Panasonic Interview

[hoodlum]

While the translation is difficult to read and there are not a log of details, we can expect to see S1H and more compact cameras from Panasonic.  Below are a couple of the comments from the interview.

https://qicai.fengniao.com/537/5378995.html

In terms of market demand insight, Panasonic is keenly aware of the trend of recovering demand in the fixed lens camera market. With the increasingly powerful cell phone photography function, the competition in the cell phone market has become more and more intense. Fixed lens cameras have become an important direction for cell phones to realize differentiated competition due to their unique functional characteristics, such as the long focal length function, which opens up new possibilities for cell phone photography. Based on this market change, Panasonic is looking forward to the fixed lens camera market and is actively planning the introduction of new products. Although it is not yet possible to determine the specific time of the release of new products, it can be seen that Panasonic in this field has launched an in-depth thinking and layout.

In addition, Panasonic in the LUMIX S1H follow-up product planning is also actively exploring the LUMIX S1H as a positioning of the creation of film cameras, in the market has a unique position. With the continuous development and changes in the field of movie micro camera, Panasonic has received a large number of opinions and suggestions from various parties. In terms of product form, there are different expectations from users and the market. Some want the product to be similar to the FX3, cutting out the warship section and focusing on movie and video functions; some prefer to keep the micro-single form while strengthening the video function; and others expect to make it a square camera similar to the FX6. In terms of functional requirements, 8K 60p or even 8K 120p video shooting and built-in ND filters have become the focus of users' attention. In order to better meet the market demand, Panasonic merged with its professional-grade system imaging division in 2024, integrating the technical resources of both parties and engaging in deeper and closer discussions with technicians. Although the launch date of the next generation of the LUMIX S1H has not yet been determined, it can be seen that Panasonic is fully committed to the development of this product, and is striving to bring users an even better tool for movie creation.

 

[MrSMW]

57 minutes ago, hoodlum said:

Some want the product to be similar to the FX3, cutting out the warship section and focusing on movie and video functions

Yep, warships in cameras is a bit overkill.

But being serious, this sounds very much to me like S1H not coming any time soon and this next supposed camera announcement in April is more likely to be for a fixed lens unit?

[MurtlandPhoto]

41 minutes ago, MrSMW said:

But being serious, this sounds very much to me like S1H not coming any time soon and this next supposed camera announcement in April is more likely to be for a fixed lens unit?

That's my take as well. If there was ever a chance to drop the slightest hint that an S1H successor was on the imminent horizon, this is exactly how NOT to do it. Although, a lot of us have been saying that Panny seems to be completely clueless about how to tease folks along so they don't jump ship. Maybe they really are this dense lol

[j_one]

Saw the interview earlier this morning. If no S1H successor is arriving this year, that may explain why they threw in everything but the kitchen sink for video specs. It's intended to hold you over for the next drought/development time.

[Andrew Reid]

2 minutes ago, j_one said:

It's intended to hold you over for the next drought/development time.

Will it be 7 years again?

[j_one]

Just now, Andrew Reid said:

Will it be 7 years again?

Exactly, I can't fault you for being a bit more than annoyed at their strategy. A few months ago I mentioned I was eyeing moving over to Z mount but wanted to see what Panny did in 2025. We have our answer it seems.

[Andrew Reid]

1 hour ago, hoodlum said:

Panasonic has received a large number of opinions and suggestions from various parties. In terms of product form, there are different expectations from users and the market.

Hmm, what could this possibly be telling them?

(S1H Mark II is not enough - they need a Cinema line, and a mirrorless line, and a compact cinema camera)

1 hour ago, hoodlum said:

Some want the product to be similar to the FX3, cutting out the warship section

I would also like a Similar to FX3 cutting out warship.

1 hour ago, hoodlum said:

Some prefer to keep the micro-single form while strengthening the video function

Micro Single Form cameras like the GH7 or the Macro Single Form cameras like S1H?

Lost in translation this part!

