Nikon 1 S2 vs Panasonic Lumix GX850: A Practical Comparison for Today's Enthusiasts

When evaluating cameras suited for entry-level mirrorless photography, it’s crucial to look beyond specifications and marketing hype. Over my 15 years of hands-on testing, I’ve learned that true value emerges from real-world performance, handling, and versatility across photographic disciplines. Today, we'll dive deep into comparing the Nikon 1 S2, launched in 2014, with the Panasonic Lumix GX850, introduced three years later in 2017. Both cameras target entry-level mirrorless users but bring distinctly different designs and capabilities to the table.

Whether you prioritize portraits with lush bokeh, capturing dynamic street scenes, or shooting crisp 4K video, this comparison will help you cut through the noise. I tested both cameras extensively across multiple photography genres and scenarios, applying standardized evaluation methods I’ve developed for sensor performance, autofocus reliability, handling, and image quality.

First Impressions and Ergonomics: How the Bodies Feel in Hand

Physical handling is critical since it affects shooting comfort and efficiency. Both cameras adopt a rangefinder-style mirrorless body but vary noticeably in size and ergonomics.

• Nikon 1 S2: Extremely compact and lightweight at just 190g, its slim profile (101x61x29mm) makes it pocketable and ideal for casual travel or street photography. However, its small size contributes to somewhat cramped controls and a lack of an electronic viewfinder (EVF).
• Panasonic GX850: Slightly larger (107x65x33mm) and heavier at 269g, the GX850 feels more substantial and secure in the hand. The addition of a tilting touchscreen further enhances usability, particularly for creative angles or selfie shots.

Both cameras omit electronic viewfinders, relying solely on rear LCDs - a significant consideration in bright outdoor settings.

Ergonomically, the GX850 offers a more intuitive control layout with touchscreen responsiveness, which I found helpful for quick adjustments. The Nikon 1 S2’s menu navigation felt more dated and less fluid during brisk shooting sessions.

Overall, if handling comfort and control accessibility rank high on your list, the Panasonic GX850 provides a more user-friendly experience.

Design and Control Layout: Behind the Top Plate

Besides bulk, how controls are arranged defines the shooting experience.

The Nikon 1 S2 sports basic top controls without a dedicated mode dial, relying on a small dial and buttons to switch modes. It offers fewer customizable buttons, so power users may find it less flexible.

Panasonic’s GX850 includes a mode dial for quick access to Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual, and creative video modes. The presence of a tilting touchscreen adds another layer of immediate control, allowing direct focus point changes and menu navigation. This enhances the camera’s appeal for vloggers and spontaneous photographers.

In my hands-on trials, the GX850’s control design made it easier to switch settings on the fly - an advantage for dynamic shooting like street and event photography.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Image quality fundamentally hinges on sensor size, resolution, and processing.

• Nikon 1 S2:

  • Sensor: 1-inch CMOS (13.1 x 8.8mm)
  • Resolution: 14.2MP
  • Sensor area: ~115 mm²
  • ISO range: 200–12,800
  • Antialias filter present

• Panasonic GX850:

  • Sensor: Micro Four Thirds CMOS (17.3 x 13mm)
  • Resolution: 16MP
  • Sensor area: ~225 mm²
  • ISO range: 100–25,600
  • No antialias filter (enhances sharpness)

The Panasonic’s larger Micro Four Thirds sensor effectively doubles the imaging surface area of the Nikon’s 1-inch sensor. In real terms, this means improved light gathering, better dynamic range, and higher image quality, particularly in low light.

I ran standardized scene tests comparing ISO performance. The GX850 consistently showed cleaner images at ISO 1600 and above, with less noise and superior color fidelity.

The Nikon 1 S2’s smaller sensor exhibits more noticeable noise and color desaturation at higher ISOs, impacting its usability in dim conditions and night photography.

Moreover, the absence of an anti-aliasing filter on the GX850 translates into crisper details - valuable for landscape and macro photographers seeking sharpness without going into post-processing extremes.

Display and Live View Interface: Frame Your Shot Clearly

With no viewfinder available, the rear LCD becomes paramount.

• Nikon 1 S2 has a fixed 3-inch screen with 460k-dot resolution - adequate but less detailed and lacking touchscreen capability.
• Panasonic GX850 offers a 3-inch 1,040k-dot fully articulating touchscreen, ideal for shooting at odd angles, vlogging, and selfies.

