Panasonic Lumix S9 has ONLY ONE Flaw - But its not what YOU think

[@ArberBaqaj]

Are you getting the Panasonic S9?

[@Filmmaker809]

No.

[@iamhassan9943]

Yep. Preordered it!

[@Democratiser]

Thought I would be, but am now on hold. It is only a few features away from perfection for ME. But I have come to terms with the fact that I am not the target market. 😮🥹. LUMIX had in mind a target market which is 100000x the size of ME. What is this a business or something ? 😮😂. I’m now hoping for a MFT small form factor with more goodies. The small MFT lenses are the right complement and already exist 👏. I do hope the S9 sells really well to encourage further product development in the small but powerful market segment. I see LUMIX Lab and the new software functionality in the S9 as the unsung, sleeper heros of the launch. Very customer centric. LUMIX is heading in the right direction. Contrary to the storm in a teacup social media coverage this week, I see LUMIX as having the most authentic customer engagement including LUMIXLive. In practice the firmware updates are the practical manifestation of this approach.

[@PPLRRN]

Yes.

[@keithvlogs1]

TOTALLY agree!!! Could you imagine how much better LAUNCH would have been.. THe fact the you can buy S9 with one beast of a VLOGGING/all rounder lens 18-40. I dont think there's aything close to it in terms of field of view thats light and small.

[@ArberBaqaj]

It will be. A killer combo!

[@palaneproductions7357]

Yes, 18-40 will be perfect in good light....I'll be waiting and see what the costs are.

[@ArberBaqaj]

I’m guessing 400-500 usd but cheaper in a kit

[@pureheartvisuals]

Great video, Brother. I have multiple S5 ii, I would rather people say the S9 is not for them vs the S9 is useless or pointless. It’s NEVER the camera that is the flaw, it’s always the Shooter. I think I’m going to pick one up for multiple duties 🚀

[@ArberBaqaj]

It’s very strange when people just discourage the camera, I think it’s truly great!

[@Democratiser]

The ‘small but powerful’ FF market segment is lacking in choice. This is glaringly obvious to attentive camera enthusiasts and often commented on in the forums. I anticipated a silver bullet camera from LUMIX which addressed ALL of the capability desires of users. In part my anticipation had been based on my observation that lumix cameras are stuffed full of amazing features and didn’t contemplate the smaller form factor requiring a retreat. In hindsight I was being a bit unrealistic really.

[@pureheartvisuals]

I think we all have been trained through marketing to be unrealistic 🤣 Every Camera release is like hoping for the perfect Toy, the Art of Shooting and just having fun is replaced with unnecessary nail biting stress 🤣 The S9 is just for Fun, if LUMIX missed the mark… it was that they should have just Promoted “Fun” harder. People were saying Fun a lot… LUMIX the company does Seriously in-depth well but FUN…they needed a T-shirt “The S9 is Fun to Use” 🤣

[@kdotnico]

Awesome video! Can it be used to live steam?

[@WilliamTurnerViolins]

Many that used an external HDMI recorder for testing found that was unlimited recording, as like the OG S5 (had 30 minute limits). Of course a cage and all that negates the compact size, but there's more reach there for those that need to push it further before upgrading to an S5II or S5IIX.

[@ArberBaqaj]

Very true, if you really need it to do that It can be done

[@fellowcitizen]

Excellent points. One of the most successful products of all time used that strategy -- Kenner's Star Wars figures were unable to scale anywhere near demand in 1977, and they released cardboard cut-outs or some kind of token instead of figures -- as Christmas placeholders. The children were then shipped the figures some months later. AFter the success they were able to build bigger facilities.

[@ArberBaqaj]

youre kidding, thats so smart! thanx for the great insight!

[@ra28cer]

Hi Arber, question. How is the S9 performing when shooting Cinematic video?

[@Democratiser]

Love your work! Yes the new compact zoom is very important to make the small and light concept of practical benefit. I totally understand the merits and positioning of the S9 when I view it from the perspective of my 18 year old daughter who will love it (in the same way she loves her EDC, my old Fujifilm X10). It looks like a fun to use and ‘have on you’ camera. It also looks like a fashion accessory just like the x100 series. Like other spec obsessed observers I was disappointed by some omissions. I had forgotten that the camera companies giveth but they may also taketh away! But the one key missing feature for me is fun related: weather sealing. I would want to be able to take this to a beach, pool, camping etc and not worry about splashes, sand etc. so the question is what cover or case accessory is going to give me enough comfort to use it in those environments? That question is rhetorical by the way. I’m sure there is no answer at least not yet.

