Lumix S1vs D850
Lumix
Lumix S1 (2019)
Starting from £1499 new
Best for Landscape, studio & professional stills on L-mount
View Lumix S1
Nikon
D850 (2017)
Starting from £2199 new
Best for Landscape, wildlife & professional studio photography
View D850
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Landscape, Studio & Professional Stills On L-Mount — Lumix S1 (2019): Built like a tank with one of the finest viewfinders ever made — the S1 is the choice for photographers who prioritise build quality and IBIS over AF speed.
Landscape, Wildlife & Professional Studio Photography — D850 (2017): The finest DSLR ever made — 45MP, 9fps, and nearly 2000 shots per charge in a body that still outperforms most mirrorless cameras for battery life.
Who should buy what
Lumix S1 (2019)
- L-mount system photographers who want a rugged, weather-sealed full-frame body for demanding conditions
- Landscape and studio photographers who value exceptional IBIS and an outstanding EVF
- Video professionals who need V-Log and 4K/60p in a robust, weather-sealed body
- Leica SL users who want a more affordable second body on the same L-mount system
D850 (2017)
- Nikon F-mount lens owners who want the highest resolution DSLR before switching to mirrorless
- Landscape and wildlife photographers who value the optical viewfinder and outstanding battery life
- Professional photographers who need 45MP resolution without the price of a medium format system
- Photojournalists and event photographers with a large F-mount lens investment
Quick take: The d850 has the highest resolution at 46mp; the lumix s1 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Lumix S1 (2019) | D850 (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,499 | £2,199 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP full-frame CMOS | 45.7MP full-frame BSI-CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 45.7MP |
| Video | 4K/60p (crop), 4K/30p (full-frame), 1080p/180p, V-Log (upgrade) | 4K UHD/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | DFD contrast-detect AF — reliable but slower than phase-detect rivals | 153-point AF system (99 cross-type) — Multi-CAM 20K |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 6 stops | None (relies on VR lenses) |
| Burst Rate | 9fps continuous with AF/AE | 9fps (7fps with tilt screen AF) |
| Battery Life | ~380 shots (CIPA) | ~1840 shots (CIPA) — outstanding |
| Weight | 898g body only | 915g body only |
| Dimensions | 148.9 × 110.0 × 96.7mm | 146 × 124 × 78.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.78× — one of the finest EVFs available | Optical pentaprism — 0.75× magnification, 100% coverage |
| Screen | 3.2" touchscreen, tilting | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.36M dots |
| Mount | L-mount (Leica/Panasonic/Sigma) | Nikon F mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Dual slots — XQD and SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks | USB 3.0, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix S1 | D850 |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Street | — | |
| Sports | ||
| Wildlife | — |
More comparisons with Lumix S1
Camera family history