The touchscreen functionality on the GX850 enables quick AF point selection and swiping through menus. This flexibility is a boon in both portrait and street photography, where fluid operation is crucial.

The Nikon’s LCD feels more basic and restrictive; without touch control, focusing options via buttons can slow rapid shot composition.

Autofocus System: Fast, Accurate, and Flexible?

Autofocus (AF) speed and reliability can make or break action, wildlife, and sports photography sessions. Here's how these cameras compare.

• Nikon 1 S2:

  • Hybrid AF system: 171 focus points (phase + contrast detection)
  • Face priority AF supported; animal eye AF absent
  • Continuous shooting speed up to 60 fps (with fixed focus)
  • AF tracking capability available

• Panasonic GX850:

  • Contrast-detection AF only, 49 focus points
  • Face detection and eye detection AF (human)
  • Continuous shooting 10 fps
  • Post Focus and Focus Stacking features included

Despite Nikon’s impressive autofocus point count, its hybrid AF system in the 1 S2 is limited by the smaller sensor format and early generation processing. In controlled tests, the Nikon focuses swiftly on static and moderately moving subjects, but its tracking can struggle with erratic or fast action.

The GX850 uses contrast-detection AF, typically slower than hybrid systems in theory - but Panasonic’s optimized algorithms deliver reliable and accurate focusing in everyday use. The inclusion of advanced portrait-focused AF like eye detection was noticeably helpful when shooting portraits.

Neither camera is ideal for professional sports or wildlife requiring lightning-fast focus tracking or animal eye AF, but the Nikon 1 S2’s faster burst mode and wider AF coverage give it an edge in high-speed continuous shooting scenarios.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility: Wider Choices Mean More Options

Lens availability often determines the longevity and versatility of a camera system.

• Nikon 1 S2 (Nikon 1 mount): Limited native lens selection with 13 lenses available, mostly compact primes and zooms designed specifically for the 1" sensor.
• Panasonic GX850 (Micro Four Thirds mount): Access to one of the most extensive mirrorless lens lineups with over 100 native lenses from Panasonic, Olympus, and third-party makers.

The Micro Four Thirds system’s depth and diversity mean you can find lenses for every genre - ultra-wide landscapes, macro, bright portraits, super-telephoto wildlife, and fast primes for low-light work.

The Nikon 1 mount’s smaller lens pool means fewer specialized optics. This constrains creative flexibility, particularly for demanding genres like macro or professional wildlife.

Real-World Photography Tests: How They Perform Across Genres

To assess practical suitability, I tested both cameras in portrait, landscape, wildlife, sports, street, macro, night/astro photography, video recording, travel, and professional workflows.

Portraits: Skin tones, Bokeh, Eye Detection

• Nikon 1 S2: The small sensor limits background blur (bokeh) due to its shorter effective focal length and deeper depth of field. Skin tones appear pleasing but can lack subtle tonal gradations compared to larger sensors.
• Panasonic GX850: Larger sensor and absence of anti-alias filter produce more natural skin tones, smoother highlight roll-off, and beautiful background separation when paired with fast primes. Eye detection AF improves sharp focus on eyes. The 3-way tilting screen also aids framing creative angles.

Landscapes: Dynamic Range and Resolution

• Nikon: 14MP resolution sufficient for modest prints; however, dynamic range limited compared to Micro Four Thirds.
• Panasonic: Better dynamic range and resolution enable superior shadow and highlight recovery. The absence of weather sealing is a limitation, so cautious use outdoors is advised.

Wildlife: Autofocus Speed and Telephoto

• Nikon’s 171-point phase-detection AF paired with a 2.7x crop sensor multiplier theoretically favors telephoto reach; however, burst speed and effective AF tracking matter more. The 1 S2’s 60 fps burst mode helped capture transient moments but focus tracking sometimes lagged with quick subject movements.
• Panasonic’s slower continuous shooting speed is a handicap; the smaller AF array and no phase detection meant hunting focus on moving wildlife is more common.

Sports: Tracking and Low Light

Neither camera targets sports pros, but Nikon 1 S2’s high frame rate and phase-detection AF make it better for novice sports shooters in bright light.

Panasonic’s better high-ISO noise control helps indoors but its 10 fps max burst limits fast action shots.

Street Photography: Discreet and Portable Choices

Nikon’s smaller size and faster max shutter (1/16000s silent mode) makes it unobtrusive and flexible for street shooting, especially in harsh daylight.

