Pana S9 is definition of an underrated camera

[Andrew Reid]

The more I use mine the more dictionary definition of underrated this thing gets

Best with small M mount prime lenses, or LTM...doesn't have to be fancy

For autofocus best with a small Sigma L mount prime like 35mm F2

Smallrig grip is a must.

The LUT feature gives everything on the display more impact during a shoot, stuff simply looks beautiful and exactly as you intended... and it's so immediate... And in general the camera is so fucking nimble and fast. Then there's the minimalism of it... the simplicity. It is truly one of those cameras that gets out the way and leaves you to enjoy shooting.

Yes, build quality could be more high-end... yes, wish it had a mechanical shutter and an EVF... but really thats where the complaining ends as it has everything else and then some, and what it doesn't have like a stacked sensor, you can't reasonably complain about because it cost me a shade over £1000 (open box deal).

Really glad they did not scrimp on the battery, it takes a big chonky one.

If it had a powered hotshoe they could have sold me an EVF to go on the top... but for now I'm using the RX1 optical finder from Sony...

[MrSMW]

I've kept my Smallrig cage just in case...

[Andrew Reid]

3.3K 4:3 10bit 422

Super 16mm crop mode

C-mount lens adapter for L-mount

Pleased to report - No vignetting.

 

[John Matthews]

My problem with the S9 is the weight. Once you have the grip, you're saving just over 100g over the S5/S5ii. The list of missing features (especially photography related) are numerous. For me, it's a camera to use as-is, once they have a pancake and once the price is more reasonable for what it is. I'd definitely take the S5 over it for the price they sell at, even used.

[Andrew Reid]

You can save 100,200,300g it doesn't matter, it depends mainly on what lenses you're going to use with it. Some these can add 2kg, and are obviously the wrong choice. But with the small manual focus M mount stuff from Voigtlander or a smaller autofocus Sigma prime it makes much more sense and you feel the weight saving over the S5 II which is already itself incredibly light compared to the S1H.

It is true that when you put it side by side with your average Sony a7 body, it's not significantly smaller or lighter - it is not a GM1.

What it is, is an S1H in a Leica Q size camera with interchangeable lens mount, 10bit 6K and IBIS.

It could also be considered a strong alternative to the Sigma Fp since it has the all important articulated screen and IBIS.

One thing it is not, is the same as all the other mirrorless cameras... and that is a good thing.

I admire the speed and simplicity of it, and the burned in LUTs.

And the palm of hand descrete handheld shooting as pioneered by the GH1. It is in that mould. IBIS makes it even more capable for handheld enjoyment, as adding a tripod defies the point of it being small and light.

The fun factor is huge with this trust me.

It feels amazingly fast and responsive during a shoot.

Sure there's no EVF, mechanical shutter, but I can't think of much else the S5 II offers for photograph aside from those two features? So to say it lacks numerous features is overplaying it a bit in my view.

[John Matthews]

40 minutes ago, Andrew Reid said:

The fun factor is huge with this trust me.

I can believe that. I've always loved using small cameras. The GM1 was a little too small for me and my hands. The GX800 was just that much bigger and I liked not having an EVF in that I never had to choose. However, I'd prefer a flip-up screen rather than the flip-out style on the S9. I just find them fiddly and cheap-feeling (like one wrong move will break it). Oddly enough, I actually broke my GX800 screen by dropping it. I just can't swallow the price for the S9, but I secretly want one. You're probably going to love it.

[MurtlandPhoto]

I just wish it had a hot shoe for flash (and I guess a mechanical shutter if that's required for it). That would make it perfect candid camera for parties and family get-togethers for me.

[zerocool22]

32 minutes ago, MurtlandPhoto said:

I just wish it had a hot shoe for flash (and I guess a mechanical shutter if that's required for it). That would make it perfect candid camera for parties and family get-togethers for me.

Wow I did not even realize it did not had a flash hotshoe. Flash is so crucial for my style of photography.  I cant understand how they can sell a 1000+ camera without a hotshoe flash..

[John Matthews]

28 minutes ago, zerocool22 said:

Wow I did not even realize it did not had a flash hotshoe. Flash is so crucial for my style of photography.  I cant understand how they can sell a 1000+ camera without a hotshoe flash..

