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Panasonic XS1

 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 front
 
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 103g - 94 x 54 x 14mm
  • Revealed January 2013
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
97
Imaging
40
Features
26
Overall
34

Panasonic XS1 overview

Panasonic XS1 is Panasonic's Small Sensor Compact digital camera originally announced on January of 2013. It has a 16 MegaPixel, CCD 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a maximum resolution of 4608 x 3456.

The XS1 is ranked #106 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras & all-around #951 out of 1465 for cameras in our collection. Remember to check out our Advanced camera search to find camera results based on your custom criteria.

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Here is a diagram of different criteria used in the scoring system.

Panasonic XS1 Pros and Cons

Below is a list of upsides and downsides of the Panasonic XS1 based on features which are generally viewed as crucial in a digital camera.

above average min ISO (100)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
good zoom range (24-120mm 5.0 x zoom)
has tracking focus
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (103g)
really wide (24mm)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
cannot use external flash
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
has no phase detect AF
has no RAW format
lack of HDMI socket
lack of headphone socket
lack of manual focus
lack of microphone socket
lack of Timelapse mode
manual exposure not available
max fps low (1.0 fps)
no aperture priority mode
no shutter priority
pixelated screen (230 thousand dots)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
slow at full zoom (f6.9)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7")
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
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Panasonic XS1 Sensor details

The measurement of the sensor on the Panasonic XS1 is 6.08mm x 4.56mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor is able to resolve 4608 x 3456 pixels . The camera has Image Stabilization (Optical). Optical stabilization is more desirable than digital stabilization since the latter might lead to cropping.

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The CCD sensor has 16MP and has a standard ISO range of 100 to 6400. Sadly, RAW files are not saved so the user has less margin for error.

The image underneath displays the XS1's sensor dimensions when compared to other popular sizes. The XS1 sensor has a crop factor of 5.9 and is highlighted in green.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 sensor size Nikon Coolpix camera search on Google skyrockets by 8,500%

To get an idea of specific aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Panasonic XS1 dimensions

Panasonic XS1 weighs 0.23 lbs (103 gr / 3.63 ounces) & has outside measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6"). The weight of normal Small Sensor Compact camera is 174 gr and the Panasonic XS1 is lighter in comparison with other competitors.

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Here is a image of the Panasonic XS1 next to a soft drink so you can get a sense of its scale.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 dimensions scale

The top view underneath will show you the button design on the XS1.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1 topview buttons dials

Panasonic XS1 Lens specs

The XS1 provides a built-in lens and it has a focal range of 24-120mm giving it a 5.0 x zoom which might not be ideal however it could be convenient in certain circumstances.

At the widest 24mm, it has an aperture of f2.8 which will be fairly slow and not the best for low light events and you will probably struggle to get good bokeh. You could also have to boost the ISO setting giving you noisy photos. At the tele end, 120mm comes to f6.9 which is pretty slow and you would need to utilize slower shutter speeds.

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Panasonic XS1 Connectivity

The XS1 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes

Cameras that feature NFC and / or Bluetooth connectivity can easily be used wirelessly through smartphones. You are able to transfer files and at times change camera settings with no need to connect physically to the camera.

Certain applications even allow a Liveview and click the shutter if you aren't near the camera. If the camera boasts a HDMI port, it could be connected to an external display. Most cameras enable you to recharge the battery using the USB port.

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Panasonic XS1 Video specs

The maximum video resolution on the Panasonic XS1 is 1280 x 720 and you can shoot in Motion JPEG file format. 720p is low for today's standards. You should really target at least 1080p resolution for decent video. The camera doesn't feature a microphone and / or headphone socket so you get little control over the audio. It is perhaps a better idea to shop for another model if you need good audio for your videos.

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Panasonic XS1 Weather Sealing

There is no weather sealing for the Panasonic XS1 so you need to be cautious in wet and dusty situations.

Panasonic XS1 Screen and Viewfinder

The Panasonic XS1 has a 2.7 inch fixed screen supporting a resolution of 230 thousand dots.

Please be aware that the screen has no touch support.