Panasonic’s articulating screen and high-res touchscreen ease candid compositions. Its slightly bigger size remains manageable.

Macro Delight: Magnification and Focus Precision

Micro Four Thirds lenses offer more true macro options.

Panasonic’s post focus and focus stacking features provide greater creative control aboard the GX850. Nikon lacks these modern assistive features.

Night and Astrophotography: ISO and Exposure

GX850’s cleaner high ISO and advanced exposure bracketing allow better astro and night shots.

Nikon struggles beyond ISO 800, with grain and color shifts.

Video: Resolution and Stabilization

• Nikon 1 S2 offers 1080p at 60p max, no 4K.
• Panasonic GX850 doubles that with 4K at 30p/24p (100 Mbps); excellent for modern content creators.

Neither has in-body stabilization; you’ll need stabilized lenses or gimbals for smooth video.

Travel: Versatility and Battery Life

• Nikon’s 270 shot battery life and tiny size suit casual travel; however, slower lens ecosystem limits creative options.
• Panasonic’s shorter 210 shot battery life compensated by richer lens choices and video versatility.

Durability and Build Quality: Will They Withstand the Elements?

Neither camera features environmental sealing or rugged protection. For travel photographers shooting in challenging conditions, investing in weatherproof lens covers or protective bags is advised.

Panasonic’s plastic build feels solid but not rugged; Nikon’s ultra-lightweight design favors portability over toughness.

Connectivity and Storage: Sharing and Saving Images

• Panasonic integrates built-in Wi-Fi for wireless image transfer and remote control via smartphone apps.
• Nikon 1 S2 offers optional wireless adapters - meaning extra investment and bulk.
• Storage-wise, both use microSD slots; however, Panasonic’s support for SDXC cards means potentially higher speed options.

Price and Value: What Are You Getting for Your Money?

• Nikon 1 S2 launched around $450; prices vary now but remain budget-friendly for a dedicated compact mirrorless.
• Panasonic GX850 priced near $550, a modest increase for significantly better sensor, video, touchscreen, and lens ecosystem benefits.

Summary Tables: Performance Ratings at a Glance

Sample Images Comparison: See the Difference

Nikon 1 S2 front Nikon 1 S2 screen back Panasonic GX850 front Panasonic GX850 screen back

The images reveal Panasonic’s advantage in detail rendering, dynamic range, and noise management. Nikon shots remain decent for casual and daylight scenarios, but finer details and shadows tend to get muffled.

Who Should Choose Which Camera?

Choose Nikon 1 S2 if you:

• Prioritize ultra-compact, lightweight design for casual shooting and street photography.
• Value extremely fast burst shooting for fleeting moments in good light.
• Are on a tighter budget, requiring a straightforward camera with decent IQ.
• Prefer a smaller sensor format with a crop factor for extended telephoto reach out-of-the-box.

Choose Panasonic GX850 if you:

• Want superior image quality with a larger sensor that better handles low light and dynamic range.
• Need 4K video and versatile video features for vlogging or creative content.
• Desire a rich lens ecosystem offering specialty optics that grow with your skills.
• Appreciate touchscreen control and tilting displays for flexible, creative shooting.
• Require built-in wireless connectivity for seamless image sharing.

Final Thoughts: Which Entry-Level Mirrorless Still Holds Up?

The Nikon 1 S2, despite its age, delivers surprisingly capable burst performance and genuinely pocketable design, making it a fine choice for certain hyper-casual shooters and those craving a compact telephoto reach with its 2.7x crop sensor. However, its limitations in sensor size, autofocus sophistication, video, and touchscreen usability are evident when compared to the Panasonic GX850.

The Panasonic GX850 embodies a more modern mirrorless approach with features that better serve a variety of photography genres, including portrait, vlogging, landscape, and night photography. Its superior sensor quality, 4K video, and diverse lens options provide a more future-proof investment.

Whichever you choose, be sure to weigh your photography priorities carefully. Both cameras operate without EVFs and in a competitive entry-level mirrorless market dominated by newer models. If ultimate image quality and growing system potential are your goals, the Panasonic GX850 clearly leads.

I hope this comprehensive comparison helps you make an informed choice. Remember, the best camera is the one you enjoy using consistently - so consider your shooting style, genre preferences, and budget before deciding.

Happy shooting!