Hands on: S1R2 & BF

[Kent Ekasak]

S1RII:

It's slightly thicker than the S5, but the grip is more comfortable.

The tilting screen is a game changer for me in many use cases, such as sports, wildlife photography with long telephoto lenses, and travel.

The photo/video/S&Q switch is another game changer, allowing 3x customizable options from previous models.

A reviewer mentioned that the on/off switch is hard to click, and I agree it's true.

Finally, I found the worthy upgrade from S5 in every aspect.









BF:

Black version looks cool, but if you're considering buying the BF, I'd recommend the silver version, that's what the BF is made for. However, that means you'll need to buy more silver lenses to match, making the total package more expensive.

The grip is okay, not as bad as it looks, but it requires more careful handling. BF looks like an expensive craft than a workhouse.

As a former FP owner, I find the BF menu has a learning curve. I personally prefer the FP menu.

AF is better than the FP for sure, but don't expect it to reach Lumix's level.

When you switch it off, the tiny screen displays the battery percentage. It's pretty cool.

You can't use any Lumix battery with the BF. That's bad, because FP uses the same battery as G90.

IMHO, the main reason to buy the BF is for its artistic external design and silver finish. Otherwise, I'd go for the S9 instead. It's $500 cheaper too.

I think existing Leica L-mount owners are likely to buy BF than Lumix's owners.

 

[Hustle76]

Thanks, Kent - always good to hear anbiyt some hands-on impression.



With the S1RII, I had head that the grip was slightly larger, so I was interested in hearing it was!

 

[Richard_Wong]

A reviewer mentioned that the on/off switch is hard to click, and I agree it's true.

When I first received the camera, I also found the on/off switch a bit harder to use.

I think I felt that because I've been shooting with the S5II (and also a bit of G9II) for so long, my muscle memory make me completely used to S5II's on/off switch position. And the S1RII's position is quite close so my muscle memory doesn't like it.

But now I've been using the S1RII for a few weeks, I changed my mind. I feel the S1RII on/off switch is better. When I went back to the S5II (which I have also been using alongside with the S1RII), it doesn't feel quite as nice as the S1RII.

And if you look at the position, it makes sense too. The new position requires you to bend your finger less to reach it compared to the S5II.