Key Takeaways
- Compact and colourful Panasonic S9 appeals to content material creators for $1,500
- Customizable colours with in-camera LUTs provide Instagram-ready look
- Lack of superior options like sizzling shoe and weather-sealing could deter professionals
Instagram and different visually targeted social networks have undoubtedly performed a job within the evolution of the digital digicam. Maybe the best instance of that is the latest pattern towards cameras made not for photographers however content material creators, creatives who want each stills and video to feed the algorithms. The Panasonic S9 is one such digicam. Designed with a wholesome mixture of each nonetheless and video options, the S9 crams a full-frame sensor into a colourful but minimalist physique, all for round $1,500.
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Whereas social media has influenced a couple of digicam, the Panasonic S9 is arguably the digicam that feels most in tune with Instagram. In addition to the touchscreen interface, the S9 integrates LUTs, or built-in colour profiles superb for followers of Instagram’s filters — or actually any photographer that may moderately spend extra time behind the digicam than the pc. The 4 colour choices additionally make the S9 look good within the behind-the-scenes pictures as effectively. However, as one of many extra reasonably priced full-frame mirrorless choices, the S9 makes a couple of unusual cuts to its listing of options.
Is the Panasonic S9 the right entry-level mirrorless for content material creators and Instagrammers? Or are the cuts simply too huge to disregard? I spent a couple of weeks with the S9 to seek out out.
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Panasonic Lumix S9
$1398 $1500 Save $102
The Panasonic S9 is a compact full-frame mirrorless digicam designed for content material creators and vacationers. The 24.2-megapixel full-frame sensor delivers colourful photos that may be custom-made in-camera by way of using customized LUTs. The minimalist design makes the digicam each simple to be taught and extremely moveable. However whereas Instagrammers could love the touchscreen interface, professionals and critical photographers will miss the viewfinder, sizzling shoe slot, and ergonomic grip. It additionally lacks a mic port, secondary card slot, and weather-sealing.
- Compact, colourful design
- Customizable colours utilizing LUTs
- Wonderful picture high quality
- Competative $1,500 body-only value
- Lacks a sizzling shoe slot and mic port
- Lacking grip and viewfinder is much less comfy
- Digital shutter solely
- Slower autofocus efficiency with motion
Specs, value and availability
The Panasonic S9 was introduced in Might of 2024. The mirrorless digicam boasts a 24.2-megapixel full-frame sensor, 30 fps max burst pace and 6K video at 30 fps all inside a light-weight, compact physique. The S9 retails for about $1,500 by itself, or about $1,800 with a package lens. The digicam is on the market from a number of main retailers.
What I like concerning the Panasonic S9
The very best function may be summed up in two phrases: Customized colours
One of many Panasonic S9’s standouts caught my consideration earlier than even opening the field: the value. At $1,500 for the physique solely or $1,800 with a 20-60mm package lens, the Panasonic S9 is among the extra reasonably priced mirrorless cameras that also have the bigger full-frame sensor.
The S9 is available in extra than simply black. I examined out the digicam with a stunning olive inexperienced wrap and instantly fell in love with each the look of the digicam and the dimensions. Atheistically talking, the S9 is gorgeous to take a look at with its colour choices and minimalist design. However the S9 can be one of many extra compact full-frame our bodies, weighing a few pound when you add within the battery however measuring underneath roughly 5 x 3 x 2 inches. It is a travel-friendly digicam for positive.
Whereas I liked the colour on the outside, the S9 additionally has distinctive colour choices on the pictures themselves. Like different Panasonic cameras, the S9 provides in-camera LUTs. Within the easiest phrases, which means you possibly can simply customise the colours on the photographs, kind of like making use of an Instagram filter earlier than the picture is even taken. Whereas different Panasonic cameras just like the S5 II have this function, the S9 has a devoted button for it. The S9 can be suitable with the Lumix Lab app, a a lot simpler strategy to create authentic LUTs, whereas the S5 II is anticipated to achieve compatibility with later firmware however does not but help the cell creation of those colour profiles.
Plus, the Lumix Labs cell app makes it simple to create your individual LUT or customized colour filter. After connecting the digicam to the gadget, you possibly can switch some photos, edit them within the app, after which save these edits as a brand new LUT. Then, you possibly can switch that LUT again to the digicam as a colour setting and choose it utilizing the LUT shortcut. The shortcut lets you edit your pictures as you’re taking them, which is an distinctive instrument for spending extra time behind the digicam and fewer time behind the pc. Another choice is to obtain LUTs from different creators contained in the app.
Even with out the LUTs, nevertheless, the S9 has some lovely colour profiles built-in, together with Cine-like profiles and my private favourite, Leica’s monochrome modes, which provide wealthy distinction with out the price of an precise Leica.
Noise discount in low gentle is fairly respectable as effectively, partly because of that lower-resolution sensor.
These colour profiles are added to a 24.2-megapixel full-frame sensor. Certain, you may get a better decision with pricer cameras, however photos coming from the S9 are glorious. The package lens produced sharp topics and the LUTs delivered glorious colour with out hours of enhancing. Noise discount in low gentle is fairly respectable as effectively, partly because of that lower-resolution sensor.
Stabilization, a quick burst pace, and glorious eye detection autofocus additionally work collectively to assist even inexperienced persons take good pictures. I used to be capable of rigorously hand maintain longer exposures to blur the motion of a river and visitors, all utilizing the 5 stops of sensor-shift stabilization. Whereas the slowest shutter speeds will want a tripod, I may simply handhold photos at a tenth of a second and get some enjoyable movement blur with out handshake.
