Panasonic announces new line of Lumix S full-frame mirrorless cameras for 2019

Panasonic announces the new Lumix S series full-frame mirrorless camera, boasting some serious specs to compete with the assortment of other newly-announced models.

The Panasonic Lumix S series is an aggressive offering aimed to take on the newly announced Nikon Z6/Z7 and Canon EOS R models in the rapidly heating up mirrorless full-frame market.

Announced during Photokina 2018, the Lumix S line has both in-camera and in-lens stabilization and currently consists of the 47-megapixel S1R and the 24-megapixel S1. Both are launching in the spring of 2019, which explains the vagueness in some of the announced specs.

Panasonic says these cameras will have the highest shutter speeds, highest flash-sync speeds, and the EVF will have the highest resolution in the market.

To go with these cameras, Panasonic is adopting Leica's L-Mount for the lens system which brings support for eight Leica lenses at launch, plus three of Panasonic's own. Panasonic will have a 50mm f/1.4 as well as 24-105mm and 70-200mm tele lenses.

49 Comments

Mike Wuerthele 6901 comments · 8 Years

About 6 years ago

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volcan 1799 comments · 10 Years

I don't know much about mirrorless cameras but the top brands all still have a traditional looking view finder. Is that viewfinder image digital as well?

avon b7 8008 comments · 20 Years

volcan said:

I don't know much about mirrorless cameras but the top brands all still have a traditional looking view finder. Is that viewfinder image digital as well?

Yes, the viewfinder is digital.

The Lumix M3/4 line was born with a very, very good EVF even ten years ago. There was a little tearing in low light but it was surprisingly decent and has got much better over the years.

Panasonic has also married video and stills like few others have been able to in mirrorless, to produce consistently complete cameras in a minimal package. This new line will definitely put the cat amongst the pigeons and the Panasonic Leica partnership just strengthens the proposal.

If the first S camera lands the way the first G1 did ten years ago, it will be force to be reckoned with.

bageljoey 1997 comments · 18 Years

I run the Yearbook at the school where I work. Over the last 5 years we have been amassing good Canon glass.
I’m afraid I’m going to be invested on the wrong side of the SLR/mirrorless divide, though!

melgross 33607 comments · 20 Years

avon b7 said:

volcan said:

I don't know much about mirrorless cameras but the top brands all still have a traditional looking view finder. Is that viewfinder image digital as well?

Yes, the viewfinder is digital.

The Lumix M3/4 line was born with a very, very good EVF even ten years ago. There was a little tearing in low light but it was surprisingly decent and has got much better over the years.

Panasonic has also married video and stills like few others have been able to in mirrorless, to produce consistently complete cameras in a minimal package. This new line will definitely put the cat amongst the pigeons and the Panasonic Leica partnership just strengthens the proposal.

If the first S camera lands the way the first G1 did ten years ago, it will be force to be reckoned with.

We’ll see. Right now, Panasonic has very little presence in the camera market. It’s considered to be one of the dwarfs along with Fuji, Olympus, Pentax and Ricoh. Leica also has very little presence there. It’s high price moves it out to the well heeled amateur segment.