Panasonic Lumix S1R Mark II coming soon

[MrSMW]

26 minutes ago, Walter H said:

Well, preorder placed. If it arrives before I head out of town, the first thing I will do is record a shutter sound comparison with my S1. (Here's looking at you, @MrSMW.)

You've been listening 😉

It was awful on the S5, sublime on the S1H, better (than the OG S5) with the S5ii and I'd expect the S1Rii to be not so far off the S1H.

[Walter H]

15 minutes ago, MrSMW said:

You've been listening 😉

It was awful on the S5, sublime on the S1H, better (than the OG S5) with the S5ii and I'd expect the S1Rii to be not so far off the S1H.

Well, when I started coming back to EOSHD and read your laments, I knew we were on the same page. That clatchy shutter has been the reason I've almost eclusively used the S5 for video. For stills, I always grab the S1.

[wushuliu]

On 3/13/2025 at 12:45 PM, Ninpo33 said:

The tests all lead to what the camera can and can’t do out in the real world. What’s being implied is that some of these tests (and the added commentary from Gerald) make it appear that the camera won’t be able to perform as needed. Whether that’s cinematic or commercial or whatever it’s sort of irrelevant. 

Watching that last video I came to the opposite conclusion - maybe because I watched most of it with the sound off so I didn't have to hear Gerald's commentary. My observations were:

1. The base rolling shutter is fine and the criticisms amount to hysteria. The 15ms shots looked better, sure, but only because you're comparing back to back. No viewer in the real world would care.

2. *Panasonic has provided multiple modes that allow you to mitigate RS*. Amazing that isn't the the takeaway. You can get decent read speed in a pinch, you just have to make some (minor) compromises.

3. Don't do panning shots with telephoto lenses. If Robert Altman super-zoom pans are your jam, then the S1RII sucks.

I like how the first thing the camera guy Gerald wrangled along said was 'I mainly do dolly shots so rolling shutter doesn't matter to me' and then had to come up with some debilitating circumstance for bad RS. If you listen to Gerald's commentary then you get a negative take-away. If you just use your eyes you see a really capable and flexible camera.

[PannySVHS]

Good thing, Ninpo made a joke and that you know about it. Just these youtube jokers make themselves believe they are not a joke nor shills. @wushuliu

We know they are a joke though and not even being entertaining.

S1RII, keep the hot footage coming.:)

[Ninpo33]

3 hours ago, wushuliu said:

Watching that last video I came to the opposite conclusion - maybe because I watched most of it with the sound off so I didn't have to hear Gerald's commentary. My observations were:

1. The base rolling shutter is fine and the criticisms amount to hysteria. The 15ms shots looked better, sure, but only because you're comparing back to back. No viewer in the real world would care.

2. *Panasonic has provided multiple modes that allow you to mitigate RS*. Amazing that isn't the the takeaway. You can get decent read speed in a pinch, you just have to make some (minor) compromises.

3. Don't do panning shots with telephoto lenses. If Robert Altman super-zoom pans are your jam, then the S1RII sucks.

I like how the first thing the camera guy Gerald wrangled along said was 'I mainly do dolly shots so rolling shutter doesn't matter to me' and then had to come up with some debilitating circumstance for bad RS. If you listen to Gerald's commentary then you get a negative take-away. If you just use your eyes you see a really capable and flexible camera.

Oh yeah, for sure, I agree with you. I was talking about the first video Gerald made and how he “implied” things. Meaning he said a bunch of stuff which was exaggerated and then misunderstood by a lot of people. And yeah, the second video showed that it wasn’t really an issue. He tried to make people happy after the fact but for me the damage was done. 

[Andrew Reid]

On 3/12/2025 at 8:39 PM, ntblowz said:

Is this the first time he actually go out of the studio to test with real people? Can't believe he make 3 videos out of this S1RII!

 

 

What the fuck is the skipping rope test telling us?

[Andrew Reid]

I've noticed a bit of a trend with Gerald...

Provoke the nerds for clicks and then back pedal furiously when the PR team get upset.

[Andrew Reid]

I just think 30ms+ rolling shutter in 2025 on a $3.5 hybrid cam is a bit of a piss take, and it does render the open gate mode compromised and also the 8K.

The line-skipped / pixel binned modes are fine though.

Decent amount of detail, but again nothing that a much cheaper camera can't do.

[eatstoomuchjam]

Since we're still talking about Gerald's rolling shutter nonsense with the S1R II, it reminded me that he did a review of the R4D 8K (which, again, has either the same or a very similar sensor).  Note that DJI paid him to do tests on it.  Then note how his discussion of dynamic range is actually very measured, sane, and accurate and without dwelling on things.  In its 8K DRE mode with 30ms rolling shutter, it's basically "this is too slow for some people and content, but for a lot of people, it'll be absolutely fine."

