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Panasonic S1 vs Sony A6400

Portability
54
Imaging
75
Features
84
Overall
78
Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 front
 
Sony Alpha a6400 front
Portability
83
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Panasonic S1 vs Sony A6400 Key Specs

Panasonic S1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Boost to 204800)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 1021g - 149 x 110 x 97mm
  • Announced February 2019
Sony A6400
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Bump to 102400)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 403g - 120 x 67 x 50mm
  • Introduced January 2019
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Panasonic S1 vs Sony A6400 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Panasonic S1 versus Sony A6400, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the S1 (24MP) and the A6400 (24MP) is relatively similar but the S1 (Full frame) and A6400 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor size.

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The S1 was announced within a month of the A6400 which means that they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic S1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A6400 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a short summation of how the S1 matches up versus the A6400 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic S1 over the Sony A6400

 S1 A6400 
Screen sizing3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution2100k922kCrisper screen (+1178k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A6400 over the Panasonic S1

 A6400 S1 
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Panasonic S1 and Sony A6400

 S1 A6400 
IntroducedFebruary 2019January 2019Similar age
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Panasonic S1 vs Sony A6400 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera often, you'll need to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic S1 has exterior measurements of 149mm x 110mm x 97mm (5.9" x 4.3" x 3.8") accompanied by a weight of 1021 grams (2.25 lbs) whilst the Sony A6400 has specifications of 120mm x 67mm x 50mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.0") having a weight of 403 grams (0.89 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic S1 versus Sony A6400 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the S1 and the A6400.

Panasonic S1 vs Sony A6400 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the S1 and A6400 is 54 and 83 respectively.

Panasonic S1 vs Sony A6400 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S1 vs Sony A6400 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizes simply by reading technical specs. The pic here might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the S1 and A6400.

As you have seen, both of the cameras offer the same exact megapixel count albeit different sensor sizes. The S1 comes with the bigger sensor which is going to make achieving shallower DOF simpler.

Panasonic S1 vs Sony A6400 sensor size comparison

Panasonic S1 vs Sony A6400 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S1 vs Sony A6400 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic S1
Portrait photography with Sony A6400
85
manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/320 seconds)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
has face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
81
you can focus manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic S1 Street photography factors
Sony A6400 Street photography factors
70
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
comes with focus via touch
environment sealing
great high ISO (51,200)
more heavy than competitors (1,021g)
81
tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
features focus by touch
environment sealing
great ISO range (32,000)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic S1 Sports photography advice
Sony A6400 Sports photography advice
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet shooting (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
environment sealing
terrible battery life (380 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
76
good resolution (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic S1 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A6400 as a Travel photography camera
59
environment sealing
connects via bluetooth
comes with focus via touch
good MP (24 megapixels)
terrible battery life (380 CIPA)
more heavy than competitors (1,021g)
does not offer selfie friendly display
87
environment sealing
connects via bluetooth
features focus by touch
good resolution (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic S1 Landscape photography factors
Sony A6400 Landscape photography factors
81
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Leica L mount)
nice screen size (3.2")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
does not have low pass filter
great high ISO (51,200)
delivers RAW files
environment sealing
2 card slots
terrible battery life (380 CIPA)
80
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (32,000)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic S1 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A6400 as a Vlogging camera
32
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
does have external microphone support
does not offer selfie friendly display
more heavy than competitors (1,021 grams)
80
display is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
includes face detect focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with mic support
lack of image stabilization
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Panasonic S1 vs Sony A6400 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S1 and Sony A6400
 Panasonic Lumix DC-S1Sony Alpha a6400
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 Sony Alpha a6400
Type Pro Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2019-02-01 2019-01-15
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 35.6 x 23.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 847.3mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 6000 x 4000 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 51200 32000
Highest enhanced ISO 204800 102400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Lowest enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 225 425
Lens
Lens mount type Leica L Sony E
Available lenses 30 121
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3.2 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 2,100 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 5,760 thousand dots 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.78x 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed 1/8000 seconds -
Continuous shutter rate 9.0 frames/s 11.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync w/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Off, auto, on, slow sync, rear sync, redeye reduction, wireless, hi-speed sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/320 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, H.264, H.265 MPEG-4, H.264, XAVC-S
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes (can be charged with high-power laptop/tablet chargers or portable power banks) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 1021 gr (2.25 lb) 403 gr (0.89 lb)
Dimensions 149 x 110 x 97mm (5.9" x 4.3" x 3.8") 120 x 67 x 50mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 95 83
DXO Color Depth rating 25.2 24.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.5 13.6
DXO Low light rating 3333 1431
Other
Battery life 380 photos 410 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type - SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick DUO (UHS-I compliant)
Card slots Two 1
Retail price $2,498 $898