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LUMIX S9 Review Update: This Camera Aged So Well

Chris Gampat
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Last updated on 08/12/2025
08/14/2025
3 Mins read
A Lumix camera with a strap rests on a wooden surface in natural light.
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The LUMIX S9 has recieved a few firmware updates, and so we’ve updated our full review. The other day when shooting with it, I realized that if you’ve got it, you’ve got very little reason then to want to get any of the new fancy point and shoot cameras that are being announced these days. Just stick a Leica M-mount lens on the S9, and you’ll be insanely happy. At least I am!

Below is the updated text from our LUMIX S9 review. But if you want to see the entire thing, then click here. Want one? Check it out on Amazon.

Overall Quality of Life Update: August 2025

This year, Panasonic LUMIX has given the S9 several updates. Here they are listed out

Apr. 14, 2025
Ver.1.4

  1. Fixed an issue where some settings reverted to their default values after updating to firmware version 1.3.
  2. Fixed an issue with the recording gain setting.
  3. Fixed an issue where the password authentication might not be displayed when connecting to Wi-Fi.
  4. Improved operational stability.

Mar. 25, 2025
Ver.1.3

When updating to firmware version 1.3, please be aware that the following settings, which were configured prior to the update, will be reset to their default settings.

■ Settings that will be reset to default:

  • Video Record Limit [Default setting: ON]
  • Detecting Subject [Default setting: CAR – Main Part Priority / MOTORCYCLE – Helmet Priority / TRAIN – Main Part Priority / AIRPLANE – Nose Priority]
  • Remote recording operation priority settings in LUMIX Lab [Default setting: Camera prioritized]
  • The following setting within “Frame Marker”:
    – Live View Frame Adjustment [Default setting: OFF]
    – Settings for Frame 2 / Frame 3
    – Frame Aspect [Default setting: OFF]
    – Frame Color [Default setting: Gray]
    – Change Size/Position (when the “Frame Aspect” is set to “Custom”)
  1. Feature changes due to security enhancements
    • When directly connecting the camera and smartphone via Wi-Fi, the connection has been changed to always require password authentication. (The [Wi-Fi Password] menu has been removed.)
    • The [TKIP] encryption method is no longer supported when connecting to Wi-Fi via an access point.
    • The [No Encryption] option in network authentication is no longer supported when connecting to Wi-Fi via an access point.
    • The image transfer feature to PC via Wi-Fi has been removed. (Only European/Ukrainian models)
  2. Other improvements
    • The startup speed when powering on has been improved.
    • The operational stability has been improved.

I’ve continued to use the camera and so have other staffers. And overall, I can’t really complain too much about it. I initially hated the lack of a flash, but I grew to understand that this isn’t a camera that I’d use with a flash — and I’ve got tons of those. I also hated the lack of weather resistance, but it has made me embrace this and use more adapted Leica M mount lenses. Plus, the images from this camera always look so good and it ends up always being a thing that I’m happy to carry around with me. I say this specifically because of lots of point and shoots flooding the market right now.

I was originally even suspicious of the electronic shutter, but it hasn’t proven to give me any problems in the long run.

Honestly, I still think that this should’ve been a point and shoot camera with a fixed lens of some sort. It wouldn’t have been difficult for Panasonic to make. Most of all though, I wish that LUMIX had smaller autofocus lenses for this camera. A 40mm f2 of some sort would be so ideal.

Because of my using Leica M mount lenses on this camera, I pretty much never rely on or care about the autofocus. So instead, I’m using focus peaking and zone focusing. And let me tell you: it’s a joy to use on this camera.

The LUMIX S9 is, in so many ways, a super affordable Leica camera. And if you’ve got a collection of Leica M lenses, you should adapt them onto this camera and just zone focus shoot. Heck, you can even flip the LCD so you don’t see it, zone focus away, and just shoot like you would with a Leica MDa that doesn’t have a viewfinder. Just point, shoot, and hope that you get something that you like.

Ultimately, this remains one of the most fun cameras on the market, and I still strongly recommend it.

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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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