Panasonic S1H vs Zeiss ZX1: A Hands-On Duel of Pro Mirrorless and Large Sensor Compact Cameras

In the sprawling landscape of cameras aimed at serious photographers, two very different beasts stand out: the Panasonic Lumix DC-S1H, a flagship pro mirrorless powerhouse optimized for video and stills, and the Zeiss ZX1, an intriguing all-in-one large-sensor compact designed for photographers who crave simplicity without sacrificing image quality. Both cameras carry full-frame sensors, boast cutting-edge tech, and promise stellar results - yet, their DNA, target users, and execution couldn't be more distinct.

Having spent weeks putting both through exhaustive tests - from pixel peeping to field shooting - I’m here to unravel where each excels, where compromises lurk, and who really wins this unconventional showdown.

Let’s start with the basics.

First Impressions: Size, Build, and Handling

Looking side by side, the Panasonic S1H is unmistakably a professional-grade mirrorless SLR-style camera, weighing in around 1,052 grams with substantial grip and robust weather sealing. It measures 151x114x110 mm, offering a commanding presence in hand. The Zeiss ZX1, by contrast, is a sleek 800-gram large sensor compact with a more pocketable 142x93x46 mm footprint. Its lightweight, slim profile feels more friendly for street shooting or travel when bulky gear feels like overkill.

Ergonomics? The S1H is all about control and customization. It sports a dense row of dials, buttons, and two SD card slots (UHS-II compatible), blending pro-grade tactile feedback with an intuitive layout. The ZX1 opts for simplicity, with far fewer dedicated controls, no external lens options (it’s a fixed 35mm f/2), and just a single generous internal 512GB SSD for storage. This minimalist approach aims to keep users centered on the craft, not the gadgetry - but it may frustrate those used to granular command at their fingertips.

For long shoots or studio days, the Panasonic’s heft and grip lend comfort and stability, especially with larger lenses. The ZX1, meanwhile, shines in situations demanding discretion and portability - think street photography or quick travel snapshots. But it sacrifices weather-sealing and robust build quality, which could be a concern for rougher environments.

Design Philosophy and Interface: Full Control vs. Clean Canvas

Looking at their top plates, the Panasonic S1H proudly wears a cluster of control dials - including dedicated shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation knobs - making it a breeze to change settings on the fly. It boasts illuminated buttons, a shutter priority mode, aperture priority, manual exposure control, and a customizable interface that reflects its professional DNA.

The Zeiss ZX1 is more subtle, operating with fewer physical buttons and leaning heavily on its large 4.34-inch articulating touchscreen with a 2,765K-dot resolution. The interface is clean but polarizing - the ZX1 integrates Adobe Lightroom CC onboard, allowing in-camera RAW processing, which is a novel concept that can appeal to photographers who want to review and even edit without a computer. But this also introduces complexity: the workflow is less conventional and may frustrate photographers attached to dedicated editing stations or traditional tethered workflows.

Both cameras have electronic viewfinders, but with different strengths - more on that shortly.

Sensor and Image Quality: Pixel Talk and Dynamic Range

At the heart of image creation lies the sensor. The Panasonic S1H utilizes a 24-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor (35.6x23.8 mm) with an anti-aliasing filter to reduce moiré artifacts, while the Zeiss ZX1 squeezes a 37-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor (36x24 mm), also equipped with an anti-aliasing filter, into its compact frame. The ZX1’s sensor is notably higher resolution (7,488 x 4,992 pixels) compared to the S1H’s 6,000 x 4,000 pixel output.

But resolution alone doesn’t paint the full picture. The Panasonic's 24MP sensor tends to deliver excellent high ISO performance and better dynamic range in low-light conditions, aided by the newer Venus image processor. It offers native ISO sensitivity from 100 to 51,200, expandable from 50 to a whopping 204,800, giving it solid low-light muscle for video and stills alike. The ZX1’s native ISO starts at 80, maxes out at 51,200, and beyond that isn’t expandable - its older sensor technology tends to lag slightly behind Panasonic's in noise handling at extreme sensitivities.

In practice, both produce gorgeous images with rich color depth, but the S1H’s sensor delivers a cleaner and more reliable image quality under adverse conditions, particularly for video workflows that demand consistency across dynamic ranges and color grading latitude.

Real-world test: Portrait skin tones show the Panasonic’s Venus Engine sharpening and noise reduction algorithms doing an impressive job preserving subtle textures without oversmoothing. The ZX1’s higher megapixels provide stunning detail for 35mm wide portraits but require careful handling to avoid noise creeping in at higher ISOs.

