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 scorching shoe and weather-sealing might deter execs
Instagram and different visually targeted social networks have undoubtedly performed a task within the evolution of the digital digital camera. Maybe the best instance of that is the current development 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 digital camera. 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.
Whereas social media has influenced a couple of digital camera, the Panasonic S9 is arguably the digital camera that feels most in tune with Instagram. Moreover the touchscreen interface, the S9 integrates LUTs, or built-in colour profiles ultimate for followers of Instagram’s filters — or actually any photographer that will moderately spend extra time behind the digital camera than the pc. The 4 colour choices additionally make the S9 look good within the behind-the-scenes images as properly. However, as one of many extra reasonably priced full-frame mirrorless choices, the S9 makes just a few unusual cuts to its record of options.
Is the Panasonic S9 the right entry-level mirrorless for content material creators and Instagrammers? Or are the cuts simply too large to disregard? I spent just a few weeks with the S9 to search out out.
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The Panasonic S9 is a compact full-frame mirrorless digital camera designed for content material creators and vacationers. The 24.2-megapixel full-frame sensor delivers colourful photographs that may be custom-made in-camera via using customized LUTs. The minimalist design makes the digital camera each straightforward to study and extremely moveable. However whereas Instagrammers might love the touchscreen interface, execs and severe photographers will miss the viewfinder, scorching shoe slot, and ergonomic grip. It additionally lacks a mic port, secondary card slot, and weather-sealing.
Specs, worth and availability
The Panasonic S9 was introduced in Might of 2024. The mirrorless digital camera boasts a 24.2-megapixel full-frame sensor, 30 fps max burst velocity 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 equipment lens. The digital camera is accessible from a number of main retailers.
What I like in regards to the Panasonic S9
One of the best characteristic will 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 worth. At $1,500 for the physique solely or $1,800 with a 20-60mm equipment lens, the Panasonic S9 is likely one of 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 digital camera with a beautiful olive inexperienced wrap and instantly fell in love with each the look of the digital camera and the dimensions. Atheistically talking, the S9 is gorgeous to have 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 couple of pound when you add within the battery however measuring below roughly 5 x 3 x 2 inches. It is a travel-friendly digital camera for positive.
Whereas I cherished the colour on the outside, the S9 additionally has distinctive colour choices on the pictures themselves. Like different Panasonic cameras, the S9 gives in-camera LUTs. Within the easiest phrases, which means you may simply customise the colours on the photographs, form 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 characteristic, the S9 has a devoted button for it. The S9 can be appropriate with the Lumix Lab app, a a lot simpler technique to create unique LUTs, whereas the S5 II is predicted to achieve compatibility with later firmware however does not but help the cellular creation of those colour profiles.
Plus, the Lumix Labs cellular app makes it straightforward to create your personal LUT or customized colour filter. After connecting the digital camera to the system, you may switch some photographs, edit them within the app, after which save these edits as a brand new LUT. Then, you may switch that LUT again to the digital camera as a colour setting and choose it utilizing the LUT shortcut. The shortcut lets you edit your pictures as you are taking them, which is an distinctive software for spending extra time behind the digital camera and fewer time behind the pc. An alternative 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 supply wealthy distinction with out the price of an precise Leica.
Noise discount in low gentle is fairly first rate as properly, partly because of that lower-resolution sensor.
These colour profiles are added to a 24.2-megapixel full-frame sensor. Certain, you may get the next decision with pricer cameras, however photographs coming from the S9 are glorious. The equipment lens produced sharp topics and the LUTs delivered glorious colour with out hours of modifying. Noise discount in low gentle is fairly first rate as properly, partly because of that lower-resolution sensor.
Stabilization, a quick burst velocity, and glorious eye detection autofocus additionally work collectively to assist even newbies take good pictures. I used to be in a position to fastidiously hand maintain longer exposures to blur the motion of a river and site visitors, all utilizing the 5 stops of sensor-shift stabilization. Whereas the slowest shutter speeds will want a tripod, I may simply handhold photographs 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 worth, I discovered the stabilization to be enough.
