The Street Photography Camera That Could Have Been 

It's remarkable how may deal killers they managed to cram into such a compact camera.

This is the first honest review of the S9 I have seen. The camera doesn’t make logical sense unless you seriously discount the price to compensate for its shortcomings.

🎵🎶🎵All I want is the perfect camera🎶🎵🎶

A proper, honest review of the S9 😮

I should add, I'd love to see a new GX m43 camera with the new phase detect autofocus and a proper implementation of Auto ISO. Then it would be a no brainer for street photography.

This camera is perfect for SmallRig to sell grips

There is, I suppose, a reason for the omission of a hot shoe on the S9: they didn't want you trying to use a flash! What's the sync speed on this all-electronic shutter? Maybe 1/25s... if it supported sync, which is does not. You don't need a mechanical shutter, but you need a faster electronic shutter. It's really the "roll" speed that matters. The roll speed of a pro-grade mechanical shutter is usually around 1/250s. There are a few non-stacked electronic shutters on M43 that roll at 1/60s or so -- not bad -- but unless you have a stacked sensor, you want a mechanical shutter option. Even the Olympus OM-1, with about a 1/125s electronic shutter roll, has a mechanical shutter. The Nikon Z9 got to 1/270s on the electronic shutter and could rightly leave off the mechanical shutter.

It's terrible! It's wider than the Sony a7C, taller than the a7C, has no real hot shoe, no EVF, only an electrical shutter - it's ridiculous! The a7C is a little deeper in size but that's because it has a proper hand grip!

Finally a real review

Omg I wanted to buy this as I use a Lumix system but mft and I wanted a full frame I change my mind last minute and got a7iii I’m glad I did. After watching this review I believe you are the only honest man alive correct me if I’m wrong. You just earned a loyal subscriber today!! 9:00

Well everyone is asking for a GX9mkll (or a PenFll) but Panasonic is not listening. They are trolling us

I have yet to find the perfect camera. Mostly it seems camera companies get 85% of the way there, then really mess up the last 15%. Despite that, we can still make great images no matter the camera.

LOVE this video George!!! I'm also onboard with that theory.

I own a gx85 and its such a fun camera. The lack of weather sealing is such a shame. I really want to get out there in mansoon rains and capture some dynamic scenes from my coastal area from india but lack if weather sealing is not giving enough confidence. Yes, a gx10 with PDAF and weather sealing, a mic jack ,the lumix lab support will be an amazing everyday carry fun camera.

One of your best videos so far bro! loved the wit here 🙌

Just bought a GX80/GX85 a couple days ago, having zero regrets after watching this 😅

Hand it over to Leica. They'll re-design the layout etc, rebrand it and charge 3 times as much for it.

You summed up exactly all my thoughts about this camera! I too hope for a gx90 with that cool live LUT feature. One can hope 🤞

Unbelievable! Really appreciate you being honest, lol! 😁

the cold shoe mount is insane these days

Well i just bought a GM5 and I'm having sooooo much fun with it! (I know it's not really any good for video.)

Thank you for this video. While I'm currently very far from buying a brand new camera in the first place, the lumix s9 still lingers on me with many videos calling it 'best ""budget"" full frame camera' and the comment section almost always on fire with the 'expensivity' of it. I once ended up in the reply section crossfire and it killed my interest and passion a little in photography. One comment I will have very hard time to forget is "Bro, im 23 years old and this is sooooooo cheap compare to others. If you think that 1500 bucks is not affordable probably you are broke." (and I'm at the same age as that commenter!) I thought at least S9's body design looked pretty, but your reveal of its body materials shocked me. Seeing the thumb grip with no rubber felt tacky. Some review videos have shown the S9 having good IBIS, so I guess that's one thing..... until, as you mentioned, when you look through the catalogues and find much more powerful, easy to use, and convenient cameras in both photo and video - even just by under the Panasonic lineup. Not that I know a lot about cameras (and photography, and videography) in the first place, but the more I think about this camera, the more I don't get it. I don't know why it had to be 'budgety' to be something that combines both performance and compactness. If Panasonic threw in everything they got in S9 (with grip all over and evf+hot shoe as well!!) and put $5k-7k+ price tag "maybe" it would've been considered as a tech marvel and be highlighted again after years but... this S9 just feels like a toy rather than something as a camera.

