Upgrade Guide
Lumix S1→Lumix G85
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Skip it
The G85 offers little measurable spec improvement over the S1. Spend the money on glass instead.
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution16MP (down from 24MP — optimised for low light)
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StabilisationIBIS not present in new body
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 | S1 | G85 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -1.7 | ||
| Street | +0.8 | ||
| Travel | +0.9 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -2.4 | ||
| Filmmaking | -2.8 | ||
| Documentary | -1.5 | ||
| Sports & Action | -0.7 | ||
| Landscape | -1.8 | ||
| Wildlife | -0.2 | ||
| Casual | +0.3 | ||
| Food | -0.5 | ||
| Macro | -0.3 | ||
| Architecture | -2.2 | ||
| Astrophotography | -2.8 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | S1 | G85 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,499 | £350 | |
| Released | 2019 | 2016 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 24.2MP full-frame CMOS | 16MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS (no low-pass filter) | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 16MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K/60p (crop), 4K/30p (full-frame), 1080p/180p, V-Log (upgrade) | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p | |
| Autofocus | DFD contrast-detect AF — reliable but slower than phase-detect rivals | Contrast-detect AF, DFD technology | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 6 stops | 5-axis Dual I.S. 2 (body + lens) | |
| Burst Rate | 9fps continuous with AF/AE | 9fps | |
| Battery Life | ~380 shots (CIPA) | ~330 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 898g (body only) | 426g (body only) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.78× — one of the finest EVFs available | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.74× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.2" touchscreen, tilting | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots | |
| Mount | L-mount (Leica/Panasonic/Sigma) | Micro Four Thirds | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Single SD UHS-I slot |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See S1 and G85 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the G85 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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