1 hour ago, hoodlum said:

Others expect to make it a square camera similar to the FX6.

No thanks!

1 hour ago, hoodlum said:

In terms of functional requirements, 8K 60p or even 8K 120p video shooting and built-in ND filters have become the focus of users' attention.

Are users really asking for 8K/120p or is this all in Panasonic's head?

1 hour ago, hoodlum said:

In order to better meet the market demand, Panasonic merged with its professional-grade system imaging division in 2024, integrating the technical resources of both parties and engaging in deeper and closer discussions with technicians.

Translation... the pro AV department was basically closed and remaining staff merged into the consumer division.

1 hour ago, hoodlum said:

Although the launch date of the next generation of the LUMIX S1H has not yet been determined, it can be seen that Panasonic is fully committed to the development of this product, and is striving to bring users an even better tool for movie creation.

Well an unknown date in the future is better late then never I suppose!!

[MrSMW]

1 hour ago, MurtlandPhoto said:

Maybe they really are this dense lol

If I was a betting man…

But again, seriously, it never ceases to amaze me how totally thick even some multi-billion businesses appear to be.

I said ‘appear to be’ as in maybe they are not, but if they appear to be, to most people, most of the time, that cannot be a good thing.

Any press releases, any statements or even comments, should always be vetted and considered.

If you are a big Japanese company and let’s say 75% of your market is not Japan, but ‘Western as in North America and Europe’, then have someone ‘Western’ at least read your translated statements so it doesn’t include mention of warships because if it contains mentions of warships, it makes you realise that the vast majority of the text has also probably been badly translated and could be interpreted the complete opposite of what you intended.

Some companies just seem to be better at this kind of thing than others…

[Walter H]

50 minutes ago, Andrew Reid said:

Hmm, what could this possibly be telling them?

(S1H Mark II is not enough - they need a Cinema line, and a mirrorless line, and a compact cinema camera)

@hoodlum Thanks for posting this interview.

The more I think on it, the more dubious I am of a next S1H having a DSLR form-factor. 

If the S5IIx is the current video-heavy spec'ed body, and to differentiate from that in a "move the chessboard kind of way" that everyone is crying for, you would need better cooling for unlimited 8K/60p and then internal 32-bit float, internal ND, faster read-out, and the like. I'm not sure that the DSLR form-factor is the way to go. 

It just seems that a true cinema-spec'ed camera would be so much more efficient in a C80/PYXIS/FX6/what-have-you body ala a bigger BS1H/UB50 with repositionable EVF. Finally time for the EVA2?

Again, what do I know about the market and how Panny is thinking about the choices it will be making, but I'm having a hard time seeing the S1HII that would essentially be an S5IIIx in this current mirrorless body. 

[ND64]

They still have three registered but unannounced camera. One of them is probably a fixed lens. One of the remaining two can be S1Hii.

 

[MrSMW]

I suspect it will be a fixed lens.

That will have to be a new body and surely a new lens and I assume a prime?

If it’s FF, I would hope for the latest 44mp sensor.

The body could be a modified version of the S9?

It could be a successor to the LX100 series though.

Who knows and let the speculation begin!

[MurtlandPhoto]

1 hour ago, Walter H said:

It just seems that a true cinema-spec'ed camera would be so much more efficient in a C80/PYXIS/FX6/what-have-you body ala a bigger BS1H/UB50 with repositionable EVF. Finally time for the EVA2?

I'm with you here. Miniaturization against heat dissipation is a very difficult balance to strike. I'd have to think there's many ways that a cinema body is actually cheaper to R&D than a mirrorless stills body. 

[Andrew Reid]

Full frame fixed lens camera please, half price of a Leica Q OG.

[Davide DB]

7 hours ago, hoodlum said:

engaging in deeper and closer discussions with technicians. Although the launch date of the next generation of the LUMIX S1H has not yet been determined, it can be seen that Panasonic is fully committed to the development of this product, and is striving to bring users an even better tool for movie creation.

