LUMIX S9

Released June 2024

A compact full-frame L-Mount camera with an electronic shutter, sensor stabilisation, open-gate 6K video and direct access to real-time LUTs.

Type: Mirrorless
Sensor: Full frame
Megapixels: 24.2
Lens: L-Mount
Video: 5952 × 3968 at 29.97 fps
Body weight: 403 g

What reviewers say

Reviews praise image quality, LUT flexibility and autofocus, but criticise handling with larger lenses and missing viewfinder and audio controls. TechRadar sees appeal for social videos and finds stabilisation excellent; Tom's Guide questions the mixed amateur/pro features and measured weaker stills stabilisation. Their recording-limit complaints describe launch firmware; later firmware allows the timer to be disabled.

From techradar.com and tomsguide.com

Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Mirrorless
Sensor format: Full frame
Sensor type: CMOS
Sensor dimensions: 35.6 × 23.8 mm
Effective resolution: 24.2 MP
Largest image: 6000 × 4000
RAW recording: Yes
Standard ISO range: 100–51200
Sensor detail: Maker approximately 24.2 million effective and 25.3 million total pixels; 35.6 × 23.8 mm CMOS. Native 3:2 stills 6000×4000; high-resolution composites up to 12000×8000 are separate from native output
Image formats: JPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; sRGB/Adobe RGB; 4K Photo is not supported
ISO detail: Standard stills ISO 100–51200; expanded 50/102400/204800. V-Log and HLG have different standard and expanded ranges

Lens and shooting

Lens mount: L-Mount
Stabilisation: Lens and sensor shift
Maximum continuous burst: 9 fps
Autofocus: Phase/contrast hybrid TTL AF; AFS/AFC/MF, tracking/full-area/zones/single-area/pinpoint. Current Japan recognition includes people, animals, cars, motorcycles, trains and aircraft; maker firmware version 1.1 added trains/aircraft and additional vehicle target parts, rather than assumed launch support
Shutter: Electronic shutter only; stills 60–1/8000 second, with maximum exposure shorter above ISO 1600. Time mode approximately 60 seconds; Bluetooth remote permits Bulb under maker restrictions
Burst detail: Normal full-resolution electronic H burst 9 fps AFS/MF or 8 fps AFC; at least 55 RAW, 35 RAW+JPEG or 120 JPEG frames under maker test/media conditions. SH/SH PRE is a separate 30 fps AFS/AFC/MF burst limited to 36 frames (approximately 1.2 seconds), excluded from the headline continuous-burst figure; medium/low-speed modes have different buffers
Stabilisation detail: Five-axis sensor-shift B.I.S. rated five stops with S-R2060 at 60 mm; compatible-lens Dual I.S.2 rated 6.5 stops with S-E70200 at 200 mm, CIPA yaw/pitch conditions. Electronic video stabilisation and Boost I.S. are separate modes, not the basis of the Dual I.S.2 stills rating
Flash: No built-in flash and no external-flash support; accessory shoe is a cold shoe

Video

Highest video resolution: 5952 × 3968 at 29.97 fps
Video detail: Internal 5952×3968 3:2 open-gate 6K at 29.97p, 4:2:0 10-bit HEVC Long GOP 200 Mbps; 5952×3136 17:9 also available. C4K/4K at 59.94p uses APS-C crop; Full HD high-speed modes have separate crop/frame-rate restrictions. Firmware 1.1 (9 October 2024) added a recording-limit menu and an option without the timer; internal temperature can still stop recording. Launch reviews' 10-minute 6K/15-minute 4K timer limits are historical, not the sole current setting. No cooling fan (TechRadar)
Audio: Stereo built-in microphone and 3.5 mm microphone input; no headphone output. Maker internal microphone supports 48 kHz; MP4/MOV two-channel audio

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: None
Screen size: 3″
Screen dots: 1,840,000
Touchscreen: Yes
Tilting screen: Yes
Display detail: Three-inch 3:2 capacitive touchscreen, approximately 1.84 million dots and 100% coverage (maker English manual); free-angle articulation (TechRadar). No EVF or optical viewfinder

Connections and design

Wi-Fi: Yes
Bluetooth: Yes
Battery life (maker's claim): 470 photographs
Body weight: 403 g
Release detail: German maker confirms June 2024 availability; Japanese maker gives 20 June for its market. Month retained globally rather than treating the Japanese day as verified UK first sale
Recording media: One SD/SDHC/SDXC slot, UHS-I/UHS-II including V90 under format/recording restrictions
Ports: USB-C USB 10 Gbps with charging/power supply; micro HDMI Type D and 3.5 mm microphone socket; no wired remote, headphone or flash-sync socket
Wireless connections: Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz 802.11b/g/n and 5 GHz 802.11a/n/ac; Bluetooth Low Energy 5.0. Region-dependent channel rules; firmware 1.1 adds LUMIX Lab remote shooting and image-selection transfer, later security updates change connection behaviour
Battery life detail: DMW-BLK22; maker CIPA approximately 470 shots with S-R2060, 430 with S-R28200 or 450 with S-R1840 and SDXC. The headline uses the maker's explicitly qualified highest standard stills claim, not a conversion from video duration
Charging: USB-C in-camera charging and USB power supply supported; Japan contents list no USB adapter or cable, so these are not assumed supplied
Dimensions: Approximately 126 × 73.9 × 46.7 mm, excluding protrusions
Weight detail: Approximately 403 g body only; 486 g with battery and SD card, lens excluded
Materials: Maker Japan gives no dust/splash-resistance rating; operating range 0–40 °C. Metal body with leatherette covering (Tom's Guide)
In the box: Maker Japan lists battery pack, shoulder strap, body cap and accessory-shoe cover; regional kit lens/accessories vary

Pros and cons

Pros

Small body with full-frame RAW capture
Sensor stabilisation and open-gate video
LUT profiles for stills and video

Cons

No viewfinder, flash support or mechanical shutter
No headphone socket or focus joystick
No manufacturer dust/splash-resistance rating

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
CanonEOS R1	Mirrorless	Full frame	24.2	Canon RF	6000 × 3164 at 59.94 fps	920 g	Nov 2024
CanonEOS R5 Mark II	Mirrorless	Full frame	45	Canon RF	8192 × 4320 at 59.94 fps	656 g	Aug 2024
NikonZ6III	Mirrorless	Full frame	24.5	Nikon Z mount	6048 × 3402 at 59.94 fps	670 g	Jun 2024

Sources

Photo: panasonicjp.scene7.com

Panasonic LUMIX S9 with S-R26, front view: Panasonic Connect, exact LUMIX S9 gallery; linked native-alpha PNG original
Panasonic LUMIX S9 K kit, angled front view: Panasonic Connect, exact LUMIX S9 gallery; linked native-alpha PNG original
Panasonic LUMIX S9 H kit, angled front view: Panasonic Connect, exact LUMIX S9 gallery; linked native-alpha PNG original

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