Lumix S9 Long-Term Review (as a content creator)
The Lumix S9 has been a divisive camera — to say the least! — since its launch in May 2024, and often, I think, misunderstood. I’ve been using the Lumix S9 as my main vlogging and “daily documenting” camera for a while now, and I have some updated thoughts on this lovely full frame tiny camera.
… Also I changed it to bright yellow. So there’s that.
the yellow is a custom skin unfortunately (fortunately? lol) not an official colour
Lumix S9 for documenting your life
Here’s where I think the S9 shines, and even more-so now we finally have a tiny lens to put on it with the new 18-40mm (written review here). I’ve been doing little daily vlogs on Instagram recently, sort of a “day in the life of a full time content creator” content, and the S9 has been a delight to use.
I’ve been filming almost exclusively in MP4 Lite so at the end of each day I can collect all the footage from my various cameras (I’ve been using the DJI Pocket 3 for motion timelapses for example. Written review of that lovely camera here!) and put it all on my phone. Then, of an evening, I’ve been quickly editing my vertical daily vlogs in CapCut on my phone.
Between Real Time LUT and MP4 Lite, the footage from the S9 comes into my phone ready colour graded and ready to rock. It’s even in Open Gate too, so I can re-purpose the clips horizontally in my YouTube videos if needed. It really is a brilliant, streamlined way to work. Especially if you want to put out informal content that looks professional quickly.
The Lumix 18-40mm pancake lens and the Lumix S9
After using the Lumix S9 before this lens, and after it… I can honestly say that the new 18-40mm lens elevates the S9 experience exponentially! Some setups in the past have been huge, basically rendering the tiny camera body useless. This new lens makes even the 1.8 primes feel chunky.
The S9 was decent before this new lens — I could see the potential, and I loved the style and MP4 Lite — but now, it makes perfect sense. So I’d highly recommend you get the 18-40mm if you’re considering the S9. A tiny camera is only as small as the lens you put on it, after all.
Lumix S9 for photography
For photography, my experience has been a bit less positive than video so far. Let me explain the good and… the less good.
The good
The full frame sensor is stunningly good — just like the Lumix S5ii which I love for wedding photography — and the general image quality is superb. The low light performance is brilliant too. It’s quite a treat to not ever have to worry about my ISO level. And with Real Time LUT and Lumix Lab, I can take some super polished photos without any editing at all — using my very own Streetwise preset, which you can download for free in the Lumix Lab app, or right here! — and the results are always great. One click. My style. Job done.
The bad
The electronic shutter, man! Generally I hate it when any technology makes a single sound ever. I’ve had my phone on silent since 2014. The first thing I do to a new camera is turn off the beep. But with the S9? You sorta gotta keep it on. Why? two reasons. One: It’s just a bit soulless when you press the button and literally NOTHING happens. And two: If you want to review audio it’ll automatically mute it if you’re in silent mode. Que MANY panics where I thought my mic hadn’t worked. So. The sound stays on. The little electronic click hurts my soul. Of course this is a minor thing, but I use a lot of cameras, I get to be picky. I miss the mechanical CLUNK, dammit.
More importantly? Banding. I’ve had banding in my images more than once, when shooting with electronic lighting, and because you don’t have an EVF, usually I only notice it when I’m back home and it’s too late. Banding is introduced when your shutter speed isn’t in sync with the electronics around you. But staying in sync with any given frequency isn’t often practical. For example, it usually means you need to shoot at 1/50th or 1/100th of a second in the UK, which doesn’t really allow for walking and shooting. More… stop, brace ones self, then shoot. Much less practical.
The good again. Sort of.
As for rolling shutter — the other issue with electronic-only shutter — I will say it’s been basically non-existent and blown wildly out of proportion online. Would the Lumix S9 be the first camera I’d reach for to photograph a sporting event? Possibly not. But the idea that your photos will morph into something skewed and unusable is laughable. Basically, the only time I’ve noticed rolling shutter from an S9 is when some reviewer whips it around like a mad person, deliberately trying to introduce rolling shutter. So. yay. It’s fine.
