The S1R II marks the debut of a newly designed tracking focus system from Panasonic, but I don’t count that as a positive. The system engineers have taken a completely different approach to subject recognition and tracking versus others, and I’ll admit, I’m baffled, befuddled, and bewildered by Panasonic’s decisions here.

Sigma 300-600mm F4 DG OS Sports, 600mm, f/4, 1/640-second, ISO 80 (Credit: Jim Fisher)

It’s important to first understand how subject recognition and tracking work with other camera systems (as well as with earlier Lumix models, including the S5 II). Most cameras will identify any recognizable object and, in tracking mode, follow it around as it moves through the frame. Subject recognition modes usually provide an assist, if a camera is able to identify a person’s or animal’s face and eyes, it will put the focus on them. But with the S5 II, Nikon Z 8, Canon EOS R5 Mark II, or Sony a7R V, focus tracking works even if the focus system doesn’t understand what it’s tracking.

The Lumix S1R II instead requires the proper subject for tracking when it’s a human, animal, car, motorcycle or bike, train, or airplane. Each of these modes is discrete, so the S1R II will not follow an airplane flying through the sky if it is set to track cars or animals, for instance, and it won’t follow a cat at play if set to human or motorcycle/bike mode. It takes a few button presses to change the subject detection setting, just enough to stand in your way when you’re trying to get a shot.

7Artisans 85mm F1.8, f/1.8, 1/125-second, ISO 80 (Credit: Jim Fisher)

I asked Panasonic for a comment as to the logic behind the approach, but a representative did not respond to that question. That’s unfortunate, as I can’t manage to see the advantage of this particular approach to tracking, only the drawbacks. I’ve been using mirrorless cameras for years and have come to rely on continuous focus with subject tracking for everything, not just action. Heck, I even use tracking for my still life cemetery photography, as it’s often more convenient to engage autofocus on a centered subject and recompose using tracking to keep the focus box on the object of interest. The S1R II’s system can track simple objects like this, but only if you disable subject detection first. That’s a big step in the wrong direction.

Aside from the quirky tracking implementation, the focus system works like any other mirrorless camera. The S1R II spreads its focus points across the entire surface of the sensor, so you can find focus pretty much anywhere. Sundry areas of interest are available, including a small pinpoint, flexible spots, larger focus zones, and full-frame coverage.

Sigma 300-600mm F4 DG OS Sports, 600mm, f/4, 1/400-second, ISO 1250, Ontario LUT (Credit: Jim Fisher)

The focus response is snappy. In most instances, the camera finds a subject quickly, though you may have to go in and change some settings. I noticed that the Sigma 300-600mm F4 DG OS Sports was hesitant to drive to subjects when trying to catch images of songbirds in branches or at my shaded bird feeder, but my technical contact at Panasonic recommended I enable the “Quick AF” function and I saw marked improvement in initial focus acquisition.

Accuracy is another matter. I noticed more slight focus misses with the S1R II versus Canon, Nikon, or Sony’s focus systems. I caught an osprey flying low at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, but was disappointed that the S1R II got more shots focused on its body than its eyes when I took a close look at the images. I’ve little doubt that an EOS R5 Mark II, Z 8, or a7R V would have done a better job keeping focus on the big bird’s eye. The S1R II does a good job with focus accuracy for less demanding scenes. I had great results for pet portraits and everyday imaging, but its focus system falters for the disciplines that ask the most from it.

Sigma 300-600mm F4 DG OS Sports, 600mm, f/4, 1/800-second, ISO 80 (Credit: Jim Fisher)

The S1R II supports 14-bit Raw with its mechanical shutter, with continuous focus up to 10fps, and can go to 40fps with its 12-bit electronic shutter for up to 70 Raw+JPG exposures in sequence. A precapture mode is available for the 40fps mode with your choice of 20, 40, or 60 exposures in the buffer. Even with my complaints, photographers upgrading from an S1R will enjoy faster focus that does a better job of keeping up with action. The old S1R uses a contrast-based system that’s rudimentary in comparison and restricted to a slow 6fps focus drive.