And that review was on a camera that was made to move around and to be used handheld.  He even goes on to say in the conclusion how it's a "best of both worlds option" since it gives the user a choice between great DR or low rolling shutter.
 

 

[newfoundmass]

1 hour ago, eatstoomuchjam said:

Since we're still talking about Gerald's rolling shutter nonsense with the S1R II, it reminded me that he did a review of the R4D 8K (which, again, has either the same or a very similar sensor).  Note that DJI paid him to do tests on it.  Then note how his discussion of dynamic range is actually very measured, sane, and accurate and without dwelling on things.  In its 8K DRE mode with 30ms rolling shutter, it's basically "this is too slow for some people and content, but for a lot of people, it'll be absolutely fine."

And that review was on a camera that was made to move around and to be used handheld.  He even goes on to say in the conclusion how it's a "best of both worlds option" since it gives the user a choice between great DR or low rolling shutter.
 

 

I'm sure he'll argue "that was almost two years ago!"

[Walter H]

@eatstoomuchjam super interesting, both the analysis of the analysis and that the cameras are "plagued" in the same way. In another video (Cam Mackey maybe?) when he discussed the sensor relationship, he thought the readout speeds on the R4D were faster but seemingly not. I haven't heard of DPs decrying the R4D as unusable.

I feel very confident in the S1Rii and as someone who ultimately didn't want the additional expense of switching to systems (to Nikon) with lensing, speed lights, etc. the argument that Panasonic is "behind the curve" and what have you is simply mute. It is what it is and this camera gets so much right - some of it in novel ways - that will make my work so much easier and of higher quality. 

If Panasonic via firmware improve RS via the ability to select a 1.1 crop at 24/30p when desired and improve thermal mgt over time, all the better. But on the latter point, I already have my workaround for interviews. 

And frankly, both the Z8 and Z6iii have their own compromises. IF there is a Z7iii with the improved autofocus and a non-stacked sensor, then, we'll see. It also wouldn't surprise me if the Z7's shift toward a higher megapixel count of 60+ to better differentiate from the Z8. but blah-blah-blah

I am looking forward to getting past all of this speculative terrain and just getting to work with this new body.

 

[ita149]

Chinese review :
 

Like in the Manny Ortiz's review, the S1RII seems really noisier than the last Sony cameras for stills. It's interesting because most ambassadors said the noise is very low in video.
I think the S1RII will suffer from the same temporal noise reduction and detail filtering than the S5II in video, it's certainly why the fine details look worse than on the Z8 or R5II. The only way to get the best details will be to use the 5,8K Prores raw, but even then the image will be cropped, so less details. Really disappointing to only have the Pixel to Pixel mode for internal Prores raw.

I'm very close to cancel my preorder, I keep it only because of the 44MP and my collection of L mount lenses.

[eatstoomuchjam]

55 minutes ago, Walter H said:

In another video (Cam Mackey maybe?) when he discussed the sensor relationship, he thought the readout speeds on the R4D were faster but seemingly not.

Some are a bit faster.  For instance, the non-EDR 8K readout is 16ms on the R4D and it's 20 or 24 or something like that on the Panasonic.  But otherwise, yeah - most of them are really close.

56 minutes ago, Walter H said:

I haven't heard of DPs decrying the R4D as unusable

You've been able to see a bunch of R4D footage in cinemas - including parts of Civil War.  If Flight Risk is still in theaters, some parts of it were on it too.  Oh, and there is apparently BTS footage that shows it being used for F1.  Though I'm not sure if it was the 8K or the 6K that was used on them.  RS isn't too different between them, anyway.

59 minutes ago, Walter H said:

as someone who ultimately didn't want the additional expense of switching to systems (to Nikon)

You're likely the target market for Panasonic.  There's not much with the S1R II that would inspire somebody to move to L mount, but if you're already there, I'm sure Panasonic see it as a bulwark to prevent further defection from the system.

1 hour ago, Walter H said:

improve thermal mgt over time

The only overheating I saw in any tests was in the most stressful modes - and after 1 hour.  To me, any criticism of the overheating is basically silly.  If the long interview needs to be 6K open gate and 2 hours long, then yeah, it's not the dream camera.

1 hour ago, Walter H said:

I am looking forward to getting past all of this speculative terrain and just getting to work with this new body.

 

Good.  People talk lots of shit on forums, but that's all most of it is - especially me.  😅

[BTM_Pix]

20 minutes ago, eatstoomuchjam said:

If Flight Risk is still in theaters, some parts of it were on it too. 

This a good piece about how it was used.

