Upgrade Guide
Lumix DC-G97→Lumix S1
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the DC-G97. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the S1
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Resolution24MP vs 20MP (+4MP)
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Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
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Burst rate9fps continuous with AF/AE vs 6fps (continuous AF)
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Battery life~380 shots (CIPA) vs 300 shots (CIPA, estimated)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | DC-G97 | S1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +1.4 | ||
| Street | -0.8 | ||
| Travel | -0.3 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +2.6 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Filmmaking | +2.2 | ||
| Documentary | +1.6 | ||
| Sports & Action | +1.4 | ||
| Landscape | +2.2 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.9 | ||
| Casual | -1.9 | ||
| Food | +0.1 | ||
| Macro | +1.1 | ||
| Architecture | +1.7 | ||
| Astrophotography | +2.8 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | DC-G97 | S1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £649 | £1,499 | |
| Released | 2024 | 2019 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 20.3MP Four Thirds CMOS | 24.2MP full-frame CMOS | |
| Resolution | 20MP | 24MP | ↑ |
| Video | Unlimited 4K/30p, V-Log L pre-installed | 4K/60p (crop), 4K/30p (full-frame), 1080p/180p, V-Log (upgrade) | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF with Depth-from-Defocus, face/eye detection | DFD contrast-detect AF — reliable but slower than phase-detect rivals | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS (4-stop) | 5-axis IBIS — 6 stops | |
| Burst Rate | 6fps (continuous AF) | 9fps continuous with AF/AE | ↑ |
| Battery Life | 300 shots (CIPA, estimated) | ~380 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 530g (with battery and card) | 898g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots | OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.78× — one of the finest EVFs available | |
| Screen | Fully articulating touchscreen | 3.2" touchscreen, tilting | |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | L-mount (Leica/Panasonic/Sigma) | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD (UHS-II) | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See DC-G97 and S1 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the S1 against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the DC-G97
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Camera family history