Panasonic recently announced the launch of two new full-frame mirrorless cameras, the Lumix S1II and Lumix S1IIE, but how do they compare?
The Lumix S1II is the more premium option, with Panasonic marketing the camera toward professional photographers and videographers, while the S1IIE is recommended for high-grade content creation and features many of the same features of the S1II at a slightly lower price point.
Keep reading to learn how the Lumix S1II and Lumix S1IIE compare when it comes to price, design, features and more.
Price
The Panasonic Lumix S1II was announced on May 14 2025, with prices starting at £2,899 for the body-only or £3,599 for the body and the new Lumix S 24-60mm F2.8 lens. This camera is not available in the US as of its launch.
The Lumix S1IIE launched on the same day at a price of £2,399/$2499. This makes it the cheaper of the two cameras by £500. You can also find the S1IIE bundled with the Lumix S 24-60mm F2.8 lens at a price of £2,999, which is, again, £500 less than the S1II bundled with the same kit lens.
The two cameras share identical designs
When it comes to the physical designs of these cameras, the Lumix S1II and Lumix S1IIE are on all counts identical. Both cameras measure 102.3 x 134.3 x 91.8mm and the S1II weighs just 5g more than the S1IIE at 800g.
In fact, we were given the chance to hold both cameras ahead of their launch and, if it weren’t for the model name being printed on the front, we wouldn’t have known which one we were holding. This is because all of the differences lie in the features of these two cameras.
The Lumix S1II has a higher dynamic range
The Lumix S1II is powered by a combination of Lumix’s newly developed 24.1-megapixel partially-stacked full-frame CMOS sensor paired with the Venus Engine, which work together to enable faster readout speeds and processing.
One benefit to this is the higher dynamic range that can be achieved in the Dynamic Range Boost mode. This allows the camera to reach up to 15 stops of dynamic range in V-Log at frame rates under 30p when capturing video.
The Lumix S1IIE, on the other hand, is equipped with a 24.2-megapixel sensor inspired by the performance of the Lumix S5II. The dynamic range is slightly lower, with the camera offering up to 14 stops of dynamic range video recording in V-Log.
The Lumix S1II can capture video at higher frame rates
The Lumix S1II is also capable of recording high-resolution video with a wider variety of frame rates than the S1IIE.
The camera is capable of capturing video in a variety of formats, including Lumix’s first 5.1K/60p high-speed recording option, 5.8K at up to 60p and 4K at up to 120p, none of which are available on the S1IIE, though both cameras can capture 6K content at up to 60p in a 2.4:1 aspect ratio.
The Lumix S1II includes a faster burst mode
Another important difference between these two cameras is their respective burst modes. This is another area where the Lumix S1II takes the lead.
The Lumix S1II is capable of capturing up to 70fps with the electronic shutter or 10fps blackout-free shooting with the mechanical shutter.
The S1IIE, though still fast, halves this spec with up to 30fps bursts with the electronic shutter, or the same 10fps blackout-free experience with the mechanical shutter.
Early verdict
The Lumix S1II and S1IIE might look identical, but the S1II does include a number of perks to make the extra £500 on its price tag worth the investment.
That said, we have yet to personally test either camera, so we can’t comment on the image quality or real-world experience. Make sure to head back following our reviews when we’ll share our final verdict on how the Lumix S1II and S1IIE compare.
