L-Mount camera of the year 2025

[xaviergut]

We were lucky this year with 7 new L-mount cameras. I know this is a tricky question because there are some photography shooters, video shooters and hybrid shooters. Some cameras are more videocentric... others photocentric. And some of us have spent a lot of money in a new camera and that has an influence in our opinion.

But, I would like to simplify the question and ask "What is the most important camera for the system in order to bring new users to the L-mount system?".

(We could do another poll for the best lens too)

 

[GeorgeHudetz]

Even though I bought the R (well, OK, I couldn’t wait for the s1II) I do think the S1II is more important from a market penetration standpoing. I’m sure they will sell more S1IIs than S1RIIs, although perhaps the price needs to drop a little. The e could be the dark-horse, however.

 

[CharlesH]

Even though I bought the R (well, OK, I couldn’t wait for the s1II) I do think the S1II is more important from a market penetration standpoing. I’m sure they will sell more S1IIs than S1RIIs, although perhaps the price needs to drop a little. The e could be the dark-horse, however.

I thought about this quite a bit as well. I expect both the S1II and the S1RII will bring new users to L-Mount, but I finally voted for the S1RII. Even on this Forum I expect there will be more S1RIIs, both with existing members and new members. The S1RII has more pixels, but still low enough noise with high ISO. Of course if the S1II takes off as the hot new video camera this could change things. (I now have both of these cameras, so ask me again in a year or two. )

 

[Travis Butler]

I love what I've seen of the bf, but even I have to admit it's something of a niche camera because of the price. The 'average shooter' camera has been covered well by the S5 series. The S1RII is the one that seems to push into new territory.

 

[GeorgeHudetz]

I thought about this quite a bit as well. I expect both the S1II and the S1RII will bring new users to L-Mount, but I finally voted for the S1RII. Even on this Forum I expect there will be more S1RIIs, both with existing members and new members. The S1RII has more pixels, but still low enough noise with high ISO. Of course if the S1II takes off as the hot new video camera this could change things. (I now have both of these cameras, so ask me again in a year or two. )

You may indeed be correct. I’m probably reading too much crap on DPR where everyone is like: “Step AWAY from the megapixels!” LOL.

 

[Travis Butler]

You may indeed be correct. I’m probably reading too much crap on DPR where everyone is like: “Step AWAY from the megapixels!” LOL.

Heh.

I think the S1RII is right around the neighborhood of what's practically usable, outside of some specialized shooting; 100+MP images are a bottleneck in the post-shooting workflow and are more than what most people need. And I shoot low-light enough that I'll take lower noise over resolution in most situations. But if the noise floor is good enough, more than 24MP is nice to have.

 

[GeorgeHudetz]

Heh.

I think the S1RII is right around the neighborhood of what's practically usable, outside of some specialized shooting; 100+MP images are a bottleneck in the post-shooting workflow and are more than what most people need. And I shoot low-light enough that I'll take lower noise over resolution in most situations. But if the noise floor is good enough, more than 24MP is nice to have.

I agree that 24 MP is plenty in most situations. But if your subject is smaller than you like (because you don’t have a long enough lens) or if you need to correct for perspective distortion, it’s nice to have the extra pixels. Beyond that, I actually enjoy cropping in post - it’s part of the creative process for me. Often peak like is fleeting and there isn’t time to contemplate the best aspect ration or corner placement. I do know that some people don’t like working that way, but I also know that some highly accomplished and published photographers do. So I do like my megapixels.

 

[Travis Butler]

Beyond that, I actually enjoy cropping in post - it’s part of the creative process for me. Often peak like is fleeting and there isn’t time to contemplate the best aspect ration or corner placement. I do know that some people don’t like working that way, but I also know that some highly accomplished and published photographers do. So I do like my megapixels.

Same here; especially since I do a lot of shooting with primes. And a number of subjects just don't fit a 3:2 ratio, so I usually crop to fit the subject. Nothing wrong with it at all.

 

[dirk]

This is a very difficult question. if you look at it from the price level point, the cheaper Lumix cameras will attract more new users.

But new users do not look only at the camera they want to buy or can afford to buy. They also look at the whole system and will think about, what else the brand offers and whether this is the direction they want to go over the next 10 years.

It is not about buying a single camera body. It is about investing in a system long term.

I think the shift from the bigger sized bodies like S1 and S1r to smaller sized bodies like the S1II/IIe and S1R2 have a bigger impact on the attractivity of the whole system than just a another cheaper body.

