Description
The Panasonic LUMIX S1 digital single lens mirrorless (DSLM) camera incorporates a 24. 2 Megapixel high resolution 35mm full-frame MOS sensor. The LUMIX S1 utilizes the new l-mount standard, which boasts a well-balanced, large inner diameter and compact dimensions for a flange focus to realize optimum size and performance as a digital mirrorless camera system. Full frame sensor – 24. 2-Megapixel full-frame (35. 6mm x 23. 8mm) MOS sensor that provides a wide dynamic Range and excellent performance at high sensitivity (is 51200 Max sensitivity)
Lumix s camera lens – easy-to-use 24-105mm standard focal macro zoom F4 l-mount for Lumix s Series full-frame l-mount digital Mirrorless cameras
4K HDR VIDEO – 4K 60p/50p, 4K 24/30P unlimited recording, 4K60P 29: 59 min limited recording. HDR Mode and Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG). V-Log with Internal 4: 2: 2 10-bit 4k30/24p (4K60p output only) available via optional software upgrade key.
96MP high resolution mode – a sensor shift technology suitable for taking very high-resolution Landscapes and fine art photos via tripod with toggle able motion correction capabilities
RUGGED MIRRORLESS CAMERA DESIGN – Dust/splash*/freeze-resistant design withstands heavy field use under harsh conditions for high mobility (*See PDF in & Support)
Julius –
I had and still have quite a few cameras including Nikons, still have the Olympus EM1 MK II and PENF but this is the camera I use most of the time.I love both the ergonomics and the design of this camera.I love the fact that when I put the Leica 100400 lens on it and the Image stabilization is at the on position on the lens, the IS is working, without pressing the shutter release which makes finding the focusing point on the subject very easy.The Olympus does not have this feature and it is pain in the butt to find the point I am going to focus on with the 300mm lens and many times I make unwanted exposures while holding the shutter release halfway down to keep the IS activated.All in all I love this camera.
Anonymous –
This is a great camera. Now with 10 bit 60fps 4K. The only downside is the autofocus, particularly in low light, could be better. Pulsing can sometimes be seen. I now have gone to filming in manual focus where possible with back button set up to snap autofocus on pressing.
arturfajard3 –
The Panasonic G9 is a top Micro 43 camera, image quality wise is on par with the latest generation sensors for this system. One of its strongest areas and the main reason I choose it over the EM1 II is because of its ergonomics which, are excellent. If you mainly have Olympus lenses and you are unsure about using them on a Panasonic camera do not worry Most of my lenses are Olympus and I absolutely have no issues when using them on my G9, AF is always fast and reliable.
Chris –
I bought this is as an upgrade to the G7. I already had two really nice lenses and decided that I was sticking with the micro 43 system for the long haul. I really like the form factor of this system and the G7 took really nice photos and videos. I knew when the G9 was announced Id have to save and upgrade. Im glad I did.The first thing I noticed when I unboxed the G9 was how different it felt compared to the G7. It felt professional. Im not a pro photographer but I appreciated how nice this is.The knock on m43 is how the low light photos are so dismal. Like I said Im no pro but photos I took of my daughters dimly lit play looked really good. Those civilians that I shared them with appreciated them as well. Nobody notices these things except pros and magazine editors. Im sure the image stabilization helped a tremendous amount as I didnt shoot with a tripod and got sharp photos. I denoised them in LR and they turned out great.As a carry around camera it seems to me to be less noticeable than a regular DSLR. I slap a 25mm prime on it and it is great for street photos and such.I tried out the 6k photo option. I never bothered with the 4k on my G7. Surprisingly it is a great option. I got some cool photos that I otherwise would have missed. Its been fun playing around with it.The options it gives have been fun to play with. Ive got it set up for my use. The toggle switch is nice. The joystick is helpful. I like the screen on top. I use that more than I thought I might. Id never buy a camera that didnt have a variangle screen.Sorry for the rambling review. I really like the camera a lot. Im not a pro or tech reviewer but for my enthusiasthobbyist use this camera suits my needs perfectly.
David –
The inbody inlens stabilization is remarkably effective. Still images look great. Surprisingly great video too, and lots of video format options. Compared to other cameras, the menu system is pretty intuitive. The viewfinder and displays are bright and easy to read. Controls are well placed. The camera is not too heavy, yet it seems solidly built, and feels good in my hands. It has a clean HDMI output, so Im also using it as a videoconferencing camera with an HDMIUSB converter. The only negative I can think of is that the WiFi features are a bit fiddly when using the Panasonic phone app. If you intend to extensively operate it remotely, you might find a thirdparty app easier to use. Im impressed with this camera and I enjoy every minute that I use it.
Anonymous –
I only use the Panasonic G9 camera to take pictures, not interested in Video. The reason I purchased this camera was that it is lighter, and more comfortable to carry around than my Canon EOS 5D MKIII DSLR, which I still use at certain times. Also because of the equipments smaller size it is much more easier and convenient for air travel. One feature I really like is the Status LCD Screen on the G9, which for me makes the Panasonic stand out from the rest of the competition. Compared to the Canon DSLR, I found the G9 more complicated to set up the menus, although this may be the same for all mirrorless cameras. Fortunately I did get help from another user with this issue. In the first instance I found the Shutter Button very sensitive compared to my Canon. Very pleased with my purchase of camera and quality lenses.
Anonymous –
Body really needs to be smaller, but do keep a good size grip for a decent size battery. Needs a one button function command for instant reviewing at 100 to check image sharpness.
Jazzis dad –
Unlike probably many B and H customers, I have never paid this much for a camera before. But I have been enjoying photography so much lately as a hobby, I took a chance on upgrading, and have been very pleased. My previous camera was also a Panasonic Lumix G6, purchased from B and H. I do still photography, not movies, so this new camera was very intriguing. I have now had the chance to try it out during a short vacation, and am extremely pleased. The thing I noticed immediately is how clear the viewfinder is, compared to my previous camera. I can not only compose the image, I can get a very good idea of whether it is in focus or not. That alone is almost worth the upgrade. But the number of external controls without having to dig into menus is very gratifying. And I find the autofocus works quite well and is pretty fast. I have been able to track birds in flight, and most to the time they are in focus. Finally, the image stabilization is amazing, especially when the incamera stabilization is combined with inlens stabilization. I am able to shoot wildlife birds with the Leica 400 mm zoom, lens hand held at maximum zoom without a tripod and the vast majority are in perfect focus and not blurred. Its amazing. And there are still a lot of things this camera can do that I have not even figured out yet.
Chad –
I bought the G9, upgrading from the G7 and G85, hoping to add another solid hybrid photovideo camera to my MFT kit. I was sold by the larger sensor, more rugged body design, AF controls and 4K 60p video.WHAT IMPRESSED MECamera feels great in your hands, perfect size for me as well as weight and the thing just felt sturdy. At first all of the external controls felt overwhelming, but after a week or two of using the camera I became spoiled by all the dials and options I had to control the AF as well as other settings.The AF is really effective with taking stills. Tracking birds taking flight out of a foggy lake at 8am was a breeze, and thats the moment I fell in love with this camera for capturing stills. The grain passed 3200iso is basically unusable for me, but thats still the crutch in any MFT camera. The EVF is also a joy to use, and feels like you can really see the picture in great detail when using it. This camera fires off shots lightning fast and the shutter button is hyper sensitive.The IBIS is buttery smooth for video, and really helps with handheld shots. I would back up the claim that it is currently the best IBIS in the LUMIX line of cameras, having owned and used other models. I was able to get some good handheld, low light photos with the camera using stabilization as well.WHAT I DID NOT LIKEThe white balance seemed a bit off and never really rendered accurately for me, even using Kelvin and Custom settings. I found myself using the color box to even out the tones which tended towards the green side. For video purposes this became even more frustrating because color editing capabilities are obviously better on RAW photos than compared to compressed 4K video. Everything was turning a greener tint than I am used to and I couldnt find out how to fix it.Another issue I found using the camera for video is the skin tones seemed to get mushed, and I am not sure why. I found myself saying my G85 would have shot better looking footage, not all the time but enough to question whether or not the camera was working for my video purposes. AF tracking for video was OK, not good enough to use consistently or professionally in my opinion, but usable. Slightly better than the GH5.The camera is supposed to shoot silent with electronic shutter, but the rear joystick on the camera was squeaking badly right out the box, like a squeaky rubber sound that did not really go away for the few weeks I had the camera. Enough it would have negated shooting in the silent modes, seems like a Panasonic quality control issue.CONCLUSIONI returned the G9 and went for the GH5. I am mainly a videographer but also do the occasional photo gig, so it just felt like I needed the better video options. White balance issues went away with the GH5 and skin tones clarity have returned to my liking. I miss some of the external controls of the G9, and the overall look and feel of the camera. I may still purchase one in the future as a Bcam or stills camera. But I think I will wait to see and hope some of my issues are fixed in the coming firmware updates.
