S1R vs S1RII image quality

[nvoynov]

Hi,

Just want to buy hi-resolution camera and curious about image quality from the S1RII in comparison with the previous model. Just photo sensor quality, not interested in video, autofocus, burst rate, etc.

I own S1 and really like the body, viewfinder, one control dial on the left side and when I look at S1RII images I think the magic of the camera control is gone. S1R sensor was very good by DXO rating and I can't see S1RII there

DXOMARK

www.dxomark.com

 

[georgehudetz]

I have both and have been doing some IQ comparisons.

What kind of photography do you do? Are you a base ISO shooter or do you like to push into the upper ISOs? Long exposures? Low-light? Low-light AND long exposures? Etc.

In terms of the bodies, I really like the new body. But then I like the older body as well. If I were to greatly over-simplify, I like the way the old body looks on a tripod, but I like the new body when I have to carry it. When shooting, overall I prefer the new body with most lenses, but for large lenses (say, the 150-600) the old body is better. I prefer the dual-dial to the single dial (I never used the top screen), and I find the front & rear wheels feel better on the RII. I love the Stills/Video/S&Q toggle, the C1-C5 instead of C1-C3, and the fact that they put hi-res on the drive dial. So overall I think the new body is a win, but that's of course personal.

 

[nvoynov]

What kind of photography do you do? Are you a base ISO shooter or do you like to push into the upper ISOs? Long exposures? Low-light? Low-light AND long exposures? Etc.

Hard to say, it just a hobby with no strict requirements, anything that caught my eyes can be the subject. During the last seven years my main camera was Sigma DP2Q which has a lot of constraints (especially with light) but brought me maybe two hundred decent prints, all daylight. EVF spec was the main reason to buy S1, and now low light and IBIS it is sort of the point where most constraints are gone. Therefore, new possibilities should be explored.

At the moment, I'm certainly base ISO shooter, sometimes with tripod and long exposure. Low light capabilities should be explored further, but It seems for me that IBIS and ISO6400 will satisfy my wishes.

What do you mean by low-light and long exposures, is it about astrophotography or sunset sundown?

In terms of the bodies, I really like the new body. But then I like the older body as well. If I were to greatly over-simplify, I like the way the old body looks on a tripod, but I like the new body when I have to carry it. When shooting, overall I prefer the new body with most lenses, but for large lenses (say, the 150-600) the old body is better. I prefer the dual-dial to the single dial (I never used the top screen), and I find the front & rear wheels feel better on the RII. I love the Stills/Video/S&Q toggle, the C1-C5 instead of C1-C3, and the fact that they put hi-res on the drive dial. So overall I think the new body is a win, but that's of course personal.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

Actually, my focal length preferences somewhere between 20 and 135mm, where 45mm serves for 95% shoots; and weight is also important because I like cycling with the camera in belt-bag (sometimes in backpack when I need tripod)... that leads to S1RII, but feelings say stick to the S1 body

 

[georgehudetz]

What kind of photography do you do? Are you a base ISO shooter or do you like to push into the upper ISOs? Long exposures? Low-light? Low-light AND long exposures? Etc.

Hard to say, it just a hobby with no strict requirements, anything that caught my eyes can be the subject. During the last seven years my main camera was Sigma DP2Q which has a lot of constraints (especially with light) but brought me maybe two hundred decent prints, all daylight. EVF spec was the main reason to buy S1, and now low light and IBIS it is sort of the point where most constraints are gone. Therefore, new possibilities should be explored.
At the moment, I'm certainly base ISO shooter, sometimes with tripod and long exposure. Low light capabilities should be explored further, but It seems for me that IBIS and ISO6400 will satisfy my wishes.

What do you mean by low-light and long exposures, is it about astrophotography or sunset sundown?

Yes, for me elevated ISOs + long exposures = astro, which the S1R is not good at. I don't recommend that body for astro.

The S1RII, however, does very well in that area. It's one of the reasons I bought the S1RII, so that I did have to keep a 24 MP body around for astro.

The other area where the new sensor is better is when pulling up blacks. Say you are shooting a sunset with huge DR, and you back down on the exposure so as to not blow out the bright clouds. But now the FG is nearly black. With the older sensor, you could pull up the blacks, but the greens would come out oversaturated. The new sensor doesn't do that - the FG comes out looking nice & balanced from a RGB standpoint. Of course if you use multiple exposures this isn't a problem.

Other than that, I'd say the two sensors are quite comparable. I have not done a super-nuanced comparisons, but I have made comparison shots from base ISO up to 51200, and while the new sensor may have a bit less noise at high ISOs, it's not enough to worry about.

I've also tried to convince myself that one sensor might be better than the other at resolving fine detail at base ISO, but as far as I can tell they are basically the same in that regard.

So, the new sensor is better in key ways, but for most normal photography, there isn't much difference.

In terms of the bodies, I really like the new body. But then I like the older body as well. If I were to greatly over-simplify, I like the way the old body looks on a tripod, but I like the new body when I have to carry it. When shooting, overall I prefer the new body with most lenses, but for large lenses (say, the 150-600) the old body is better. I prefer the dual-dial to the single dial (I never used the top screen), and I find the front & rear wheels feel better on the RII. I love the Stills/Video/S&Q toggle, the C1-C5 instead of C1-C3, and the fact that they put hi-res on the drive dial. So overall I think the new body is a win, but that's of course personal.

Thanks for sharing your experience!
Actually, my focal length preferences somewhere between 20 and 135mm, where 45mm serves for 95% shoots; and weight is also important because I like cycling with the camera in belt-bag (sometimes in backpack when I need tripod)... that leads to S1RII, but feelings say stick to the S1 body

Yes, I understand. But I've already brought the S1RII on a trip that would have seen me leave the S1R at home due to size. So I really think the new body is a better compromise in most situations. But I do think the OG S1 bodies are destined to be sought after for some time due to their overall design.

 

[nvoynov]

The other area where the new sensor is better is when pulling up blacks. Say you are shooting a sunset with huge DR, and you back down on the exposure so as to not blow out the bright clouds. But now the FG is nearly black. With the older sensor, you could pull up the blacks, but the greens would come out oversaturated. The new sensor doesn't do that - the FG comes out looking nice & balanced from a RGB standpoint. Of course if you use multiple exposures this isn't a problem.

Other than that, I'd say the two sensors are quite comparable. I have not done a super-nuanced comparisons, but I have made comparison shots from base ISO up to 51200, and while the new sensor may have a bit less noise at high ISOs, it's not enough to worry about.

I've also tried to convince myself that one sensor might be better than the other at resolving fine detail at base ISO, but as far as I can tell they are basically the same in that regard.

I think the subject puzzle is done. Thank you for that!

So I really think the new body is a better compromise in most situations. But I do think the OG S1 bodies are destined to be sought after for some time due to their overall design.

I own S1 only for 3 months and printed three pictures (still Sigma got me ten during this period ). Somewhere in 2020 I bought Sony A7II (sold after buying S1), but have no feelings about the Sony camera, taken with few times, no prints for five year. The only thing - scanned a few rolls of 120 film. When I got S1, it was sort of Canon T90 feelings that was the most comfortable camera that I hold in my hands.

 

[Satyaa]

If I remember correctly, Richard Wong compared the IQ of these two in his review of S1Rii.