Panasonic has seen a pivotal shift in their brand. The company was once catering only to small sensor users, but in more recent years, they have begun to sit at the big players’ table. Today, the LUMIX brand is recognized for its L-mount alliance, and many professionals are quietly leaving other brands to purchase L-mount cameras. It now appears that as the brand’s popular LUMIX lineup is turning 25 this year, the company may have some plans to celebrate it. Have a look.
According to Digital Camera Info, Panasonic is aiming to prepare three new models for the launch. While there are no reports on what exactly these models will be, it appears they include a micro four thirds, a compact camera and a full frame. The news has been shared on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform, which, thus, can’t be confirmed.
So far, the report notes the names of a few models that can perhaps see a return. This includes the LUMIX S9 II, S5 III, S1H II, GX9 and the LX100 III. The S9 II will be a great edition for full frame users who prefer compact models. The original S9 was launched in 2024, which makes it perfect entry for a limited edition camera. Reports suggest the S9 II will include a hot shoe and have a “significantly improved build quality” to remove the “plastic feel.”
The S5 II is a flagship camera, and so, the next edition will likely feature a new AI autofocus. The device was launched in 2023, and it is one of the better options to be refreshed, purely based on the timeline.
The last full frame is the S1H II, which is said to support 6K/8K internal recording and direct ProRes RAW processing. The camera was also introduced in 2025, and so, it seems unlikely that this will see the light of day.
Then there is the GX9 (2018), the LX100 II (2018) and GH7 (2025) successors, which seems like a more plausible introduction. The LX100 III could be ideal given the compact camera market, and certainly will be adored by many. While the other two work best for hybrid use.
Since the report, there have been both enthusiasm and words of caution. The S9 II is the most favored model, but this also means that users prefer that the cost stays low. Others want the model to feature an EVF, and a magnesium body. However, the S5 III is quite contested, since the camera has just launched recently.
As for the Micro Four Thirds world, it appears to be one of the more plausible launches. This means a GX9 successor will be adored — providing it comes with all the functions photographers want. “If a new GX9 with the functions of the G9 II came out, I would be quite happy,” wrote one commenter. As we explained in our first impression of the GX9:
While the Panasonic GX9 that was played with was a pre-production version, we got a few minutes to play with it with its final firmware before release. These images were shot in JPEG and have the L Monochrome D mode applied with standard grain. The images look really nice and if I had more time to play with it, I would have easily been able to create even better photos. These results though are getting me very excited for this camera.
The LX100 III got the most enthusiastic response, with many hoping that the camera, if launched, would not cost as some other models do today. It may be a variant of the Leica D-LUX 8 if anything.
Whether there is an anniversary or not, a compact or MFT camera is a must this year for Panasonic users. It remains to be seen if it turns out true, or not. But LX100 and GX9 users want an update soon.