The Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 is an incredibly well-built (but heavy) camera with excellent image and video quality. The body has numerous control points and is highly customizable. The S1's built-in image stabilization is effective, and the camera can use this system to produce ultra-high-res stills.

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  Those seeking a stills/video hybrid camera with a solid, weather-sealed body with excellent image and video quality.

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  Photographers requiring a top-notch autofocus system. Those looking for a lighter, more portable body.

The Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 delivers great image quality and includes a high-resolution mode not found in other 24MP models, but it can't keep up when it comes to tracking speed.

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  24MP full-frame image sensor. 5-axis sensor stabilization. Outstanding EVF. Solid controls and ergonomics. Backlit buttons. Dust and splash protection. Top information display. 4K video with 10-bit output.

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  Pricier than competitors. Heavy. Contrast focus limits tracking speed and burst rate. Lens selection limited at this time.

I was at Photokina in Cologne last fall when Panasonic, Leica, and Sigma held a joint press conference to announce their L-Mount Alliance . Uniting around Leica’s existing lens mount, the trio made a commitment to rapidly flesh out a new ecosystem of lenses for full-frame mirrorless cameras.

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  Superb image quality and sharpness, In-body stabilization plus OIS in the lens make anyone a steady shooter, Weather-sealed, rugged construction, USB-C, touchscreen, and fast EVF make smartphone users feel at home

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  Really, really chunky, Control scheme isn’t as natural as Nikon’s, Sony’s A7 III and Nikon’s Z6 offer better value

With the S1, Panasonic has built the most impressive mirrorless camera ever

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  Best viewfinder on the market, Excellent RAW and JPEG image quality, 96MP high resolution mode, Exceptional build quality, control layout, and UI, Great subject-tracking autofocus

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  Big, heavy, Intermittent autofocus errors

The Panasonic S1 is a solid, high-quality camera that delivers superb video and stills in many situations, it only lacks in credentials as a sports camera. The Panasonic Lumix S1 may not have the headline-grabbing megapixel count of its S1R stablemate, but it's around 35-per-cent less expensive, and...

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  Stunning image quality, 5-axis in-body image stabilisation, Impressive video specs, Accessible price relative to S1R

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  Iffy contrast-detect AF tracking, Currently limited lens line-up, Large for a mirrorless camera

The Lumix S bodies are Panasonic’s most ambitious cameras to date, combining ten years of Lumix G evolution with the quality of a full-frame sensor and an existing mount providing access to native lenses from Leica and Sigma.

Panasonic’s first ‘hybrid’ camera with 24-megapixel stills and support for 4K 10-bit video with the V-Log picture profile along with up to 6 stops of Dual I.S. stabilisation.

It might be late to the game - behind Sony and Nikon - and its Leica mount makes for massive lenses, but the S1's ability and resulting image quality make for a great new entry in the full-frame market.

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  Full-frame image quality is excellent, Lots of potential quality and sharpness from Leica mount, Exceptional image stabilisation system, Eye AF works very well, Best-in-class OLED viewfinder, High-end video features will entice a whole new audience

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  It's a big and chunky system to use, Being later to the game than the other major players may limit appeal, Leica mount means lenses are massive, Shutter and rear toggle control can be hypersensitive, Some low-light autofocus slowness/hunting

With tried-and-tested goodness from Panasonic's G series cameras alongside a stunning new viewfinder, excellent video and a sound full-frame sensor, the S1 does much to impress. A huge body, however, along with some awkward controls and an autofocus system that's behind those on its peers, mean...

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  Best-in-class viewfinder, Effective image stabilization system, High build quality and weather resistance, Excellent buffer depth, Hugely customizable, Superb video quality

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  Large, heavy body, Handful of minor ergonomic issues, Focusing system lags behind rivals, Eyecup can get in the way of LCD, No DCI 4K, and V-Log is paid-for update

Panasonic has taken on Nikon and Canon with the launch of its new full-frame mirrorless ‘Lumix S1’ (A$3,599) - its first digital single lens mirrorless camera t