I used to be additionally extremely impressed with the digital camera’s eye and face detection autofocus because it rapidly locking on to an individual or an animal. The one concern 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 will have to assist it out a bit in case you are 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 digital camera does not even have a bodily shutter, solely an digital one (like what a smartphone makes use of). The place the S9 exhibits its finances worth in velocity is that these bursts are restricted to round 32 pictures, so you may solely shoot for a couple of second for those who go away the digital camera on its quickest burst velocity.
Every part that I cherished in regards to 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 in regards to the Panasonic S9
Superior options (and a few commonplace 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 digital camera keep compact however tends to be uncomfortable for those who’re taking pictures for hours (and can also play a task in my lack of ability to get tremendous sluggish shutter speeds handheld). My wrist tended to get sore fairly a bit quicker working with the S9.
Within the identify of measurement, Panasonic additionally axed the viewfinder, so there’s simply the LCD display to shoot with. I additionally sorely missed the joystick that I take advantage of 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 high is a chilly shoe moderately than the extra conventional scorching shoe. Which means that, whereas it seems just like the S9 may use flash, it might’t. A chilly shoe doesn’t talk with the digital camera like a scorching shoe does. It is basically a holster for a steady LED gentle, but it surely’s not able to firing a flash on the correct second. Videographers and vloggers also needs to word that the digital camera does not have any form of mic port. Each stills and video shooters also needs to know that the digital camera has a single SD card slot, moderately than the 2 extra generally discovered on professional-grade fashions.
Videographers and vloggers also needs to word that the digital camera does not have any form of mic port.
The S9 additionally joins the rising record of cameras that use solely an digital shutter, moderately than a mechanical one. The digital shutter is quicker and, in good lighting and sluggish or stationary transferring topics, most will not discover any points. However, digital shutters prior to now have been identified to expertise banding below sure kinds of synthetic lights, the place the picture seems to have virtually a coloured stripe working via it indoors. Digital shutter also can distort fast paced topics, equivalent to trains. Whereas I didn’’ detect these points throughout my overview, I additionally did not get a chance to attempt the S9 in each state of affairs, like photographing a prepare or working below florescent lighting.
Whereas I cherished the attention detection autofocus, I discovered the main target system general on the S9 a bit missing with quicker motion. The S9 had a tough time maintaining with topics working straight for the digital camera, delivering fairly just a few comfortable frames. In low gentle, the topic detection efficiency suffers. The digital camera does okay with movement at a strolling tempo, or working back and forth moderately than straight on the digital camera. However the trickiest autofocus situations churned out extra comfortable pictures than sharp ones.
The Panasonic S9 additionally doesn’t have any form of weather-sealing, so it wants extra safety if you wish to take pictures within the rain. However, regardless of the identify, weather-sealing is sweet for extra than simply inclement climate. As an unsealed digital camera, count on the sensor on the S9 to get dusty quicker in consequence.
Is the Panasonic S9 price it?
The S9 is not for me, however smartphone photographers transferring as much as an actual digital camera might find it irresistible
The chilly shoe slot, lack of climate sealing, and inadequate ergonomics imply the Panasonic S9 didn’t make it onto my private want record. However, I am additionally knowledgeable photographer, which isn’t the viewers supposed for this form of digital camera. The query shouldn’t be if the Panasonic S9 is price it, however moderately, who’s going to like the S9.
Panasonic S9 is the form of digital camera that Instagrammers seeking 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 measurement, the Panasonic S9 is the form of digital camera that Instagrammers seeking to step up from the smartphone’s pretend background blur are going to fall in love with. If the one digital camera that you just’ve ever used is a smartphone, then you definitely’ll love the compact measurement, touchscreen and easier management scheme. The picture high quality is superb and the flexibility 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 believe might love the S9 is vacationers, because the digital camera is fairly compact, although the L-Mount lens household may use just a few 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 fundamental, the ergonomics and have record are, pushing creatives that want extra options in the direction of choices just like the Panasonic S5 II, which sits one other $500 greater, or one other model completely.