BocaCat –
I have been looking for a camera that has professional features yet is lightweight and the Panasonic G9 fits the bill. Ive tried it with all of my Olympus lenses and they work great, as expected since they are also micro 43. I also purchased a Panasonic 100300mm lens which works great with the G9. I highly recommend this camera to anyone looking for a camera that handles both video and stills with ease.
Julius –
At this point of time I believe the 3 top notch Pro level MFT Cameras are the Olympus EM1 MK II, Panasonic GH5 and the Panasonic Lumix DC G9. This will of course change over the time.I own both the Olympus EM1 MK II and this Lumix DC G9 camera. Considering the pros and cons I would give the Olympus EM1 MK II a notch due to the setup and menus are being more intuitive, easier to get the setup the way you want it.On this DC G9 it is more frustrating to find the features what you are looking for but on the plus side you can select most of them and put them in the My Menu for easy access.If you have Olympus lenses with Image Stabilization, the choice is easy only the EM1 MK II will give you the double Image Stabilization. On the other hand if you have Panasonic Leica or Lumix lenses with IS, your better choice is the G9 which also gives you the double Image Stabilization with these lenses the Olympus will not.So my favorite setup, having the Olympus EM1 MK II with the 12100 lens on it which gives me at least 5 F stop advantage and I have the DC G9 with the 100400 lens on it which combination gives me at least 2 F stop advantage with this lens over the EM1 due to the double Image Stabilization.The bottom line is that I love both cameras, you cannot go wrong with either one.
david –
OK, so ultimate suggests Im possibly just uncritical, a sold out fan boy. So lets get two minor negative aspects … minor to ME … out of the way.1. In the photo world at large m43 is not usually considered ultimate, at least for stills. True.2. The body is as large as many cameras that provide a larger sensor. IOW you could quite justifiably call it oversize for its format.If those two things are of little concern to the user, then this is an ultimate machine in 2018.There are almost no puff features compared to other cameras in this price range. Puff would be artsy filters and such. There are OTOH many nonessential features that, while being not truly ESSENTIAL, are not puff but are truly useful, such as builtin focus stacking and a sensor shift high resolution mode. That is just two examples, and this is a user impression, not a Lumix brochure.It seems reasonable to offer my credentials I use various brands of gear, so Im not out to prove that buying a Lumix is a perfect decision by my genius self. Not at all. But this is the best digital camera I have ever encountered, not supreme in any one aspect, but having a very broad and well balanced suite of abilities. Well balanced assets is what I need. Im not a wedding specialist nor an ESPN stringer. I MAKE photographs, I dont hunt or stalk them.As to other credentials, Im a retired career photographer and graphic artist with a broad range of experiences and job titles.I do understand that Olympus has a topoftheline model that may be equally appealing. I use both brands and this was the first top model to see a major price break, so I have this one. Having a modes retirement, a price break is important to me, and I know some folks wages may be just as modest. But if you can spend a bit over basics, this camera is worth the stretch even if you need to patiently wait for Black Friday or other significant price breaks, this camera is very very much worth it. Its regular street price is keenly competitive compared to other choices, so with a good price break, its a real bargain.
Anonymous –
I use this primarily for stills photography my main interest being landscape and building photography, I have also used it for some street photography. I like the feel of the camera, its not to heavy or bulky but feels sturdy and secure in my hand. I love its versatility and the way you can programme your own features, above all its the best Panasonic I have ever used and the quality of the images are incredible.
Anonymous –
A superb camera. Excellent definition especially with the 1260mm Leica lens. The stabilization system is fantastic as wellbest in any camera Ive ever owned. Will be used on a semipro basis for weddings, portraits. macro work and landscapes. Looking forward to using it more when the better weather has arrived. Will be an awesome camera to use with the battery pack.
Norwich –
This is the first compact system camera I have purchased and wish I had tried before buying. Although the picture quality is more than acceptable, using the EVF I have found makes taking the picture a nightmare. If the subject is on the ground it is OK, but, the more sky in the picture the harder to focus and seejudge the subject. After only a week I have found myself using it less and less.
Anonymous –
I absolutely love this camera I use it with Canon L series glass and I do not regret buying it. There are many people who dog micro four thirds cameras but I disagree. I get great depth of field with and without a speedbooster great colors I say this coming from Canon and great features. I honestly believe that even if I had a full frame camera, I would prefer the G9 over it. I have a lot more options with this camera and not one of my customers, friends or family could tell between the ff and mft. And thats not even mentioning the video side of it. This is a best buy in my opinion.
divedogdive –
I originally bought one of these for my wife following a recommendation from a professional photographer. More recently I bought this one for me, as my Nikon set up with large telephoto lenses was getting too heavy, as my osteoarthritis gets worse. It is a great little performer.
Anonymous –
Whilst this review seems to be aimed at videographers, I am primarily a stills photographer. I find the G9 very versatile for my needs, whether it be travel, landscape, action air displays, birds in flight or familyhomegarden. I chose the micro four thirds system for its compactness, especially with the lenses, allowing me to encompass all genres via two lenses the 14140 and the 100400. As for features, I particularly like the large grip and the fabulous EVF. I also have fun with focus stacking, burst and preburst. What could be improved A builtin popup flash would be useful. And I dont really see the point of the top plate information LCD. It may have been relevant or an enticement for highend DSLR users, but for mirrorless users, all the information is visible in the viewfinder or on the main LCD all the time. I notice that the top plate LCD does not feature on the S5… All in all, a great camera.
Anonymous –
Ive used the G9 extensively at local gigs giving me great images for the price and weightsize of lenses etc. It has also been used for travel, in historic houses where photography is allowed of course with suitable fast Prime lenses, also garden and macro photography.
Anonymous –
Enthusiastic amateur I like the camera which is easy to use and has a good choice of lenses. I prefer The Leica range to that of the Lumix range. Lumix tutorials on the internet are very helpful and I have greatly benefitted from viewing them. My biggest problem is knowing where to find specific items in the menu. I cannot find any information that helps me overcome this problem and teaches me to use the menu system more efficiently
David –
Rented this camera for 4 days. Took it out for a few shoots a soccer game, hiking, dog park and Fathers Day gathering. Obviously this camera is bigger than every m43 camera besides the GH55s, but it excels in the ergonomics. The top panel LCD is really handy. I think professionals are going to really appreciate it. However, the backlight goes away a bit too quickly and theres no setting to toggle the duration. The grip is good, but not as comfortable as the EM1ii in my opinion. The battery is unbelievable. I snapped 800 burst shots at the soccer game and i probably only used about 13 of the battery. And speaking of burst shots, this thing is quick. It doesnt have a bottomless buffer, but the buffer is decent enough to pause for the next action scene before you snap again and it clears pretty quickly. The AF accuracy and AF acquisition are also very good. It can even focus in low light pretty quickly. Where the AF falls short is when subjects move towards you. For example, when my dog run towards me, the focus misses. Another thing is if you have a zoom lens and you zoom in or out while using back button focus in AFC, it does take about a full second after you stop zooming for it to reacquire focus. Youre going to see the AF box go red, then back to whitegreen again.The badThe shutter is too light. It takes time to get used to it, but I still prefer a heavier release.Theres also NO PANORAMA mode Whats going on PanasonicLCD panel backlight goes away too quicklyAF joystick should be more rubberizedsofter. Its got somewhat sharp edges.Overall, the camera is really good. I wouldnt go past iso 6400. Maybe 40005000 if youre really nitpicking. Low noise performance isnt going to be its strong suit, but we already know this. If you can stay above that ISO range, then you should be fine.Would I buy it after renting it Yes, without a doubt I would. Finally convinced that I have a suitable m43 that feels solid and durable with high end features. But for me, I would wait for a price cut or promotion first.
