Upgrade Guide
Lumix S1→Lumix GH4
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the S1. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the GH4
-
Burst rate12fps (AFS), 7fps (AFC) vs 9fps continuous with AF/AE
-
Battery life~500 shots (CIPA) vs ~380 shots (CIPA)
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution16MP (down from 24MP — optimised for low light)
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 | GH4 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -1.9 | ||
| Street | +0.5 | ||
| Travel | +0.6 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -2.3 | ||
| Filmmaking | -2.5 | ||
| Documentary | -1.2 | ||
| Sports & Action | -0.3 | ||
| Landscape | -1.9 | ||
| Wildlife | -0.1 | ||
| Casual | — | ||
| Food | -1.1 | ||
| Macro | -1.9 | ||
| Architecture | -2.3 | ||
| Astrophotography | -2.6 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | S1 | GH4 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,499 | £349 | |
| Released | 2019 | 2014 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 24.2MP full-frame CMOS | 16.05MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 16MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K/60p (crop), 4K/30p (full-frame), 1080p/180p, V-Log (upgrade) | 4K/30p, C4K/24p (first consumer camera with 4K), 1080p/96fps | |
| Autofocus | DFD contrast-detect AF — reliable but slower than phase-detect rivals | Contrast-detect DFD AF, face detection | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 6 stops | None (no body IBIS) | |
| Burst Rate | 9fps continuous with AF/AE | 12fps (AFS), 7fps (AFC) | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~380 shots (CIPA) | ~500 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 898g (body only) | 560g (with battery and card) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.78× — one of the finest EVFs available | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.67× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.2" touchscreen, tilting | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | |
| 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 GH4 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 GH4 against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the S1
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Camera family history