News Lumix 18-40/4.5-6.3

[pdk42]

This is the wrong thread to bang on about this tired topic, so this is my last comment. Forgive me for waffling on a bit.

You can believe marketing and YouTube promoters. Of course they will say whatever they need to in order to sell a product. It's their job. Taking them at face value is naive.

I will instead look at the engineering. A mechanical shutter and extra control do NOT add to the size of the camera. And they are essential for hybrid shooters. EVF is a different matter as it adds some bulk. (Already said as much above.) But it depends where you choose to draw the line. I have no doubt that all of these necessary features could have been included in a camera that was nonetheless smaller than the S5, if that was the compelling design goal. (If Panasonic couldn't do it, I have design students who could.)

The strange thing is, AFAICR I was the only person calling for a smaller Lumix S before this camera was released. Now, suddenly, Panasonic fans are online defending it!

Of all the promo videos hyping the S9 that I watched, not one had any photos taken inside. Well, I wonder why? Artificial lights will play havoc with stills taken using electronic shutter. Especially in low light when shutter speeds must be slow. Try it for yourself.

As for the price, the S9 is already so expensive that it makes the S5 Mk II look like an excellent deal. Which it is.

The S9 was designed for the TikTok generation and photography was an afterthought. That is obvious from its engineering and marketing. Pretending otherwise is counterfactual.

But Panasonic Lumix S cameras are (ahem, were) great exactly because they are hybrids. It's easy to buy a superior video camera from another manufacturer. It's easy to buy a superior stills camera from another manufacturer. Facts. But Panasonic Lumix bodies offered great value in combining both. With the S9 they have forsaken their strength in the search for low-hanging fruit in a market I know well... it coincides with my own students. Not one of them is going to spend that much money to make the same videos they make on their phones. Some might use a film camera, because it's cool. Some even use a TLR, or a box camera. Or old digital videocams... they are suddenly trendy. I even know one young person (exactly one) in my city who shoots Lumix S. But he knows about video and would never be happy with the S9.

Meanwhile there are a lot of pissed off S1 owners being very vocal online.

Personally I am not happy that the S5 has been abandoned while still in the product line-up. That's not the treatment I expect. After saying we couldn't get any new firmware we actually did get the following, which is either hilarious or a slap in the face, depending on your mood.

"Added a pop-up message when using a Panasonic collapsible lens."

A wonderful improvement after twelve months, yes?

I can understand your frustration with the S1 replacement. But on the other hand, I think it's easy to look in from the outside and criticise. I also think it's also easy for us consumers to imagine new products and features without understanding the engineering effort required to turn them into mass-produced items that stand the test of dummies customers using them. I'm very sure that we'll see a new S1 in Q1 next year. Is it later than we'd like? Yes, for sure; but I think when it does come it'll be an exceptional camera. We just need to be patient.

As to the S9 ... it's not for me; and clearly not for you. Is there a market for it? I hope so because Panasonic needs to increase its market share and if the S9 achieves that then it will keep the system alive and we'll keep getting product innovation and new gear. It's easy for us armchair camera company executives to think it's all rather obvious, but in reality I don't think it's that simple. If you were investing money into a camera business, how much emphasis would you put on still photographers? As much as I don't like or "do" video, I can see that it's become a major market driver. TikTok/YouTube etc isn't for me, but I can't deny that it's popular.

 

[dirk]

According to the last stream of Dustin Armstrong, the S9 was in its second month after its introduction the second best selling camera (of all brands) in Japan.

In the third month it was on place 9. On place 10 came the GH7.

We need hybrid cameras to be able to afford photooriented cameras and features. The video side feeds the photo side. Without the video market, the photo market would crush.

This is why all brands offer hybrid cameras nowadays.

 

[Pete_W]

@Richard Wong has just published Retro Osaka with Lumix S9/S 18-40mm f/4.5-6.3 on YouTube, an evening photo walk in Shin Sekai in Osaka.

 

[CharlesH]

I'll comment a little about the S9 and the 18-40mm. First, I still have a little contest going between the S9 and the a6700 for a carry around camera. I just took a couple of weeks vacation in Hawaii, not explicitly for photography, but I packed both the S9 and the a6700 for the flight - to see which one I got along best with on a trip like this. We went to the Big Island, where previously we had never spent much time. My goal was to just take one camera out on any day, and to carry it in my Adidas Fanny Pack.

