-dots, offers 100% field of view, and a magnification ratio of 0.78x with a 50mm lens at infinity.

The EVF operates at a native rate of 120fps with a minimum lag of less than 0.005 sec, which helps to make it completely flicker-free.

LCD Screen

Both cameras share exactly the same 1,840k vari-angle LCD screen.

Both have a touch screen, meaning that you can, if wish, drag the focus area around the screen with your finger or thumb. 

Alternatively, if you prefer physical controls, you can use the small thumb-operated joystick to the upper-right of the LCD to do the same.

IBIS

Both cameras have an enhanced in-body image stabilization system that offers 8 stops in the centre and 7 stops at the edges of the frame and 7.0-stops even in the telephoto range with Dual I.S. 2.

There's also a newly developed cropless E.I.S. video distortion correction which stabilizes footage without cropping the angle of view.

Both models have an Active I.S. mode which provides highly stable video recording by optimising horizontal, vertical and rotational correction.

This is especially effective in traditionally challenging conditions for handheld shooting, such as using telephoto lenses or filming while walking.

LUTs

Both models are compatible with the LUMIX Lab smart phone application, enabling you to load LUTs directly into the camera.

A new LUMIX Flow app has recently been launched to enhance production workflows across various scenarios, such as short films, documentaries, music videos, and corporate promotional videos. This app offers a range of features, from storyboard creation and shooting to file organization.

Capture One

Following on from the S1R II, the S1 II also supports tethering via Capture One, assisting various creators across various production scenarios.

Memory Cards

Both the S1R II and S1 II have dual memory card slots housed in a dedicated compartment on the side of the body, one UHS-II SD slot and one XQD / CFexpress slot.

Battery Life

The S1R II offers up to 280-shot battery life when using the Live Viewfinder and 350-shots when using the rear LCD screen, increasing to 1,100 shots using the Power Save LVF mode.

Battery life is ever-so-slightly better on the S1 II, up to 320 shots when using the Live Viewfinder and 360 shots when using the rear LCD screen.

Both cameras can also be powered and charged via a USB-C connection, which is useful if you're out and about and have a compatible power-bank to plug the camera into. On both models UVC/UAC plug and play webcam support is provided.

Price

The Panasonic S1R II is priced at £2,999 / €3,599 / $3,499 body only, or £3,799 / €4,499 with the 24-105mm kit lens.

The Panasonic Lumix S1 II is available in June 2025 priced at £2,899 / €3,499 body-only.

Conclusion

These two similarly-priced cameras offer exactly the same design and user experience, so choosing between them essentially boils down to which image sensor you prefer - the high-resolution, 8K video offered by the S1R II or the 70fps, high-speed video modes offered by the S1 II.

So what do you think? Would you choose the Lumix S1R II or the S1 II? Leave a comment below!

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