Upgrade Guide

Lumix GH4→Lumix Lumix S1

Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.

You own

Lumix

GH4

£349

2014

→

Upgrade to

Lumix

Lumix S1

£1499 (+£1,150)

2019

✅

Worthwhile

Clear improvements over the GH4. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.

What's new in the Lumix S1

Suitability by genre

Full spec comparison

Spec	GH4	Lumix S1
Price	£349	£1,499
Released	2014	2019	↑
Sensor	16.05MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS	24.2MP full-frame CMOS
Resolution	16MP	24MP	↑
Video	4K/30p, C4K/24p (first consumer camera with 4K), 1080p/96fps	4K/60p (crop), 4K/30p (full-frame), 1080p/180p, V-Log (upgrade)
Autofocus	Contrast-detect DFD AF, face detection	DFD contrast-detect AF — reliable but slower than phase-detect rivals
Stabilisation	None (no body IBIS)	5-axis IBIS — 6 stops
Burst Rate	12fps (AFS), 7fps (AFC)	9fps continuous with AF/AE	↓
Battery Life	~500 shots (CIPA)	~380 shots (CIPA)	↓
Weight	560g (with battery and card)	898g body only	↓
Weather Sealed	Yes	Yes
Viewfinder	EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.67× magnification	OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.78× — one of the finest EVFs available
Screen	3.0" fully articulating touchscreen	3.2" touchscreen, tilting
Mount	Micro Four Thirds	L-mount (Leica/Panasonic/Sigma)
Memory Cards	Single SD UHS-I slot	Dual SD UHS-II slots

Compare side-by-side

See GH4 and Lumix S1 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.

Get a personalised upgrade score

Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the Lumix S1 against your specific genres — not just specs.

Other upgrades from the GH4

Related buying guides

Camera family history