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The View Finder details for Panasonic XS1 are below:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders can be quite helpful during sunny outdoor situations which may make the camera screen washed out and very difficult to see.

Panasonic XS1 Shutter specs

Panasonic XS1 is able to shoot continuously at 1.0 fps. The maximum shutter speed is 1/1600 sec.

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Panasonic XS1 Flash and Hot shoe specs

Panasonic XS1 has only inbuilt flash with missing external flash ability.

Panasonic XS1 Autofocus specs

Panasonic XS1 has just Contrast Detect Auto Focus & does not have Phase Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection focusing is more faster & accurate in comparison with Contrast Detect focusing.

It also boasts Tracking Auto Focus for moving things. Panasonic XS1 does not have manual focus. Manual focus mode can be useful during low light conditions or you want more exact control on focusing.

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Panasonic XS1 Battery life

The battery for the Panasonic XS1 is made to last for 260 photos according to the CIPA specifications which is comparable with it's rivals. The general Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 comes with the highest possible (470) battery life within this range of cameras.

Below is a listing of Small Sensor Compact cameras that come with the strongest battery life:

Panasonic XS1 for different styles of photography

The following bar chart displays a analysis of the Panasonic XS1 for different styles of photography. To look at more, have a look at the specific section underneath.

Panasonic XS1 as a Portrait photography camera

The Panasonic XS1 has a points tally of 30 which is horrible, and means the camera is simply not good to use for portraits. Shooting portrait photos leans greatly towards sensor specs, RAW support & capability to use off-camera flash.

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good megapixels (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files

Panasonic XS1 Street photography information

Coming in at a above average score of 64, the Panasonic XS1 is a fine choice for street photography. A very good street photography camera offers a fine balance of image quality plus portability.

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built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (103g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files

Sports photography with Panasonic XS1

A horrible sports photography rating of 41 means the Panasonic XS1 is simply not good for taking pictures of sports. A camera should have very good focusing and continuous shooting for sports photography.

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has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
includes tracking focus
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus

Panasonic XS1 as a Travel photography camera

Weight is pretty critical when choosing a travel camera. Over-all, the Panasonic XS1 gets a nice 69 as a travel camera which is a very decent choice to take with you on your travels.

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lighter than competition in class (103g)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)

Panasonic XS1 Landscape photography features

For anybody who is planning to purchase a camera for landscape photographs, the biggest aspect will no doubt be image quality. The Panasonic XS1 with it's horrible grade of 39 for a landscape camera is simply not good among it's rivals.

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relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode

Panasonic XS1 Vlogging features

A vlogging camera really should come with a moving screen, mic port and if possible IBIS. Considering every thing, the Panasonic XS1 is simply not good for vlogging as it comes to a horrible rating of 31.

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really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (103 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone jack

Panasonic XS1 Alternatives

If you are looking for alternatives to the XS1, here is a range of the highest rated cameras which fall under the class of Small Sensor Compact.

The line chart underneath gives you a bird's eye view of the XS1 versus it's highest scoring competitors mentioned above.

Here are a few more cameras you might have a look at as alternate options. To see a extensive comparison, simply click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand
Panasonic
Model
Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS1
Type
Small Sensor Compact
Revealed
2013-01-07
Physical type
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area
27.7mm²
Sensor resolution
16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Full resolution
4608 x 3456
RAW photos
Max native ISO
6400
Min native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Cross focus points
0
Lens
Lens mount
fixed lens
Lens focal range
24-120mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture
f/2.8-6.9
Macro focus distance
5cm
Focal length multiplier
5.9
Screen
Type of screen
Fixed Type
Screen diagonal
2.7"
Resolution of screen
230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech
TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
None
DXO scores
DXO All around score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Slowest shutter speed
60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed
1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate
1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range
4.40 m
Flash settings
Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions
1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution
1280x720
Video data format
Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
103 grams (0.23 lb)
Dimensions
94 x 54 x 14mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.6")
Other
Battery life
260 shots
Battery type
Battery Pack
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots
Single
Pricing at launch
$130