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.
Don't even get me started about the new manual focus toy pancake lens. Whoever decided to up charge $200 for that instead of just include it for free was off their rocker.
@@CallMeRabbitzUSVI its the difference of a mindset between influencers who have all these gears lying around vs this guy who used it along with his other cameras. Influencers seem to forget the concept of design philosophy where compromises need to make sense.
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.
@@geedee3817 I sold my GX8 because I couldn't use Auto ISO in manual with exposure comp, something my Nikon and Fuji both do. I just couldn't go back to manually setting ISO like I used to.
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!
I looove how they literally made a fixed mf pancake lens just so they can say its as small as compact cameras... but loved it even more when they thought we should shell out 200usd for it 😅
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.
@@GeorgeHolden i think that one do have it. But i couldn't find that one here in india. MFT system isn't that popular here. Most doesn't even know about this system. And finding more than kit lenses in used market is also hard.
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.
perfect cameras wouldn't make money. Every manufacturer could make the perfect camera, but they're in the business of making money. They want you to keep buying.
Panasonic (camera) is a small department that can barely sustain the flagships of two product lines at a time, by using Sony sensors. That's why all their other products underdeliver.
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
@@GeorgeHolden I'm thinking of just going with the LX100 III, sorry I mean Leica De Lux 8 as Panasonic don't seem to want to create a III themselves. Same money as the S9 for older tech but at least it has all the 'missing bits'.
Actually I'm getting Leica CL mirrorless vibes from the S9 design wise, just that Leica was sensible enough to include a viewfinder, a mechanical shutter and a hotshoe.
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!
@@GeorgeHolden Panasonic produced the smallest M43 camera, the GM1. The engineers were tasked to produced the smallest FF camera as a challenge. Unfortunately, I suspect that this was a challenge too far. 15 min limit on video recording, for a camera pitched at RUclipsrs????
The camera is aimed at relatively unsophisticated potential buyers who are impressed by a few headline features - full frame/ small/ pretty colour. The same market that would buy a phone because it 'has' 100+ megapixels, six lenses on the back and is really, really thin
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.
True, I didn't cover Ibis in detail or the record limit or video in general but it is a good performer, for me any camera today is a good performer so the packaging really matters a lot
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!
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 😅
You can use a USB OTG SD card reader to transfer images more quickly than with the app. What Olympus did you upgrade to, and does it lack any feature that the GX80 has?
@@GeorgeHolden I played with one at a local camera store and it was surprisingly nice. My film camera also doesn't have ibis, nor a second card slot. Really, I just want Lumix to make a G100 but good. Proper optics in the viewfinder, good AF, updated colors. I'd buy the heck out of that thing and put the 15mm on there.
BTW, have you used the Sony ZV-1? I got it to have something just a bit better than my phone after selling my Lumix S5 about a year ago and this little camera is VERY capable. Plenty of compromises but I've taken some amazing pics with this thing and it's always with me in my pocketbook.
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 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.
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.
Agree. The gx line has a superb ergonomics, and as far I know humans still has the same hands. Just better autofocus, the lut, a discount for dxo and please better app connection.
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
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 🙂
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!"
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. 😅 😅 😅
@@cyb 🤣Exactly! Completely useless, unless Panasonic realise the error of their ways and quickly update it with an S9ii.Unfortunately, even if it get a flash adapter, it's use is restricted by the electronic shutter! Perhaps that is the reason why you cannot use flash with this camera. How stupid.
@@TL-xw6fh i think the s9 is their zve1 so its a start of their prosumers line(but marketed and priced horribly). We stirred up so much drama that lumix will be a fool not to get the memo and hey im sure everyone wins after.
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!
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
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.
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.
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..
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.
Yeah I usually keep my 7artisans 18mm pancake on, but the compact kit zoom is nice to fit in a hit pack if I'm out riding. The auto opening cap mechanism listed above is so satisfying and convenient. I also have the matching ultra compact 35-100. It punches way above it class and size. I really hope Panasonic releases and updated actually small micro4/3 soon with the new auto focus and newer sensor soon. My GX8 and GX85 are showing their age.
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?