 

[Walter H]

I just stumbled upon this (i.e. the algorithm's pushed this toward me) which I'm glad for: 

I think this review is one of the least hype-y and quite accurately nails how I expect to use the camera for myself with, perhaps, more video-weighted work than he does. Very grounded take on the limits of rolling shutter and again I don't see this being an issue with 90% of what and how I shoot. Interesting to see the "terrible" performance of the electronic shutter with a passing train until he showed the even worse performance of the S5iix with passing train (I assume the trains were traveling at similar speeds and that he isn't cherry picking - could be wrong). 

His descriptions of the speed and ease of use throughout and the quality of the stills is heartening as I expect it will correct most everything that feels cumbersome in my workflow with the S1.

[MrSMW]

1 hour ago, Walter H said:

am looking forward to getting past all of this speculative terrain and just getting to work with this new body

Couldn’t have a better philosophy than this.

16 minutes ago, Walter H said:

I just stumbled upon this

How many years has he owned this camera?! That is MORE than an entire years worth of work for me 🫡

[Walter H]

8 minutes ago, MrSMW said:

How many years has he owned this camera?! That is MORE than an entire years worth of work for me 🫡

I know! It's a head-scratcher for me too.

[j_one]

2 hours ago, ita149 said:

I think the S1RII will suffer from the same temporal noise reduction and detail filtering than the S5II in video, it's certainly why the fine details look worse than on the Z8 or R5II. The only way to get the best details will be to use the 5,8K Prores raw, but even then the image will be cropped, so less details. Really disappointing to only have the Pixel to Pixel mode for internal Prores raw.

I'm very close to cancel my preorder, I keep it only because of the 44MP and my collection of L mount lenses.

You sure about this? Or just speculation based on the online comparisons?

The internal processing of the S5ii is almost offensive when compared to the previous gen, but I hardly notice it in practice since it’s less aggressive in Vlog. And I really only shoot in vlog or burnt LUT.

The bigger issue on that camera is the green tint to the noise floor in the internal codecs that is visible as soon as 1-2 stops under, and that seems to be pretty much gone in the S1rii.

I’ll agree though I was looking forward to their first internal raw recording in full frame, but it is what it is. Reminds me of how I always cropped in on the a7rii for anything video for the best rendering.

 

[newfoundmass]

2 hours ago, j_one said:

The internal processing of the S5ii is almost offensive when compared to the previous gen, but I hardly notice it in practice since it’s less aggressive in Vlog. And I really only shoot in vlog or burnt LUT.

I very much prefer the image of the OG S5 over the S5II X, but people really make a mountain out of a molehill when it comes to the "worse" image. It's really not that bad. In the year I've had it not one client or viewer has complained about the image; in fact it has been the exact opposite! I feel like cameras have plateaued so now people over analyze and overstate every little thing. But virtually all of this stuff doesn't matter to the audience that we are creating these images for.

Anyone with any discernible talent will be able to take the S1RII and create compelling images with it. That bride is going to love the pictures you take, the corporate client is going to be ecstatic with the talking head interviews you shoot, the MMA school is going to be psyched with the promotional video you film, etc. As long as it's in focus, the colors are okay, and it's framed well, these folks aren't going to really care if it's a little noisier than the R5II or if the rolling shutter is slightly worse than the A7RV.

I don't know how it is where you all live, but there are literally people making money using cheap Canon Rebel DSLRs and kit lenses in my area. I see friends post their wedding pictures, their kid's senior portraits, baby pictures, and all of that stuff on Facebook all of the time. Most of the time these photographers aren't even good at what they do, put people I know still go crazy over them and post these photos they paid for proudly on social media! These photographers still get paid work, not just because they are cheap (that certainly helps!) but because the average person's standards aren't all that high. That's not to say that we should lower our standards, just that we should remember the big picture (no pun intended) and stop worrying about the small things that aren't going to matter to 99.9% of our clients/audience.

[wushuliu]

7 hours ago, Walter H said:

I just stumbled upon this (i.e. the algorithm's pushed this toward me) which I'm glad for: 

I think this review is one of the least hype-y and quite accurately nails how I expect to use the camera for myself with, perhaps, more video-weighted work than he does. Very grounded take on the limits of rolling shutter and again I don't see this being an issue with 90% of what and how I shoot. Interesting to see the "terrible" performance of the electronic shutter with a passing train until he showed the even worse performance of the S5iix with passing train (I assume the trains were traveling at similar speeds and that he isn't cherry picking - could be wrong). 

His descriptions of the speed and ease of use throughout and the quality of the stills is heartening as I expect it will correct most everything that feels cumbersome in my workflow with the S1.

Yes, that's a great review of the camera. All the real world use reviews just make me more excited to receive mine. Hope it ships soon.