Upgrade Guide
Lumix S1R→Lumix TZ99
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Situational
One clear hardware improvement over the S1R. Worth it if that specific upgrade aligns with what you shoot.
What's new in the TZ99
-
Generation6 years newer (2025 vs 2019)
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution20MP (down from 47MP — optimised for low light)
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Weather sealingNot present in new body
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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 | S1R | TZ99 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -3.5 | ||
| Street | +0.6 | ||
| Travel | +0.9 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -4.2 | ||
| Filmmaking | -3.8 | ||
| Documentary | -2.4 | ||
| Sports & Action | -2.1 | ||
| Landscape | -3.4 | ||
| Wildlife | -1.6 | ||
| Casual | +2.3 | ||
| Food | -1.9 | ||
| Macro | -2.5 | ||
| Architecture | -3.5 | ||
| Astrophotography | -4.2 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Fun & simple | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | S1R | TZ99 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,499 | £493 | |
| Released | 2019 | 2025 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 47.3MP full-frame CMOS | 20.3MP 1/2.3-inch MOS | |
| Resolution | 47MP | 20MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K/60p (crop), 4K/30p (full-frame), V-Log (upgrade) | 4K/30p | |
| Autofocus | DFD contrast-detect AF — reliable for static subjects | Contrast-detect AF with face detection | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 6 stops | Optical image stabilisation (lens-based) | |
| Burst Rate | 9fps continuous with AF/AE | 10fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~360 shots (CIPA) | 380 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 898g (body only) | 322g (with battery and card) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Not weather sealed | ↓ |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.78× — one of the finest EVFs available | None (screen only) | |
| Screen | 3.2" touchscreen, tilting | Tilting touchscreen | |
| Mount | L-mount (Leica/Panasonic/Sigma) | Fixed Leica 30x zoom lens (24-720mm equivalent) | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Single SD (UHS-I) |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See S1R and TZ99 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 TZ99 against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the S1R
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Camera family history