@@GeorgeHoldenNope, I actually skateboard (Been skating since I was 13) and no, you need fast shutter speeds to catch someone doing a line. The S9 would do poorly in that situation
I've concluded that the S9 is for smart phone users. Like phones it has no EVF, no hotshoe and no mechanical shutter. I'm going to cancel my order, I'd have to sell my Fujifilm X-E4 to fund this purchase then I'd be without all of the above. It's a downgrade moving to the S9, despite being full frame.
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...
@@GeorgeHolden I don’t think it’s meant to be great because it is made for kids actually. But it’s fun and one can’t be expecting it to be good esp at that price point. But at around 1500 quid or more most people have higher expectations.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 👊
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'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.
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 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.
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.
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.
@@GeorgeHolden Ah what the heck. I wanted all the packs as they look like nice presets so subscribed to Mega Pic Skills with your discount code. Happy Friday and keep up the great work man!
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.
@@GeorgeHolden I’m waiting for an S1 refresh or in about two years for LUMIX to drop an S9ii that knows what it actually needs to be a competitive option. Till then my S5ii isn’t a bad option. It’s a wonderful camera.
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. :)
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 . 😅
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
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.
@GeorgeHolden at first, but then when I thought of my use case, I think it wont affect me much. It's mostly gonna be in a tripod with a field monitor attached and some LED lights around it. I won't need the grip, EVF, hot shoe, and internal recording. I just want a small full frame camera that I can take out sometimes. This is affordable to me because the s5ii is 145k brand new, whilst this is 100k only. Both with the 20-60. In your country, the difference might not be huge. The ZVE1 and A7C2 are around 145k as well. Its just good to know I dont have to shell out more for the same image quality as the S5ii.
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!!!
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.
Stupid camera development. If Panasonic doesn't take advantage of the opportunity to bring a GX10, then only OM Systems will be left to bring a small camera onto the market for under EUR 1000. Lets say i have a dream !!! With its small and relatively inexpensive lenses, MFT offers so many options to get people from smartphones to a camera with interchangeable lenses for vacation trips. Camera gear for vacation about 1.5 kg not 3.5 kg. Managers should finally wake up. Cameras for under EUR 800 and lenses for EUR 200 to EUR 450. I just bought a Panasoic G9 with shouter count 1100 for EUR 450.
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.
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.
It's remarkable how may deal killers they managed to cram into such a compact camera.
Genuinely impressive
Clown
That's the efficiency possible with modern technology!
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.
Yep if they made it modular to have an evf like the gx1 then I'd be more interested
Don't even get me started about the new manual focus toy pancake lens. Whoever decided to up charge $200 for that instead of just include it for free was off their rocker.
🎵🎶🎵All I want is the perfect camera🎶🎵🎶
My wedding song for sure
@@GeorgeHolden ah, i see you're a man of culture as well.
Now that’s funny. 🤣🍉
A proper, honest review of the S9 😮
Hopefully more will come out soon!
@@GeorgeHolden It's refreshing to see this level of honesty, thought it was going the way of the dodo 😅
@@CallMeRabbitzUSVI its the difference of a mindset between influencers who have all these gears lying around vs this guy who used it along with his other cameras. Influencers seem to forget the concept of design philosophy where compromises need to make sense.
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.
Exactly!
yes indeed. The Auto ISO on my GX8 wouldn't let me set a minimum SS.
@@geedee3817 I sold my GX8 because I couldn't use Auto ISO in manual with exposure comp, something my Nikon and Fuji both do. I just couldn't go back to manually setting ISO like I used to.
Plus an audio jac. Please loose the tilting aspect of the EVF. Please keep the EVF. Weather sealing would be nice.
Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)
I suspect there might be a G9ii version with S9 body.
This camera is perfect for SmallRig to sell grips
The perfect accessory camera 😅
And an OVF for that cold shoe :D
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!
I owned the A7C for 3 years, was amazing
I looove how they literally made a fixed mf pancake lens just so they can say its as small as compact cameras... but loved it even more when they thought we should shell out 200usd for it 😅
Yeah real 1700 bucks panacrap
Finally a real review
Balanced?
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.
That's fair! I can't remember does the gx9 have weather sealing?
