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.
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.
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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.
I’m afraid I’m going to be invested on the wrong side of the SLR/mirrorless divide, though!
Panasonic has limited lenses to start, available Leica L Mount lenses are boutique, and Sigma will likely be supporting all of the mounts equally.
I think that the G5 is favored for video by v-loggers, but it is micro four thirds, so users will have to start anew. Otherwise the advantage that I see for the Panasonic is really just the 4K 60P over Canon and Nikon, and that will likely be rectified in the new future with new, high end models from Sony, Canon and Nikon.
Myself, I don't think Sony, Canon, or Nikon really need to be all the concerned about full frame competition from Panasonic, Sigma, or Leica, so no, not really a cat amongst the pigeons, or as I like to say, clubbing baby seals.
I am a Nikon D500 DSLR user, with some full frame lenses, so a transition for me to the Nikon Z mount would be straightforward; the same could be said for Canon DSLR users. That's the reason that I don't think Panasonic will worry the others in an expanding market.
I would note, that Nikon's Z mount is capable of a f/0.95 lens, which would be an impressive exotic.
Thom Hogan's take;
https://www.sansmirror.com/newsviews/2018-mirrorless-camera/july-september-2018-mirrorl/new-baby-elephant-enters.html
In the US, Canon mirrorless is number one, and is number two most everywhere else. They’re also the fastest growing mirrorless line, even without full frame.
I don't understand the boutique reference. This Panasonic system doesn't exist yet and any current boutique status for the mount will be lost quickly seeing as a system for the pro markets without lenses is dead in the water. The same thing happened with m4/3.
Of course, Leica will also provide lenses for Panasonic without the Leica branding or certification (again, just like with m4/3).
The cat will be amongst the pigeons as a major player with ample resources is entering a specialised and relatively small market and brings with it the kind of design agility that the likes of Canon and Nikon can only dream of. They will also back the product up with a new pro services network. Something that will be very easy to do given their existing networks. Sony and Panasonic know each other very well but in this case it is Sony that has something to lose.
The biggest issue is the user and how to get him/her onboard but this announcement is largely a declaration of intentions and from the m4/3 (which will continue btw) experience, Panasonic won't just dip a toe into the water, it will carve out a space for itself.
"Too many folk believe that it is the product and technology that is the thing that wins a market war like we're about to have in mirrorless full frame. No, it's not. The thing that wins is having a customer focus. No customer, no sale, no matter what the technology. So it's how you engage and speak to that potential customer that's important. Sure, describing why your technology is better might be part of that, but you actually have to catch the customer's attention before you can get to that discussion."
Sounds like like another company that we well know.
The author seemingly failed to forecast the entry of Panasonic into this reduced market too.
I'll post the prior link, again;
https://www.sansmirror.com/newsviews/2018-mirrorless-camera/july-september-2018-mirrorl/new-baby-elephant-enters.html
If you think that there are a lot of new users to find in the market, you should post a link to back it up.
Right now, Sony holds near 100% of the Full Frame MILC market, but that will drop rapidly as Canon and Nikon ship their first generation. Together, those three will have 90% of the market, and to Panasonic is many months away from delivery of their first models.
If you don't agree with Thom, al least post some links stating how and why Panasonic is going to be taking marketshare from the three current players.
Here's another quote;
"How does the L mount stack up against the other mirrorless full frame mounts?
If you're to believe Canon's and Nikon's technical descriptions about how a bigger mount is better for future new optical designs, Nikon has the most flexible mount with Canon a bit behind that. The L-mount and the FE mount have some liabilities when it comes to ray-bending at the back"
panasonis is no cat here, they’re a baby mouse hiding from the lions.
Panasonic is going to have to convince those many millions of users to move from their systems to a brand new system with an uncertain future. I remember when Samsung fans were just as convinced about their superiority and inevitable success. What happened there? After spending a whale of a lot of money, and years of making alliances, they completely dropped out of the market.
What a huge miss! He writes a piece on the 'fight at the top' in early September, when rumours were rife on this Panasonic move and didn't even make a passing reference to it. That failing undermined the whole piece.
Then he writes another piece and calls them 'the baby elephants' in the room. Very clever! Simply because they have no current presence with this new proposal. It's actually more like a mammoth just entered the room. LOL.
"If you think that there are a lot of new users to find in the market, you should post a link to back it up"
No need. The laws of nature. People leave the market retirement, death, career change etc and people enter the market.
The point is, there is no entrenchment for those people. Not in knowhow, habits or equipment. In such a small market the actual change is more noticeable.
From the other article:
"Sigma has yet to produce a digital camera with convincing UI, focus, and low light performance."
That is also wierd. Did he forget that although Sigma will be producing cameras for this mount, the real push will be to put lenses onto the market? 14 next year alone (mainly the same Sigmas currently available for Sony. Panasonic is in the opposite position. The real push is with the camera although it will also produce lenses.
"Safety in numbers"
He says that for the, ehem 'little elephants', (protection for the 'dwarves' LOL), but then, when it suits him says:
"Canikony" to claim "90% of the market"
And promptly lumps Canon, Nikon and Sony into one group for no valid reason.
Why not separate those numbers and try to imagine a fourth major player? Of course that player has 0% of the market because it has no phones available yet, but it is clear that Panasonic is NOT entering this market to be a niche player. Reason enough to take major notice.
Saying the other three have 90% of the market make little sende unless stating the obvious is back in fashion.
As for the mount, he says:
"If you're to believe Canon's and Nikon's technical descriptions about how a bigger mount is better for future new optical designs, Nikon has the most flexible mount with Canon a bit behind that. The L-mount and the FE mount have some liabilities when it comes to ray-bending at the back."
The obvious stance to that is what if you don't believe all that? Are we to imagine Panasonic does?
And then, how far can Canon and especially Nikon go if they lose even relatively few sales to Panasonic? Are they so healthy that they can trudge on for a long period unaffected or will alarm bells sound sooner rather than later.
Looking at how well m4/3 turned out I am optimistic about this new project.
We'll see how it turns out but anyone claiming this is a failed project, or too high a mountain to climb, really doesn't understand what Panasonic has already pulled off in m4/3. Notably the GH series.