Panasonic S1R vs Sony A1

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Panasonic S1R vs Sony A1

35mm 864.0mm²
47.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Panasonic S1R Review.
How does it shoot? Panasonic S1R in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the S1R.
Compare Panasonic S1R image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Panasonic S1R conclusion.

35mm 861.6mm²
50.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 32,000

Go in depth with our full Sony A1 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the A1.
Compare Sony A1 image quality against competitors.

Buy From

Differences

Panasonic S1R advantages over Sony A1

Less expensive
$3850 vs $6498*
Save money for lenses or accessories
High resolution composite
Yes vs No
Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Higher-res screen
525k vs 360k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots

Sony A1 advantages over Panasonic S1R

Slower slow-motion
240 fps vs 180 fps
Supports slower slow-mo
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

530 vs 360 shots
Capture more photos
Higher max flash sync
1/400 vs 1/250 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Newer
3 years vs 5 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Lighter weight
737g vs 1020g
Lighter weight
More viewfinder magnification
0.90x vs 0.78x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Faster JPEG shooting
30.0 fps vs 9.6 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
165 vs 62 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
20.0 fps vs 9.6 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
155 vs 39 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/32000 vs 1/16000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
102400 vs 51200 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Shoot 4K video
Both provide
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Tiltable Screen
Both provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in Bluetooth
Both provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Dual card slots
Both provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Both provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Slow-motion videos
Both provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read S1R User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A1 User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Panasonic S1R

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 24-105mm lens

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A1

Body Only

Review Excerpt

Excellent high-resolution image quality; Good high ISO performance; Very fast single-shot autofocus; 4K 60p video; IBIS; Weather-sealing & comfortable ergonomics.
Contrast-detect AF system can struggle with fast-moving subjects; Burst shooting with C-AF is only 6fps; Sluggish buffer clearing; 4K video limited to 15min; Big & heavy; Expensive.
Read our Panasonic S1R Review

We haven’t finished our review of the Sony A1, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
Read our Sony A1 Shooter's Report

The Competition

Compared to Sony A7R IV

Panasonic S1R

Sony A7R IV

$3698
35mm

Slower slow-motion
Top deck display

$3287
35mm

Less expensive
NFC

Compare Panasonic S1R vs Sony A7R IV

Sony A1

Sony A7R IV

$6519
35mm

Slower slow-motion
Longer video battery life

$3287
35mm

Less expensive
High resolution composite

Compare Sony A1 vs Sony A7R IV

Compared to Leica SL2

Panasonic S1R

Leica SL2

$3698
35mm

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

$6263
35mm

Thinner
Faster JPEG shooting

Compare Panasonic S1R vs Leica SL2

Sony A1

Leica SL2

$6519
35mm

Slower slow-motion
Tiltable Screen

$6263
35mm

Less expensive
High resolution composite

Compare Sony A1 vs Leica SL2

Compared to Canon R5

Panasonic S1R

Canon R5

$3698
35mm

Slower slow-motion
High resolution composite

$3549
35mm

Tilt-swivel screen
On-sensor phase detect

Compare Panasonic S1R vs Canon R5

Sony A1

Canon R5

$6519
35mm

Slower slow-motion
NFC

$3549
35mm

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A1 vs Canon R5

Compared to Nikon Z7 II

Panasonic S1R

Nikon Z7 II

$3698
35mm

Slower slow-motion
High resolution composite

$2730
35mm

Less expensive
On-sensor phase detect

Compare Panasonic S1R vs Nikon Z7 II

Sony A1

Nikon Z7 II

$6519
35mm

Slower slow-motion
NFC

$2730
35mm

Less expensive
Top deck display

Compare Sony A1 vs Nikon Z7 II

Compared to Sony A7R V

Panasonic S1R

Sony A7R V

$3698
35mm

Slower slow-motion
Top deck display

$3900
35mm

NFC
On-sensor phase detect

Compare Panasonic S1R vs Sony A7R V

Sony A1

Sony A7R V

$6519
35mm

Slower slow-motion
Longer video battery life

$3900
35mm

High resolution composite
Newer

Compare Sony A1 vs Sony A7R V

Compare Other Cameras?