Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R vs Sony a9 II — Which Is Better?
Side by side47 specifications |
Panasonic · Mirrorless · 47.3 MP · Full Frame · 4K video
Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R
83
WINNER
|
Sony · Mirrorless · 24.2 MP · Full Frame · 4K video
Sony a9 II
82
SCORE
|
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| General | ||
Read the General ComparisonGeneralThe Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R and the Sony a9 II are both full-frame mirrorless cameras from 2019, the S1R announced in February and the a9 II in October. The a9 II is the smaller and lighter body at 129 x 96 x 76 mm and 678 g, against the S1R's 149 x 110 x 97 mm and 1020 g. That 342 g gap favours the Sony for carrying over a long day. | ||
Released ⓘRefers to the year this camera was officially made available for sale. |
2019 | 2019 |
Announcement date ⓘRefers to the date the manufacturer publicly announced the upcoming release and general specs of this camera. |
February 1, 2019 | October 3, 2019 |
| Camera type |  Mirrorless | Mirrorless |
| Camera size | 149 x 110 x 97 mm | 129 x 96 x 76 mm |
| Camera weight | 1020 g | 678 g |
| Optics | 83/100 | 82/100 |
Read the Optics ComparisonOpticsThe S1R is the stronger choice for heavy cropping and large prints, because its 47.3 megapixels nearly double the a9 II's 24.2. A distant bird or a loosely framed landscape can be cropped hard and still hold detail. For action the a9 II is the clear winner, shooting at 20 fps against the S1R's 9 and offering 693 autofocus points against 225. Its 1/32000 second shutter gives shorter exposures than the S1R's 1/16000. Both share in-body stabilisation and electronic viewfinders, and the S1R's 5,760,000-dot panel shows finer detail than the Sony's 3,686,400 dots. The S1R takes Leica L glass while the a9 II uses Sony FE, so lenses do not transfer. | ||
Megapixels ⓘThe higher the number of megapixels, the more detail the cameras sensor can capture. |
47.3 MP050 | 24.2 MP050 |
Image resolution ⓘImage resolution is measured in pixels and megapixels, width by height. The higher the number, the higher its resolution. |
8368 x 5584 | 6000 x 4000 |
Sensor type ⓘThe camera sensor captures light and records the image. Sensors vary in physical size, the number of pixels, and quality. |
CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size ⓘThe sensor size contributes to the overall quality as well as the dynamic and tonal range a camera can capture. As a rule of thumb, the more surface there is to read the light, the more information it will capture. |
24 x 36 | 23.8 x 35.6 |
Sensor format ⓘRefers to the most commonly used sensor sizes. |
 Full Frame | Full Frame |
Continuous shooting ⓘThe number of sequential frames per second the camera can write to the memory card when shooting in burst or continuous mode. |
9 fps045 | 20 fps045 |
Lens mount ⓘThe lens mount will tell you what type of lens range you can fit onto the camera body. Often the same camera company will have different lens ranges for different cameras. |
Leica L | Sony FE |
Image processor ⓘThe image processor in the camera converts the information collected on the sensor for digital storage on the memory card. |
Venus Engine | Bionz X |
Aspect ratio ⓘThe aspect ratio refers to the proportional difference between width and height. The most popular aspect ratios are 3:2 and 4:3. |
 3:2 | 3:2 |
Min ISO ⓘRefers to the lowest native (or 'base') ISO setting. Lower ISO are less sensitive to light but make a cleaner image. |
10030200 | 10030200 |
Max ISO ⓘRefers to the highest native (or 'base') ISO setting. Higher ISO is necessary for low-light situations or night photography, but higher ISOs often introduce grain or noise. |
256003003280000 | 512003003280000 |
Min ISO (expanded) ⓘExpanded (or extended) ISO is a digitally enhanced feature available on some cameras. It allows you to push beyond the native ISO range if necessary. |
5030200 | 5030200 |
Max ISO (expanded) ⓘExpanded (or extended) ISO is a digitally enhanced feature available on some cameras. It allows you to push beyond the native ISO range if necessary. |
512003003280000 | 2048003003280000 |
Minimum shutter speed ⓘThe minimum shutter speed will tell you the longest exposure your camera can take without using an external accessory. |
6044080 | 3044080 |
Max shutter speed ⓘThe maximum shutter speed tells you the length inside 1 second the camera will capture. These can sometimes be extended with accessories such as extra external batteries. |
1600080032000 | 3200080032000 |
Autofocus points ⓘAutofocus points show where the camera is focusing graphically as squares or brackets in Live View or on an electronic viewfinder. These points are also used for light meter readings. |
2250300 | 6930300 |
In-body stabilisation ⓘIn-body Stabilization means the camera has a certain technology embedded that counteracts camera shake. |
 Yes | Yes |
Viewfinder type ⓘThe viewfinder type is either electronic or optical. Electronic viewfinders will have a small screen in the viewfinder. Optical viewfinders will use prisms and mirrors to look through the lens. |
