Upgrade Guide
Lumix S1R→Lumix G9
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
→
Situational
One clear hardware improvement over the S1R. Worth it if that specific upgrade aligns with what you shoot.
What's new in the G9
-
Burst rate20fps mechanical, 60fps electronic vs 9fps continuous with AF/AE
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution20MP (down from 47MP — 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 | S1R | G9 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -1.4 | ||
| Street | +0.5 | ||
| Travel | +0.6 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -1.0 | ||
| Filmmaking | -0.8 | ||
| Documentary | -0.3 | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.2 | ||
| Landscape | -1.6 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.2 | ||
| Casual | +1.0 | ||
| Food | -0.6 | ||
| Macro | -0.3 | ||
| Architecture | -1.7 | ||
| Astrophotography | -1.6 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | S1R | G9 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,499 | £549 | |
| Released | 2019 | 2017 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 47.3MP full-frame CMOS | Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | |
| Resolution | 47MP | 20MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K/60p (crop), 4K/30p (full-frame), V-Log (upgrade) | 4K 60fps, C4K 24fps | |
| Autofocus | DFD contrast-detect AF — reliable for static subjects | 225-point contrast-detect DFD | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 6 stops | 5-axis IBIS, 6.5 stops (6.0 stops dual IS) | |
| Burst Rate | 9fps continuous with AF/AE | 20fps mechanical, 60fps electronic | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~360 shots (CIPA) | 400 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 898g (body only) | 658g (body only) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.78× — one of the finest EVFs available | EVF 0.83× 3.68M-dot | |
| Screen | 3.2" touchscreen, tilting | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M-dot | |
| Mount | L-mount (Leica/Panasonic/Sigma) | Micro Four Thirds | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | 2× SD UHS-II |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See S1R and G9 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 G9 against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the S1R
Related buying guides
Camera family history