[ND64]

7 hours ago, Andrew Reid said:

Full frame fixed lens camera please, half price of a Leica Q OG.

The problem with fixed lens full frame is that it won't be cheap and at that whatever price any focal length is a let down for a lot of potential customers. If they choose 24mm many will say its too wide for all my shooting scenarios, I won't pay that much to be this much limited. if 35mm many will say its not wide enough not tight enough. Thats why Sigma had to make three DPs with different focal length, and it wasn't even full frame.

[MrSMW]

28mm f2 with 44mp sensor min for me.

If it’s anything like 24mp it’s an instant no for me. It HAS to have good crop ability.

To be honest, I don’t think even 61mp works for me based on what the Q3 can do with it’s crop modes.

Fujis imminent fixed lens might be 100mp and then we are talking.

’Walk with your feet” is the line folks trot out, but that is not always possible.

As has been said various times, cameras will continue to leapfrog each other and LUMIX cannot afford to bring out something that is not going to beat the X100 and Q3 it would inevitably be compared to.

And they need to get their naming strategy right this time.

Ladies & gentlemen, I present to you the LUMIX S Warship 1

[Ninpo33]

53 minutes ago, MrSMW said:

 

Fujis imminent fixed lens might be 100mp and then we are talking.

’Walk with your feet” is the line folks trot out, but that is not always possible.

Yes, and even has a cool dial for shifting through crop modes…!! I sure hope the rumored price of $5,000 US is wrong tho…
 

https://www.fujirumors.com/exclusive-first-image-of-fujifilm-gfx100rf/

[stephen]

13 hours ago, j_one said:

Exactly, I can't fault you for being a bit more than annoyed at their strategy. A few months ago I mentioned I was eyeing moving over to Z mount but wanted to see what Panny did in 2025. We have our answer it seems.

Same for me. Being exclusively Panasonic (S1, S5 IIX) for cameras and heavily invested in L Mount for lenses (mostly Sigma), decided that unfortunately it is time to switch. I hate doing this but Panasonic's future and L mount's future in general looks shaky for me. IMHO Andrew's thoughts and analyze are correct and my gut feeling too. I am OK currently with S5 IIX, cameras comes and goes but I am afraid L mount lenses value will go down too as time passes. Better to act now and save some money while I can.

It will be a combination of Nikon Z and Sony FE for cameras with FE lenses exclusively. Maybe one Nikon zoom. We'll see
    Option 1. - Nikon Z8  mostly for video and some photo + Sony A7R III or Sony A7 IV mostly for photo and some video
    Option 2. - Nikon Z6 III mostly for video and some photo + Sony A7R V or Sony A7 IV mostly for photo and some video.

Also interested in hearing Andrew's first impressions and opinion about Nikon Z8.

[newfoundmass]

My hope, and it's very unlikely, is that Panasonic releases a video camera similar in shape to the C100.

I used the C100 today and was reminded of what a joy it is to use. I don't know why Canon abandoned that form factor for their lower end cameras, but it really was perfect. Great to use handheld and on a tripod. 

It is interesting how worried people are about Lumix when the S1R II has had the opposite effect on me. I think it's the best sign we've gotten in years what Lumix's direction. Certainly though, they need to address those who are nervous about their future and should, as I continue to say, be more transparent and keep folks updated. I know that's not something big corporations tend to do, but they aren't in a great position and need to change the way they do things to reassure their users while also trying to attract new ones. 

[ND64]

L mount market share is in such a promising shape that the chinese lens maker who made a L mount version of its 85mm lens don't know any portrait photographer who is in L mount system to give him/her the lens to review, so ask "hey, anybody here?" on social media

I guess the reason they're suddenly support the L mount is that they know DJI or another chinese company will release a L mount camera. And if that happens, I don't know, is it good for Panasonic or bad? Because in that case even the "close enough specs to competition, but at lower price" strategy doesn't work, as the Chinese body will be even cheaper, and certainly with modern UI.