Electronic | Electronic |
| Viewfinder dots | 576000009900000 | 368640009900000 |
| Video | 69/100 | 70/100 |
Read the Video ComparisonVideoThe S1R gives video shooters more room to slow fast action, recording at up to 60 fps against the a9 II's 30. Conforming its 60 fps footage to a 30 fps timeline shows a sprinting athlete at half speed. The a9 II counters with a built-in interval timer for timelapse work, which the S1R lacks, and records in XAVC S and AVCHD against the S1R's MP4. Both cap at 4K, so frame rate and the timelapse timer are the practical choices. | ||
Video ⓘIndicates if this camera is capable of recording video. |
 Yes | Yes |
Max video resolution ⓘThe best resolution this camera can capture video in. Modern cameras can capture up to 8K video. |
 4K | 4K |
Max video format ⓘVideo resolution measured by the greatest number of pixels possible in each frame, width by height. A higher resolution means more detail or clarity in your video. |
3840 x 2160 | 3840 x 2160 |
Max video frame rate ⓘHow many frames per second your video will capture. Most cameras have options for multiple frame rates, depending on the resolution you shoot in. For a general video, 24p or 30p is the standard, but more serious filmmakers may need a higher frame rate for creative effect. |
60 fps | 30 fps |
Timelapse built in ⓘA built in time-lapse mode will allow continuous shooting throughout a prolonged period of time to be compressed into a sped up video. |
No |  Yes |
Video file format ⓘDifferent cameras can record in various video file formats. The File format you record in can impact how you edit and use the files. |
MP4 | XAVC S, AVCHD |
| Features | 87/100 | 83/100 |
Read the Features ComparisonFeaturesThe S1R has the better rear screen for checking focus and detail on location, at 3.2 inches and 2,100,000 dots against the a9 II's 3 inches and 1,440,000 dots. Both screens are touch-sensitive and articulated, so overhead and low-angle framing work on either body. Both cameras have weather sealing for rain and dust, plus Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for wireless transfer and remote control. Neither has GPS or a built-in flash, so geotagging and fill light need external gear. | ||
Builtin flash ⓘA built-in flash will often be positioned right above the lens. This will automatically pop up when you activate it. |
✗ | ✗ |
External flash ⓘExternal flashes are often connected through a hot shoe at the top of a camera, or a cable at the side of the camera. |
 Yes | Yes |
GPS ⓘGPS features in a camera will include location metadata to each of your photographs. |
✗ | ✗ |
Weather sealing ⓘWeather sealing capabilities will give you more confidence when shooting in unfavourable conditions. |
 Yes | Yes |
| Screen type | LCD | LCD |
Touch screen ⓘTouchscreen allows you to change camera settings and access menus with a swipe of your finger, instead of using buttons. |
 Yes | Yes |
| Screen size | 3.2" | 3" |
Screen dots ⓘScreen dots indicate the resolution of the LCD screen by including each sub pixel. |
21000001150001500000 | 14400001150001500000 |
Flip screen ⓘA flip screen (or articulating screen) is a second screen which can flip out from the side or top of the camera. This rotating screen allows you more freedom to take photos at different angles. |
 Yes | Yes |
Live view ⓘLive View feature allows you to see a continuous live video of what is being seen through your lens. |
 Yes | Yes |
Wi-Fi ⓘBuilt-in Wi-Fi allows you to connect your camera and share images wirelessly. |
 Yes | Yes |
Bluetooth ⓘBluetooth capabilities allow you wireless control of your camera with other external devices. |
 Yes | Yes |
| Storage & battery | 68/100 | 79/100 |
Read the Storage & battery ComparisonStorage and BatteryThe a9 II has the longer rated battery life, at 690 shots against 360 for the S1R. Across a full event or a long travel day without a charger, the Sony's rating covers roughly twice as much. Both cameras have dual card slots and support USB charging. Their card formats differ: the S1R pairs SD cards with Compact Flash, while the a9 II takes SD cards with UHS-II compatibility for faster card writes. | ||
| Memory card | SD / SDHC / SDXC, Compact Flash | SD / SDHC / SDXC (UHS-II compatible) |
| Dual memory card slots |  Yes | Yes |
| Battery type | DMW-BLJ31 | NP-FZ100 |
Battery life ⓘApproximately how long this cameras battery will last measured by how many photographs you will be able to take. |
360 shots1505000 | 690 shots1505000 |
| USB charging |  Yes | Yes |
Read: Verdict
Verdict
Choose the S1R if your work rewards resolution. Landscape, architecture and product photography benefit from its 47.3 megapixels, and its higher-resolution viewfinder and rear screen support critical composition.
Choose the a9 II for moving subjects. Its 20 fps burst, 693 autofocus points and 1/32000 second shutter suit sports and wildlife, and its 690-shot rating nearly doubles the S1R's 360. Video shooters who want slow-motion headroom should lean Panasonic, while timelapse shooters get a built-in timer only on the Sony.