Panasonic’s mirrorless cameras have at all times been well-liked with professional video shooters, however to this point the corporate hasn’t immediately tackled a key phase: influencers. Immediately, it’s lastly leaping in with the S9, a small and classy full-frame digital camera with comparable capabilities to Sony’s ZV-E1. The S9’s key function is a devoted LUT button and app that allow you to shortly choose customized and preset video appears to be like, very like you may with Fujifilm’s simulations.
With the identical 24-megapixel sensor as Panasonic’s S5 II, the S9 helps as much as 6.2K 30p video and comes with Panasonic’s newest phase-detect and AI-tracking autofocus. It additionally has superior in-body stabilization that guarantees gimbal-like smoothness.
There are some things lacking, although, like a viewfinder and mechanical shutter. Lastly, there’s the $1,500 worth, which isn’t a lot lower than the more-capable S5 II. So does Panasonic’s first digital camera for influencers ship? I examined a pre-production model of the S9 in Japan to seek out out.
Trendy and petite
At 486 grams (17.1 ounces), the S9 is mild for a full-frame digital camera and simply three grams heavier than the ZV-E1. I’ll talk about Panasonic’s new 26mm f/8 lens quickly, however with that, the entire system is sufficiently small to slide right into a bag and is definitely a bit lighter than Fujifilm’s X100 VI.
The S9’s design is cute, however the polycarbonate physique doesn’t really feel practically as premium as, say, Fuji’s X100 VI. It is available in a alternative of purple, blue, inexperienced and black in a pretend leather-based overlaying. It’s not as fairly as Fujifilm’s choices, however is extra fashionable than most Lumix cameras.
With that clean design and no deal with, although, it’s a bit laborious to grip. This isn’t an issue when utilizing light-weight lenses, however with bigger ones just like the Lumix 24-70mm f/2.8, the S9 might slip proper out of your hand. Panasonic did give us a devoted SmallRig grip that helps lots, however that’s not included within the worth.
The S9 has stripped-down controls in comparison with most Panasonic cameras. With no prime rear dial or joystick, it is trickier to vary settings than on bigger fashions just like the S5 II.
What it does have that we’ve by no means seen is a LUT button that Panasonic really patented. These letters stand for look-up desk, and urgent the button brings up a alternative of built-in or customized simulations.
The flip-around display is nice for vlogging, however the S9 lacks an digital viewfinder, very like Sony’s ZV-E1. It has only a chilly shoe on prime, so it may possibly’t energy flashes, microphones, a viewfinder or different equipment.
It’s additionally lacking a headphone port, which is unlucky for a digital camera devoted to video. And whereas the Fujifilm X-T30 helps a headphone through the USB-C port, the S9 doesn’t have that possibility, nor does it help wi-fi sound. As for storage, the one SD card slot permits UHS-II speeds, however is positioned inconveniently subsequent to the battery compartment
Pictures
For a hybrid digital camera aimed toward videographers, the S9 isn’t dangerous for stills. You possibly can shoot at 9 RAW frames per second, and the buffer will maintain as much as 55 pictures. The S9 doesn’t have a mechanical shutter, although, and distortion will be problematic with fast-moving topics.
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Steady autofocus for photographs works effectively, although it’s nonetheless behind Canon and Sony. The AI is sweet at locking onto human faces, our bodies and eyes, and likewise works with animals, vehicles and bikes. It’s not a sports activities or wildlife digital camera by any means, however the majority of my photographs have been in focus.
Just like the S5 II, the S9 shoots 14-bit RAW pictures in single-shot mode however drops to 12-bit RAW for burst capturing. As this was a pre-production digital camera with out the ultimate firmware, I used to be unable to check RAW high quality, however I’d anticipate it to be in keeping with the Panasonic S5 II.
Photograph high quality in any other case is sweet from what I’ve seen to this point, with lifelike colours and pores and skin tones. In low mild, I wouldn’t go previous about ISO 6400 as noise can get dangerous in comparison with cameras with comparable sensors, like Nikon’s Z6 II.