Yeah, it would need to have a global shutter for real flash photography. However, you could take video lights or reflectors with reasonable results. The fact is there are just so many concessions. Still, as @Andrew Reid said, it's probably a very fun camera. The other problem is that there are so many M43 cameras with all those features (and even smaller and lighter).

[Andrew Reid]

It's definitely not aimed at traditional photographers with their flash guns as a main camera (maybe as a second body).

Cinema and storytelling are the main purposes of the S9.

With it being so small and light I think it defeats the purpose putting a flash on top, or anything else for that matter!

The goal here is a full frame sensor in the palm of a hand, nimble, quick and discrete, no fuss, cheap.

The very essence of what a GH2 was back in the day, but now it's a vastly higher-spec and larger sensor.

You can use it with crop sensor lenses no issues.

It even has a photo crop mode for shooting 3k RAW stills for example.

In that sense and for Super 16mm it packs into the deal one of the main selling points (for me) of the micro four thirds cameras... that is to say... the Kern Switar 26mm F1.1

That lens is the work of a space alien.

So to have the best of S16 and S35 and full frame optics in one body, and such good low light capabilities, that is very nice for natural light shooting.

Now on the other-hand you could say Panasonic are missing out on a big market by not making a more traditional high-end photography camera to rival something like a Nikon Z9.

And you'd be right. But obviously, at £1k this ain't it. Why would it be?

Maybe in time there will be a higher-end version with new sensor, EVF, mechanical shutter, weather sealing, and tilt screen rather than fully flippy.

I hope they do that as the concept is fundamentally great for the price.

[newfoundmass]

I've been itching to buy this. I don't think I will because for my work it'd make sense to just get a S5II to go with my S5II X, but it reminds me of my beloved GX85, which I still regret selling. It's one of those cameras that you can walk around with and if you're using a small enough lens no one really bats an eye at you, whereas even stripped down people will look at me when I'm using my S5II X because I think people have been taught DSLR style bodies = professional camera.

 

I'm glad to see you interested in cameras and posting again @Andrew Reid!

[Ty Harper]

The S9 was high on my list of cams to get for a passion project that's taking me overseas - but at $2K, and me actually needing a C-cam to complement my R5C's, it just wasn't in the cards - but it def looks like a great option for anyone looking for something compact.

[IronFilm]

In the years to come, once the Panasonic S9 has come down to perhaps a third of its price currently when picking it up secondhand, then I could certainly see myself upgrading to it. Paired with say a Sigma 45mm f/2.8 lens (or the cheap Brightin Star 23mm f5.6? Or TTArtisan 50mm f2?) then it's borderline "pocketable"?? (well, cargo shorts or jacket pockets)

I just wish the S9 had a built in flash you could point at the ceiling to bounce off, for a bit of extra light on a subject. It's a very very handy feature when shooting in dark and dingy night clubs or pubs! (then again, I suppose that big "full frame" sensor in the S9 needs less of a helping hand from a flash)

Numerous Panasonic cameras (GF and GX series) have got this feature, but none of the L Series cameras have it. 

Am currently building up a little kit (to take on holiday, overseas, or just general walk around camera for wherever / whenever) that's based around a Fujifilm camera (the X-A3) that does have this built in flash feature.  Thus no upgrading to L Mount in the foreseeable future for me. 

13 hours ago, Andrew Reid said:

If it had a powered hotshoe they could have sold me an EVF to go on the top...

What the heck... ??? I just had to look this up to check, it's just a cold shoe! Not a hot shoe. 

Can't do flash photography at all with the S9 😕 darn 

10 hours ago, zerocool22 said:

Wow I did not even realize it did not had a flash hotshoe. Flash is so crucial for my style of photography.  I cant understand how they can sell a 1000+ camera without a hotshoe flash..

Is crazy 😞 

9 hours ago, John Matthews said:

Yeah, it would need to have a global shutter for real flash photography.

??? Billions and billions of photos have been taken with flash photography with cameras that don't have a global shutter. Just got to have a fast enough shutter. 

 

8 hours ago, Andrew Reid said:

Now on the other-hand you could say Panasonic are missing out on a big market by not making a more traditional high-end photography camera to rival something like a Nikon Z9.