The banding thing though? That really is quite irritating. Look at this photo from the London underground. It’s subtle, but you should be able to see the banding in it. It’s subtle enough that you can’t really see it on the back of the camera… but still. unusable. Ugh.
banding with the lumix s9
Best use-cases for the Lumix S9
ME!
I think I’m pretty much perfectly aligned with the Lumix S9. I want a camera that is in a fun colour, that I can take out and about with me every day. I want it to be small, and be just as capable for photo as it is for video (perhaps more for video, as I tend to be rocking one of a million tiny cameras that I review) I want:-
IBIS
Audio input
Open gate so I can shoot for both socials and YouTube at the same time
Flippy screen for that Hashtag Vlog Life
Amazing AF and subject detection
Real Time LUT and a robust app so I can quickly post ready-edited photos and videos to socials
Yes yes yes. I want to be able to film snippets for my YouTube videos, take product shots and thumbnail photos, record smooth b-roll in slow motion. The S9 ticks basically all the boxes for my needs. However, I am definitely coming from a place of privlige: I have an S5ii for any moments where I need something more professional. I also have weather sealed cameras for times when the S9 might die in the rain. If this is going to be your only camera, then the flaws become much more serious as you have nothing else to fall back on.
Dad Cam
If you want a small camera that can give you epic quality, ready-edited, photos and videos of your family, you can’t get much better than this. Dads don’t have time to edit. The S9 will do it for you. Your footage will be smooth. Your fast moving offspring will be captured perfectly with the subject detection and excellent AF. The battery will last you for days. You could stick a fun toy on the coldshoe to catch your child’s attention… and so it isn’t entirely useless (I have a Taxi Cab sign in mine most of the time).
Someone coming from a phone
Say you’re a TikTok whizz and it’s time to upgrade from your phone. Enter: S9. You can get footage instantly onto your phone, you can take the camera out and about with you. The audio will be brilliant. And now with the new 18-40mm it’s very easy to use and has excellent auto focus.
A smaller version of a camera you already own
If you own an S5ii or an S5iix, and want a more portable fun option to take on holiday with you… well here’s the S9. It would also make a decent B cam now the recording limits have been removed. As a micro four thirds enthusiast, I LOVE that I can use the same lenses on a £100 tiny camera or a £2000 flagship. I think the S9 is trying to capture some of that magic in the full frame world.
Some of my favourite straight-out-of-camera images from the Lumix S9. All using my Streetwise preset/LUT which you can find in the Creator Store of the Lumix Lab app… or here for freeeeee if you’d like to use it on other cameras too!
Conclusion
So… After several months and several large trips with the Lumix S9, what do I think? Well. It’s a camera that has only grown and grown on me over time. We had a sticky patch back at the start when I couldn’t find a good lens combo with it? But the addition of:-
a SmallRig cage (I have the half cage and the full cage. They both weigh nothing are are EXCELLENT. Also make the S9 less slippy)
the Lumix 18-40mm pancake lens
And now we’re truly rocking!! I absolutely love this setup to help me film my YouTube videos as well as my social media stuff. I am so so happy and the recent updates that have added unlimited recording, as well as extra frame marker options, is just the icing on the cake.
If I could wave a magic wand I would add in a mechanical shutter. I honestly think that would make the Lumix S9 close to perfect. Hopefully we will see it if there’s ever a mkii. Much like when phase detect auto focus was announced at the S5ii launch, and 200 camera nerds cheered, I imagine the reception will be the same when a mechanical shutter is introduced into the S9. I am crossing fingers and toes.
You can check out the Lumix S9 on Amazon here, or Used on MPB if you’re that way inclined! MPB UK, MPB US, MPB EU
Here’s my video review of the S9 and the 18-40mm lens, and some updates. Yeah. It’s a bit of a mess. But watch me turn a green S9 into a yellow S9 yay!