Upgrade Guide
Lumix S9→Lumix S1R II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
→
Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the S9. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the S1R II
-
Resolution44MP vs 24MP (+20MP)
-
Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
-
StabilisationImproved — 8-stop IBIS with Dual I.S. 2
-
Burst rate40fps electronic vs 30fps electronic
-
Generation1 year newer (2025 vs 2024)
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 | S9 | S1R II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +1.5 | ||
| Street | -0.6 | ||
| Travel | -0.2 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +2.4 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | -1.2 | ||
| Filmmaking | +0.7 | ||
| Documentary | +1.0 | ||
| Sports & Action | +1.9 | ||
| Landscape | +1.2 | ||
| Wildlife | +1.6 | ||
| Casual | -1.1 | ||
| Food | +0.7 | ||
| Macro | +0.7 | ||
| Architecture | +1.0 | ||
| Astrophotography | -0.5 | ||
| Fun & simple | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | S9 | S1R II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,299 | £2,699 | |
| Released | 2024 | 2025 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 44.3MP full-frame BSI CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 44MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K/60p (10-bit), C4K/60p, 1080p/240p | 8K/30p (first for Lumix), 4K/120p (1.1x crop), 10-bit | |
| Autofocus | Phase-hybrid AF with subject recognition | Phase-hybrid AF (779 points) with AI subject detection | |
| Stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops | 8-stop IBIS with Dual I.S. 2 | |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic | 40fps electronic | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~310 shots (CIPA) | 350 shots (CIPA, LCD) | ↑ |
| Weight | 403g (body only) | 820g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | None — rear screen only | EVF, 5.76M dots | |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen (touch drag AF) | Fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Leica L mount | L-mount | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | CFexpress Type B + SD (UHS-II) |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See S9 and S1R II 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 S1R II against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the S9
Related buying guides
Camera family history