Panasonic's first full frame frameless cameras promise a lot for 2019

Introduced by Panasonic's digital imaging boss, Yosuke Yamane, at Photokina 2018, the Panasonic Lumix S series is the latest in the high-density full-format mirrorless camera race. Yamane says the Lumix S is "dedicated to the professionals" and supports this statement with a number of major promises.

The Lumix S cameras will provide image stabilization both in the camera body and in the lenses and offer the highest speeds and highest sync speeds. We are told that the electronic viewfinder will be the highest resolution and the highest precision in the industry, "close to human vision". Now you will have noticed that none of these claims is yet accompanied by accurate numbers, but that's the nature of an announcement as soon as The photokina will take place in the fall of 2018 while the first examples of these the 47 megapixel Lumix S1 and the 24 megapixel S1R will not be available until spring 2019.

Panasonic's Lumix Micro Four Thirds cameras are one of the most popular choices among prosumer and semi-professional videographers, and the new Lumix S series will try to extend this pedigree with its 4K video recording offer up to 60fps and the stabilization of two images. Panasonic also promises extreme durability, with weather protection on all seams, dials and buttons. A Lumix S camera has already descended to the South Pole, where it "worked perfectly" at temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius.

Brand new camera system will have the challenge of establishing a lens ecosystem, where the all-new L-Mount Alliance with Panasonic's Leica and Sigma comes in. The Lumix S series will adopt Leica's L-Mount, eight Leica's high-quality lenses from the beginning, and three from Panasonic's Lumix division. Panasonic will start the Lumix S with a 50mm f / 1.4 prime, a 24-105mm zoom and a 70-200mm telephoto zoom. Sigma will also provide lenses until 2019, and Panasonic promises to have at least 10 lenses compatible by one year after the release of Lumix S cameras.