Panasonic Lumix S9 + 18-40mm F/4.5-6.3 kit

Panasonic Lumix S9 + 18-40mm F/4.5-6.3 kit - Jet black

The Panasonic S9 is the S5 II in mini size! The same full-frame image quality, the same fast phase-detection autofocus, and sensor-shift image stabilization in a very small body.

This package includes the new 18-40mm f/4.5-6.3 lens.

Who is this camera suitable for? The camera does not have a mechanical shutter, so for the fastest sports and bird photography we recommend the S5 II camera, as well as for longer video shooting. This S9 model is focused on fast and ready-to-use video production and sharing. So if you want to stand out from the social media image stream with good-looking material and maintain fast content production, this is an interesting camera!

Big software update released: Panasonic S9's settings now allow you to remove the recording limit! No more 10 and 15 minute recording times, but you can record video until the battery runs out, the memory card is full or the camera overheats. According to user experience, these limits were too strict, as many photographers have not had their camera overheat at 6.2K or 4K 30P settings before the battery runs out, meaning recording times of up to an hour are possible!

This update makes the camera an alternative to larger Panasonics for many, especially with the new compact 18-40mm lens.

• Full-frame 24 megapixel sensor, Dual Native ISO
• Social media special camera
• Built-in 5-stop effective image stabilization, Dual IS with 2 lenses provides 6.5 stops of power
• Panasonic's new faster phase detection autofocus
• Very small and compact, weighing approximately 400g
• Electronic shutter, not mechanical
• 6K and 4K Open gate video recording from the entire sensor area, 4K 60P with cropping
• New MP4 Lite recording format
• L-mount compatible, meaning lots of lens options, including from Sigma and Leica
• LUT button for real-time color tone adjustment
• New Lumix Lab mobile app for fast editing and sharing of footage
• Vari-angle 1.84M-dot touchscreen, no separate viewfinder

Video recording features

Panasonic is a step ahead of its competitors with its film simulations. The LUT files familiar from professional-level video cameras are available here at the press of a button.

This means that with the press of a button, the camera adjusts the color tones of the video and photos to the desired level, and previews are possible in real time. Usually, LUT files are loaded into cameras via a memory card, but now they can be designed, previewed and transferred directly to the camera using your phone. And once the content has been shot, the material is ready to use and can be shared immediately with the Lumix Lab app.

The Panasonic S9 does not include active cooling and the small body is best suited for short video clips. The recording time is limited to 10 minutes in 6K mode and 15 minutes in 4K video, so for longer recordings and all-day shooting, the S5 II X or GH6 are still the right choice.

The time limit applies to a single video clip, so according to initial tests, these can be taken one after the other without fear of overheating. Panasonic is very careful compared to other manufacturers, so the time limit may not be a problem in normal use.

But otherwise, the video features are guaranteed Panasonic, meaning there is a waveform monitor, zebras and log view assist, i.e. professional-level features for video production.

The lens zoom ring and digital zoom are also very conveniently combined for video recording. When zooming, the camera seamlessly also uses digital zoom and, for example, in 4K recording with 60mm optics you get a focal length equivalent to 90mm and in FullHD resolution about 190mm with very little quality loss.

The Panasonic S9 is an interesting camera and almost creates its own product category, combining full-frame quality and fast workflow, and on the other hand, this is also a good B-camera if you have more robust Panasonic devices.

Specifications:

• Compatibility: L-mount bayonet
• Sensor: 24.2 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor
• Built-in image stabilization, 5-stop power and Dual IS 2 support
• Continuous shooting: max. 30 frames per second
• Search: no search
• Cold-shoe mount for example for a microphone receiver or additional light
• 3' vari-angle touchscreen, resolution 1.84 million dots
• Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
• Connections: HDMI Micro, USB Type-C, 3.5mm microphone jack, NO headphone jack
• Wifi & Bluetooth
• SDXC memory card slot (UHS-II)
• Battery type: Panasonic DMW-BLK22
• Size: 12.6 x 73.9 x 46.7mm
• Weight 403g (486g with battery and memory card)

The sales package includes:

• Panasonic Lumix S9 Mirrorless Camera color Jet Black body
• Panasonic Lumix S 20-60mm f/3.5-5.6 lens
  
• Body Cap
• Shoe Cover
• Shoulder Strap
• Battery Pack

The sales package does not include a charger.