@@GeorgeHolden i think that one do have it. But i couldn't find that one here in india. MFT system isn't that popular here. Most doesn't even know about this system. And finding more than kit lenses in used market is also hard.
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.
Definitely, although for me wanting to use the camera is important, and a camera I can comfortably use for hours at a time
I agree here as well ‘ even yes you’re iPhone 📲
perfect cameras wouldn't make money. Every manufacturer could make the perfect camera, but they're in the business of making money. They want you to keep buying.
Well everyone is asking for a GX9mkll (or a PenFll) but Panasonic is not listening. They are trolling us
Surely GX10 is on the way, they must know it's a goldmine, probably cheaper than most their current developments and it'll have chunky margins
Panasonic (camera) is a small department that can barely sustain the flagships of two product lines at a time, by using Sony sensors. That's why all their other products underdeliver.
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
Excellent choice on the camera, a classic! And thanks I appreciate that!
Hand it over to Leica. They'll re-design the layout etc, rebrand it and charge 3 times as much for it.
I foresee this happening very soon 👀
@@GeorgeHolden I'm thinking of just going with the LX100 III, sorry I mean Leica De Lux 8 as Panasonic don't seem to want to create a III themselves. Same money as the S9 for older tech but at least it has all the 'missing bits'.
3 times sounds a bit cheap for Leica. And Leica would want to appear as every thing but cheap!
Actually I'm getting Leica CL mirrorless vibes from the S9 design wise, just that Leica was sensible enough to include a viewfinder, a mechanical shutter and a hotshoe.
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!
Thanks! Agreed also the LUTs can be made by anyone which isn't the quality control of Fujifilm simulations
Just bought a GX80/GX85 a couple days ago, having zero regrets after watching this 😅
Just been out with mine, what a great camera
@@GeorgeHolden will it replace the Olympus XA2 as my trusty small go-to, we will see 🤩
The S9 is a vanity project, pure and simple.
Interesting, how?
@@GeorgeHolden Panasonic produced the smallest M43 camera, the GM1. The engineers were tasked to produced the smallest FF camera as a challenge. Unfortunately, I suspect that this was a challenge too far. 15 min limit on video recording, for a camera pitched at RUclipsrs????
It's also not even close to being the smallest full frame. S9 is neat, but too heavily compromised to be worth consideration.
The camera is aimed at relatively unsophisticated potential buyers who are impressed by a few headline features - full frame/ small/ pretty colour. The same market that would buy a phone because it 'has' 100+ megapixels, six lenses on the back and is really, really thin
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.)
Have fun!
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.
True, I didn't cover Ibis in detail or the record limit or video in general but it is a good performer, for me any camera today is a good performer so the packaging really matters a lot
the cold shoe mount is insane these days
No words 😅
Maybe someone will make a cup holder attachment for it?
Unbelievable! Really appreciate you being honest, lol! 😁
I appreciate that!
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!
Let's see what they do next!
Day 3399 waiting for the next Lumix GX . Great video!
Fingers crossed!
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 😅
You can use a USB OTG SD card reader to transfer images more quickly than with the app. What Olympus did you upgrade to, and does it lack any feature that the GX80 has?
It feels like the most obvious product to make!
This camera makes me want a Canon R8. It’s lighter, has great handling, and has a decent viewfinder.
You know I thought the same thing!
@@GeorgeHolden I played with one at a local camera store and it was surprisingly nice. My film camera also doesn't have ibis, nor a second card slot. Really, I just want Lumix to make a G100 but good. Proper optics in the viewfinder, good AF, updated colors. I'd buy the heck out of that thing and put the 15mm on there.
BTW, have you used the Sony ZV-1? I got it to have something just a bit better than my phone after selling my Lumix S5 about a year ago and this little camera is VERY capable. Plenty of compromises but I've taken some amazing pics with this thing and it's always with me in my pocketbook.
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 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.
The S9 seems to have everything - that nobody wanted.
Besides the marketing team 😅
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.
That's fair! Do you mainly use the S5II for photo or video?
@@GeorgeHolden 90% photo and the video has been pretty basic so far.
Agree. The gx line has a superb ergonomics, and as far I know humans still has the same hands.