Then end of your video is exactly what I also want! I own a gx85/80 and sometimes want to just upload from camera to phone but the app is soooo bad went to Olympus and it became my main camera for street. But I look at my gx85 and sigh sometimes 😅

The S9 is a vanity project, pure and simple.

Never have I seen a camera release that required people to dismiss short comings as quirks! "This camera is not for you!" another great phrase. I think Panasonic wanted to create another Fujix100V viral marketing event and just threw what they could into the camera all the while having a spread sheet calculating the cost. Each part force them to take something off, then realized that is really was not a pocketable camera and made up a lens cap lens. The price of this camera is just too high, drop it down to $1000.00 and maybe it would not have been such a shocker. I give Panasonic credit for the Sensor, the ibis and the focus. I did try the app it is nice, but I have far more questions on the " LUTS" downloading and is it going to be a pay to download store in the near future...LUTS are free now, but who knows in the future? How is that going to be regulated? Review was great!

The SD card placement 😂It's such a little thing but I 100% am with you on that. Great review 👍

This camera makes me want a Canon R8. It’s lighter, has great handling, and has a decent viewfinder.

Actively a lack of basic necessities, that’s the best distillation of this camera I’ve heard

You can see from the fancy body colors who this cam is made for. 🎉🎉🎉

Panasonic after seeing this video: "You're right, George! This .. ummm isn't the final product! We were just teasing for the REAL S9 coming soon! Yea that's it!"

11:37 & 14:01 Bro, I lost it 🤣

Day 3399 waiting for the next Lumix GX . Great video!

Nice video. I believe rolling shutter effect depends on horizontal vs vertical movement of the readout ( shutter ). Please correct me if I am wrong. Regards Ulf

This camera reminds me of my Camp Snap cameras. Have you seen them? Pretty fun camera that I love and would recommend for fun.

Hey buddy. I see you're using the stock 12-32 lens. If you don't need a filter, I've discovered that the OM SYSTEM OLYMPUS LC-37C Black Lens Cap is compatible with it and has been a game changer for me.

The blue body should have a sensor made of blue pixels, then red and green body analogically ;) stack the photos from 3 bodies and you have a RGB image.

This camera baffled me when it was introduced... either this was a huge missed opportunity by Panasonic or a calculated, truly greedy move to skim some money from less knowledgeable aspiring "content creators" before expanding the line with some more sensible featured follow-up. Either way, I was very disappointed by this. What I really want from Panasonic is an updated GM5, m43, 4k, the new AF system and IBIS if possible... that would be my favorite EDC / travel camera!

I have a gx9, a fp & fpL. I'm good. In fact I use a S5 as a backup and it's really a good camera. If only pana had chopped the S5ii like Sony did with the a7cii/cr I'd have considered it..

Are you going to offer any cheaper options to buy your presets? You have the free presets for signing up to your email list (which are great BTW!) and then the full membership but nothing in for all the people in between like me who don't have £35 to spend on Presets.

Yes a new GX camera would seem to be popular given the amount of people requesting it. I really love my GX80, which I’ve had for five years now, though I think it would be an interesting prospect to have a newer version with a bit more dynamic range which the newer sensors seem to have. I have looked at the GX9 though as it is discontinued I’d rather not buy a fairly expensive 2nd hand model when there is a small chance a new GX could appear with the 25mp sensor. So hopefully LUMIX will deliver, or I will just keep on going as I normally do 🙂

the question is: will you ever get a test camera from them again. it's a full frame gx800, comparing it to the gx80 is not that good, because it aims for a different costumer probably.

The S9 seems to have everything - that nobody wanted.

I am still using my Canon SL1. I have yet to find anything better in its size and form factor without going mirrorless. I might consider moving up to the SL3. Sony's new ZV E-10 II had my current internist because of its larger battery. Its post production stabilization and crop is something I have to consider.

Wow. I'm gob smacked. Must have watched a dozen reviews of this camera and yours is the first that doesn't sugar coat all of the ludicrous omissions and short comings. Warms the heart to find a reviewer not willing to fellate a camera company in order to secure an all expenses paid trip to their next launch event. Camera companies take note. This man is potentially your greatest asset. If he tells me your camera is good I will actually believe him...unlike all the other shills that swallowed and didn't spill a drop in Japan. Subscribed.

