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Nikon D850 vs Panasonic S1

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Nikon D850

46 MP | Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Nikon D850
$3,096.95
or
BUY
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Panasonic S1

24 MP | Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm) CMOS Sensor

Panasonic S1
$2,497.99
or
BUY
Nikon D850 vs Panasonic S1 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Nikon D850, which was introduced in August 2017 is a Semi-Pro DSLR camera with a 46.0MP Full frame sensor whereas Panasonic S1, which was introduced in February 2019 is a Pro Mirrorless camera with a 24.0MP Full frame sensor.

Despite some fundamental differences of these two body types, Mirrorless cameras are becoming serious alternatives to DSLR cameras thanks to their size/weight advantages and recent improvements in their focus speeds , which makes this comparison even more interesting. Fortunately, you can't go wrong with any of these cameras as we rank them amongst Top 10 cameras in their classes. Nikon D850 is ranked #1 out of 90 Semi-Pro DSLR cameras with an overall score of 95 whereas Panasonic S1 is ranked #9 out of 38 Pro Mirrorless cameras with an overall score of 92.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Nikon D850 and Panasonic S1 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon D850 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2017-08-24
  • 46MP - Full frame BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 64 - 25600 ( expands to 32-102400)
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
  • 7.0 fps continuous shooting
  • 9 fps with MB-D18 battery grip
  • 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 1015g. 146 x 124 x 79 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Nikon D810 Compare

Panasonic S1 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2019-02-01
  • 24MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Leica L Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.2 Tilting Screen
  • 5760k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 9.0 fps continuous shooting
  • 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 899g. 149 x 110 x 97 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
Reasons to choose Nikon D850 over Panasonic Lumix DC-S1
Max Sensor Resolution 46 MP vs 24 MP 91% more pixels
LCD Screen Resolution 2.359k dots vs 2.100k dots 12% higher resolution screen
Battery Life 1840 shots vs 380 shots 1460 more frames with a single charge
Timelapse Recording Yes vs No creative shooting
AE Bracketing Range ±5 EV vs ±3 EV Wide Bracketing range is useful for HDR
NFC Connection Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Focus Bracketing Yes vs No Take multiple photos shifting focus point
8K Timelapse mode Yes vs No Create 8K resolution timelapse videos
Autofocus at f/8 aperture 15 points vs none Autofocus with teleconverters
Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 over Nikon D850
Built-in Image Stabilization Sensor-shift vs None All the lenses are stabilized
Max ISO 51.200 vs 25.600 100% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points 225 vs 153 72 more focus points
Continuous Shooting 9.0fps vs 7.0fps 2 fps faster
Weight 899 g vs 1015 g 116 g lighter
Sensor Pixel Area 35.30µm2 vs 18.88µm2 86% larger pixel area
Price $2,498 vs $3,097 $599 cheaper
Shutter Life Expectancy 400000 cycles vs 200000 cycles Longer use without changing the shutter mechanism
Pixel Shift High Resolution Mode Yes (96.0MP) vs No Increased resolution with pixel shift
Min Focus Sensitivity EV -6 vs EV -4 Autofocus in lower light
Common Strengths of Nikon D850 and Panasonic Lumix DC-S1
Wireless Connection Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
Bluetooth Connection Yes vs Yes Connect to other devices via Bluetooth
Articulating Screen Yes vs Yes Flexible shooting positions
External Flash Shoe Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Touch Screen Yes vs Yes Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder Yes (Optical) vs Yes (Electronic) Better framing and control
RAW Support Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Max Resolution 46 MP vs 24 MP Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Size 3.2" vs 3.2 Large display
Microphone Port Yes vs Yes High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port Yes vs Yes better video control
Environmental Sealing Yes vs Yes shoot at tough conditions
Top LCD Display Yes vs Yes Help viewing and changing settings easily
AE Bracketing Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Flash Sync Port Yes vs Yes Connect off-camera flash
Shutter Life Expectancy 200000 cycles vs 400000 cycles High Shutter Rating
Illuminated Buttons Yes vs Yes Find the buttons easily in dark
Storage Slot 2 vs 2 Extra Storage Slot
Smartphone Remote Control Yes vs Yes Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Support for UHS Memory Cards UHS-II vs UHS-II Read/Write in Ultra High Speeds
Common Weaknesses of Nikon D850 and Panasonic Lumix DC-S1
Built-in Flash No vs No Require external flash
Nikon D850 vs Panasonic S1: Physical Specs Comparison

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon D850 and Panasonic S1. Nikon D850 is 3mm narrower and 18mm thinner than Panasonic S1 but it is also 14mm taller.

Nikon D850 vs Panasonic S1 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon D850 and Panasonic S1.
Nikon D850 vs Panasonic S1 Camera Size Comparison - Top View

Nikon D850 vs Panasonic S1 Detailed Size Comparison

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Panasonic S1 is 116g lighter than the Nikon D850 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you have to also take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Nikon D850 and Panasonic S1 have the same Full frame sized sensor, their lenses for a similar focal length and aperture will be similar in size and weight.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

D850
S1
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

D850
S1
Min
Average
Max
Nikon D850 vs Panasonic S1: Sensor Comparison

Nikon D850 has a 46.0MP Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Expeed 5 processor. On the other hand, Panasonic S1 has a 24.0MP Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Venus Engine processor.