[@ArberBaqaj]

Thanx for a great comment! As I understand it is weather sealed but not to the same degree as a s5 or a gh6, So it should be able to take some beating :)

[@Democratiser]

@@ArberBaqaj Thanks Arber - I have heard conflicting views on the weather sealing. As I understand it the S9 has hard plastic port covers vs my G9 which has rubber press seal covers. Is that correct? I’m not familiar with the seals on the S5II etc, but if they are rubber then that would suggest a different or lower weather resistance level in the S9.

[@jimtrotter4800]

Did anyone find a suitable shoe thumb grip?

[@ArberBaqaj]

I’m not sure, the one on the camera is good enough for me, on the x100vi I have a thumbgrip but on the s9 I didn’t need it

[@imranalijafar]

Finally somone mentioned the need of EVF due to the eye sight. They new small prime lens f2.8. or something like Tamron 20-40mm f2.8 zoom.

[@ArberBaqaj]

Yes I’m going blind… does lens that exist?

[@PPLRRN]

For me, I blame viewfinders for my degrading eye sight. Especially when using only my right eye.

[@khanceptbelal]

Is it fair to assume that the pancake lens that came with the camera gives you a sense of nostalgia like the old disposable cameras from back in the 90s?

[@ArberBaqaj]

Very true, and could be a fun lens, even a great lens for landscapes!

[@GeekyNerdyTechy]

Nice work, Arber!

[@ArberBaqaj]

Thanx my friend! I thanx for the great voicemail 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

[@foufou81]

you are so on the point here. I have the GX9 with a "short" 17mm. The L-Mount serie misses short pancakes lenses. Even for the S5ii ! I come from Pentax, and I miss the pancake primes !

[@ArberBaqaj]

Also the 20mm f1.7 is a great pancake lens from LUMIX, hopefully the will make something similar for the S9.

[@adidabax6809]

It sounds like they may have rushed it out, but the positive is they may have the lens and kit for Christmas. I bet pricing on the combo will be good.

[@ArberBaqaj]

Well I dont know if its rushed but I would have loved to have that lens at the same time =)

[@molybdnum]

I like using the Olympus bodycap lenses on m43, so I can sort of see where they were coming from with the lens. Even so, you're 100% right that they should have launched with something that better suits the camera. It's a vlogging-centric device IMO, so a modest aperture 16-28 or something would have been great. Sigma's I-series primes could be a good fit but are better suited to a photo-oriented body.

[@ArberBaqaj]

Very true! I actually think the 18-40mm focal length is perfect for the audience once it comes out!

[@Democratiser]

@@ArberBaqaj I agree. 18-40mm is an excellent compromise. The other thing I am conscious about is the 1.5 crop in 60p 10bit. 40mm / 1.5 = 26.6mm. And 18x1.5 = 27mm. So between 27-40mm you can film in a standard frame rate knowing you can zoom out and match the effective focal lengths after a crop is applied.

[@nickalot]

exactly. i'm getting it but without the 20-60mm kit cause it doesn't work with the ethos. haha prolly get some used sigma contemporaries while waiting for the 18-40

[@ArberBaqaj]

Same here! even though I like the 20-60 also!

[@Ulrich.Bierwisch]

That is pretty much my thought about the camera. The 18-40 is the lens that is perfect for the camera. Just like the 12-32 was for the GM-cameras. The 26/F8 is for taking pictures of the camera not for pictures with it. It looks perfekt on the camera and this helps to get nice images of people using it. Right now, the 20-60 would be the best option but it is a bit larger and the 18-40 is the better match. The target customers are not going for both lenses. May be, this is the reason for the high price in Europe. It's a different market. Here you can't compensate to lack of the most important lens with nice colored cameras and a new APP. They are going for the US and Japan first (with the 26mm for free) and Europe waits for the Kit with the 18-40 in a few month.

[@ArberBaqaj]

I totally agree with you! Hopefully the will include the 26mm here as well :)

[@AllThingsFilm1]

Then the "flaw" isn't with the S9 camera itself. It's the lack of a better lens at launch. And I completely agree with the other so-called shortcomings that can be completely avoided with the slightest of efforts. I think the reactions to the S9 have been completely overblown by content creators. As a result of the treatment the S9 has received, I have lost confidence in a lot of content creators. Many of whom seem to mistake their opinions for facts. To be honest, I have more issues with camera reviews than I do with the S9 or LUMIX's marketing schemes. You provided a much more balanced overview of the S9 then I've seen from many others. So I'm staying subscribed to your channel. Thank you for your commentary.

