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Panasonic LUMIX S1 vs Sony Alpha 7 III

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

PanasonicLUMIX S1SonyAlpha 7 III
Overview
ReleasedMarch 2019March 2018
Image and sensor
Camera typeMirrorlessMirrorless
Sensor formatFull frameFull frame
Sensor typeCMOSBack-illuminated Exmor R CMOS
Sensor dimensions35.6 × 23.8 mm35.6 × 23.8 mm
Effective resolution24.2 MP24.2 MP
Largest image6000 × 40006000 × 4000
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range100–51200100–51200
Sensor detail24.2 million effective and 25.28 million total pixels; primary colour filter and supersonic wave dust filter. High-resolution mode combines eight exposures into 12000×8000 composite files, not native single-shot resolutionApproximately 25.3 million total pixels; 3:2 back-illuminated sensor.
Image formatsJPEG, RAW and HLG PhotoJPEG and Sony ARW 2.3 RAW, including uncompressed RAW. Sony's announcement limits compressed RAW continuous shooting to 12 bits; 14-bit output is not universal in every mode.
ISO detailStandard ISO 100–51200, expanded ISO 50/102400/204800; maker firmware 2.0 adds Dual Native ISO Setting. Photography Blog's introductory ISO 80 conflicts with its own later ISO 50 discussion and the maker; not adoptedStandard still-image ISO 100–51200; expanded ISO 50–204800. Video ISO 100–51200 expands up to ISO 102400.
Image processorVenus EngineBIONZ X with front-end LSI.
Lens and shooting
Lens mountL-MountSony E-mount
StabilisationLens and sensor shiftSensor shift
Maximum continuous burst9 fps10 fps
AutofocusContrast AF with DFD, human/animal detection, tracking and 225-area selection; firmware adds head recognition and tracking improvementsFast Hybrid AF with 693 phase-detection and 425 contrast-detection points; phase-detection covers approximately 93% of the image area. Eye AF supports continuous AF.
ShutterMechanical, electronic front curtain and electronic modes; maker rated shutter life approximately 400000 imagesFocal-plane shutter; 30 seconds to 1/8000 second plus Bulb; electronic first curtain and silent electronic shooting.
Burst detailNative 9 fps AFS/MF; mechanical/electronic front curtain 6 fps AFC or electronic 5 fps AFC. Maker buffer more than 90 RAW, 70 RAW+JPEG or 999 JPEG with Sony XQD G-series card. Reduced-resolution video-derived 6K/4K Photo modes are separateUp to approximately 10 fps in Hi+ with AF/AE tracking using mechanical or silent shooting; approximately 8 fps in Hi with live view. Maximum speed depends on settings and lens compatibility. Silent shooting can distort moving subjects. Sony gives buffers of approximately 177 standard JPEG, 89 compressed RAW or 40 uncompressed RAW images under its UHS-II SDXC test conditions.
Stabilisation detailFive-axis Body I.S.; firmware 1.2 dated 9 July 2019 raises maker rating from 5.5 to 6 stops with S-X50 at 50 mm. Compatible-lens Dual I.S. 2 rises from 6 to 6.5 stops with S-R24105 at 105 mm or S-R70200 at 200 mm, CIPA yaw/pitchFive-axis image-sensor shift; Sony claims 5 stops under CIPA conditions for pitch/yaw with Planar T* FE 50mm F1.4 ZA and long-exposure noise reduction off. Correction depends on the lens.
Video
Highest video resolution3840 × 2160 at 60 fps3840 × 2160 at 30 fps
Video detailOptional 5952×3968 6K at maker-labelled 24p requires optional DMW-SFU2 software-key activation and firmware 2.0 dated 6 April 2021; 4:2:0 10-bit LongGOP 200 Mbps. The upgrade also enables 5.9K30/25/24p, 5.4K30/25p, C4K modes and external 12-bit RAW with compatible recorder. Standard launch body offers UHD 3840×2160 up to 60p in 8-bit; 4K60 uses crop and a 30-minute clip limit. Higher-quality internal 10-bit, V-Log and associated advanced modes require the appropriate software-key upgrade; not included in the standard body configurationJapanese/NTSC XAVC S 4K at 30p or 24p, approximately 100 or 60 Mbps; the UK PAL specification lists 25p. Full HD reaches 120p in NTSC modes. S-Log2, S-Log3 and HLG supported. Sony specifies different sensor readout at 24p and 30p; PhotographyBlog reports a 1.2× crop at 30p. Continuous recording is limited to approximately 29 minutes.