I agree, just save 1000 pounds and buy a 2nd camera. The 3 cameras I use the most are made between 2012 and 2016. My brand new 2023 purchase spends more time in the camera cupboard than it does outside.

My S5II is a little annoying to carry around everywhere so I've been looking for a smaller camera for everyday carry. At first I thought the S9 would be the perfect camera but its flaws are too large for me to accept. If they made a S9II with a proper grip, a hot shoe, the right amount of buttons and a mechanical shutter I'd definitely buy it.

What I don't get is the marketing for sport activities, the girl on the skateboard for example, if it doesn't have a mechanical shutter. Am I misunderstanding something?

Will be honest, this has everything i wanted since ive been using an a6400 for a while and kinda dislike a6700's type grip, just need a solid fhd and a 4k60 option with log and usable af

Pana borrowed Canons cripple hammer, its BRILLIANT,,,,Why release a body with some bells and whistles that people used to shooting with smart phones DONT need and WONT use? ...there are already Photography and Videography cameras for the Pro/highly enthusiastic people.A very smart move by Panasonic, I.ll wait till price drops and get a Red and a blue one...The only error I can see is NOT having the 18-40 pancake zoom ready at launch.Small rig also have a cage available!

On point and funny

On a cursory glance this looked like the perfect camera for me. It seems to be severely limited to the point of being useless, while being properly expensive.

I like the looks of the S9. If it ends up in the discount corner i grab one, just for fun. I think it`s worth not more than 900 bucks.

And the biggest disappointment... they aren't selling the coolest color - Dark Silver - in my country!

Oh but those are not shortcomings you just need to buy a wireless flash, dji mic, grip cage, ovf. Affiliate links in the description below. As for the recording limit just wait for a firmware upgrade. 😅 😅 😅

oh THIS was a fun watch! I mean if a camera is terrible to use, re: ergonomics, functionality, useability, any/all tactile enjoyment taking a photo with an actual camera... how exactly is this gonna draw their target audience away from just using a phone instead hahaha

At least it has a mechanical shutter.....oh wait......ok, well the "kit" lens then.....small, stylish, manual focus only? Well no more guessing about aperture choices with it : F8 and be there 👊

11:00 Its the GH7, right?

Seems like its trying to copy the Zve10???

Do you think the LUTs have the potential to be better than the Fuji recipes? Seems like a more "end game" solution with way more control. If they could add that to a MFT body...

Id rather just grab a small APS-C camera with a mechanical shutter. I wish my S5ii was smaller sometimes but the S9 isn’t worth it.

In 6 months everyone will have forgotten about this goofy thing. Even the “Creators” that got the free ride to Japan and cameras at no cost will have abandoned these half baked little fellers. Thanks for the honest review.

This COULD be the S9 to a GX10....❤❤❤

LUMIX Asinine. What a wonderfull name

But the influencers said it was great 😮😮😮😮

I have a Lumix TZ-95 which uses the same thumb wheel and it honestly sucks. The wheel can get stuck if you use it for clicking the buttons.

I agree with you and hope they come out with a better "S" camera,

S9EX as in Exorcism

I think the main issue here is the price. It's too expensive for the lack of features.

No substitute for my GX80.

Finally a honest review of the s9 that shows the new releases are worse than existing models being sold cheaper on ebay. Just endless rebadging and cheaping out, tarded up by software changes sold as new functionalities. And that holds true for all brands.

If this camera was under 1K EUR then it wouldn’t be such a failure. Finally an honest review, thank you.

I just took a look at the L mount lenses and man they are all big. There is no single pancake or near pancake lens.

I would so love a refreshed GX model but from what I've seen there hasn't been new camera tech in a good five years. It's peaked and the R&D of all brands is dry. Now all they can do is move old features around and make "hybrid" still/video models that don't really benefit anyone. Seems like my GX85 is the last camera I'll ever have.

I don’t really care that the S9 is not for me, I hope they sell a ton of them. But I would think a little larger camera with a shutter, which would allow for a flash and a hot shoe, then an added viewfinder, would have been much more popular. A FF GX9? Yes, please.

