This is why I think Panasonic needs another MFT camera, which looks more like a rangefinder to be cool. GX10 in different colors. Or a significant lower price for the S9.
I would like to see Panasonic release a m43 version of the S9. I've asked Panasonic if this is on the roadmap, it seems to make sense as Panasonic can re-use the body to help lower the R&D cost a bit.
i.e. a camera with a similar feature set as S9. Great IBIS, PDAF, in a similar (plasticky-ish) compact rangefinder body but also has similar limitations like single card slot, and limited video recording length because of the small body size.
I think that's what a lot of people would want?
And i guess people would want the new 25MP PDAF sensor from G9II so it's a good update to the old GX85/95..etc
Unfortunately, this new hypothesis camera will be likely have the same or similar cost as the S9. As most of the components would be identical, the G9II sensor is not cheap at all even compared to the full-frame sensor. And now if we add a EVF (or even an optional one) to the camera, and add a tiny mechanical shutter to make the traditional users happy, the extra R&D and manufacturer cost will push the price even higher, closer to G9II price I can imagine.
So now we have a m43 S9 with good but still limited features and selling at G9II price. It will easily become a GM1 or GM5 again. A nice camera but nobody wants to buy at the price that Panasonic can make money. And companies like to make money.
Something I've learnt recently is that making a small camera is REALLY EXPENSIVE. Miniaturisation is super super expensive. Making the chip smaller, making a small shutter unit, or finding ways to fit all the same components in a smaller body, all make the camera exponentially more expensive compared to a large camera body.
It has always been a problem, but it is a bigger problem now because back in the day when cameras were simpler and required a lot less hardware so it was easier to jam everything into a small camera and didn't need a large battery for it's less demanding processor. Also manufacturers used to sell a lot more cameras so they can spread the R&D cost into more units.
But right now, not only camera sales have dropped a lot, camera and consumer expectations have evolved to a state that any camera need to be able to do everything and great at everything. If a new camera can do less than anything less it is considered a "trash" (yeah i see lots of this word in my S9 review comments). So we basically want everything, but want them fit into a smaller camera, and we think because it's a smaller camera with more limitations, it should be sold much cheaper. However in reality, the cost of manufacturing is not necessarily any lower, and in some cases could be even more than a larger body with more features.
I'm not saying we won't see a small m43 camera again.. but it's not as easy/no brainer as, we just need to take this and that and sell it for $500.
