As part of Panasonic's entry into full-frame mirrorless, the Lumix S1 is a well-rounded camera offering advanced feature sets for both stills and video, along with a robust physical construction. HDR video recording is possible using the dedicated Hybrid Log Gamma mode, and a firmware update will be available to add 4:2:2 10-bit internal recording along with V-Log. Additionally, sensor-shift image stabilization helps to minimize the appearance of camera shake by 6.0 stops for sharper handheld shooting. The magnesium-alloy body is weather-sealed to permit working in harsh conditions and has a top-status LCD for reviewing shooting settings on the fly. CFexpress Type B/XQD and SD card slots offer flexible storage capabilities and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity affords remote camera control along with wireless image transferring to tablets and smartphones. Featuring a full-frame 24.2MP MOS sensor, along with an updated Venus Engine, the S1's imaging capabilities have been optimized for high sensitivity, a wide dynamic range, and flexible recording modes. The Venus Engine's processing power also helps to suppress noise levels throughout the sensitivity range, from ISO 100-51200, and yield fast full-resolution continuous shooting speeds up to 9 fps with AF-S or 6 fps with AF-C, for more than 90 consecutive raw files. Full HD recording is also supported, up to 60p with unlimited recording times. Also, high-speed recording modes for UHD 4K60, with 30 fps playback, and Full HD 180 fps, with 30 fps playback, offer 2x and 6x slower motion, respectively.

Additionally, recording to an optional external recorder is possible, via the HDMI Type-A port, and support for an external microphone and headphones are also available via dedicated 3.5mm jacks. An impressive Real View Finder is a high-resolution 5.76m-dot OLED EVF offering a clear 0.78x configurable viewing magnification along with a smooth 60 fps or 120 fps changeable refresh rate, 0.005-sec lag, and 10,000:1 contrast ratio. Live View Boost is a dedicated viewing mode for working in low-light conditions, where the viewing sensitivity can be increased to aid in composing your image, and a Night mode also benefits working in dark conditions by lowering the screen's backlight intensity. Additionally, illuminated buttons aid settings adjustment in low-light conditions, and a lock lever prevents unwanted settings changes. A USB Type-C port allows for fast file transfers as well as high-speed in-camera battery charging.  This contrast-detection type focus method benefits both still and video recording modes, as well as subject tracking applications, using Advanced AI Technology, where subject type, color, size, and motion vectors are used to intelligently lock onto the moving subjects and ensure precise focus. Benefitting manual focus operation, focus peaking is available that highlights bright edges of contrast with a colored outline for quickly recognizing your focus point, as well as Touch MF Assist for touch-to-focus operation. 

Complementing the camera's wireless connectivity, Lumix Sync is an iOS and Android app designed to pair with the camera for smartphone or tablet-based remote shooting control and wireless image transfer. 4K video files may be transferred to a smartphone via Wi-Fi.HLG Photo mode offers an increased dynamic range for improved detail in shadow and highlights regions of the image. When working in HLG Photo mode, images can be saved as an HSP file in either 4K or full resolution, in addition to JPEG and raw formats, for vivid playback on 4K televisions. Flicker Decrease automatically detects the frequency/flicker of artificial lighting and activates the shutter at peak brightness moments to render exposures with consistent exposure and color.

Offering more versatility than standard Auto White Balance (AWB), an AWBw setting will retain a reddish warm tint while AWBc offers a cooler, bluish tint. This update will require S1 users to already have the DMW-SFU2 upgrade installed, thus making the S1 suitable for both ProRes RAW and Blackmagic RAW recording. In addition, L. ClassicNeo and L. Monochrome have been added in Photo Style. L. Classic Neo is a filmlike colorful effect with soft tones, and L. Monochrome is a gentle black & white rendering well-suited to portraiture.