[@ArberBaqaj]

Thanx for your comment, I really appreciate it! And I think you are totally right! It’s so overblown!

[@miklosnemeth8566]

At last someone who has brain and understood what is the customer group this camera is really meant for. When a no-EVF, no-grip color-bodied FF camera is designed, this should be a clear indication who this camera is for. Actually, it was designed to me 😀 specifically.

[@DaddyyCrab]

Lens problems are current with Canon and the lack of R lenses or from third party

[@gordon3988]

Nice summary…Sigma has some smaller lenses that might work well, and for some their primes might be the right choice. I think that you need small lenses for this camera to be a success.

[@ArberBaqaj]

I totally agree!

[@miklosnemeth8566]

You absolutely hit the nail on the head, but this camera was not designed for Panasonic lenses, no way, it was designed for Sigma i-series L-mount (prime) lenses. This is the camera those fatastic lenses have been waiting for. With the FP cameras Sigma was not able to make really decent cameras for those lenses, but the S9 seems to be perfect for them. I might consider buying 18-40 f 4.5-6.3 lens when available, buth highly unlikely, when we have those gorgeous Sigma compact prime lenses for reasonable prices. When the S9 is going to be available in the camera stores I'll give a try with some i-series Sigma lenses on S9, this is going to be the decisive moment for my decision, if AF is going to be excellent, I'll definitely go for the S9. Fortunately, in my city we have stores where you have the possibility spend even hours to give a try to cameras and lenses before buying.

[@ArberBaqaj]

Thanx, yes the size is almost made for those sigmas and I have used it with the 45mm and works great!

[@Joe_VanCleave]

It seems feasible that a third-party will make a cold-shoe mounted EVF, with internal battery, that connects to the HDMI port.

[@ArberBaqaj]

I hope so but I’m not sure, there are so many Sony cameras without an evf and no one has grabbed that opportunity, I think it’s probably a hard make, but I don’t know

[@imagenatura]

I agree. Lacking a proper lens, it shouldn't have been launched.

[@palaneproductions7357]

Yes, a bit silly...the 26mm is a band aid!

[@ArberBaqaj]

Yes I’m looking forward to it getting out

[@DroneStories]

Please confirm that the MICRO HDMI port is on the right side(!!), that is where all the settings are done by the user's hand. If it is true, then it is PROBABLY IMPOSSIBLE to use an external monitor!! (Even if it did, it would be downright funny, at least, in such a small body...). Slowly, I think you are starting to understand why there are so many negative comments about the s9. It's not for the s9. It's for Panasonic itself and for what it symbolized until now...(innovation, etc, which made it ...rag with the "26mm lens"...)

[@ArberBaqaj]

It’s on the right hand side of the camera, true, but since I’m not going to use it when handheld it doesn’t matter, for me, I don’t think LUMIX did anything wrong here, yes the 26mm is underwhelming and strange, but it doesn’t take away from that I really like the s9

[@DroneStories]

@@ArberBaqaj I am absolutely sure you love the s9.... When you find time, do a comparison with the s5ii, make an excel, and do the comparisons. The ones MISSING, relative to the s5ii, cost $300???

[@Democratiser]

@@DroneStoriesArber probably could do that but it will probably cost about $300 of his time!

[@angeloplayforone]

Great video.

[@ArberBaqaj]

Thanx my friend!

[@kentmemories]

Sigma 24mm f3.5

[@ArberBaqaj]

I was not aware of that one!

[@asicsdigitalstudio2401]

#getwellsoonpanasonicLumixS9 Cons: 1. No USB video class (UVC )so, No just plug & play webcam ? ?? 2. No headphones out for video 3. No digital mic via cold shoe 4. Vidio clip recording limit in 4K+ 5. No EVF or side card door

[@ArberBaqaj]

True, but the S5 has all that for just 300usd more :)

[@Filmmaker809]

Lumix S9 camera, if it had come 3 years ago, I would see it a good option, but 2024, its a pointless camera when we want GH7 and S1Hmk2.

[@palaneproductions7357]

S9..LUTmonster breaks new ground even though some critics want other things, capable of plenty as long as you can navigate around some features that you are used to on other bodies...WE(you) might want other stuff but YOU can wait!..lol

[@ArberBaqaj]

Ha ha ha, true

[@ArberBaqaj]

I think for the size and price it doesn’t have any competition

[@melvinch]

Only one flaw ? 😜

[@ArberBaqaj]

In my eyes:)