Anonymous –
I originally bought a GX85 to do video only. That worked out just fine. But when I tested out the GX85 for stills, I was really impressed by the results. Hence, I chose to upgrade to the G85. THAT rig was better than the GX85. After a 34 weeks of use, I made the decision to purchase the G9. When I started testing that one out, THAT is when I was just beside myself with how good it was stills and video. Skip ahead. I traded my G85 for a second G9. Also purchased 4 more new micro 43 lenses and other stuff. The grand finale is that I just sold all my Fujifilm equipment Id switched to four years ago three cams and 6 lenses. The G9 outdid my Fujifilm cams 1 XT2 and two XT20s. I HIGHLY recommend the G9 to anyone looking for a new cam or format. This business Ive read or seen on YouTibe about micro four thirds being dead, ….. Poppycock The picture quality is superb
Anonymous –
Having been a diehard Nikon user for many a year, due to a disability on both wrists hands I required both smaller, lighter and better layout of controls. With a chance of using an Olympus EM1 MkI, and later the EM1 MkII of which I own, I found the layout, size, weight, and ability more than I could hope for., Both truly superb and capable cameras, especially the latter EM1 MkII. I then had the chance of borrowing a friends Panasonic Lumix G9, as well as his GX8. Both very impressive, quick focusing, the menu is slightly easier to pick up and learn compared to the Olympus models. Best of all though, was the layout, size, and layout of all the controls on the G9. It instantly felt at home in my large but disabled hand. Particularly the excellent little jockey stick, which is superb, nicely placed, and makes quick work of placing the focusing point into a dogs eye for instance. The quick access menu is also a very nice touch, as is the lit horizontal line for checking if a photo is going to be perfectly straight… no more photographs of slanting seas and lakes. The screen is bright, its quick to react at ones touch, and the EVF viewfinder is fantastic, especially for those who need to wear reading glasses. Something I found an issue on the EM1s, which caused me to order a slightly larger rubber eyecup. This is not needed on the Pan Lumix G9, as its width and depth are perfect. I also like the position of the on off switch, and the quick access buttons on the top rh that control both WB, ISO Exp. Very handy, similar to both Nikons and Canons Ive used but better placed. It also handles varying light ranging from ultrabright to almost pitch black and copes with being caught out in inclement weather, such as the snow early on in the year. To sum this up, I was that impressed, I purchased a new Panasonic Lumix G9, and Im selling the Oly EM1 MkII.
Keith –
Pros It is far too soon to write a review. Under lockdown there is very little opportunity to test such a product.Cons Not a negative as the camera is not yet fully explored. The menu system is good but setting up the camera to meet your own shooting style is complicated. Dont underestimate the effort required. Or you could turn the dial to iA and let the camera do everything.
Anonymous –
This is a great compact camera with all the features and picture quality of a full DSLR. Easy to handle and use with some excellent features. I bought an additional Macro lense to complement the zoom lense that I bought the camera with.
uptake –
Always been a lumix fan. This body is solid. Easy to use menu. Custom WB is awesome. In low light you need a full frame camera. Lenses are affordable and plenty available. Dual card slot. Image stabilization is perfect. Auto focus super fast. Decent dynamic range. Theres so much more to say. Its my favorite lumix so far. Im sure S1 rocks even more but this is a phenomenal bang for the buck. Highly recommend
William –
The camera works well, it feels great in the hand. My one big complaint is that, it has trouble focusing on small objects with a busy background such as small birds.warblers with 100400 Leica For many people this will not be a concern. For me it is very discouraging for the price and quality advertised. I use a single area focus, made as small as possible to focus on the birds eye. For larger subjects it works very well. I feel Panasonic has to address this problem.
Anonymous –
I use the G9 for Commercial and commissioned photography and videography. It is light weight yet with strong and durable build quality means you are not afraid to take it on rugged adventures or strap it to a gimbal or drone. The G9 coupled with the battery grip also makes it a serious photographers camera and it delivers spot on tones, balance of light and sharpness from the sports field to shooting the finest portraits and food photography.
Brent –
I recently picked up a G9 from a local shop, and sold my Nikon D500. While the D500 has a better autofocus, I find the G9 equal or superior in all other ways. The image quality is at least as good, I dont see much difference in iso performance, and the colors are good. see pics, my cat is at iso 2000 and the duck is at 3200In addition, its noticeably lighter without being too small. The ergonomics feel quite similar to the D500which is a big plus for me, and it feels every bit as solid and pro in the hands.
Stephen –
Great camera. Panasonic Lumix delivers more and more in every model they manufacture. The g9 is the perfect example of the perfect Micro 43ds camera. With the LeicaPanny lenses you have the best in photography…To me it just as good as a full frame and more.
dizmatt –
great little mirrorless camera. Ive owned 4 Lumix cameras now and this is the largest and best. Micro four thirds is a pretty good format that cant compete with full frame kit in my opinion, but its much lighter and cheaper. The Lumix G9 feets like a smaller entry level DSLR but is tougher and fully featured with very good auto focus, a decent screen and the controls that youd expect from a semipro DLSR. Im very impressed with it. It wont replace my full frame canon for some work, but for family photos and when Im out and about its great. With the right lenses its a great piece of kit. Results with a prime lens or decent portrait glass are very good and the reach with a 400mm lens is excellent.
Anonymous –
The G9 could be a GREAT camera, it has a range of great features, image quality is excellent, but for me, almost the execution of all the features just missed the mark, Ive never got on with Panasonic menus systems, why have 2 pages when 8 will do The whole thing is just too big, the grip isnt comfortable, or effortless, some cameras just sit naturally in your hand, but it feels like you must conciously hold on to the G9, The shutter button is a hair trigger, which I can certainly see the benefits of, but in more general use its just way too jumpy. as I said this could have been a great camera, there is nothing wrong with it, but the benefits of the camera, are just too outweighed by the things that arent right. unfortunately I traded mine in more than a year ago.
Anonymous –
As a hobbyist nature photographer I mostly use M mode, switching to video if there is some action. I find this camera easy to use. The image quality in photo and video modes is excellent. My only gripe is auto switching between screen and viewfinder has become problematic recently and cleaning the sensor is quite difficult.
