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You’ll read many camera news releases today but none as important as this one: Panasonic announces its first two full-frame mirrorless cameras. Many of us wondered whether Panasonic would offer a full-frame mirrorless camera or stay with the Micro Four Thirds system. It turns out the answer is both.
Back in 2008, Panasonic had the vision of a new type of camera: a DSLR with its mirror removed (hence the term “mirrorless”) and instead of an optical viewfinder, it used a high definition LCD and EVF. The Micro Four Thirds LUMIX G1 ushered in a new era in mirrorless camera design and soon other companies joined in: Olympus (also Micro Four Thirds), Fujifilm (APS-C) and Sony (APS-C and full-frame) released models that pushed the camera technological envelope and slowly gained up to, and eventually surpassed, DSLRs. In the space of ten (short or long, depending on your viewpoint) years, mirrorless cameras are now poised to shoulder the DSLR completely aside.
The full-frame S series is Panasonic’s logical next step up from its Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera offerings and will at first feature two full-frame Digital Single Lens Mirrorless cameras: the 47-MP S1R and the 24-MP S1. Panasonic has released only some key features of the new cameras still under development. The “S” is supposed to stand for “Specialized” cameras targeted to the specific needs (including support) of the professional photographers.
MAJOR FEATURES
– Full-frame sensor (47-MP for the S1R and 24-MP for the S1)
– 4K 60p/50p Video
– Dual I.S. image stabilization
– Double slot for XQD memory cards and SD memory cards
– Triaxial tilt LCD
– Uses Leica’s existing proprietary L-Mount, which is a vote of confidence in Leica’s know-how in developing some of the best quality lenses (also announced is the L-Mount Alliance: a strategic cooperation between Leica Camera, Panasonic and Sigma to develop lenses for the L-Mount and which will allow photographers to ‘mix and match’ any of the three manufacturers’ APS-C and full-frame cameras with any lens from each other’s product portfolios)
– More than 10 LUMIX S series compatible lenses are planned by 2020, including a 50 mm/F1.4, 24-105 mm standard zoom lens, and 70-200 mm telephoto zoom lens
– Support services for professional photographers, which started in Japan in April last year, will be available in Canada this year.
Panasonic is not abandoning its Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras: It also announced the development of the LEICA DG VARIO-SUMMILUX 10-25 mm F1.7 lens for its micro four thirds mirrorless cameras that will achieve the world’s first zoom with maximum aperture of F1.7 for the entire range.
The following video presents LUMIX LIVE ＠ Photokina 2018:
PRESS RELEASE
PANASONIC CANADA ANNOUNCES TWO MODELS OF ITS FIRST FULL-FRAME MIRRORLESS CAMERA
The LUMIX S1R and S1 are the world’s first*1 cameras to support 4K 60p/50p video recording and feature Leica Camera’s L-Mount
Mississauga, ON (September 25, 2018) – Panasonic Canada is proud to announce development of two models of its first Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera with a 35 mm full-frame image sensor, the LUMIX S1R and the S1. These models are equipped with the world’s first*1 4K 60p/50p video recording function and the Dual I.S. image stabilization system. As part of the LUMIX S series, Panasonic Canada aims to release these models in early 2019.
Since its founding 100 years ago, Panasonic has strived to help realize better lives for customers around the world by responding to their needs. With a goal to create a new culture of photography in the digital age with digital cameras, Panasonic released the LUMIX G1, the world’s first*2 Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera in 2008. Over the 10 years since then, Panasonic has continued to lead the industry with product innovations, such as the world’s first*3 camera supporting 4K video recording, and cameras equipped with the Dual I.S. (Image Stabilization) system, combining stabilization both inside the camera unit and the lens.
“As digital mediums, such as social media, continues to dominate the way Canadians share and consume photos and videos, we must continually evolve our product offering to meet the demands of our customers”, says Trisha Gillings, Product Manager for Panasonic Canada.
Against this background, Panasonic adopted the concept of ‘Fuel the Photographer’s Vision,’ a creative pathway to develop a Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera with a strong focus on the expressive capabilities for both photos and videos. The brand will bring these cameras to market as part of the LUMIX S series, striving to provide “specialized value” to customers desiring higher expressiveness.