I favored the S9 as a avenue pictures digital camera, because it’s discreet, silent and light-weight. Nonetheless, the brand new $200 pancake lens that helps make it so mild is handbook focus solely and has only one f/8 aperture setting which can flip off patrons. On prime of that, with no electronics within the lens, the zoom window doesn’t pop as much as help focus. As such, you must depend on the main target peaking help.
Video
As a video digital camera, the S9 is usually wonderful, however has some pluses and minuses in comparison with the ZV-E1. On the constructive facet, the higher-resolution sensor permits for as much as 6.2K 30p or supersampled 4K 30p video utilizing the complete sensor width. It additionally helps full readout 3:2 seize that makes vertical video simpler to shoot.
4K 60p requires an APS-C crop, and to get 120 fps video you must drop all the way down to 1080p. Just like the S5 II, it helps plenty of anamorphic codecs with supported lenses.
The ZV-E1 has half the decision, so video isn’t fairly as sharp, however Sony’s digital camera can shoot 4K at as much as 120 fps and rolling shutter isn’t practically as dangerous.
One potential situation with this digital camera for creators is the restricted steady recording time, which is capped at simply 10 minutes at 6.2K and quarter-hour at 4K. That’s as a result of small dimension and lack of a fan, however you can begin recording once more instantly after it stops — so this might primarily have an effect on occasion shooters needing to do lengthy takes. We’ll see if these recording occasions stay within the ultimate firmware.
The S9 has wonderful in-body stabilization, with as much as 6.5 stops utilizing supported lenses. Just like the S5 II, it presents a lift mode that’s finest for handheld capturing with restricted motion, and an digital mode with a 1.4x crop within the “excessive” setting.
The latter can clean out footsteps and different jolts effectively sufficient to interchange a gimbal in a pinch. It does a greater job than the ZV-E1 with abrupt actions, however the latter crops in barely much less at 1.3x.
Autofocus principally retains topics sharp, however it may possibly sometimes lag. The AI-powered face-tracking stays locked on a topic’s eyes and face, although typically the autofocus itself doesn’t sustain. Nonetheless, these might be pre-production points.
With the identical sensor because the S5 II, high quality could be very comparable. Video is sharp and colours are lifelike, with pleasing pores and skin tones. It’s not fairly pretty much as good in low mild as different 24MP cameras just like the Canon R6 II, with noise beginning to turn into noticeable at ISO 6400. The ZV-E1, as compared, can shoot clear video at ISO 12800 and even past.
I get pleasure from capturing Panasonic V-log video because it’s straightforward to regulate in submit and presents wonderful dynamic vary. It’s one large purpose Panasonic cameras are so well-liked with skilled videographers, so it’s good to see this on a inexpensive mannequin.
So what in regards to the new LUT function? To get probably the most out of it, it’s important to go into the brand new Lumix Lab app. Panasonic has a handful of presets to get you began, or you may load customized LUTs from a wide range of creators. It’s also possible to make your personal in an modifying program like DaVinci Resolve.
Making use of the LUT bakes the look into the video, which makes it laborious to regulate it in a while. Nonetheless, you may shoot customary or V-Log footage and use the LUT as a preview, then apply that very same look in submit with out being locked in.
The LUT button is a intelligent concept, because it permits creators to create cool pictures with out the necessity to futz round in submit. Nonetheless, many might not even be aware of the time period “LUT,” so Panasonic has an uphill battle promoting the advantages. By comparability, many influencers perceive the benefits of Fujifilm’s simulations.
Wrap-up
With the S9, Panasonic is attempting to draw influencers with a small, fashionable digital camera that makes it straightforward to create attention-grabbing video appears to be like shortly. On the identical time, it has practically all of the capabilities of higher-end fashions just like the S5 II.
It does have some flaws that make it a tough promote for photographers. And I’m involved in regards to the $1,500 price ticket, as that’s only a bit lower than the S5 II, which has an EVF, mechanical shutter, further card slot, higher ergonomics and extra.
To this point, it comes out effectively towards the ZV-E1, although. I like the additional decision and sharpness, and it has superior stabilization. It’s additionally cheaper, however solely by about $300 in the intervening time. It appears to be like like a great first try to I’ve a number of quibbles, however I’ll know extra as soon as I’m in a position to take a look at the manufacturing model.
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