We had enough cheap bodies like S5, S5D, S5ii, S9 etc. beforehand.

But the improved AF and smaller sizes of the 2025 higher end bodies nail the needs and sentiments of most potential buyers, give them an indication for a long term investment and lower thanks to this the barrier to enter in such a system.

This is why I made my vote for the S1Rii in this poll.

 

[dirk]

But from the point of price/performance ratio to fullfill the needs of 95% of photographers, the Lumix S1IIe wins IMHO the 2025 crown, just because of its price among the new 2025 models.

BUT the older models like S5, S5ii are still beating the rest of the industry in price/performance ratio in my view. You never got cheaper fullframe cameras with such a good sensor, ergonomics, viewfinder and "good enough" AF.

I do think that the target group of the Sigma BF and Lumix S9 are not really looking for a "system". They just buy that body with one lens and that's it.

 

[pdk42]

I voted S1Rii, of course (because it's the camera I have and I love it). It's the best camera I've ever had and it replaced both an S1R and an S1.

But looking at it more widely and answering Xavier's question "What is the most important camera for the system...", I still think it should be the S1Rii. It was the first of this new gen of flagship models and it changed the critics' views towards the whole Panasonic FF proposition. At the end of 2024, many "experts" were saying that the system was dead, that Panasonic would bale out. The old flagship models were well past their sell-by date and Panasonic were not communicating with the market what their intentions were. Things looked bleak.

But the S1Rii changed that because it showed that Panasonic were serious about the system because it was clearly a completely new design - including a new sensor and not another reuse of the 24Mp chip - a criticism aimed at the S5ii and the S9.

 

[Pete_W]

I’m probably reading too much crap on DPR where everyone is like: “Step AWAY from the megapixels!” LOL.

LOL, it's still a circus over there. I had a look at the m4/3 forum with the updated software (Xenforo same as here, but curiously feature hobbled) and it is still an entertaining sh!t-show.

 

[HarisO]

To me, it's the S1RII. Let's put it like this: in the past, I always had some GAS when looking at other manufacturers releasing cameras. I remember being intrigued by the proposition of getting a Z8 and a Zfc as a combo in the past - and there have been other moments where I looked at a new offering by Canon or by Sony and thought that some of those features would be really, really nice. That was back in the age when Lumix was the "value for money" brand, so I was able to say "Yeah maybe that camera does stuff better but it's twice the price so, whatever" and kinda cope when trying out these cameras.

But with the S1RII? I don't get that GAS. I saw the Canon R6III and the A7V and didn't feel nothing. Completely indifferent. Maybe it's because camera technology has advances so far, but I haven't been vowed by what other manufacturers have been doing this year. Panasonic has, imo, the best user interface/usability/configurability. In terms of video, they are, obviously, very strong. And they got a bunch of features no one else has copied yet that are small but nifty. And now the thermals are back where they belong and AF is more than just good enough - the gap has become really small.

 

[xaviergut]

Seeing the last cameras released by Canon (R6iii) and Sony (A7V) it seems that they are thinking about their already uses...

Lumix has to offer more to get more customers. I saw yesterday the best hybrid 2025 camera poll in cined.com, and the winner by now is the Lumix S1II, being the S1RII in third place:

Poll: Camera of the Year 2025 - Have Your Say! | CineD

Poll: Camera of the Year 2025 - Have Your say! Happy voting! Like you, we're very curious to see the outcome of this poll.

www.cined.com

But, cined.com is a videocentric web. So, the people that visit this site is more videocentric. However, after the last firmware update, it seems that the S1RII has no flaws at all and a lot of good features, for example it delivers 8k for less money than the competition.

 

[GeorgeHudetz]

The rent-free voice in my head relative to S1II vs. S1RII (for photography) comes down to the effects of sensor readout speed. Theoretically, the S1II should have faster/more reliable autofocus. While I’d be surprised if one could detect the difference in AFS, it might be noticeable - in terms of hit rate - in AFC under demanding conditions. Secondarily, less jello-effect when shooting in the SH modes of something that is moving quickly. That would indeed make it a better sports/wildlife cam, but, again, I have no idea how noticeable these effects will be.

Also, the neat trick of decreasing shadow noise at base ISO would be nice to have for landscape, but I’m not sure that’s worth the loss of resolution.

Charles, we are all counting on you to answer these questions.