Yup, lots of people are asking "where is the S1R mk2?"

Not that I care too much, the S9 / S5 world is fine with me. (or maaaaaybe the S1R mk1 when it gets to be old enough. I've been tempted lately by the Nikon D800, with how cheap it's getting. Similar "level" camera to the S1R, just even older, with merely "only a 36 megapixel sensor")

 

[Andrew Reid]

What about the S9 as a video cam?

Nobody complains that you can't add a flash to a Blackmagic Pocket Camera

[ita149]

2 hours ago, Andrew Reid said:

What about the S9 as a video cam?

Nobody complains that you can't add a flash to a Blackmagic Pocket Camera

I'm curious about the S9 video quality and fine details when cropping.
I have the S1/S5/S5II and I really prefer the output of the S1 and S5, the S5II has weird digital sharpening and detail filtering. I think I've read somewhere the video quality of the S9 is different than the S5II (less sharpening), do you see a difference ?

[MrSMW]

5 hours ago, Andrew Reid said:

What about the S9 as a video cam?

This is where I think it shines.

As a hybrid, for occasional use in a stills role, maybe, but not my first choice.

For pure stills, nah.

But as a compact S1/S5ii alternative? Absolutely.

I keep reading and hearing about the S5ii and S9 having a more 'digital' image than the S1/S5, never mind the S1H, but as someone who has a 1/8th mist glued on to my S5ii lenses, I can't say I have ever really noticed anything in the 2 years I have been using them.

I DO notice a difference on one single lens however, the 70-200mm f4, but funnily enough, it's the ONLY lens I have that does not have a 1/8th mist on it.

And as for moire, ditto, never seen it.

So maybe these later cameras do have a more digital look and probably it's my use of the 1/8th mists that is 'reversing' that.

[Al Dolega]

I considered it briefly, as an option for days when I want a smaller kit but still want a large-sensor cam alongside my zoomy camcorder. The lack of EVF would mean the S9 would be relegated to just fisheye shots (which is about a third of my shooting); maybe a few lower-priority "pretty" shots with a single fast prime, when I have time to wrestle with shooting from the screen (outside of fisheye I shoot mostly from the EVF).

Within those constraints the S9 would have some advantages. The lack of EVF would let me rig the top handle I use for fisheye a bit closer to the optical axis, which is more stable. The weight saving sounds attractive but really I'd probably be rigging with a counterweight anyways so weight savings isn't as big of a deal. Especially when it's only about 100g as has been said. Size savings would be more attractive as I could run a smaller fisheye (Rokinon 7.5mm meant for m4/3 instead of Canon EF 8-15 + adapter), which would allow me to pack into a smaller bag.

Not really enough to motivate a purchase even at current discount. My S5iiX is already paid for, not that much bigger, and has an EVF. An S9 might be more tempting in a year or two when used prices get closer to $500, but by then I'll probably be a snob about its performance compared to the S2H I would hopefully have by then.

Right now I would really like Panasonic to bring the slightly-better AF and processing from the S9 to the S5ii/X.

[ntblowz]

I was interested on the S9 but the initial launch was so lackster with stupid recording limitation and f8 manual pancake that really extinguished my desire

 

But now with the 18-40 and recording limit removed it is on the table again.. and they have some special which is not bad, but then the used S5II is still tempting too, except no pdaf in 1080p50/60 which is dumb as I do still use that sometimes.

[newfoundmass]

29 minutes ago, ntblowz said:

I was interested on the S9 but the initial launch was so lackster with stupid recording limitation and f8 manual pancake that really extinguished my desire

I don't think it was stupid to have a recording limitation. If anything it was being honest: this isn't a camera that should be doing long takes and if you do so, you do it at your own risk as it can damage the camera.

[MrSMW]

I think the only thing they really fluffed at the launch was that lens.

Had they launched with the 18-40, it would have been a different matter.

Many folks by their nature focus on the negative, even if that negative is a tiny part of the whole or even something that would not affect them.

That lens was one of those situations and yes, there may be some people (less than 10 on the planet) who actually wanted an f8 lens, but to most, it was a negative that stood out and people like to point and laugh.