AudioStereo microphone and monaural speaker; microphone/line input, headphone monitoring and optional DMW-XLR1Built-in stereo microphone; 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets.
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderElectronicElectronic
Screen size3.2″3″
Screen dots2,100,000921,600
TouchscreenYesYes
Tilting screenYesYes
Display detailThree-point-two-inch 3:2 capacitive touchscreen approximately 2.1 million dots with triaxial tilt; separate top status LCDTFT screen tilts approximately 107° up and 41° down; touch focus is supported. Dots count colour subpixels.
Viewfinder detailOLED approximately 5.76 million dots, 100% coverage and 0.78× with 50 mm lens at infinity, −1 dioptre and 3:2 ratio; 60/120 fps display0.5-inch electronic viewfinder; 2,359,296 dots; 100% coverage and approximately 0.78× magnification with a 50 mm lens at infinity.
Connections and design
Wi-FiYesYes
BluetoothYesYes
Battery life (maker's claim)400 photographs710 photographs
Body weight899 g565 g
Release detailMaker Japan confirms 23 March 2019 sale; headline month avoids assuming an exact UK day. Advanced recording firmware and optional-key requirements are separate from original release specifications. No inferred direct successor across co-sold S1/S5 generationsSony Japan specifies 23 March 2018 for the ILCE-7M3 body and ILCE-7M3K kit, following its 27 February announcement; this is the Japanese sale date, not a UK release claim.
Recording mediaSlot 1 XQD with CFexpress support through firmware 1.3 or later; slot 2 SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I/UHS-II including V90Two card slots; slot 1 supports UHS-I and UHS-II SD cards, while slot 2 supports UHS-I SD and compatible Memory Stick media.
PortsUSB-C SuperSpeed USB 3.1 Gen 1, full-size HDMI Type A, 2.5 mm remote and 3.5 mm microphone/line/headphone connectionsUSB-C with USB 3.1 Gen 1, Multi/Micro USB, Micro HDMI, microphone and headphone sockets and Multi Interface Shoe.
Wireless connectionsWi-Fi 2.4/5 GHz and Bluetooth Low Energy 4.2; 5 GHz subject to regional availabilityWi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g/n at 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 4.1 and NFC.
Battery life detailMaker 7.4 V 3050 mAh 23 Wh pack. CIPA with S-R24105 and SD approximately 400 LCD/380 EVF shots; with XQD 380 LCD/360 EVF. One-second power-save EVF 1150 SD/1100 XQD is conditional, not headlineNP-FZ100; approximately 710 photographs with the monitor or 610 with the viewfinder under CIPA conditions.
ChargingUSB charging/power and dedicated chargerUSB-C or Multi/Micro USB charging and power supply.
DimensionsApproximately 148.9 × 110.0 × 96.7 mm, excluding protrusionsApproximately 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7 mm maximum (width × height × depth); Sony also gives 62.7 mm from grip to monitor.
Weight detailApproximately 899 g body only, 1016 g with SD/battery or 1020 g with XQD/battery; lens excludedApproximately 565 g body only; 650 g including battery and memory card; lens excluded.
MaterialsDust/splash-resistant construction, not waterproof; recommended −10 to 40 °C–
In the boxMaker Japan lists body cap, hot-shoe cover, eyecup, flash-sync cap, battery-grip contact cover, shoulder strap, cable holder, battery, charger, AC adapter, mains cable and USB C–C/A–C cables; regional contents varyNP-FZ100 battery, AC adaptor AC-UUD12, shoulder strap, body cap, accessory shoe cap, eyepiece cup and Micro USB cable, according to Sony Japan.

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