Just better autofocus, the lut, a discount for dxo and please better app connection.
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
LOVE this video George!!! I'm also onboard with that theory.
Thanks! Yes I would love a surprise S8 by the end of the year
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 🙂
I see no problem with the GX80 but definitely an updated version would attract many more micro four thirds users
If you buy used then probably could sell it for the same price when the GX9 II comes out.
The electronic shutter only problem doesn't only effect this Panasonic / Lumix model.
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!"
Give me the S8 or S9X 😂
You can see from the fancy body colors who this cam is made for. 🎉🎉🎉
But Nikon ZF seems legit while also having fun colours
The official Panasonic S9 promotional video looks like an out-take from Zoolander
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. 😅 😅 😅
😂😂😂
Wireless flash? How would you fire the flash, since there is no hot shoe on the camera?
@@TL-xw6fh i was going to say something clever like a usb c adapter but I looked it up and theres none 🥶
@@cyb 🤣Exactly! Completely useless, unless Panasonic realise the error of their ways and quickly update it with an S9ii.Unfortunately, even if it get a flash adapter, it's use is restricted by the electronic shutter! Perhaps that is the reason why you cannot use flash with this camera. How stupid.
@@TL-xw6fh i think the s9 is their zve1 so its a start of their prosumers line(but marketed and priced horribly). We stirred up so much drama that lumix will be a fool not to get the memo and hey im sure everyone wins after.
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!
Unless you're super in the L mount I see no real reason to jump on it
@@GeorgeHolden Yes, George..some people cant grasp it.
If this camera was under 1K EUR then it wouldn’t be such a failure. Finally an honest review, thank you.
I think it would need to be 1100
The SD card placement 😂It's such a little thing but I 100% am with you on that. Great review 👍
Bring back the bulky translucent cameras 🫡
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 🤞
Maybe one day!
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
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.
Bare in mind those creators don't get to keep the cameras, they borrow them for a short period
11:37 & 14:01 Bro, I lost it 🤣
Hail Satan
LUMIX Asinine. What a wonderfull name
Impeccable naming
@@GeorgeHolden "Does it sound funny to you" said no one ever at Panasonic
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.
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..
Actively a lack of basic necessities, that’s the best distillation of this camera I’ve heard
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 lens came with the body I'll mainly be using the 20mm 1.7!
Yeah I usually keep my 7artisans 18mm pancake on, but the compact kit zoom is nice to fit in a hit pack if I'm out riding. The auto opening cap mechanism listed above is so satisfying and convenient. I also have the matching ultra compact 35-100. It punches way above it class and size.
I really hope Panasonic releases and updated actually small micro4/3 soon with the new auto focus and newer sensor soon. My GX8 and GX85 are showing their age.
One of your best videos so far bro! loved the wit here 🙌
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?
The electronic shutter can cope with some fast motion but nothing crazy, skateboarding maybe at the right distance and speed
@@GeorgeHoldenmaybe they means sports light painting. BTW on the GX80 the electronic shutter is capped at 1s. Same on the S9?
@@GeorgeHoldenNope, I actually skateboard (Been skating since I was 13) and no, you need fast shutter speeds to catch someone doing a line. The S9 would do poorly in that situation
I've concluded that the S9 is for smart phone users. Like phones it has no EVF, no hotshoe and no mechanical shutter. I'm going to cancel my order, I'd have to sell my Fujifilm X-E4 to fund this purchase then I'd be without all of the above. It's a downgrade moving to the S9, despite being full frame.
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.
ZV-E10 was on sale at my local Best Buy for $550 recently. If I was in the market I would've surely scooped one up
Agreed plus unless you need the latest video specs you can save even more of you're happy with 4k 8 bit which is enough for most people
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...
And the biggest disappointment... they aren't selling the coolest color - Dark Silver - in my country!
That's a shame! Guess you can always paint it 😅
This camera reminds me of my Camp Snap cameras. Have you seen them? Pretty fun camera that I love and would recommend for fun.
I had one for a while but it wasn't great
@@GeorgeHolden I don’t think it’s meant to be great because it is made for kids actually. But it’s fun and one can’t be expecting it to be good esp at that price point. But at around 1500 quid or more most people have higher expectations.
