Panasonic

Panasonic Lumix S1IIE Review: The S5IIX Sensor in Lumix's Pro Body for $2,499

The Panasonic Lumix S1IIE is the budget version of the S1II. Panasonic launched both in May 2025, the S1IIE at $2,499 for the body, about $700 less. It keeps the pro body, the excellent viewfinder and the 8-stop stabilization, and swaps the S1II’s partially stacked sensor for the 24.2MP chip used in the S5II and S5IIX.

It’s a hybrid camera aimed at people who film events and live performances as often as they photograph them: long takes, mixed light, an audience and a stage.

Audience seated on benches watching an outdoor street performance in an old town square

Photo: Media Instances

DPReview described it as a blend of the S1RII and S5IIX, and that’s a fair summary: the body and screens of the flagship, the sensor and speed of the mid-range.

Video review: PhotoJoseph

What you get

Build, handling and controls are excellent, according to Amateur Photographer, DCW and Photography Blog. The viewfinder is a 5.76-million-dot panel at 120 fps, a clear step up from the S5II’s. The screen both tilts and flips out. It’s weather sealed, with CFexpress Type B and SD slots.

Video is strong: 6K open gate at 30p, 4K at 60p without a crop, internal 5.8K ProRes RAW and V-Log with over 14 stops. Stabilization is rated at 8 stops in the center. There’s a 1.5-second pre-burst for catching moments you were slightly late for.

What you give up

The S1IIE has no automatic subject detection. You choose between people, animals and vehicles yourself, which AP, DPReview and Photography Blog all criticized.

Burst speeds jump from 10 fps mechanical to 30 fps electronic with nothing in between. There’s no 4K at 120p, and the older sensor shows more rolling shutter than the S1II’s. Battery life and slow charging also drew complaints.

And Panasonic’s lineup is crowded. DPReview counted five 24MP Lumix bodies, which makes choosing harder than it should be.

Who should buy it

Hybrid shooters who want a pro body with a great viewfinder and stabilization, but don’t need the S1II’s faster sensor. If you can find it close to the price of an S5IIX, the S1IIE’s better viewfinder and screen are worth it.

If you shoot fast action or want 4K120, the Lumix S1II is the better camera. At the same $2,499, the Nikon Z6III and Canon EOS R6 Mark II have more advanced autofocus.