The Panasonic LUMIX S9 Review - Should You Buy It? 

Lumix, if you see this, I would love this form factor but with a photography focus. Viewfinder, small grip, no worry about vertical video shooting, possibly more megapixels (Although 24 is still fantastic), mechanical shutter, dual card slots instead of large hdmi port, and more buttons, and joystick:). I have the S5 and I love it it for photography, but this would be the dream camera. Or atleast a new S5 photography focused camera like the S1r

sorry, aside from the ff sensor, what's the point in this camera? No evf, hot shoe, mechanical shutter, etc. In fairness, im a photographer, not a videographer, so this camera just isn't for me. I'm perfectly happy with my APSC cameras and their alleged noise.

Excellent to hear your take on this precisely because you're not the a camera reviewer. I have a GM5 and an S5II so this is basically a convergence of those two, along with Fuji's film simulations on turbo. I'm pleased to see that Panasonic has taken on the Sigma fp L's crop-zoom mode -- it should be especially interesting on the next high-resolution camera. BTW, I've seen two grips listed now -- a big one from Sirui (which I'll get) and a smaller one from SmallRig. No doubt JJC and others will get in on the action. I plan to get one along with a Sigma 45mmF2.8, though I had been saving for the new L-mount from Blackmagic so it will probably depend on whichever has a special deal first.

What a treat this trip must have been! Great camera, lovely country, awesome food. I’m very impressed with the image and video quality, workflow and price of this camera. I’m a Canon shooter and I very much hope they will make a Canon RP Mk2 that competes with this. I think Panasonic hit the nail with this camera, and the intended audience.

Great video! What are you using to mount your iPhone around your neck?

The only feature that interests me as a social media creator is the stabilization. I'm really interested in the 18-40 that's coming, I currently use a Sony A7R5 and a Tamron 20-40 but hardly ever use the EVF. I hate gimbals, so getting somewhere near to gimbal stab would be fantastic

🔥🔥 Great video!

clean and neat review

Thanks for the review. One of the better ones I saw lately about this camera. To be honest I think this camera would be a good go for me to return to photography. I had several camera brands in the past and even some time ago was tempted to buy an m43 camera. Having a look at the reviews made me think about if I do really need an EVF. I wear glasses and in most cases those get a little dirty from looking through the EVF. I also think that looking into the LCD is even better for my eyes. What I am worried is how would I connect this camera to an external flashlight to do some studio photography. I hope someone prepares a solution for that. For now I feel sold and maybe if the camera hits the shelves than I can buy one.

Thank you for coming to Japan! I'm always watching from Japan.

I hope you do a comparison vs a fujifilm, maybe the Xt-50 that was released a few weeks ago, because I was tempted to buy one due to their film simulations which are basically color profiles, but their sensor is smaller

Why dont they add just 1 more dial on this camera😢 lack of vf and then dials😢😢

I purchased one today. My first camera buy since the original GH1! That has proved a really good servant over many years, and I thought if I am going to give full frame a spin I may as well stick with Lumix.

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="507">8:27</a> fyi active stabilization works a lot better with native Sony lenses so I don't think it was fair to compare it to the Lumix with a native Lumix lens. My humble 2 cents: except for the fantastic Panasonic stabilization and the open gate thing that personally I would never use, the Sony A7C from 4 years ago is a better buy. No recording limits, has a mechanical shutter so you can use a flash, and it has a hot shoe that I use with Sony's excellent hoe shoe shotgun mic. How do you even check your audio levels with the S9? Isn't it for content creation? But I guess no audio? Such a weird decision from Panasonic to omit that. Or just buy an S5II! It's only $300 more and doesn't have any of those limitations but it's a little bigger.

Would you trade it for your zv-e1? I am considering buying ether one at this point - kind of on the fence. The Sony seems more complete as a camera, but the Lumix images are incredible. Great job with the video!

Awesome video Tom! It was also great meeting you in Osaka. Hopefully we'll catch up again soon 😁

Wonderful video Tom! Love the photo portraits! Was great meeting you! 📷

I like the form factor and the feature with the LUTs. But for me, I'm missing some small lenses. Therefore I'd rather go for a R8 with a RF 28mm.

