The Panasonic S1R II and Nikon Z8 represent two compelling full frame options that sit at nearly identical price points. When you're choosing between cameras this capable, the decision often comes down to subtle differences that can dramatically impact your shooting experience and workflow.
Coming to you from Jay P Morgan with The Slanted Lens, this comprehensive video puts both the Panasonic S1R II and Nikon Z8 through rigorous testing to reveal their true strengths and weaknesses. Morgan conducts detailed autofocus tests that show a surprising performance gap between the two cameras in still photography mode. While the Panasonic boasts 779 phase-detect autofocus points compared to the Nikon's 493, the Z8 dramatically outperformed in real-world tracking scenarios. In one test sequence, the Z8 nailed focus on 44 out of 45 shots as a subject walked toward the camera, while the Panasonic missed focus on 5 out of 50 similar shots. This 10% miss rate reveals an area where Panasonic still struggles compared to competitors like Sony and Nikon, making the Z8 a clear winner for action and portrait work requiring precise focus tracking.
The video also reveals significant differences in video capabilities and image stabilization that could determine your choice. Morgan's side-by-side stabilization test shows the Panasonic delivering noticeably smoother footage when handheld, making it a clear winner for video work where you need that extra stability. The S1R II offers 8K open gate recording and Panasonic's Real-Time LUT feature, which allows you to shoot in raw while applying a color profile in-camera for immediate editing workflow. Meanwhile, the Z8 counters with internal 12-bit raw recording in both N-RAW and Apple ProRes formats, plus oversampled 4K at 60 fps that produces exceptional slow-motion footage. The ergonomic differences matter too, with the Panasonic featuring a fully articulating screen that flips completely around for vlogging versus the Z8's tilt-only design that limits positioning options.
The ISO and dynamic range tests show both cameras performing similarly in most scenarios, though the Nikon edges ahead slightly at extreme high ISO settings above 12,800. Both cameras max out their practical usability around ISO 800 for optimal image quality, but modern AI denoising tools make higher ISOs workable when needed. The viewfinder comparison strongly favors the Panasonic with its 5,760,000-dot resolution compared to the Z8's 3,690,000 dots, providing superior detail for reviewing images and video in bright conditions. Morgan also covers crucial details about shutter performance, with the Z8 offering electronic-only shooting up to 30 fps while the Panasonic provides both mechanical and electronic options. The weight and grip differences, while subtle, affect long shooting sessions, and the video reveals which camera handles better for extended use.
Morgan's final recommendation centers on your primary shooting needs, but the video contains several unexpected test results that challenge common assumptions about these cameras. The rolling shutter performance, external recording capabilities, and real-world ergonomic differences all play crucial roles in determining which camera suits your specific workflow better. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Morgan.
2 Comments
$3500 for an overheating Pana$onic is ridiculous. At the very least they should offer a stacked sensor like everyone else. The AF is predictably bad, even (as in this example) for a slow walking person. Forget sports or action.
What is an AI denoising tool? Is it a gimmick. Are there any Digital Signal Processing tools to remove noise instead of just hiding in?
In theory, Homomorphic Deconvolution can remove stationary stochastic noise, not just hide it. This is what NASA uses when there is more noise than signal to receive images from space.
Is there any denoising software available that uses DSP methods for digital images? Other things should work too like FFT filtering for dematrixing Bayer without morie patterns.