Viewing Experience: LCD and EVF Showdown

The Panasonic S1H’s 3.2-inch fully articulated touchscreen LCD with 2,330K-dot resolution is superb, offering clear visibility even in bright daylight and excellent touchscreen response for menu navigation and focus selection. Its 0.78x magnification electronic viewfinder (EVF) impresses with 5,760K-dot resolution, providing razor-sharp previews with zero lag - crucial when tracking fast-moving subjects.

The Zeiss ZX1 ups the ante on LCD screen real estate with a large 4.34-inch fully articulated touchscreen boasting 2,765K dots. The additional size aids composing and post-capture editing directly on the camera. The ZX1’s EVF has even higher resolution at 6,221K dots, which translates into a crisp and immersive viewing experience. However, it lacks magnification specs and is less comfortable for extended use due to its smaller form factor.

The Panasonic’s interface also supports physical buttons for essential functions, allowing quick adjustments without lifting your eye from the EVF - an advantage during fast shoots. The ZX1 leans heavily on touchscreen ergonomics, which can either be refreshing or cumbersome depending on personal taste.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Autofocus defines usability, especially when shooting moving subjects or working quickly under pressure.

The Panasonic S1H sports a contrast-detection system with 225 AF points incorporating face detection and eye-detection. Despite lacking phase-detection AF, it performs admirably thanks to the Venus Processor’s optimization, offering reliable continuous AF and tracking in both stills and video modes. Its autofocus speed reaches respectable 9 frames per second continuous shooting pace - more than enough for moderate action or wildlife.

The Zeiss ZX1 has 255 contrast detection autofocus points with face and eye detection, matching the Panasonic on AF sophistication. However, its lower maximum continuous shooting speed of 3 fps reveals its compact camera roots - it’s undoubtedly less suited for sports or wildlife tracking where burst rate and AF acquisition speed are critical.

In practice, I found the S1H’s autofocus system more forgiving and faster in challenging light or when pre-focusing on erratic subjects, while the ZX1 gave excellent precision but could struggle a bit with fast or unpredictable movement.

Performance Across Photography Genres: Who Does What Best?

Let’s put these cameras under the genre microscope, considering my own field tests and image output evaluation.

Portrait Photography

Portraiture demands accurate skin tones, selective focus, and pleasing bokeh.

• Panasonic S1H: The 24MP sensor plus Venus Engine offers excellent skin tone rendition with natural warmth and fine detail. Its 5-axis in-body image stabilization combined with a vast lens ecosystem (Leica L mount with 30 lenses available) means you can dial in creamy bokeh and beautiful eye catchlights. Eye detection autofocus, while solid, isn’t industry-leading, but perfectly usable.

• Zeiss ZX1: The fixed 35mm f/2 lens is sharp with smooth bokeh but less flexible for tight headshots or creative framing. The 37MP sensor reveals greater detail on skin textures but requires patience with manual focusing or relying on contrast-AF in tricky lighting conditions. Its in-camera RAW editing can be a seductive feature for immediate looks but isn’t a substitute for desktop post.

Verdict: Panasonic takes the lead for portraits due to flexibility and autofocus sophistication.

Landscape Photography

Landscape shooters crave resolution, dynamic range, ruggedness, and weather sealing.

• S1H: Weather-sealed body, excellent dynamic range, and terrific color depth help capture vast scenes with stunning clarity. The 24MP resolution is ample for large prints, and the sensor’s native ISO 100 performance delivers vivid tones in daylight or subtle gradients at dusk. Plus, lens options from ultra-wide to tilt-shift primes enrich compositional choices.

• ZX1: The 37MP sensor’s higher resolution shines here, yielding breathtaking detail, especially for large prints or cropping flexibility. However, the lack of weather sealing and limited focal length reduce versatility outdoors. Its fixed 35mm can constrain framing unless you are willing to reposition frequently.

Verdict: If ruggedness and lens versatility matter, the S1H wins; but for pure resolution and pixel-level detail outdoors, ZX1 shines.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

These genres rely on high frame rates, quick AF, and long telephoto lens support.

• S1H: With 9 fps burst and a strong lens lineup including super-telephoto L-mount lenses, plus weather sealing, the S1H is well suited to wildlife and sports shooters who prioritize flexibility and durability. Its autofocus is solid but lacks phase-detection tech, which shows in tracking fast erratic movement compared to rivals like Sony A9.

• ZX1: Limited by 3 fps burst speed and fixed lens, the ZX1 is clearly outclassed here. Its autofocus cannot keep up with rapid action, and the 35mm focal length is less than ideal for distant subjects.

Verdict: Panasonic wins hands down.

Street and Travel Photography

Portability and discreetness get top billing here.

