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Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic S2

Portability
65
Imaging
41
Features
38
Overall
39
Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic S2 Key Specs

Panasonic L1
(Full Review)
  • 7MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 606g - 146 x 87 x 77mm
  • Introduced April 2007
Panasonic S2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 112g - 98 x 57 x 21mm
  • Launched January 2012
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Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic S2 Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic L1 versus Panasonic S2, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both created by Panasonic. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the L1 (7MP) and S2 (14MP) and the L1 (Four Thirds) and S2 (1/2.3") possess different sensor measurements.

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The L1 was announced 5 years before the S2 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic L1 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic S2 being a Compact camera.

Before going through a detailed comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the L1 grades versus the S2 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic L1 over the Panasonic S2

 L1 S2 
Focus manually More accurate focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Panasonic L1

 S2 L1 
LaunchedJanuary 2012April 2007Fresher by 57 months
Screen sizing2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution230k207kCrisper screen (+23k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic L1 and Panasonic S2

 L1 S2 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic S2 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry your camera, you should consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic L1 has exterior measurements of 146mm x 87mm x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") along with a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs) and the Panasonic S2 has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") and a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic L1 versus Panasonic S2 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using during that time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the L1 and the S2.

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic S2 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the L1 and S2 is 65 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic S2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic S2 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizing just by looking through a spec sheet. The visual underneath may offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the L1 and S2.

Clearly, both of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The L1 with its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF easier and the Panasonic S2 will render more detail with its extra 7MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older L1 will be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic S2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic L1 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic S2 Portrait photography highlights
54
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
MP count low (7MP)
33
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
provides face detect autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic L1 Street photography details
Panasonic S2 Street photography details
58
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lighter than average (606g)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (112 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic L1
Sports photography with Panasonic S2
40
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (7MP)
39
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
better than average battery life (280 CIPA)
max frames per second low (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic L1 Travel photography advice
Panasonic S2 Travel photography advice
50
lighter than average (606g)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
MP count low (7 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
70
better than average battery life (280 shots)
lighter than competition (112g)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
does not have selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic L1 Landscape photography information
Panasonic S2 Landscape photography information
47
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is small (2.5 inches)
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (7 megapixels)
missing Timelapse mode
41
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
better than average battery life (280 shots)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7")
manual mode not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic L1 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic S2 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't record video
32
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (112 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone port
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Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic L1 and Panasonic S2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
General Information
Company Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
Category Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2007-04-11 2012-01-09
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 7 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3136 x 2352 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus range - 5cm
Total lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5" 2.7"
Screen resolution 207k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, Red-Eye Auto, On, Red-Eye On, Red-Eye Slow Sync, Off, Slow Sync (1&2) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 606g (1.34 lbs) 112g (0.25 lbs)
Dimensions 146 x 87 x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 280 photos
Battery form - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/MMC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $1,500 $109