The LUMIX S1R and the S1 offer professionals, hobbyists and consumers the user-friendliness and robustness essential for photography or videography, while also incorporating an array of technology that Panasonic has refined for over a century. The brand spent 10 years developing Digital Single Lens Mirrorless cameras and its many features including: image and signal processing, optical and heat dispersion technology, and more. The combination of these features provides customers with new value for photography and videography.
Key Features
- Expressive capabilities with high definition and high level of expression achieved with the newly-developed 35 mm full-frame image sensor and image processing engine. (Effective pixels: approximately 47M for the S1R and 24M for the S1)
- World’s first*1 support for 4K 60p/50p video recording in a full-frame Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera.
- World’s first*1 full-frame camera equipped with Dual I.S. (Image Stabilization), enabling handheld shots for dark or distant scenes that would previously have required a tripod or other equipment.
- A double slot for XQD memory cards and SD memory cards, the first for Panasonic; and a rugged triaxial tilt LCD, emphasizing ease of use and supporting professional photography and videography.
- Leica Camera’s L-Mount, making it possible to use interchangeable lenses that meet the L-Mount specifications of the partners*4 Leica Camera and Sigma. Expressiveness is further enhanced by increasing options for interchangeable lenses.
Panasonic will also expand its lineup of LUMIX S series compatible lenses, developing more than 10 by 2020, including a 50 mm/F1.4 fixed-focus lens, 24-105 mm standard zoom lens, and 70-200 mm telephoto zoom lens.
For the LUMIX G series of Micro Four Thirds Digital Single Lens Mirrorless cameras, Panasonic has started developing a LEICA DG VARIO-SUMMILUX 10-25 mm F1.7 lens that will achieve the world’s first*5 zoom with maximum aperture of F1.7 for the entire range. On top of this, the support services for professional photographers, which started in Japan in April last year, will be available in Canada this year.
The LUMIX GH5, G9, and GH5S Digital Single Lens Mirrorless cameras that Panasonic has steadily released since 2017 have already gained a solid reputation among professionals and high-level amateurs across the world for the quality of their pictures and ability to capture the vitality and beauty of life. This success is owed to Panasonic’s world-first*6 support for 4K 60p/50p video recording, and the world’s fastest autofocus*7 function using the company’s proprietary DFD (Depth From Defocus) technology. Panasonic will continue to provide new value to customers through the unique features of the compact yet high-definition LUMIX G series, while also reaching the professional market through the introduction of the full-frame LUMIX S series and the greater reach of the company’s support system. Through these measures, Panasonic will help to create a new culture of photography and videography.
Prototypes of the new cameras and lenses introduced above will be exhibited at Photokina 2018.*8
*1. World’s first support for 4K 60p/50p video recording in a full-frame Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera. Regarding the inclusion of the Dual I.S. image stabilization system, this is for a full-frame Digital Interchangeable Lens System Camera. As of September 25, 2018 when announced in Germany, according to Panasonic data.
*2. For a Digital Interchangeable Lens System Camera. As of September 12, 2008, according to Panasonic data.
*3. The GH4 Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera capable of 4K video (as a Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera, as of February 7, 2014), and the GX8 Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera with Dual I.S. onboard (as a Digital Interchangeable Lens System Camera, as of July 16, 2015), according to Panasonic data.
*4. “The L-Mount Alliance: a strategic cooperation between Leica Camera, Panasonic and Sigma”(announced on September 25, 2018 in Germany)
*5. For an interchangeable lens for use with a Digital Interchangeable Lens System Camera. As of September 25, 2018 when announced in Germany, according to Panasonic data.
*6. As a Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera. As of January 4, 2017, according to Panasonic data.
*7. For a Digital Interchangeable Lens System Camera. As of November 8, 2017, according to Panasonic data.
*8. Photokina is a leading exhibition for the photographic and imaging industries (to be held through September 26 to September 29 in 2018, at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany).
Leica is a registered trademark of Leica Microsystems IR GmbH.
SUMMILUX and L-Mount are registered trademarks of Leica Camera AG.
A subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation of North America, Panasonic Canada Inc. provides a broad line of digital and other electronics products and solutions to meet consumer, business and industrial needs. Consumers seeking more information on the company’s products can visit Panasonic’s home page at www.panasonic.com.
