John Matthews

I'm fairly sure the dpreview pixelshift needs to be redone with the next version(s) of firmware. From what I see, it was firmware 1.0, but maybe it wasn't a jpeg out of camera; rather a Adobe crap RAW processor which wouldn't surprise me. I don't see how Panasonic will leave it like that as there are simply too many artefacts on fine lines. They'll fix it. The standard photo looks great though.

Apparently (as per Sean at Panasonic), demand for the S1Rii has been much higher than expected and exceeding what Lumix had thought. That's good news.

That's a good feeling. Nice to see you posting again as I always like to hear what you have to say. The shots look really good! So, did you get the Arri LUT add-on?

That's good to hear. We are usually talking about 4k 10bit files in 2025 and they should have that kind of latitude. As for the 57mm f/1.2, I think you could just grey card it and it would be fine. I personally won't be trying to remove the yellowing. For me, that's just part of the charm.

The only "problem" I've found with all vintage lenses is the coatings. If you look at footage taken with the 40mm and then the 50mm f/1.7, there are significant differences. If you use multiple focal lengths on the same shoot, you need to stay within the same generation of lenses. For example the 21mm, 40mm, and a newer zoom. Or, the 28mm, 50mm f/1.7 and 100mm, as they're made with similar coatings. I don't know how GL Optics gets away with that. The 57mm should probably only be used as a one and done lens as it's vastly different from all the other ones.

Yeah, I started collecting them too. Sometimes, you can find some great deals. So far, I have: 15mm fisheye 21mm f/2.8 28mm f/3.5 40mm f/1.8 50mm f/1.4 50mm f/1.7 (both versions) 57mm f/1.2 100mm f/2.8 135mm f/2.5 135mm f/3.2 200mm f/3.5 300mm f/4.5 I also have various zooms. For some reason I started to get really attracted to them, always looking for something a little different. With the exception of the 57mm, I got decent to amazing deals on them, often with working film bodies. The 28mm f/1.8 is one I'd also like to get. I got really lucky getting the 21mm as the person didn't know what they were selling. I told her what she had, offered her 2.5x what she was asking, and she decided to sell it to me rather some other person who was most certainly going to flip it. It's a nice sharp lens, but the build is more like a Tokina (the producer) than the 60-70's Konica-made lenses. I agree. One thing I've noticed about Konica lenses in general is that they often have grease problems. Due to the shorter flange, they missed the DSLR years, only being able to adapt to M-mount. I probably need to service most of them. Any suggestions for grease? Also, I've heard that declicking Konica lenses is a bad idea. Has anyone done that? I'm not really sure if I would, but I'd like to try on one.

After ralphing up my lunch from watching rolling shutter comparisons, I can safely say the Lumix S1Rii is pile of crap comparatively speaking. It's completely unusable in this regard and I'm sure Lumix will either be releasing an update or submitting a recall. Here's the proof:

This might sound ironic but I think if he used AI (ChatGPT) to translate for him, it will most likely be near flawless, which is to opposite point I think he's trying to make. I have used it extensively and it rarely makes mistakes. Also, you learn quite a bit from doing it too. Now, I rarely make mistakes when I write in French. AI is exceptionally good with their language models.

In-camera is the key because you need to check it on the spot. Only Panasonic does that in-camera. Again, the key is in-camera and checking your result on the spot. Otherwise, you're going to have to go out again. Also, it takes half the time for long exposures. You watch it as it builds. I reckon a cinema camera would be better then. If you're going to slap a Atomos on it, then you need to add that to the price too. Yes, I understand. However, for the wedding photographer lugging this camera around all day, every little bit helps. It's great to look at the hardware specs, but the software increases the usability massively. Also, Lumix is not shy about their firmware updates. No one actually knows what is going to be in-store for the S1rii as a lot of features might be added.

Wait, I was comparing the S1rii to a Z8. No one knows the specs for the S1Hii (or even if it exists). As far as I know, the Lumix will be have better noise performance in raw photos. Another downer it that the Z8 has baked-in crops in their raw files. When shooting 1:1 square format, you'll only get a raw with those pixels- stupid!

Interesting thoughts on @Andrew Reid's post.

There are some significant negatives on the Z8 versus the S1rii: No Open Gate No IN-CAMERA Live View Composite No IN-CAMERA Pixel Shift No Waveforms No False Color No IN-CAMERA 32-bit audio possibilities No anamorphic modes No anamorphic-specific IBIS Not great IBIS at wide angles No breathing compensation for Z-mount lenses The Z8 is about 100g heavier Maybe, they'll add some of these in a firmware update, but then again I'm rather certain Panasonic will also add stuff. These negatives were just off the top of my head, but I imagine there are more. The crazy thing is that the specs today are so good that it doesn't really matter all that much. All of the cameras will do; some just have a few more features than others. What sucks about reviews in general is that you watch them and you cannot help thinking that they are significantly impacted by how the company treated them in the past or present. Apparently, retribution is a real thing in the camera review business.

Some believe Panasonic is on the verge of shutting down, a narrative that a few users continue to push. I suppose their decision to release the S1R II instead of an S1H II only fuels that perception. The main criticism of the S1R II is its rolling shutter—something even Panasonic has acknowledged, advising those who prioritize it to choose a different camera. Essentially, Panasonic can't win. Pack everything into a camera, and it's too expensive. Leave something out, and it’s not "the very best." The real question is whether it offers good value—and, like most Panasonic cameras (new and used), it clearly does.

I agree. I imagine that by Black Friday, the S1rii will be roughly 2800 euros, but even then, I'd pass against the S5ii.

Why get the S1rii? 1) the versatility of the back screen; 2) open gate; 3) tools; 4) great IBIS; 5) decent AF. You won't find that combination elsewhere. In fact, the only other camera with that is the S5ii, but the S1rii is probably better.