An 18-40mm Lens and New Firmware Give the Lumix S9 a Second Wind

After I first examined the Panasonic Lumix S9, it took some time to actually perceive the intention behind it. Though compact and cute, the it lacked an EVF and had a really fundamental management construction. Clearly, the S9 was meant for newbie photographers or creators who desired a easy and approachable digicam.

It was kitted with a horrible mounted 26mm f/8 lens that was so severely restricted that it served higher as a lens cap than an optical instrument. You might additionally get it with the 20-60mm f/3.5-5.6 however this restricted how compact the S9 may very well be and by no means appeared like the perfect answer. I discovered to understand utilizing it as a compact walk-around digicam on the streets of Osaka, however I used to be not satisfied of its advantage for my very own wants.

Nonetheless, Panasonic added a few compelling causes to take a second take a look at the S9 within the type of a considerable firmware replace and a model new package lens: the $500 18-40mm f/4.5-6.3 (paired with the S9 as a brand new package, it’s $1,800 complete). Maybe it would make extra sense with this lens paired with some considerate firmware updates.

With the brand new Panasonic 18-40mm f/4.5-6.3 in my fingers, I made a decision to provide the S9 one other go and see if every little thing deserves a second likelihood. First, let’s check out what the brand new 18-40mm lens brings to the desk.

The 18-40mm f/4.5-6.3 is the Lens the S9 Was Meant to Launch With

Panasonic has integrated a collapsible lens design to maintain the shape issue of the 18-40mm f/4.5-6.3 as small as potential. The lens stows into a really lean bundle and appears most acceptable on the entrance of the S9. It isn’t simply small both but in addition extremely gentle at simply 5.4 ounces (155 grams). I absolutely anticipated the lens to really feel like plastic junk nevertheless it surprisingly sturdy and is definitely higher climate sealed than the S9. The collapsible lens barrel has minimal play and the main target and zoom rings really feel easy and durable. There may be an AF/MF selector change on the aspect of the lens, 62mm filter threads, and albeit not a lot else. This lens is designed to be compact and easy.

I used to be pleasantly stunned by how properly the handbook focusing ring feels on such a fundamental package lens. That is particularly helpful when utilizing the macro mode on the 18-40mm which occurs to be decently spectacular. Doing its greatest close-up work at 21mm, the lens can present 0.28x magnification which definitely provides to its versatility. Autofocus efficiency was fast and correct for many photographic conditions and I by no means felt like I used to be held again by the velocity.

Though the Panasonic 18-40mm lens is taken into account a package lens, I discover its focal size vary to be extra suited as a journey panorama or avenue picture lens. It’s primarily a really compact ultra-wide zoom and I discovered myself wanting for longer attain in lots of circumstances. I’d positively desire a supplementary telephoto lens to go along with it. Nonetheless, it does work effectively as somewhat walk-around lens on the road so I first wished to see the way it dealt with shiny gentle and flare.

Surprisingly, I didn’t discover any main lack of distinction or flare with shiny gentle sources in or simply out of the body. This is a wonderful consequence contemplating there isn’t a lens hood offered. I additionally discovered virtually no ghosting even at tight apertures. Sadly the sunstars are nondescript and flat wanting.

There may be additionally no getting round the truth that the 18-40mm lens may be very gradual with regard to its light-gathering potential. Because of this the lens will not often show shallow depth of area however within the uncommon conditions the place it’d occur, I wished to check the bokeh traits. Specular highlights showcase a really busy look to the bokeh with tons of onion rings and really stark borders. Frankly, it’s fairly a loud, distracting look and comes throughout even harsher when stopped down. Mild sources will tackle a really polygonal form and transitions from focus areas aren’t notably easy. I used to be not impressed.

Okay, if the lens is sharp that may at the least make up for a number of the points we’re having. Taking a look on the heart of the take a look at charts, the lens is excellent each at 18mm and at 40mm. Stopping down the lens will present somewhat extra distinction however the element is already glorious. The corners undergo somewhat bit as compared with some softness in direction of the extremes. Stopping the lens down does improve distinction however the corners by no means fairly get sharper. General although, this little 18-40mm can ship some sharp photos.