Anonymous –
Im very happy with the Panasonic G9. I wouldnt trade it for anything else. I had a GH4 and I also really liked it. I dont want to switch to another brand later either. Panasonic forever
Iori –
This review is from a lifelong user of Canon SLRDSLR gear, including the 5D and XXD line of camera bodies, and a user of micro four thirds cameras for the last 7 years, including the Olympus EP and Lumix GX series of rangefinder style bodies the GX7 being my favorite.From a performance standpoint, the G9 really does live up to everything that all of the online reviews would lead you to believe. It is very fast and responsive, and the controls are just where you would want them.The one frequent comment that kept me from purchasing the camera sooner had to do with body size. It was too large and bulky for a body with just an M43 size sensor. Why not buy a full frame mirrorless camera that is of a comparable sizeWell, its not just about the camera body size is it Its the lenses that cause a FF camera kit to get oversized and heavy. But why not get a rangefinder style M43 body which is much smaller and light weight versus the G9 Because some lenses, like the longer telezooms and the f1.2 prime lenses can overwhelm a body like the GX7. Those types of lenses balance much better on a G9 sized body.So I now have two kits A small, light weight kit comprising the GX7 and a few prime lenses, and my G9 kit with the 12100, 100300400 telezooms. Horses for courses
MR2306 –
I have a GH5 and had a GH4. Compared to these the G9 has noticeably faster and more accurate autofocusing. It is even better to handhold, the viewfinder is bigger, brighter and clearer and all the buttons are perfectly placed. I would agree with the marketing blurb that it is more of a stills orientated camera than the GH5.The menus are the same as GH5 and are excellent. The battery is the same.4K video at 60fps 150mbps is available, but there are fewer customisation options, however it is still excellent.The High Resolution Mode for stills doesnt seem to make a huge difference to image quality in my experience so far, which is great anyway.Overall, the G9 is a fantastic stills camera that also takes great video, while the GH5 is a fantastic video camera that takes great stills.If I could only have one Id have the G9 for its better focusing ability.
Anonymous –
I am not a casual user but not the other categories either I was, in the past, a semipro stills photographer using 35mm Nikon FE3. The manual is not easy to use requires an intro. that explains contextualises the controls their purpose. The need to constantly flick backwards forwards is irritating and difficult Ive started to make my own personal version. I also have a Panasonic DMCTZ3 very good probably on the way out now keeps having problems after many years.
toxictabasco –
Ive been shooting LUMIX Micro 43 MF3 for 3 years and its taken over all areas of my DSLR photography except no light night sky landscapes. As a shooter who does mostly low light photography and video, Panasonic finally tuned the processor and sensor to meet my low light needs.The LUMIX G9 has everything I wanted in a camera. Great speedy controls, massive customization and control ability. A stabilizer that allows me to get smooth 4K video, shoot telephoto with slow shutter hand held, and hand hold shots sitting down up to 4 seconds. Nevertheless, I got this camera mainly for the advanced 4K video features. No crop in 4k, full sensor video. High Speed Video slow motion in 4K 60p or 180p in full HD. Cinelike profiles, and monochrome profiles. And having custom knob set to complete settings of WB, profile, AF mode, exposure, etc… setting all in one turn of the knob. This allows for switching on the fly from custom photo mode to time lapse, to 4K video without the need to press multiple buttons and go through menus. Everything can be set up exactly how you want it. Having this ability allows me to quickly switch shooting modes between long exposure time lapse, photo, and 4K video, and slomo video without the need to make any adjustments. The new firmware update made the AFC tracking a lot better. Ive never used AFC in the past, but use it a lot with the G9. So easy to switch between focus modes.The only downside I have with the G9 is the weight is a bit heavy for a M43 camera. But thats expected when you use a telephoto. Also, being forced to use In Camera Noise Reduction for long exposures over 1 second and high ISO. Without In Camera NR, there will be spots on the image when shooting long exposure 3 sec at ISO greater than 800. Nevertheless, G9 is still able to shoot under the moonlight without problems. And, the In Camera NR is amazing good.A couple of things that surprised me about the G9. The Jpeg images are amazing good. And the 6400 ISO Jpegs are a standard for anyone trying to do NR on a RW2 file. The color profiles of WB and Photo Style really dont need any fine tuning, as the colors are the best Ive seen from Panasonic. And there is a Stabilizer Lock for video that locks down a non panningtilting shot that looks like it was shot on a tripod. And thats impressive with a 300mm equivalent lens hand held. Also, they have a dial under a dial which is preset for burst, timer, and time lapse. And I really like that time lapse option.The G9 has raised the bar for a lot of features offered in the modern mirrorless camera world. Beyond the G9s renound EVF, stabilizer, super high speed burst mode, and 4K ability, a plethora of features that allow photographers like me the option for a full on pro videophoto camera system, at a reasonable price and size. I dont have any photos to share here, but I have a YouTube video showing what I do with the LUMIX G9 in low light situations. The G9 allows me to shoot videophoto using advanced techniques in ever changing conditions, anytime, anywhere. Mission Accomplished Panasonic.
Anonymous –
This survey seems to be aimed at video users. I dont use it for video a d probably never will. I do like the camera. Its rugged and feels good to hold. A bit on the big side I miss my GX8. The joystick is a bit too far over to the left to comfortably reach it when looking through the viewfinder.
Anonymous –
The Panasonic G9, where to start. I love this little camera. I say little in comparison to my Nikon D4s. Having received the G9 early in January 2018 it has become my go to camera . To compliment the G9, I purchased the Panasonic 35100 f2.8. This gives me the equivalent of a 70200mm which is my standard workhorse while out and about. Starting at the beginning, the feel of this camera is up there with the top of any other brand. The quality, weight, shape of the grip make it a joy to hold. Everything falls to hand with ease. The shutter button is light, the function buttons well placed and the dials have a positive feel to them. The top LED plate is so useful, no trawling about the back screen to see your setting. The view finder is truly exceptional. I havent used the flip down screen for photography as yet but have found it to be really useful when videoing. The touch screen is something I will come to terms with but I can see the potential that it can give. So many different applications are available through it. TBT, as a sports photographer I am normally shooting well over 11000s of a second so the IS performance is not something I can comment on as yet. However i look forward to seeing how it copes with a little bit of street photography. The speed of the auto focus is up there with the best I have tried and the auto focus in video mode is very impressive, even in dark and challenging conditions. The dual SD card slots give more than enough storage for the average shooter with the ability to record the same image in different formats to each card will please many. Shooting in Jpeg this will not be an area that I will be visiting but can see the usefulness. Battery life is good and tbt carrying a second isnt exactly a chore. The ability to shoot at 20 frames per second is something I will tackle with a degree of caution. But the ability of this camera to be ready to take that next shot so so quickly is mind blowing.