My next camera!!! Probably in 2 years..lol!! I like the blue, but that green is FIRE!!

Can you compare with osmo pocket 3?

This is crazy we now can get all of these features for less than 2 grand.. but the competition itself is heating up.. often i see the A7IV gets discounted nearly approaching $1700 body only.. that is just very tempting..

Out of the 100 reviews I’ve watched on the S9, I believe you did the best job representing its target user, it’s strengths and compromises

Can you try it with m mount lens? Hows the IQ?

Is dat image u uploaded into ur fone jpeg or raw? Tnx.

Love the vibe at japan !

I was gonna buy the Panasonic S9 when I heard rumors about the release, then I saw all the youtubers "reviewing" the camera and I said: "no, thank you."

Superb review, very practical, thanks!

Of all the things, the stabilization was crazy to me! My goodness.

I dont think it can beat sony zve1

"Coffee, check!" Much like David Cogen aka Theunlockr. Nice!

Please don't complain and doing comparisons to features you want. This is as simple as it gets and for people who enjoyed walking around.

Boy has this camera stirred up a storm for nothing. If it ain't for you, it ain't for you. IMO Lumix main mistake with the S9 is the price. If it was below $1000 many would overlook the lacking features. Anyway, I still await the mark 2s of the S1 and the S1H

Yay I saw josh cameron in the video

I NEED THIS IN BLUE

Is this good for real estate/interior architecture photography?

The stabilisation alone makes me want to switch. I'd be encouraged to record more videos when I am out and about. But I'm still on the fence about going fully electronic shutter right now. I doubt it will bother me most of the time, but I know sometimes it might. Once panasonic releases the perfect pancake lens to pair with it, I might just pounce on it

Such video limits in 2024. OMG, Panasonic, what are you doin'?

Geez people need to calm tf down. It’s the most affordable ff camera that can shoot 6k open gate. Sure it has limitations. It’s not meant for everyone. People are being so dramatic.

Why don’t I have the app?

Can’t help but wish there was an evf.

Targeted for RU-vid ? How about the 15 minutes recording limit in 4 K ? 😂

I love this youtuber seem like a great person

Unfortunately Panasonic has only 7 FPS for photos which is not acceptable in 2024.

Very good review! I'm honoured to be in the background of few of your shots. Great meeting you in Osaka

Limited recording time is like buying car that has limited miles per day, no way passing this one

LUMIX people - Why not use a faster less pixel dense sensor like Sony. Why use an old sensor? Price reduction? The pancake lens seems like a joke on this camera that is supposed to have good auto focus. The 20-60 seems huge for this camera. I pre ordered for a trip since I don’t want to take the s5iix so I hope it’s good. Looking forward the mp4 lite. No streaming options! Was this not meant for creators? 😢

Why will anyone want to use one of these to blog and post on YT, Instagram, etc??? I've just returned from travelling for 3 months in Japan, Vietnam, S Korea and Singapore, and virtually every blogger uses their phones or GoPro. Why oh why will anyone think that using a full frame camera that is already hobbled with lack of features that they need is going to help improve their blog?

Dope

Pretty good value for 15 minutes of 4K recording and no flash option 😅🎉

The price of an IPhone pro or Samsung galaxy together they make a great pair.

Whenever i see a pro camera then i really desire one yet they are too pricey for me...

the ibis and the color profile are always better with lumix

Damn I thought it was an actual premium compact. Oh well. No matter how small they make the body, once you plop a giant full frame lens on it, you will always be "that guy" 🤓

Huh. Why are those that expensive? Especially when you have great smartphone cameras on most modern phones?

OK.. But is it better than the Fujifilm X-T5?

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="517">8:37</a> compare with ZV-E1, Dose Lumix S9 Mic has Wind Noise Reduction? It seems has. Voice recording I pefer S9

Panasonic, where are you going my friend.

Coming here after watching Gerald undone video about Lumix and marketing.