It's hard to make a product that frustrates different groups of users at the same time, but Panasonic did.

It’s still nice camera though 😊

Uh oh, don't let Cam Mackey see this video. Its the best and funnest camera he has ever used. 😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

Yep, we need the GX9 II

Agree with everything you had said. If it at least had an EVF it would seem to offer something, the compact full frame factor. Without the EVF I could never see a reason to buy this camera as a photographer. Maybe if I did a lot of video, but even then, nothing really makes sense. Frankly I think this is a crap camera and will either sell very badly at launch, or sell moderately but then result in an influx of them on the second hand market within a month. :)

As a hands on real world user of the S9 that is high impressed with it….. I don’t know where to contribute to this discussion. 😂 Have to sit this one out.

I actually went with a GX85 instead of the s9 and not just because of the price. There is no good lenses for the s9 either. They either suck or they are too big and heavy.

Their is no perfect camera ‘ ah ‘ plus when you buy gear endless it’s Leica ‘ use loose full price the gear ,35 % of the cost down . I’d rather save fr used or like new Leica M . 😅

Just stick to Oly E-M10 with ECG1 grip...

I hate to say it, but as someone who has had the Sony a7c. It’s like Panasonic said lets copy the Sony a7c, but do everything in a worse way.

It's annoying how good this could've been.

The s9 body ismarginally bigger thn my gx9. So my hope is that in the same way tht the s5ii and g9ii are essentially the sane body that lumixwill release mftbdaf sensor camera in the s9 bodyt btr with evf; hotshoe and micrphobone in jack headphobe out jaxk sort of lkke a gx8 but a pdad versio bu wirh the bvetter connectivity via cellphinobnes to the internet etc.

I dont think its necessarily a bad camera but its not really what we as consumer collectively wanted. I think everoyne eas excited for a new GX camera but they delivered this instead. If they had held off on this release and let the GX drop first then this probably would have met warmer reception.

I really like Panasonic cameras but this camera is definitely a head scratcher... Kind of like their G100 mft camera geared at content creators that has no ibis and very limited record times... Dear Panasonic we want our small cameras to be as versatile as possible with great pdaf autofocus please!!!

This camera really just feels like a significantly worse S5ii/X… at which point just get an S5ii/X. Such a strange choice by LUMIX. EVF would’ve been amazing… shame it doesn’t have one.

486g weight is a key feature of the S9

Also no EVF option even Sigma did this.

it looks as good as g100 a bit plasticy and cheap i cant wait when OM system makes ZF killer

Just use the camera you have, learn and love how to use it. Cameras don’t take great photos it’s the eye behind the lens.

Lumix fan - owner of three bodies ...that said if the s9 were water proof and the f8 fixed lens was welded to the body, it wouldn't even be a good action camera.

There is nothing unusual about hot shoe…it is engineering choice because flash interface is kind pf useles on a camera without any sort of mechanical shutter. Only flaw there is not having external EVF connection , but since camera is not made for photography nobody would care.

Comment section is like a get together of S9 haters. I think everybody wants it to have a viewfinder, hot shoe, limitless recording, a huge grip, more buttons... hold on. Thats the S5II.

I'm not a video content maker...but...I would never buy the S9....No mech shutter...no hot shoe...15min limited video...wheel controls just wrong....no way to get away from rolling shutter...Price to high.....By the way... the Canon RP is used by many and works perfectly for still photography...plus its used price is cheap...Plus great lenses both EF and R ...plus... Most folks love Canon colors...even SOOC...I use a pair of Sony A7c bodies right now...and an even older A7s. (low light king)....but a pair of Canon RP bodies work out just fine.as well....Cheers Anyway...Panasonic should just continue the GX series for m43 ...in particular the GX9 for us still photogs...But Alas not.

excluding Mech Shutter was a huge L

A cold shoe should protect the planet from global warming😂 This will be a good camera during the new years/christmas sales. And again, we demand from the camera the price that m4/3 or crop camera cost. It will definitely not become the main working camera, but as an addition to the s5ii it will be very ok

I wanted this camera to be great, I really did...but I can't justify the price for something that seems like a beta test