Kyle –
The viewfinderWhen I first looked through, it looked nice but it didnt wow me. I think my contact lens was a bit foggy and I had trouble getting the diopter adjusted just right. After some fiddling I got it looking good. Used the camera some and picked up my Oly EM5 II. The Oly looked tiny and cramped and the refresh rate is glacially slow. Just the other day I was thinking how nice the Oly viewfinder is. But oh no. G9 has a fantastic viewfinder.Camera responsiveness autofocusLightning fast. When using the camera everything is snappy. Not that my other cameras are slow, just the G9 is responds well when changing settings etc. The one thing that seems a bit laggy is the playback button. When I press it, there is a second before it displays the last photo.I tested the CAF on my kids riding bikes and the G9 did really well. I think I accidentally turned on the electronic shutter but Im not completely sure and somehow I shot around 300 frames in 30 minutes. Wow. And as far as accuracy goes, it went well. Ive used it several times and the hit rate is really good. It feels like a DSLR to me. I would never know its contrast only autofocus. Even doing some panning shots the hit rate is pretty good. For best results use Panasonic lenses. Oly lenses work but there is a bit of difference in hit rate and video autofocus.Video FeaturesThe 6K photo mode seems like a gimmick but it works well. My daughter does gymnastics and I had her do a kickover and handstand kickover and the 6K photo mode worked great.For video, I had her do a dance routine and the video is basically broadcast quality. I used Cinelike V and the output looks great. I tried both faceeye detection and tracking. Both worked pretty well but I think tracking was a bit better. Be sure the firmware is updated to 1.2.That brings me to the next feature battery life. I charged the battery fully once and I have made several 4K videos and played them all back on my tv via HDMI. The battery went down 1 bar out of 4. Need to pick up a spare though.The knobs, dials, and LCD are all nice. They feel clicky and have just the right amount of resistance. The LCD is fine and the touchscreen works great. I would rather have a four way pad as opposed to the scroll wheelmenu button but that is just personal preference.The top plate LCD havent found myself looking at it much but Im sure I will in the future. I have not had a camera in a while that had one.The numerous function buttons so many. Going to take me a while to get all of them set to what works for me.Three scroll wheels I had to figure out how these work. On my Oly camera when I am in aperture mode, one scroll wheel works for aperture and the other automatically defaults to Exposure compensation. It seems on the G9 ALL the wheels just control aperture or shutter speed for that mode. I had to dive into the menus and make adjustments. There is the dedicated Exp Comp button but with all the wheels I dont know why one isnt defaulted to that.The menus I get along with Olympus menus better along with its Super Control panel. The Panasonic menus seem to have numerous pages of options, but that may be due to the vast amount of features the camera has with both photo and video.Love that fully articulating screen.Yes, the shutter button it touchy. But I got used to it in about 5 minutes. Quit nice actually.stabilization superb. I shot a 18 second hand held photo with the Oly 14150 II lens which has no stabilization at 150 mm. Result was sharp, or at least as sharp as that lens gets.Photo qualityI shoot RAW plus JPG so I get the best of both worlds. The quality is fantastic. I compared a few shots with my Oly EM5 II and the noise levels at ISO 6400 seem okay. A little better than the Oly which itself is good enough at 6400 for me. Both cameras are probably as good as the Canon 80D I used to have or very close as far as noise.The extra resolution is nice. 20 megapixels is a bit more than 16. I dont usually like to crop but if need be then Im glad theres extra resolution.Color Panasonic do not have the best reputation for color but with the G9 they got it right. If I get the white balance just right the photos and video look great. Olympus has that nice color. Im no specialist in Lightroom with colors. I need the camera to do most of that work for me. But there are superb picture profiles to choose from. I like the natural profile for photos and Cinelike V for video. And the L monochrome D looks fantastic.Build qualityWeather sealed robust body with dual card slots. Need to pick up an extra SD card that matches the best one I have. Love the grip, especially for bigger lenses like the 35100 f2.8. I have the grip battery grip for the Olympus EM5 II but its nowhere near as nice and it covers the battery slot of the camera. I like having the nice built in grip on the G9.TLDR I love the G9
Anonymous –
As a mainly Stills wildlife and landscape photographer I wanted a camera that was high quality, lightweight, feature rich and waterproof. After trying many other systems the Panasonic G9 and micro 43 was the only system that met all these criteria.
Manny –
I had a nikon D7500. I decided to switch to m43 and picked up this lumix G9. All I can say is whoa This camera body packs a punch. The low light capabilities are very impressive handling 3200 iso with very minimal noise. Video features are amazing and photo features as well.For travel this is the best So many custom buttons can be configured to your liking. Change any setting on the fly. Theres lots of rumors about m43 out there… dont believe them because this camera is a beast
Anonymous –
Having health issues with weak arms and hands, I found larger bodied SLRs too heavy and cumbersome. The combination of this lightweight camera and smaller form lenses have made a huge difference to me and means I will not need to give up photography. The G9 body has great grip and all functions are well placed for easy access. The cameras focusing ability is instant and tracking is first class. I find low light is excellent and noise is not an issue. There are a wealth of lenses to cover every need and these are very reasonably priced. They are also compact, lightweight and easy to carry. Picture quality is excellent and I am delighted with my purchase.
John G. –
Panasonic Lumix G9 is jammed packed with all the latest features you can ask for in todays latest digital cameras. From the crystal clear LCD touchscreen quick 60FPS shoot rate 6K video and more. Plus, the lens selection available is incredible from Panasonic, Olympus, Leica. You get all this for a 13 of other comparable cameras.
Anonymous –
Normal usage but would like a manual with a far simpler layout that explained features in more detail Idiots guide And why are there no magbooks for the Panasonic Lumix Mirorrless range like there are for Canon and Nikon Might be a good alternative solution to the complex manuals
Anonymous –
I switched from Canon to Panasonic to reduce the weight of gear for travel and wildlife photography. The GX8 was good for travel but not fast enough for action wildlife shots. The G9 certainly is. Combined with the Leica 100400 lens the G9 is near to ideal for safari photography where the equivalent DSLR and lens really is too heavy. It is fast, quiet and has good image quality. While I mainly take stills, having such good video capability 4K, autofocus, image stabilisation etc. instantly available is ideal for capturing unexpected animal behaviours.
Henry –
Three years ago I ditched my heavy Nikon kit lenses and all in favor of a used Lumix G1 with its smaller, more portable, micro fourthirds system. Last year I bought the G9, the finest camera Ive owned.. I used all five of my lenses on a recent trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway shooting sunsets, lightpainting, and hiking through woods, streams, waterfalls.. I carried the kit comfortably in my backpack with tripod. This camera is fun to use. Its very intuitive, the menu system is logically organized something most brands cant say. It has every option Ill ever need. My pics came out with great tonal quality, colors, and detail. Dont believe all the NikonCannon hype. This G9 with m43 system made a believer out of me.
Anonymous –
I switched from Canon Pro Gear to Panasonic 2 years ago. I loved Canon, but as a pro wedding Photographer Videographer, I wanted a camera to do stills video to a professional level. As I am 72 years of age, I also wanted to cut down on the weight I have to lug around at weddings. The much reduced weight size of the Panasonic Micro 23rd system has been a boon for me and the right choice. I bought the GH5, then followed this up with adding 3 x DCG9 Bodies. I use the Pana Leica 1260 Zoom, Pana Leica Nocticron 42.5 prime, Olympus 17 25 pro primes 12100 pro zoom, Metz 64 AF1 flasheswith the lenses I use, I have less and less need for any flash, preferring lovely natural light photographs video, which my cameras lenses deliver. I do 100 weddings every year, covering photos video as well as portrait work. My many reviews, all five star, testify to the quality of my photography video thanks to Panasonic brilliance pro quality for business. Dont let anyone fool you, the GH5 video centric will give you pro quality photos video the G9 photo centric will give you pro quality video photos. Oh, and lets not forget, the G9 GH5 are a joy to use, all day long, all year round
Anonymous –
I mostly shoot photos but the advanced video features introduced in firmware 2.0 encouraged me to shoot more videos. A minor pick is that the G9 doesnt remember settings when switching between photo and video shooting. I wish Panasonic fixes this so that we dont accidentally shoot videos at 1400 shutter speed.
Anonymous –
Dipped my toe into M43 for wildlife. I wasnt disappointed coming from Nikon and Fuji X. It does have some failings with high ISO images, but there far more positives than negatives such as weight.
LEANDRO –
Moved to G9 from an Omd em1 mk1. This camera rekindled my interest in photography so much. Image quality did improve. Iso 3200 is something I previously avoided but now usable. AF is amazing and quick tracks body movement then zeroes in the face and then the eye. Confidence inspiring EVF is another plus. So bright and clear. IBIS feels better than my EM1 even with an adapted minolta lens. My Olympus 1240 2.8 works well with this camera, even recognizes the extra fn button. Video is a step above. Interface is well thought out and comes natural. Only wish it was a bit smaller. Happy to be back to Lumix.
