Bobby Tonelli: the Lumix S1 II Surprised Me

Bobby Tonelli calls the Panasonic Lumix S1 II one of the best hybrid cameras you can buy in 2025. After using it for fast-paced events like the F1 iPhone launch and everyday YouTube content, he was impressed by its combination of solid ergonomics, tactile controls, excellent 24MP semi-stacked sensor, and incredible image stabilization.

He praises its superb video capabilities — including 6K open gate, ProRes RAW, and top-tier anamorphic support — and notes that the autofocus, while not class-leading, is reliable enough for most work. The growing L-mount lens ecosystem and smart tools like frame markers and Lumix Lab LUTs make it highly flexible for creators.

In short, Tonelli sees the S1 II as a true workhorse: a camera that delivers professional-grade results for both video and photo at a competitive price point.

Sony Fanboy Tries LUMIX S1 II for the FIRST TIME!

Sony shooter Sidney Diongzon shared a playful take in his latest video, starting with a joke about switching from Sony to Lumix—only to reveal why he’s still sticking with Sony. Over the past two months, he’s been testing the Lumix S1 II, and he admits it’s one of the most impressive cameras he has used for video.

Sidney highlighted why the Lumix S1 II feels close to perfection: 6K open-gate recording, internal ProRes RAW, V-Log C, outstanding stabilization, much improved autofocus, 24MP stills with 70fps burst shooting, and full weather sealing. He also praised the new Lumix Lab app, which allows custom looks similar to Fujifilm film recipes.

His conclusion: The Lumix S1 II is a “9 out of 10” camera and a fantastic tool for videographers, but switching entire systems out of frustration with another brand doesn’t make sense. Instead, buy the gear that best supports your creative work—even if it means mixing brands.

Fun fact: CineD tested >the Nikon ZR mainly to highlight just how impressive the Lumix S1II still is.

CineD conducted an in-depth test of the new Nikon ZR full-frame cinema camera. During their review, they noted:

These values are all in the middle to lower ground for a compact hybrid consumer camera. Recently, the Panasonic LUMIX S1 II showed what is possible, especially with their “dynamic range boost” feature turned to “ON” – it shows 2.5 stops more dynamic range than the Nikon ZR for ProRes RAW (when comparing dynamic range values between cameras, you should always compare apples to apples, hence RAW codecs vs RAW codecs and internal compressed codecs vs internal compressed codecs).

and further down in the review:

Putting this into context, the Panasonic LUMIX S1 II managed 10 stops of exposure latitude (Lab Test here) with DR Boost “ON” (9 with DR Boost “OFF”), albeit at the expense of a high rolling shutter. I really urge you to have a look at the LUMIX S1 II results again. You can clearly see how much better the LUMIX S1 II behaves in the exposure latitude discipline!

Sony to Lumix S1II — Here’s the Truth

Chris take on the S1II:

The Panasonic Lumix S1II beats the Sony FX3 in many areas — 6K open gate, anamorphic support with proper stabilization, richer codec options, better screen, more customizable controls, and improved color science. It’s a dream for manual and anamorphic shooters.
But it’s not perfect: autofocus still lags behind Sony, the menus feel messy, battery life drains fast, HDMI latency is annoying, and the Lumix ecosystem is still much smaller than Sony’s E-mount.
If you shoot anamorphic or want maximum flexibility, the S1II is the more exciting tool. But if you rely on flawless autofocus, battery endurance, and a huge lens library, the FX3 still holds the safer edge.

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Lumix S1II at Bhphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotokoch, FotoErhardt, WexUK.