Lumix S1vs Nikon Z9
Lumix
Lumix S1 (2019)
Starting from £1499 new
Best for Landscape, studio & professional stills on L-mount
View Lumix S1
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.
Professional Sports & Wildlife — Nikon Z9 (2021): The Z9 redefined what professional mirrorless could be — no mechanical shutter, 45MP stacked BSI, and 8K RAW in the most rugged Z body.
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
Nikon Z9 (2021)
- Professional sports, wildlife and photojournalism photographers
- Nikon D6 or D850 users making the final switch to mirrorless
- Those who need the fastest, most reliable AF Nikon has ever made
- Professionals who need a flagship body with no mechanical shutter
Quick take: The nikon z9 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) | Nikon Z9 (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,499 | £5,499 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP full-frame CMOS | 45.7MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 45.7MP |
| Video | 4K/60p (crop), 4K/30p (full-frame), 1080p/180p, V-Log (upgrade) | 8K/30p RAW, 4K/120p, ProRes RAW |
| Autofocus | DFD contrast-detect AF — reliable but slower than phase-detect rivals | Subject detection AF, 493-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 6 stops | 6-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 9fps continuous with AF/AE | 20fps RAW / 120fps JPEG |
| Battery Life | ~380 shots (CIPA) | 740 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 898g body only | 1340g body only |
| Dimensions | 148.9 × 110.0 × 96.7mm | 149.0 × 149.5 × 90.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.78× — one of the finest EVFs available | 0.5" Quad-VGA OLED EVF, 3.69M dots, 120fps |
| Screen | 3.2" touchscreen, tilting | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | L-mount (Leica/Panasonic/Sigma) | Nikon Z-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Dual CFexpress Type B / XQD |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic & headphone jacks | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Lumix S1 | Nikon Z9 |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | ||
| Portrait | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Street | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Photojournalism | — |
More comparisons with Lumix S1
Camera family history