Anonymous –
The size and the weight are superb after my DSLR and the finished product is every bit as good. Its ideal for travelling. I am considering your 14 140 lens to make the camera complete in my opinion
Jason –
I dont shoot video so cant comment on that aspect.Best micro 43 camera for stills photography I have used. I first purchased micro 43 cameras and lenses because the small size and weight appealed to me I have a tiny GM5 and the G9 is larger than any other micro 43 camera I have used. However, I actually like it the best. Very comfortable to hold and all the controls are in just the right places. I like it even better with the accessory battery grip. The view finder is great and image quality is excellent. Would rate it 5 stars except for the continuous autofocus. Its fast and accurate for stationary subjects. However, I like to shoot surfers and birds in flight. The G9 and Panasonic Leica 100400 200800 mm equivalent sounded perfect. When the camera nails the focus, the images are very good. Unfortunately the percentage of tack sharp photos is low, maybe 15 compared to 90 plus with my Sony A7R IV and 9598 with my Sony A9 under similar conditions. The full frame Sony bodies and Sony 200600 mm lens of course cost much more and weigh a lot more. For bird photographers, where the Lumix G9 excels is if you can focus on a stationary bird on a perch or nest. With the 6k photo mode Ive captured lots of great shots of birds just as they take off that I cant capture with other gear. Trying to capture them in flight however is nearly hopeless. I like the top LCD screen that lets you check camera settings without bringing camera up to your eye. Great for candid photography. The high res mode is great for stationary subjects if you are using a tripod. Gives you 80 megapixel images Overall, a great camera but just not ideal for fast action. Hope Panasonic includes phase detection as part of their autofocus in the next generation of the G9. The face detect autofocus is not bad but not as good as the Sony eye autofocus which is really superb.
Anonymous –
The photo button top right is little sensitive. Perhaps an increase the pixels would be an attractive upgrade option. Implementing Phase detection focusing is superior to the Panasonic contrast focusing technology.
Roy –
I upgraded from the G85 to the G9. I did this for the G9s uncropped 4k, improved stabilization, bigger sensor and the overall increased feature set eg out of the box awesome timelapse, etc. I think this is a fantastic camera, and I am still getting to know it in intimate detail.The uncropped 4k is great. The price you pay is that this camera is SIGNIFICANTLY bigger than the G85, like 40 bigger and heavier.It is close but not quite as bad as carrying around my old Canon T6i, only obviously the 1235mm zoom lens is smaller and lighter, and the G9 is waaaaaaaaaaaaaay better.If you can swallow the size increase to get that eye popping, top shelf quality and functionality then thats great I hope I can do that and thats my plan.However, importantly, I think I prefered the more compact form factor of the G85. My main interest is travel and light backpackingbiking, for which I think the lighter G85 is a better fit. So it you are a bikerhiker type my advice to you would be to watch out, and careful what you wish for. M43 can get big.
Anonymous –
This is the third Panasonic Lumix camera I have purchased from new together with accessories. So far I have been very happy with the cameras as I am with this one. Previously I had a GH4 which I really liked and took to many places in the world but I never really got into video. When the G9 came along I decided to change back to a stills camera which I mostly use for landscape photography but would like to get more into wild life. Although I am happy with the camera I am far from happy with some photo editing issues which have cropped up after purchase. I use Elements and it worked fine with the GH4 but I have been unable to import Camera Raw files from this camera into this editing software. Adobe technical support have told me that even the latest versions of Elements does not support this Camera Raw version. According to Adobe, only Photoshop CC has it. I had a similar issue with my lap top but have managed to upgrade the software to accept this camera raw version. I would like Panasonic to let people before purchase that Camera Raw with this camera is only compatible with certain photo editing software and if you dont want the expense of upgrading the software too then you will have to work in a different format to Raw.. Had I known this in advance I may have reconsidered this purchase. I will be happy to receive advice from Panasonic how this issue can be resolved.
Judith –
I have been using the Panasonic GX8 for two years. The new G9 is so much better. The auto focus is extremely fast and the stabilization allows me to hand hold shots with exposures longer than I could have imagined. The ergonomics are much better also. With the GX8 I often inadvertently hit a button on the back with my thumb not with the G9. The body is larger and heavier than the GX8 but I can live with that. I am very happy that I upgraded.
JOSE –
Lets put this simple if you are a hybrid shooter, you can control your situations meaning not an event shooter and you want a mirrorless camera if you are 80 percent stills get a sony A73, if you are 50 percent of more video get a Panasonic GH5 for the rest of us myself included 70 percent stills, 30 percent video this is the perfect camera The weakness with this camera is its auto focus during video still good but sony and canon are better so this probably isnt your best choice as a gimbal cam. The only other weakness is the small sensor easily overcome with fast prime lenses anything F2 or lower will give a totally acceptable F4 full frame or lower look. ON THE POSITIVE 4k60 is amazing for post flexibility to crop or slow motion, the stills have beautiful color, the image stabilization is best on the market truly letting you leave the gimbal at home, the speed is insanely good. the ergonomics simply its the best feeling camera ive ever owned makes you want to shoot
Anonymous –
For wildlife photography with a long lens, this camera is so well balanced, and all the controls can be set up to be operated with one hand. Pre burst mode enables a shot to be captured as soon as an animal come into view, such as ad dolphin breaking the water surface after a dive.
Greg –
I have been using a GX8 for 3 years. When Panasonic announced the latest firmware upgrades, I decided it was time to upgrade. So I arranged a trade in with the Used Department for the GX8. The whole process took about 2 weeks start to finish from Montana, and my new G9 arrived a few days before our trip to Yellowstone. I upgraded the firmware for the camera and my lenses and off we went. The improved auto focus and image stabilization is great. Im very pleased with the results Im getting and the ease of use.
sfineshriber –
This is my ideal M43 camera. I dont shoot video yet so the GH5 offered features I wouldnt use and it costs more. The ergonomics and handling of the G9 leave almost nothing to be desired. There are tons of buttons, dials and even a Canonlike scroll wheel on the back to which Ive assigned exposure compensation, as Im used to on my Canon 5D III. It has the onofflight switch around the shutter button thanks Nikon, a locking mode dial, a joystick to move the focus point, top plate LCD, amazing, and sizeadjustable EVF for real, physical switch for focus modes and enough customizability to satisfy anyone. Morepixelshift 80 or 40 megapixel mode, IBIS that is mind blowing sharp onesecond, handheld exposures, weathersealed alloy body. To top it off it has the best image quality of any micro four thirds camera. The image resolution is phenomenal at lower ISO, and ISO 6400 JPGs are still good. The dynamic range is very, very goodmaybe better than Canon APSC. I personally love the small size and superb image quality of so many of the M43 lenses, and the selection is vast. I will probably keep my 5D III for a while, but the fate of my Canon 77D is in question.
rkfamebuy –
A very high end piece of equipment in the 43 format geared toward still photography yet capable of highend video. This camera is easy to use and has a very well thoughtout menu system designed for professional use. As experience is gained, using the more advanced features comes naturally. Has every essential feature that an advanced user could ever want or need. Build quality is great. Lens selection covers all possible needs. You can spend more on other brands but you wont get more for your money.
Anonymous –
I am a music reviewer and use photography to create the images to enhance the storyline of the review. Everything about The G9 is exceptional especially the quietness in operation and the ease to switch to Silent which has always been so difficult to do on previous cameras. The Viewfinder is as good as any optical version. The G9 even with Battery Grip is so light which is a major bonus when extended is required. The Image Stabiliser is amazing and I have done handheld up to 3 seconds without any sign of blurring. I have always found Panasonic Cameras are much easier to get great images and I use a GM1 as my backup camera. I Love The G9 to bits.