After a few days it was clear the a6700 was my favorite. It was smaller and easier to carry and take in and out of the Fanny Pack. The reason, the smallest lens I had for the S9 on the trip was the 20-60mm. I had the Sigma 18-50mm for the a6700, which is just a little shorter, but quite a bit smaller diameter. The 18-40mm would have reallly made a difference for the S9. I don't know whether the S9 would have become my favorite, but it would have had a much better chance.

One interesting tidbit. We managed to take a great helicopter tour, a fairly long flight, around the island. We went quite a ways up Mauna Loa with lots of recent volcanic activity, and then around Mauna Kea, plus deep canyons on the north part of the island. And I was taking lots of pictures with the a6700. This is always a challenge in a helicopter on a bright day because of all the reflections off the canopy. So I was using the monitor exclusively to try to deal with this, and obviously not the EVF. So the irony, the S9 would have been a better choice because I have an anti-glare screen protector on the S9 which would have made this much easier. Had I had the 18-40mm it is more likely I would have taken the S9, and probably a better set of pictures overall.

 

[Nevyn72]

Interesting video where both the sony A7Cii and the S9 are compared:



I definitely prefer the S9, especially with that 18-40mm

But she is also in Japan, like some other vloggers. Perhaps another Panasonic event is coming up?

 

[dirk]

But she is also in Japan, like some other vloggers. Perhaps another Panasonic event is coming up?

I told you we should have installed trackers...

Without the 18-40 I need an external grip for the S9 to hold it easier with normal lenses. It would have been better (but less stylish - same with Leica Q3), if the S9 would have a grip like the Sony. A battery fits into it and voila.... you have suddenly more space for whatever you want to put in it

I do not know how the S9 feels with the 18-40. But 155g is a good start. It depends on how the weight is balanced within the zoom. Closer to the body or more far away.

Maybe @Richard Wong can tell us something about it.

 

[Lsake]

Interesting video where both the sony A7Cii and the S9 are compared:



I definitely prefer the S9, especially with that 18-40mm

But she is also in Japan, like some other vloggers. Perhaps another Panasonic event is coming up?

don't know about an S9 but she definitely sold me a peak design capture clip. Never thought of attaching one to a sling bag.

 

[Quentinquirelino]

...

But she is also in Japan, like some other vloggers. Perhaps another Panasonic event is coming up?

Maybe the S1HII is much closer than we all think. There are rumors about a announced for the end of the year since summer, shortly after the GH7 announcement. And it was even "confirmed" in the rumors about the delay of the S1R successor. But off course, there are only rumors.

 

[dirk]

I do not know whether this time of the year is a good time for such an important announcement. We have already mid October. We will see...

 

[Richard Wong]

But she is also in Japan, like some other vloggers. Perhaps another Panasonic event is coming up?

I don’t know Julia is also in Japan, but I can tell you I haven’t see her since May and I am in Japan for a family holiday this time

 

[Nevyn72]

I don’t know Julia is also in Japan, but I can tell you I haven’t see her since May and I am in Japan for a family holiday this time

Have a nice holiday, most important/fun/pleasure is always with the family

 

[Quentinquirelino]

I don’t know Julia is also in Japan, but I can tell you I haven’t see her since May and I am in Japan for a family holiday this time

Thanks for the realty check! Have a nice holiday!

 

[dirk]

I don’t know Julia is also in Japan, but I can tell you I haven’t see her since May and I am in Japan for a family holiday this time

May the force be with you

 

[Pete_W]

Interesting video where both the sony A7Cii and the S9 are compared:



I definitely prefer the S9, especially with that 18-40mm

But she is also in Japan, like some other vloggers. Perhaps another Panasonic event is coming up?

Thanks John! Good video.

I think that the Panasonic clearly has the better stabilisation. The Sony is quite jittery. And Sony's colours were a bit green looking to me.

 

[Nevyn72]

Thanks John! Good video.

I think that the Panasonic clearly has the better stabilisation. The Sony is quite jittery. And Sony's colours were a bit green looking to me.

I totally agree, I almost never like the Sony colors without some editing in post.

 

[CharlesH]

My 18-40mm just arrived. It is really nice on the S9. I'll try to post some pictures in the next few days.

One thing, it was very stiff mounting on the S9. I've not tried it yet on the S5II.

 

[Pete_W]

My 18-40mm just arrived. It is really nice on the S9. I'll try to post some pictures in the next few days.

One thing, it was very stiff mounting on the S9. I've not tried it yet on the S5II.

Great news Charles!

Looking forward to seeing some photos when you have the time.