Panasonic Announces Development Of Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras

--Staff

Published in Photography Industry News

2018 has become the year of the full-frame mirrorless camera as Panasonic joins Nikon and Canon in announcing the development of its first full-frame mirrorless models.As part of the LUMIX S series, Panasonic will introduce the 47 MP LUMIX S1R and the 24 MP S1. Both cameras will feature a Dual I.S. image stabilization system and 4K 60p video recording. And a first for Panasonic, they’ll also feature a double slot for XQD memory cards and SD memory cards.

The cameras will utilize the same Leica L-mount found on Leica’s SL system, and Panasonic plans to develop more than 10 new lenses by 2020, expanding its LUMIX S series of compatible lenses. These include a 50mm/F1.4 fixed-focus lens, 24-105mm standard zoom lens and 70-200mm telephoto zoom lens.

Panasonic has also announced a new service and support program called LUMIX PRO, which will offer global service and repair benefits. Details will be coming soon on the October launch for the U.S. market.

Prototypes of the new cameras and lenses are on exhibit at Photokina 2018. The LUMIX S1R and S1 are expected for release in early 2019. Learn more in the full press release below.

Panasonic Develops Two Models of Its First Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera

Cologne, Germany (September 25, 2018)– Panasonic Corporation has developed 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 video recording function and the Dual I.S. image stabilization system. As part of the LUMIX S series, Panasonic aims to release them on the global market early 2019.

For 100 years since its founding, Panasonic has strived to help realize better lives for customers around the world by responding to their needs. Working on the concept of creating a new culture of photography for a digital age with digital cameras, in 2008 Panasonic released the LUMIX G1, the world's first^*2 Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera. Over the ten 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.

In recent years, telecommunications lines have increased in speed while social media video-sharing has gained popularity and as a result, more and more people are enjoying a hybrid of photos and videos, widening the range of expression in content production. This new field prompted the need for  a new type of camera that goes beyond the boundaries of traditional photos and videos.

With this in mind, Panasonic adopted the concept,  ‘Fuel the Photographers’ Creative Vision’ to develop a Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera with a strong focus on the expressive capabilities for both photos and videos. The company will bring these cameras to market as part of the LUMIX S series, striving to provide “specialized value” to customers desiring higher expressiveness. The cameras are user-friendly and offer a robust assortment of essential tools for professional photography and videography, as well as incorporate an entire array of Panasonic technology refined over a century. The latest innovations in Lumix S series also build on Panasonic's ten years' experience developing Digital Single Lens Mirrorless cameras, including digital technology such as image or signal processing, plus optical and heat dispersion technology and more. The combination of these capabilities will provide customers with new value for photography and videography.

The key features of the newly developed cameras, the LUMIX S1R and the S1, are as follows.

1. 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)

2. World's first^*1 support for 4K 60p video recording in a full-frame Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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 ten 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.

In addition, Panasonic has announced the launch of LUMIX PRO, a service and support program for its LUMIX professionals. This program has been designed to ensure that professionals can receive service and repair benefits globally. Stay tuned for additional details on the October launch for the US market.

The LUMIX GH5, G9, and GH5S high-end Digital Single Lens Mirrorless cameras that Panasonic 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

Notes:

*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.