Anonymous –
Thus has to be the best photographic bargain iof the decade. Inages are excellent. Menu system so easy. Ergonomics excellent. The perfect hybrid
Anonymous –
I bought this camera for 679 UKdigital and for the price and the features it is amazing. 120fps 1080p is incredible warning no audio and camera auto renders to 30fps it has ibis and comes with a swivel lcd and evf. For the money and the specs I was strugging to find anything close. Just look up 120fps ibis on dpreview and its litteraly one of the best for its price. The MFT sensor is both a pro and a con. You fit so much into a tiny package but also you dont get the benifits of a full frame or apsc like easy bokeh or the super wide shots for the same lense. All that said its a more than capable camera. If you can get it for less than 700 its a very good deal, just keep in mind the specs you want and the purpose you want. This is, in my opinion, a hybrid photo video device so there may be tradeoffs you dislike. For me its perfet for the price
STEVEN –
Why did I migrate from the G85 to the G9 Can be charged AND powered by USB even a power bank Really large and highres EVF with resizable image area No additional crop in 4k Better IBIS, dynamic range and tonal quality Headphone jack Menu features shared with the GH5 Acceptable slomo video settings HighDef photo mode Longer battery life same batt. as GH45 More customfunction buttons and more functions to set More customsettings on the dial C1, C2, C3 My Menu custom menu Better weather sealing Dual SD card slotsWhy did I end up buying the G9 instead of the GH5 Lower cost than the GH5 I never record video takes longer than 30 minutes I dont need pro video codecs, variable frame rates, VLog 10bit and 4.2.2 are too much for my computer, anyway Gs Improved IS, AF, and dynamic rangeWhats not to like about the G9 The hairtrigger shutter button my sole disappointment The topplate info LCDs orange backlight is anachronistic should have been the coolblue type like the new Fujis have CAF hunts in some conditions, but thats PanasonicIn sum, I am really happy with the G9s dynamic range. I shoot a lot of lowlight stills and video, and though I know its not Sony A7IIIquality, I get good results with stills primarily due to that Panasonic electromagnetic shutter, which yields practically no shutter shock and is very quiet. I get good results handheld at down to 14 second. The video quality is good, too the lack of highbitrate 1080p can be compensatedfor by transcoding from 4k. I have to give special mention to the commodious grip on the G9 it doesnt exclude my pinky from the party, and its easier to use larger lenses such as the Olympus 1240mm f.28 with it. The G9 has all the features that I could want or need in a camera, and for me, it was a better upgrade from the G85 than the GH5.
Anonymous –
Great Camera for Video. 4K is excellent. OKish as a Photography Camera. I wish I had waited and purchased the S Series Camera money is tight and cant afford one of those. I did purchase this to be used as my main Photography camera but since using it, I have reverted back to using my Nikon Camera, that in my opinion, produces better photos, so my G9 is used as a secondary camera when I need it.
Timothy –
Ive used several m43 cameras, as well as Sony full frame. The G9 is my favorite. Most modern m43 cameras have similar stills image quality. What sets this one apart for me is the functionality and handling. The grip, control placement, menu, EVF are almost perfect. Auto focus is the best of any Panasonic that Ive used. In practice, it has been spot on for both stills and video. The facebody detect works very well. I dont shoot subjects like fast moving sports or birds in flight, so the lack of phase detect focus has not been an issue. With firmware 2.0, the video went to a whole new level and this is now a top tier hybrid camera. Just a few minor gripes I prefer a front dial either below or around the shutter, so this took some getting used to. The shutter button is too sensitive for video, so I use the red video button. However, it requires an awkward reach to operate and often causes some camera shake.
Callum –
Pros The ergonomics are unrivalled. I sold my g9 and bought another because I missed it.Cons Image quality could be a bit better at higher iso. But thats just the limitations of the m43 sensor.
wrbluepearl –
Im coming to the Panasonic G9 as someone already bought into the micro43 system, and who already owns a good selection of lenses and accessories. My previous camera was a Panasonic G85, so I had a good idea of what to expect.Fast autofocus with Depth from Defocus on Panasonic lenses, quick standard contrast detect autofocus with Olympus lenses. Its not magic, it wont focus as fast as your phasedetect Canon EOS 7D, but its about as fast a contractdetect camera as you can get similar to the Olympus EM1.Huge, bright, clear viewfinder enormous compared to the finders on the G7G85. Decent eye relief for us glasseswearers, and includes diopter adjustments.Multiple custom white balance settings very handy if youre shooting an event with multiple scenes, like a wedding ceremony or sports event with uneven lighting.Superresponsive shutter release took some getting used to how sensitive the shutter release button is compared to other cameras Ive used over the years found myself shooting when I thought I was just focusing. Great from the perspective of getting the shot, but requires an adjustment period. Very minimal shutter lag.Most of the other good points about this camera can be read out of the specs sheet, but in summary, its the first micro43 camera Ive used that feels like a professional tool, rather than a really nice camera for enthusiasts.
Jason –
Simply awesome camera that hits a home run on so many levels. Finally I can carry my camera and several lenses again. Downsizing to M43 from Full Frame was a great decision and one that has impressed me with the flexibility of the format and the vibrant community that uses it. Highly Recommended
Art –
Ive been working with the G9 for a few days. I love the camera. Id buy it again, if I were starting over…but, there is a learning curve. Sooo many options, and various setup choices. In my case, since Ill be doing both still photos, and videos it can get confusing. But the results are stunning and the featuresoptions just keep surprising me. I actually bought an online instruction book that is helping a lot. The Panasonic G9 Menu System Simplified, by David Thorpe. Check him out online Thorpe is quite an expert on cameras.
Anonymous –
I use this camera for photography. Video is not an interest of mine. Its an excellent device. I would appreciate a faster more confidence inspiring continuous autofocus system, for wildlife, and higher resolution with low noise in a slightly smaller body. The massive benefit of this format is the ability to use smaller and lighter lenses.
Anonymous –
To be honest I barely use the video features. Im a photographer and not into video. Would like a version that focuses on photo only and doesnt cost as much so I can put that money towards lenses. Sold it in the end as I didnt need all the bells and whistles.
Anonymous –
Before the G9 I had an OMDEM1 II and although I tried my best it just seemed fiddly to change settings and generally get on with, Im not suggesting there was anything wrong with the camera but once Id tried a G9 there was no going back. Everything just seems to be where you want it, the power switch is well placed on the front of the camera, the control knob to change from single to continuous to stacking etc. is right there, the hand grip is reassuring and you can look straight down and see all your settings at a glance. All in all a well designed, intuitive and competent camera.
Anonymous –
I enjoy wildlife photography and landscapes. The compact system size and robust weather sealed construction makes the camera ideal for outdoor activity, hiking and camping. Im hoping lumix will bring the improved AF algorithm from the S5 to the G9. I hope that there will be a G10 G9mk2 released with an improved sensor with better low light performance, perhaps an oversized sensor allowing multi aspect shooting and dual gain construction.
Anonymous –
I am generally a stills photographer including wild life etc. I really like the G9 camera and the results it provdes. My biggest concern when using the camera especially with the Leica lens is its weight. I find it to be a heavy camera to hold especially when fitted with a 1260mm Leica lens.
snapperjohn –
I preordered the G9 and the 100400mm lens after handling them at an open day at the new Commercial Road store in November 2017. By preordering I also got a Battery pack included in the order at no extra cost. These items and a spare battery were delivered on the 9th of January 2018 and I have been using this combination since then. I am a regular Panasonic user having started with and LX3, a GX1 since converted to infrared and a GX7. I also use a Nikon D500 for my sports and wildlife photography and a Nikon D810 for landscapes. The G9 was intended to supplement the GX7 for travel photography, being lighter and more compact.Initial impressions of the camera were favourable with similar controls and menus to my other Panasonic cameras, so picking it up and using it was very intuitive. However this body is far more sophisticated than the previous models that much study of the supplied handbook and the downloadable, comprehensive PDF has proved necessary. The first thing that I noticed is that the shutter release is very sensitive, far too sensitive in my opinion and I have taken many photographs when I just wanted to wake the camera up from sleep mode or to simply focus on the subject.I like to shoot in Aperture priority mode and use the front control wheel to adjust the aperture, however the detent on this is not strong enough and it is easy to knock it onto a different aperture to the one you originally intended.The final criticism is of the review mode. If you press the review button and chimp your images the images remain on the screen until you press the shutter release or the camera goes to sleep. This means that if you raise the camera to your eye to take a photograph then all you can see is the last image you took This can mean that the delay in touching the shutter release and going back to live view means that you can miss the chance to take the photograph you wanted. I wanted to say some nice things but I am out of space
Ann –
I have a Canon Mark 4 but I am tired of carrying it around. I decided to see what the G9 can do and so far it hasnt disappointed me. I enjoy the size and weight of the body plus many of the features. I am testing it on the birds on my feeder in the back yard and it has been very responsive. So far so good.