Firmware Replace Fixes Most of Our Complaints

A brand new lens isn’t the one factor that might probably make the S9 a extra helpful digicam as Panasonic additionally rolled out a considerable firmware replace. Jordan Drake examined it out because it largely has to do with video enhancements. 

First, the S9 presents the choice to disable recording limits and roll till the digicam turns into too sizzling to function. This could make a dramatic distinction as Panasonic may be very conservative with its document cutoffs, as they’re based mostly on utilizing the digicam at 40 levels Celsius or 104 levels Fahrenheit. We discovered that at room temperature, you can document a number of clips back-to-back with out overheating the digicam, so the document cutoff appeared extra like an irritation than a necessity.

Now with “Video Report Restrict” disabled, the place the S9 was beforehand lower off at 10 minutes, it was in a position to document 6K open gate video for 81 minutes earlier than it shut down as a result of the battery died — not resulting from overheating. The temperature warning did come on at 52 minutes and the digicam was definitely sizzling to the contact, however this mode would completely be usable for recording a one-hour efficiency indoors. The oversampled 4K at as much as 30p gave an analogous consequence and was in a position to run for 79 minutes earlier than the battery died.

The one mode we had been in a position to get the S9 to overheat throughout whereas battery life remained was with the cropped 4K/60p mode which beforehand had a 15-minute cutoff. It led to an overheat warning at 38 minutes and shut down at 50 minutes. When you seize lengthy takes at 60 frames per second, this may very well be a difficulty, however since 4K/60p is usually used for brief, slow-motion seize, I believe this may nonetheless be acceptable for a lot of shooters.

The opposite main replace regards customized body traces. Probably the most helpful options within the newest Lumix cameras is the power to shoot “Open Gate” the place you utilize the complete decision and side ratio of a digicam’s sensor. Within the case of the S9, that’s a 6K 3:2 ratio. One of many major advantages is the power to re-frame for a number of side ratios, like 16:9 for YouTube and vertical 9:17 for TikTok or Instagram Reels. Sadly, Panasonic’s body traces have beforehand solely allowed you to have a single information onscreen at a time. Now, you may have a number of body traces in your show, and you may even customise the scale and placement of those body traces to verify your composition will work on numerous platforms.

These two additions instantly make the S9 a extra versatile digicam for video creators, and actually ought to have been accessible at launch. Because it stands, should you can handle with no headphone jack for audio monitoring, the S9 can now be helpful for recording longer indoor occasions, in addition to short-form video within the area.

A Second Probability at Greatness

So do all these adjustments breathe new life into the Panasonic S9? I believe the most recent firmware replace goes an enormous approach to enhancing the usefulness of the S9 for stay streamers and YouTube creators. The earlier 10-minute cutoff time was comically brief and at the least the S9 now has extra potential to a greater diversity of customers. Nonetheless, what I discovered most novel in regards to the S9 was the improved real-time LUT assist which received me over after navigating by way of its idiosyncrasies. The newest firmware updates prolong to the G9 II and S5 II platforms the place a button can now be personalized for real-time LUT entry and spreads out that characteristic throughout Panasonic’s different Lumix cameras.

None of this takes away from the S9 and it was an anticipated transfer on Panasonic’s half, however I can’t assist however really feel that it steals somewhat of the magic that made the S9 distinctive. I additionally discovered the brand new 18-40mm to be a helpful little ultra-wide lens nevertheless it wasn’t wowing me with its optical efficiency and I consistently pined for the 20-60mm package lens as an alternative, regardless of its barely bigger dimensions.

Any enhancements are an excellent factor in the long run and I believe anybody on the lookout for a easy and compact system can admire the brand new lens and higher video versatility provided now. When you had been waffling on whether or not to get the S9 package earlier than, these new enhancements would possibly push you over the sting.