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After a six-year wait, Panasonic's S1 II is finally here and there's a lot to unpack. As you’d expect from this company, it’s creator-centric with up to 5.8K ProRes RAW internal video recording. At the same time, it’s Panasonic’s fastest full-frame photo camera ever with 70 fps burst speeds and reduced rolling shutter distortion thanks to the new partially stacked 24-megapixel sensor. And with an AI-powered hybrid phase detect system, autofocus is no longer a weak point as it was with the original S1.
There is one issue though, and a surprising one for Panasonic: the price. The $3,200 S1 II is similar to Nikon’s Z6 III, right down to the partially stacked sensor and internal RAW video. However, the latter is some $700 cheaper and can often be found on sale for even less. Since Panasonic often undercuts rivals, that puts the S1 II in the unusual position of being overpriced next to the competition. After testing it for the last month, I’ve found that whether it's worth it depends on your priorities.
Panasonic/Engadget 82 100 Expert Score Panasonic LUMIX S1 II The S1 II is Panasonic’s best creator camera thanks to features like 6K RAW video and outstanding stabilization, but it’s expensive compared to the competition. Pros Fast shooting speeds
Great handling
Excellent video quality
Best-in-class stabilization
Pro video features Cons Poor battery life
Expensive $3,200 at Amazon
Handling and design
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