I’ve used cameras that might get considerably decrease than that 1/tenth of a second, however contemplating the value, I discovered the stabilization to be ample.
I used to be additionally extremely impressed with the digicam’s eye and face detection autofocus because it rapidly locking on to an individual or an animal. The one challenge I had with the topic detection is that it wouldn’t acknowledge a darkish topic on a darkish background, equivalent to a chestnut brown horse inside a shadowy secure. Which means you could have to assist it out a bit if you’re working indoors.
Entry-level cameras are usually on the slower finish, however the Panasonic S9 can shoot as fast as 30 fps. That is due largely to the truth that the digicam does not even have a bodily shutter, solely an digital one (like what a smartphone makes use of). The place the S9 reveals its finances value in pace is that these bursts are restricted to round 32 pictures, so you possibly can solely shoot for a few second in case you go away the digicam on its quickest burst pace.
Every thing that I liked concerning the pictures coming from the Panasonic S9 additionally stretched into video. The colours, topic detection autofocus and stabilization all carryover to video. The S9 is able to 6K at as much as 30 fps and also can shoot with the complete sensor, moderately than a crop.
What I did not like concerning the Panasonic S9
Superior options (and a few normal ones) are missing
Whereas I in a short time fell in love with the colour wrap and aesthetic on the Panasonic S9, I discovered the ergonomics missing. There’s nothing in the best way of a grip, which helps the digicam keep compact however tends to be uncomfortable in case you’re capturing for hours (and may play a job in my incapacity to get tremendous gradual shutter speeds handheld). My wrist tended to get sore fairly a bit sooner working with the S9.
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Within the title of dimension, Panasonic additionally axed the viewfinder, so there’s simply the LCD display screen to shoot with. I additionally sorely missed the joystick that I exploit on my different cameras to rapidly regulate the autofocus level. As a substitute, it is adjusted extra like a smartphone by tapping the touchscreen.
One oddity of the S9 is that the metallic slot for sliding in a flash on the prime is a chilly shoe moderately than the extra conventional sizzling shoe. Because of this, whereas it appears to be like just like the S9 may use flash, it may’t. A chilly shoe doesn’t talk with the digicam like a sizzling shoe does. It is basically a holster for a steady LED gentle, however it’s not able to firing a flash on the correct second. Videographers and vloggers also needs to notice that the digicam does not have any kind of mic port. Each stills and video shooters also needs to know that the digicam has a single SD card slot, moderately than the 2 extra generally discovered on professional-grade fashions.
Videographers and vloggers also needs to notice that the digicam does not have any kind of mic port.
The S9 additionally joins the rising listing of cameras that use solely an digital shutter, moderately than a mechanical one. The digital shutter is quicker and, in good lighting and gradual or stationary shifting topics, most will not discover any points. However, digital shutters up to now have been recognized to expertise banding underneath sure forms of synthetic lights, the place the picture seems to have virtually a coloured stripe operating by way of it indoors. Digital shutter also can distort fast-paced topics, equivalent to trains. Whereas I didn’’ detect these points throughout my evaluation, I additionally did not get a chance to strive the S9 in each state of affairs, like photographing a practice or working underneath florescent lighting.
Whereas I liked the attention detection autofocus, I discovered the main focus system general on the S9 a bit missing with sooner motion. The S9 had a tough time maintaining with topics operating straight for the digicam, delivering fairly a couple of delicate frames. In low gentle, the topic detection efficiency suffers. The digicam does okay with movement at a strolling tempo, or operating back and forth moderately than straight on the digicam. However the trickiest autofocus eventualities churned out extra delicate pictures than sharp ones.
The Panasonic S9 additionally doesn’t have any kind of weather-sealing, so it wants extra safety if you wish to take pictures within the rain. However, regardless of the title, weather-sealing is nice for extra than simply inclement climate. As an unsealed digicam, count on the sensor on the S9 to get dusty sooner in consequence.
Is the Panasonic S9 value it?
The S9 is not for me, however smartphone photographers shifting as much as an actual digicam could like it
The chilly shoe slot, lack of climate sealing, and inadequate ergonomics imply the Panasonic S9 didn’t make it onto my private want listing. However, I am additionally an expert photographer, which isn’t the viewers supposed for this kind of digicam. The query shouldn’t be if the Panasonic S9 is value it, however moderately, who goes to like the S9.
Panasonic S9 is the kind of digicam that Instagrammers trying to step up from the smartphone’s pretend background blur are going to fall in love with.
With its built-in LUTs, full-frame sensor, touchscreen interface, and compact dimension, the Panasonic S9 is the kind of digicam that Instagrammers trying to step up from the smartphone’s pretend background blur are going to fall in love with. If the one digicam that you simply’ve ever used is a smartphone, you then’ll love the compact dimension, touchscreen and less complicated management scheme. The picture high quality is superb and the power to customise the colours with LUTs will create a big effect on anybody who loves Instagram filters however desires a extra customized look. One other group that I feel could love the S9 is vacationers, because the digicam is fairly compact, although the L-Mount lens household may use a couple of extra compact choices.
Nonetheless, creatives that want flash, all-day ergonomics, sports-ready autofocus, weather-sealing, and plentiful ports for mics and equipment will wish to skip the S9. Whereas the picture high quality is not primary, the ergonomics and have listing are, pushing creatives that want extra options in direction of choices just like the Panasonic S5 II, which sits one other $500 increased, or one other model solely.
Panasonic Lumix S9
$1398 $1500 Save $102