I think the main issue here is the price. It's too expensive for the lack of features.
Yeah if it was a bargain the conversation would be different
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.
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.
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.
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.
I don't mind if I never get another camera, I'd get my hands on it somehow 😂 and that is fair, I picked up the GX80 because I always wanted to try one
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.
But the influencers said it was great 😮😮😮😮
They won't lie to us for clout and a free all expenses paid trip would they 😮.
Sometimes we get over excited
@@CallMeRabbitzUSVI😂
"Micro Four Nerds" is a diehard Panasonic ambassador. She'll fawn over any Pana turd.
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.
The ultra wide clips are hilarious !
Cheers!
It's hard to make a product that frustrates different groups of users at the same time, but Panasonic did.
Genuinely 😂
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 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.
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 👊
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 think the price is unusual when you consider the other options available from other brands
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.
Maybe one day a new GX but maybe never
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.
It’s still nice camera though 😊
In a few years it'll be a cult favourite I'm sure
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.
Seems like its trying to copy the Zve10???
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.
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.
Hi I also have cheaper options in my store on my website, if you too to /store you can find them the 😊
@@GeorgeHolden Oh great and thanks, I didn't see these before.
Also great video as usual!
@@GeorgeHolden Ah what the heck. I wanted all the packs as they look like nice presets so subscribed to Mega Pic Skills with your discount code. Happy Friday and keep up the great work man!
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.
I've been trying some accessories to make it better, let's see
@@GeorgeHolden I’m waiting for an S1 refresh or in about two years for LUMIX to drop an S9ii that knows what it actually needs to be a competitive option. Till then my S5ii isn’t a bad option. It’s a wonderful camera.
This COULD be the S9 to a GX10....❤❤❤
Very possible!
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. :)
Yeah I think the second hand price will make much more sense to some people
I agree with you and hope they come out with a better "S" camera,
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 . 😅
One day I'll spend an unreasonable amount of money on a Leica 😂
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
Exactly
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
Yep, it's almost like the Fuji X100 was the perfect camera to copy but they got confused when reverse engineering the product
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.
Did you accidentally hate on the S9 too?
@GeorgeHolden at first, but then when I thought of my use case, I think it wont affect me much.
It's mostly gonna be in a tripod with a field monitor attached and some LED lights around it. I won't need the grip, EVF, hot shoe, and internal recording.
I just want a small full frame camera that I can take out sometimes. This is affordable to me because the s5ii is 145k brand new, whilst this is 100k only. Both with the 20-60. In your country, the difference might not be huge. The ZVE1 and A7C2 are around 145k as well. Its just good to know I dont have to shell out more for the same image quality as the S5ii.
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!!!
11:00 Its the GH7, right?
Smaller please and cheaper please 😂
@@GeorgeHolden So, you want more, but paying less? Wait five years and buy second hand.
Just stick to Oly E-M10 with ECG1 grip...
S9EX as in Exorcism
Hail Lumix
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.
Agreed!
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.
No substitute for my GX80.
I now have one plus the 20mm 1.7... I don't know how I lived without it
Stupid camera development.
If Panasonic doesn't take advantage of the opportunity to bring a GX10, then only OM Systems will be left to bring a small camera onto the market for under EUR 1000. Lets say i have a dream !!!
With its small and relatively inexpensive lenses, MFT offers so many options to get people from smartphones to a camera with interchangeable lenses for vacation trips. Camera gear for vacation about 1.5 kg not 3.5 kg.
Managers should finally wake up. Cameras for under EUR 800 and lenses for EUR 200 to EUR 450.
I just bought a Panasoic G9 with shouter count 1100 for EUR 450.
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.
2 pancakes announced at launch, one is a body cap pancake and the other is a zoom which isn't out yet
Uh oh, don't let Cam Mackey see this video. Its the best and funnest camera he has ever used.
😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅
It must be the first camera he's used
😂😂😂
It's annoying how good this could've been.
Indeed
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.
If you like it that's good!
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.
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
Agreed it is a bit of a toy
Yep, we need the GX9 II