Nikon D850's sensor provides 22MP more than Panasonic S1's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Another similarity between these two cameras is that both Panasonic S1 and Nikon D850 sensors lack anti-alias (Low-Pass) filters. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moire occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the D850 and S1 sensor size comparison.

Nikon D850 vs Panasonic S1 Sensor Size Comparison


Nikon D850 and Panasonic S1 have almost the same sensor size so none of them has any significant advantage over other in providing control over depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

What types of Photography are Nikon D850 and Panasonic S1 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon D850 and Panasonic S1 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Nikon D850 for Portrait Photography

EXCELLENT

Panasonic S1 for Portrait Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 46.0MP
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon D850 for Street Photography

GOOD

Panasonic S1 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
Read the details

Nikon D850 for Sports Photography

EXCELLENT

Panasonic S1 for Sports Photography

GOOD
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 7.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
99 Cross Type Focus sensors
153 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 1840 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 9.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
225 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Read the details

Nikon D850 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Panasonic S1 for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT
Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Large Body
1015g
Body Thickness 79mm
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body
899g
Body Thickness 97mm
Read the details

Nikon D850 for Landscape Photography

EXCELLENT

Panasonic S1 for Landscape Photography

GOOD
Large Full frame (35.9 x 23.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 46.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.6 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details


Panasonic S1 vs Nikon D850 Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

Number of available lenses is a big decision factor while choosing your interchangeable lens camera. When we look at the available lenses for these two cameras, we see that Nikon D850 has an advantage over Panasonic S1. There are 299 lenses for Nikon D850's Nikon F mount, on the other hand there are only 9 lenses for Panasonic S1's Leica L lens mount.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. Panasonic S1 has a big advantage in this regard because it has a sensor based image stabilization which means that all the lenses mounted to this body will be stabilized. On the other hand, Nikon D850 doesn't have this feature so you have to buy a lens with optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 88 lenses for Nikon F mount with Optical Image Stabilization features.

Lens Type # of Nikon D850 Lenses # of Panasonic S1 Lenses
Standard Zoom 33 1 (1 Full Frame)
Standard Prime 20 3 (3 Full Frame)
Wideangle Zoom 32 1 (1 Full Frame)
Wideangle Prime 46 n/a
Telephoto Zoom 51 2 (2 Full Frame)
Telephoto Prime 42 1 (1 Full Frame)
SuperZoom 30 n/a
Wideangle Fisheye Prime 8 n/a
Macro Prime 25 n/a
Perspective Control Prime 11 n/a
Telephoto Mirror Prime 1 n/a
TOTAL 299 9 (8 Full Frame)
Nikon D850 vs Panasonic S1: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Nikon D850 and Panasonic S1, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Nikon D850 and Panasonic S1 scores compare:

Nikon D850
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #2 out of 93 in Mid-size SLR cameras
Ranked #6 out of 1168 in all Cameras
Panasonic S1
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #5 out of 60 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #11 out of 1168 in all Cameras

Nikon D850 scores higher than the Panasonic S1 in Overall. It has better image quality and better value than Panasonic S1. On the other hand, Panasonic S1 is more portable and has more features than Nikon D850.
If image quality is very important for you and you want to get the most bang for your bucks, choose the Nikon D850.
If you are looking for a small camera where you can take everywhere with you, and having more features are also important, Panasonic S1 is the right choice for you.

Nikon D850
Nikon D850
$3,096.95

Panasonic S1
Panasonic S1
$2,497.99

Panasonic S1 vs Nikon D850 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon D850 Panasonic Lumix DC-S1
Brand Nikon Panasonic
Announced 2017-08-24 2019-02-01
Body Type Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Price $3,096.95 $2,497.99
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Size Full frame Full frame
Dimensions 35.9 x 23.9 mm 35.6 x 23.8 mm
Area 858.01mm2 847.28mm2
Megapixels 46 megapixels 24 megapixels
Max Resolution 8256 x 5504 6000 x 4000
Max Native Light sensitivity 25,600 ISO 51,200 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 102400 ISO 204800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 64 ISO 100 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity 32 ISO 50 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 153 225
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Nikon F Leica L
Number of Available Lenses 299 9
Screen
Type Tilting Tilting
Size 3.2" 3.2
Resolution 2,359k dots 2,100k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder 5,760k dots
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.75 0.78
Photography Features
Max Shutter Speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization No Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Max Flash Sync no built-in flash 1/320s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 7.0 fps 9.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 3840 x 2160
Video Formats MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264, H.265
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 1015g 899g
Dimensions 146 x 124 x 79mm 149 x 110 x 97mm
Battery Life 1840 shots 380 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 100 not tested
DxO Color Depth 26.4 not tested
DxO Dynamic Range 14.8 not tested
DxO Low Light ISO 2660 not tested
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