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Panasonic S9 Review: We Call this the “So Good” Update

Chris Gampat
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Last updated on 01/30/2025
01/29/2025
3 Mins read
A Panasonic S9 Lumix camera with a green front and black strap is photographed against a wooden surface, perfectly centered within a circular patch of light.
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Last Updated on 01/30/2025 by Lara Carretero

The Panasonic S9 has to be one of the handsomest cameras on the market. And it’s so appealing to more than just the video-maker. With the LUMIX Lab app, you can check in and add lots of cool new LUTs that they feature in their marketplace. Plus, the camera is super tiny and will make you want to carry it everywhere like a compact. Mix into this how beautiful the colors are along with the autofocus performance, and you’ll see why so many folks love it. So we dove into our Panasonic S9 review and updated a few things based on new firmware. But that’s not the biggest change.

You can find the entire Panasonic S9 review here at this link. And if you want to purchase one, check it out on Amazon. Below are the latest findings that we published in the review.

Ease of Use Updated January 2025

A Panasonic S9 Lumix camera with a green front and black strap is photographed against a wooden surface, perfectly centered within a circular patch of light.
A Panasonic S9 Lumix camera with a green front and black strap is photographed against a wooden surface, perfectly centered within a circular patch of light.
A Panasonic S9 Lumix camera with a green front and black strap is photographed against a wooden surface, perfectly centered within a circular patch of light.
A Panasonic S9 Lumix camera with a green front and black strap is photographed against a wooden surface, perfectly centered within a circular patch of light.
A Panasonic S9 Lumix camera with a green front and black strap is photographed against a wooden surface, perfectly centered within a circular patch of light.
A Panasonic S9 Lumix camera with a green front and black strap is photographed against a wooden surface, perfectly centered within a circular patch of light.
A Panasonic S9 Lumix camera with a green front and black strap is photographed against a wooden surface, perfectly centered within a circular patch of light.

With firmware updates and time, the Panasonic Lumix S9 became even better. Here’s what you need to know:

Firmware from Oct. 18, 2024: Ver.1.2

  1. Improved the stability of firmware updates via Wi-Fi (LUMIX Lab/LUMIX Sync).
    • Updating to Version 1.2 will improve future firmware update stability for updates performed via Wi-Fi.
    • Firmware Version 1.2 also includes the items, functions and features that were included in Version 1.1.

Firmware Oct. 9, 2024: Ver.1.1

  1. The recording time limit menu has been added
    • The recording mode without the time limitation has been added.
    • The recording time varies depending on the environment and the operating conditions.
    • The recording stops automatically once the internal temperature gets too high, even if it is set to this mode.
  2. Added Multiple frame markers display feature
    • Up to 3 frame markers can be displayed simultaneously.
  3. Enhanced subject detection
    • [AIRPLANE] and [TRAIN] have been added to subject detection modes.
    • [Target Parts] option has been added for [CAR][MOTORCYCLE] detection modes.
  4. Compatible to the new features on LUMIX smartphone app “LUMIX Lab (Ver.1.2 or higher) ”
    • Remote shooting is now available.
    • Shutter remote control is now available.
    • Transferring images selected on camera is now available.
  5. Other improvements
    • The operability of the control dial while in the menu has been changed.
    • Improved operational stability.

In our tests, none of these majorly affect the performance for photography. The S9 has always been just fine with the LUMIX Lab app. And personally speaking, I’d never use it to photograph trains or cars. In NYC, the subway is so massive that a DSLR can autofocus on it with ease. It’s not really needed here. The same goes for cars with the tracking autofocus abilities – even in very low light under a bridge. The camera has never had a problem focusing on those with Panasonic and Leica lenses that we’ve tested. However, it lagged behind a bit with Sigma’s lenses that are currently in our stable.

Image Quality Update January 2025

In January 2025, the Panasonic LUMIX S9 got RAW file compatibility with Capture One. It performs just as well as the LUMIX S5 II – and we couldn’t expect anything less. The raw files are color rich, versatile, clean at higher ISOs, provide lots of beauty, etc. It’s everything that we wished their Micro Four Thirds cameras would be – except this is a million times better.

autofocus firmware image quality lumix s9 panasonic panasonic lumix s9 panasonic s9 review update
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Chris Gampat is the Editor in Chief, Founder, and Publisher of the Phoblographer. He provides oversight to all of the daily tasks, including editorial, administrative, and advertising work. Chris's editorial work includes not only editing and scheduling articles but also writing them himself. He's the author of various product guides, educational pieces, product reviews, and interviews with photographers. He's fascinated by how photographers create, considering the fact that he's legally blind./ HIGHLIGHTS: Chris used to work in Men's lifestyle and tech. He's a veteran technology writer, editor, and reviewer with more than 15 years experience. He's also a Photographer that has had his share of bylines and viral projects like "Secret Order of the Slice." PAST BYLINES: Gear Patrol, PC Mag, Geek.com, Digital Photo Pro, Resource Magazine, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, IGN, PDN, and others. EXPERIENCE: Chris Gampat began working in tech and art journalism both in 2008. He started at PCMag, Magnum Photos, and Geek.com. He founded the Phoblographer in 2009 after working at places like PDN and Photography Bay. He left his day job as the Social Media Content Developer at B&H Photo in the early 2010s. Since then, he's evolved as a publisher using AI ethically, coming up with ethical ways to bring in affiliate income, and preaching the word of diversity in the photo industry. His background and work has spread to non-profits like American Photographic Arts where he's done work to get photographers various benefits. His skills are in SEO, app development, content planning, ethics management, photography, Wordpress, and other things. EDUCATION: Chris graduated Magna Cum Laude from Adelphi University with a degree in Communications in Journalism in 2009. Since then, he's learned and adapted to various things in the fields of social media, SEO, app development, e-commerce development, HTML, etc. FAVORITE SUBJECT TO PHOTOGRAPH: Chris enjoys creating conceptual work that makes people stare at his photos. But he doesn't get to do much of this because of the high demand of photography content. / BEST PHOTOGRAPHY TIP: Don't do it in post-production when you can do it in-camera.
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