This camera is way too expensive for the fundamental faults it has. This should be 800 dollars with its lack of features. No headphone jack, hot shoe or EVF make it a joke at this price point. They could have made it the basically same size with these features if they want to charge that. This camera is a mistake in positioning.

I hate 'photographers' so much

Sony ZV-E10 with a good lenz do everything this can do with less price.

😂 name one just one camera - Full Frame, Unlimited Recording, 6K Open Gate, Instant Transfer, Real Time Color Adjustment, Syncro-Scan, Vector Scopes, Shutter Angle, In-Camera Slider Movements, Anamorphic Support with in Camera Desqueeze, Best Stabilization in the Camera Industry for $800-$1000 … I’ll wait. 😂 The Self Inflicted Expectation are hilariously high. We are in a Market where $2500 Cameras from Sony & Canon overheat but LUMIX is obviously the Devil 😂 This is where hobbyists and real world shooters see Cameras differently.

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="250">4:10</a> I hate the grip on cameras, for decades in the good old days even sports photographesr was Ok without grips, think about Nikon F1 or F2 and all cameras of that era. Thank Panasonic, now with the S9 at least one camera was designed with the classic style. This camera is not for you, you'd be a lot happier with other cameras with grip.

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="7">0:07</a> you are so handsome and beautiful!!! wow!!

I agree with the color science, the lumix better then the sony.

This is just typical of camera manufacturers these days. They keep pumping out models with varying features - or lack of them in this case, every 6 months or so, just to keep in the Public’s eye and to seem like they are innovating in the market. So many camera models that are being produced are just an expensive joke on the Public, and this seems like one of them! I would never buy a new camera at the moment and I always buy used. There will probably be a massive leap forward coming in the future and I will wait for that. In the meantime, any camera made in the last 8 yrs say can take superb photos. Save your money!

They have produced a camera for a non-existent market. 🙂 RU-vid creators use Sony and DJI - both have cameras which blow this thing out of the ball park.

good

It looks like a Leica 👀👀

Ah some sort of embargo must have been lifted, S9 reviews are popping up all over the place on RU-vid today.

I have the zve1 and I’m not buying that stabilization side by side lol you either didn’t have active on or you’re just being straight up disingenuous

Clunky, it's a known fact panasonic has most simple to use software/ menu than other camera companies

This is like a prototype product. The next version would be a real one. The f/8 lens should be at least has an Auto Focus also f/4 at least. What they are doing with this I really don't understand.

2000 photos in a week, jeez. 😝

It's simple. If you want to be like the guys in this video you get the S9. As it's for those who want to be volggers. It will a light camera and easy to use. If you want a camera so you can be a profissional and do client work then don't buy the S9.

I am a Japanese Lady!! 😅

Overpriced. Underperforming. Getting 'amatuers - consumers' to buy this and take it with them when they have an iphone in thier pocket is a big ask.

A lot of You Tuber at Japan

You're better off with the Sony 6k series.

"Here in Japan"... Who paid for your flight and hotel? Hmmmmmmmm???

Tell me why should us photographers pick this camera over like, lets say, Nikon Zf and Sony A7C, and EOS RP? None. This is a hot ridiculous stupid product from Lumix. There are so many flaws in this camera it even rivals EOS R100 in terms of questionable decisions made in a single iteration.

The video looks different after watching gerald undone

The fact this review is positive shows it’s not an unbiased review

Who the hell did Panasonic employ to come up with this monstrosity no mechanical shutter no evf, 15 minute record time limit and $1600 ow do they really think people will buy this?

This is a bad camera bro. Look at the dynamic range <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="508">8:28</a>

Panasonic, you've truely went out of touch with your user base. Best of luck!

nice ad

That's a lot of shills in one video

Wow, IBIS and voice is a lot better with Lumix S9 than with Sony ZVE1!

No, you shouldn't. Period

Honestly i don't like the look, way too clinical, doesn't have character and the LUT's you showed seems to not be as good as Film sim of fuji or fuji colors in general

Very tasty

雞肋機~~唉

What a joke this S9. 😂😂😂

gay