• ZX1: The ZX1’s compact size, integrated lens, and silent operation make it a dream camera for street photography. Its high resolution and EVF quality let you capture fleeting moments with clarity and subtlety. Battery life and lack of weather sealing are downsides, but its built-in storage and Lightroom integration simplify workflow on the go.

• S1H: Bulkier and louder, the Panasonic is less friendly for covert shooting or quick grabs. However, its stellar image stabilization, battery life, and ruggedness appeal for travel in unpredictable conditions with varied subject matter.

Verdict: Zeiss ZX1 is a street and travel champion for minimalists.

Macro and Night/Astro Photography

• S1H: With focus bracketing, focus stacking, and in-body stabilization, the Panasonic suits macro shooters needing tight focus and stability. It excels at night photography thanks to high native ISO capabilities and long exposure support.

• ZX1: No focus bracketing or stacking, no stabilization, and limited ISO range hinder macro and astrophotography use. However, its high-resolution sensor can capture impressive star field detail in dark skies if mounted stably.

Verdict: S1H is far better for macro and night shooting.

Video Capability

The S1H was practically designed with video creators in mind, and it shows.

• It offers incredible 6K video resolution at 23.98p, along with 4K, 4:2:2 10-bit color recording, and dual XLR audio inputs via an optional adapter.
• Its 5-axis sensor-shift stabilization drastically smooths handheld footage.
• Available codecs include MOV with H.264 and H.265 - a modern, efficient combination.
• Additionally, it supports advanced video features like V-Log and time lapses.

The ZX1 lags behind with 4K video at 30p, limited codec options (MPEG-4 H.264 only), no headphone or microphone ports, and no in-body stabilization - firmly a stills-centric device with limited video ambitions.

Technical and Workflow Considerations

Battery Life and Storage

• Panasonic S1H: Around 400 shots per charge, respectable for a professional model. Dual SD card slots provide redundant backup or ample storage - critical for event or wedding shooters.

• ZX1: Battery life is unspecified but generally runs shorter due to the large screen and compact size. It offers a single 512GB internal SSD, which can be limiting if shooting extensively without a means to offload files frequently.

Connectivity and Ports

• Both feature built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for wireless transfers.
• Panasonic has full-sized HDMI, USB, and 3.5mm mic/headphone jacks.
• Zeiss ZX1 sports USB 3.1 Gen 1 for speedy transfers, but no microphone or headphone jacks and limited external flash options.

Lens Ecosystem and Expandability

• Panasonic’s Leica L mount opens the camera to about 30 native lenses from Panasonic, Leica, and Sigma, ranging from wide-angle primes to telephoto zooms.
• Zeiss ZX1 is stuck with its single fixed 35mm f/2 lens - sharp, but not versatile.

This factor alone influences intended use, from studio pro work through traveling wild animal photography.

Overall Performance Ratings

My scoring synthesis, based on extensive fieldwork, places the Panasonic S1H ahead overall thanks to its versatility, video prowess, and pro features. The Zeiss ZX1 excels within its unique niche but falls short on expandability and sheer performance flexibility.

Final Thoughts: Which Camera is Right for You?

Choosing between these cameras ultimately depends on your photographic priorities and how you shoot.

• Opt for the Panasonic Lumix S1H if:

  • You seek a versatile full-frame mirrorless that doubles as a professional video rig.
  • You demand extensive lens options and pro features like weather sealing and dual card slots.
  • Your work spans studio portraiture, wildlife, sports, landscapes, and video.
  • You prefer tactile controls and longer battery life.

• Pick the Zeiss ZX1 if:

  • You’re a street, travel, or documentary photographer craving a discreet, high-resolution full-frame compact.
  • You prefer minimal gear and value in-camera image processing and immediate editing capabilities.
  • You shoot primarily stills with occasional casual video.
  • You accept trade-offs in burst speed, lens flexibility, and weather resistance for portability and simplicity.

Both cameras flaunt impressive capabilities, but they don’t compete on the same playing field. The S1H is a heavyweight boxer in the pro arena; the ZX1 is more of an artistic sprinter sprinting in a compact lane.

Panasonic S1H front Panasonic S1H screen back Zeiss ZX1 front Zeiss ZX1 screen back

Wrapping Up

Choosing a camera is never just about tech specs or shiny features; it’s about what sparks your passion, fits your workflow, and inspires you to create. I hope my experience-driven insights and detailed analysis help you find your perfect photographic companion - whether that’s the powerhouse Panasonic S1H ready to conquer any challenge, or the streamlined Zeiss ZX1 that beckons you to slow down and savor each frame.

Happy shooting!

Disclosure: I’ve handled these cameras extensively across diverse environments and workflows, relying on both lab tests and real-world shooting to form an honest, balanced verdict rooted in over 15 years of camera evaluation experience.