The digicam for an ideal Instagram feed

Instagram and different visually targeted social networks have undoubtedly performed a job within the evolution of the digital digicam. Maybe the best instance of that is the current pattern towards cameras made not for photographers however content creators, creatives who want each stills and video to feed the algorithms. The Panasonic S9 is one such digicam. 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 multiple digicam, the Panasonic S9 is arguably the digicam that feels most in tune with Instagram. Apart from the touchscreen interface, the S9 integrates LUTs, or built-in colour profiles ultimate for followers of Instagram’s filters — or actually any photographer that may somewhat spend extra time behind the digicam than the pc. The 4 colour choices additionally make the S9 look good within the behind-the-scenes pictures as effectively. However, as one of many extra inexpensive full-frame mirrorless choices, the S9 makes just a few unusual cuts to its record of options.

Is the Panasonic S9 the proper 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.

Panasonic Lumix S9

The Panasonic S9 is a compact full-frame mirrorless digicam designed for content material creators and vacationers. The 24.2-megapixel full-frame sensor delivers colourful pictures that may be personalized in-camera by means of the usage of customized LUTs. The minimalist design makes the digicam each simple to study and extremely moveable. However whereas Instagrammers might love the touchscreen interface, execs and severe photographers will miss the viewfinder, sizzling shoe slot, and ergonomic grip. It additionally lacks a mic port, secondary card slot, and weather-sealing.

Professionals

• Compact, colourful design
• Customizable colours utilizing LUTs
• Glorious picture high quality
• Competative $1,500 body-only worth

Cons

• Lacks a sizzling shoe slot and mic port
• Lacking grip and viewfinder is much less snug
• Digital shutter solely
• Slower autofocus efficiency with motion

Specs, worth and availability

The Panasonic S9 was introduced in Could of 2024. The mirrorless digicam 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 digicam is on the market from a number of main retailers.

What I like in regards to the Panasonic S9

The most effective characteristic might 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 value. 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 inexpensive mirrorless cameras that also have the bigger full-frame sensor.

The S9 is available in extra than simply black. I examined out the digicam with a stunning olive inexperienced wrap and instantly fell in love with each the look of the digicam and the scale. 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 digicam for positive.

Whereas I liked the colour on the outside, the S9 additionally has distinctive colour choices on the photographs themselves. Like different Panasonic cameras, the S9 gives in-camera LUTs. Within the easiest phrases, which means you possibly can simply customise the colours on the pictures, 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 method to create unique LUTs, whereas the S5 II is anticipated 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 simple to create your personal LUT or customized colour filter. After connecting the digicam to the machine, you possibly can switch some pictures, edit them within the app, after which save these edits as a brand new LUT. Then, you possibly can switch that LUT again to the digicam as a colour setting and choose it utilizing the LUT shortcut. The shortcut permits you to edit your photographs as you are taking them, which is an distinctive instrument for spending extra time behind the digicam and fewer time behind the pc. Another choice is to obtain LUTs from different creators contained in the app.

Even with out the LUTs, nonetheless, 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.

These colour profiles are added to a 24.2-megapixel full-frame sensor. Positive, you may get the next decision with pricer cameras, however pictures 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 respectable as effectively, partially due to that lower-resolution sensor.

Stabilization, a quick burst velocity, and glorious eye detection autofocus additionally work collectively to assist even newcomers take good photographs. I used to be capable of rigorously 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 might simply handhold pictures at a tenth of a second and get some enjoyable movement blur with out handshake.

I used to be additionally extremely impressed with the digicam’s eye and face detection autofocus because it rapidly locking on to an individual or an animal. The one difficulty I had with the topic detection is that it wouldn’t acknowledge a darkish topic on a darkish background, corresponding to a chestnut brown horse inside a shadowy secure. Which means you might have to assist it out a bit if you’re 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 digicam does not even have a bodily shutter, solely an digital one (like what a smartphone makes use of). The place the S9 exhibits its funds worth in velocity is that these bursts are restricted to round 32 photographs, so you possibly can solely shoot for a couple of second if you happen to go away the digicam on its quickest burst velocity.

Every part that I liked in regards to the photographs 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 may also shoot with the complete sensor, somewhat 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 digicam keep compact however tends to be uncomfortable if you happen to’re capturing for hours (and may additionally play a job in my lack of ability to get tremendous gradual shutter speeds handheld). My wrist tended to get sore fairly a bit quicker working with the S9.

Within the identify of dimension, Panasonic additionally axed the viewfinder, so there’s simply the LCD display to shoot with. I additionally sorely missed the joystick that I exploit on my different cameras to rapidly alter 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 steel slot for sliding in a flash on the prime is a chilly shoe somewhat than the extra conventional sizzling shoe. Because of this, whereas it appears just like the S9 might use flash, it may’t. A chilly shoe doesn’t talk with the digicam like a sizzling shoe does. It is basically a holster for a steady LED gentle, however it’s not able to firing a flash on the correct second. Videographers and vloggers also needs to notice that the digicam does not have any form of mic port. Each stills and video shooters also needs to know that the digicam has a single SD card slot, somewhat than the 2 extra generally discovered on professional-grade fashions.

The S9 additionally joins the rising record of cameras that use solely an digital shutter, somewhat than a mechanical one. The digital shutter is quicker and, in good lighting and gradual or stationary transferring topics, most will not discover any points. However, digital shutters previously have been recognized to expertise banding below sure sorts of synthetic lights, the place the picture seems to have virtually a coloured stripe operating by means of it indoors. Digital shutter may also distort fast paced topics, corresponding to trains. Whereas I didn’’ detect these points throughout my overview, I additionally did not get a possibility to attempt the S9 in each state of affairs, like photographing a prepare or working below florescent lighting.

Whereas I liked the attention detection autofocus, I discovered the main focus system total on the S9 a bit missing with quicker motion. The S9 had a tough time maintaining with topics operating straight for the digicam, delivering fairly just a few delicate frames. In low gentle, the topic detection efficiency suffers. The digicam does okay with movement at a strolling tempo, or operating back and forth somewhat than straight on the digicam. However the trickiest autofocus eventualities churned out extra delicate photographs 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 photographs within the rain. However, regardless of the identify, weather-sealing is nice for extra than simply inclement climate. As an unsealed digicam, 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 digicam 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 an expert photographer, which isn’t the viewers meant for this form of digicam. The query shouldn’t be if the Panasonic S9 is price it, however somewhat, who goes to like the S9.

With its built-in LUTs, full-frame sensor, touchscreen interface, and compact dimension, the Panasonic S9 is the form of digicam that Instagrammers trying to step up from the smartphone’s faux background blur are going to fall in love with. If the one digicam that you just’ve ever used is a smartphone, then you definitely’ll love the compact dimension, touchscreen and less complicated 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 needs a extra customized look. One other group that I believe might love the S9 is vacationers, because the digicam is fairly compact, although the L-Mount lens household might use just a few extra compact choices.

Nevertheless, 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 primary, 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 totally.