Michael J. –
So far the G9 has been fantastic. The EVF is the best I have seen so far. It is definitely the most ergonomic camera I have used. I have only used it a few times,but am extremely pleased. The shutter release is very sensitive and took me a few hours to get used to it.
Grant –
Purchased this when it dropped down to what I considered a reasonable price. Coming from an omd em10 mark ii so its definitely an upgrade in sensor quality. I chose this over the em1.ii mainly due to having the Panasonic 35100 f2.8 and 100400mm lenses and wanting to make the most of their image stabilization with a panasonic body. Havent had it for long but so far it is excellent and exceeding my expectations, auto focus is great, ergonomics are great, the viewfinder is amazing with focus peaking for my manual lens. So far Ive been letting auto iso run the show up to 3200 and have been very impressed with the image quality compared to my other camera. Im far from a professional photographer and havent had it for long yet, Ive got quite awhile til I have everything on it figured out I suspect, but no regrets on the purchase.
cyraz –
amazing camera, amazing video, amazing photos, amazing quality, im so happy buying this new model, firts my g7 later g85 , i though the g85 was amazing, but since I tried G9 is a huge diference, HIGHLY recommended. The GH5 is a model superior but for my the g9 has everithing I need for my social videos and travel vlogs. The IBIS is absoluty fantastic. No more gimbal. Great Noise control. sharp images, capable rec 10 bits Vlog and HLG videos.
Anonymous –
An excellent compromise overall between physical size of camera and lenses, and sensor size. I love the display on the top panel. An equivalent to the Olympus live bulb function would be wonderful Watching the image develop on the screen on a long exposure
Anonymous –
Use mostly for stills, does everything I need. AF took a while to customise to my needs, but now performs well even in AFC in my opinion. Negative AF reviews vastly exaggerated. Always room for improvement, so hoping firmware updates continue. Small ask on rare occasion I process RAW in camera would like to choose SD card destination. Firmware has included this for other Lumix cameras. Have used camera for almost 2 years and the micro four thirds weight handling is just right so have no desire to go FF
Lance –
I have a GH4 and was contemplating an upgrade to the GH5. But then I realized I prefer shooting photos to video and was ready to move to Olympus. But I have some nice Lumix lenses and the battery is identical to the GH4. That, plus the nice price sealed the deal. The photos are far and away better then the GH4, and I think the video is too. Better slomotoo for fun action scenes. And a drop dead gorgeous electronic viewfinder I hardly use the nice, fully articulated viewscreen since Im farsighted. So no regrets.Well, maybe one little regret. This camera is so big that almost all my 43rds lenses look ridiculously small. Seems only the big pro lenses like the Leica 42.5 F1.2 Nocticron and similar look good on this camera. Maybe thats a ploy to get me to buy one. But the larger size means features I like, such as dual memory cards, the robust fullsize HDMI port the microHDMI on my GH4 broke years ago, and weather sealing. The larger size seems antithetical to the promise of Micro 4rds to deliver smaller cameras. But keep in mind that lenses for identical fullframe FOVs are smaller on the G9. The 200 mm F2.8 lens on this is a much smaller and lighter combo than a fullframe with 400 mm F2.8. Try lugging that around all day when birding.
Anonymous –
Ive used my G9 for portraits and wildlife photography primarily. The shutter speed is superb for capturing fast moving subjects, the auto focus in AFS is lightning quick. I love the preburst and post focus modes. The controls and menus are very intuitive and clearly laid out. I love the ergonomic feel of the G9. Its significantly bigger than my GX7, but not unwieldy thanks to the size of the lenses compared to full frame SLRs. The LCD top plate was something I wasnt particularly bothered about, but it has proved useful. The inclusion of the Intelligent Auto mode, means that anyone can pick up this camera and take great photographs, the manual modes allow for greater control and creativity. Image quality is certainly on par with that of larger DSLRs. The Dual Image Stabiliser with compatible lenses is superb. I can get clean crisp images handheld at 300mm focal length. The electronic viewfinder is the best Ive used, with no lag or blackouts which could be a problem with older cameras. In summary, Im very pleased with my purchase.
Anonymous –
Enthusiast, club photographer taking street, landscape portraits images, Had heavy SLR needed lighter professional camera with good choice of quality lenses. It not all about New hardware Cameras Firmware, softwares updates are important to keep the camera advancing. Camera software need to advance by having APPs and save to cloud or down load to Flickr or instagram. Downloading SSD cards is old tech. Panasonic App needs to be advanced, Example it need a timer to set and release the shutter. For ND filter exposure. And timed exposures. Its the little things that makes it easier,
Anonymous –
Some lovely features included which makes it so easy to capture birds in flight. The Camera and lenses being so lightweight compared to the Nikons and Canons, make it less tiring when your out hiking in the field
frk.us.4fehmh7qp –
It is a great interchangeable lens camera … reminds me of my Zeiss Contarex BullsEye 35mm film camera in size and weight, which I have since 1963 … and, yes, both are on the heavy side as a travel camera. I am familiar with Lumix cameras and have found the key features readily accessibleprogrammable on my new G9. Excellent pictures with my mostly Leica glass. As an early MFT fan, this is a keeper for me.
Anonymous –
I bought the G9 as a B Cam for my GH5 and for photos but my surprise has been very big. The high quality and functions for video, best Ibis and autofocus than my beloved GH5. And I love the creamy images and depth of field i get with this cam. Now I ended using both and my video productions GH5 with the Leica 818mm on a gimbal and G9 with 1260mm on my hands. Perfect combimation for all type of shots.
MATTHEW –
Upgrading from the LUMIX G7, this was a big step up in both photo and video quality. Immediately the ergonomics of the camera make it a pleasure to shoot with. On the video side, the stabilization also makes shooting handheld video usable in any case
123jeffers –
Read the reviews in any photomag. excellent pictures and the perfect size for those with larger hands. I havent used the 6K photo modes yet but the 20fps shooting mode is excellent. Highly recomended
snaimpally –
I got into the micro fourthirds camera system 8 years ago when they pioneered the concept of mirrorless cameras. I like the fact that the bodies and lenses are so much smaller than competitors, similar to how the Olympus OM1 and OM lenses were smaller than competitors back in the 70s. I was therefore somewhat skeptical about the G9 … until I held it in my hands. The camera is quite lightweight despite its size, and feels very natural to hold, ergonomically speaking. The 20MP sensor, lack of antialiasing filter, and optical image stabilization combined with inbody image stabilization makes for a camera that, along with the Leica designed lenses that Panasonic manufactures, provides an amazing camera that is equal of APSC and even full frame cameras.
webconsultant1 –
This is my new workhorse for photography. I moved from full frame to M43 to shrink the size of my travel kit and lighten the load a bit when staying on the move. Ive got this paired up with my GH5 for video. This little workhorse can shoot 80MB photos when shooting stills on a tripod, in camera timelapse, has in body image stabilization IBIS. It wont compete with some of the higher end cameras in lowlight, but that is not my main shooting environment and overall ive been impressed with some of the low light photos Ive take so far with this camera.
Lee –
I am looking for something to photograph, I just love this camera.I thought my g85 was great, this makes that camera one of my other cameras.Although there are many positives, one that is immediately apparent is the position of the buttons. On my G5, GX7, and G85, the display button was right under my thumb, and on too many occasions was selected by accident. The G9 has a clear pathway for my thumb, no buttons. Besides their placement, I also like that the buttons are larger.Another plus is the joystick for adjusting focus position. I was raised on the large rangefinder and SLR cameras and so I like a viewfinder and do not use the touchscreen, so the joystick is a big plus.The camera body is a little larger and heavier than the G85, but with the 1235 f2.8 or 35100 f2.8 lenses it is well balanced.The two storage card slots is a great addition, but the cover is a little tight and hard to open. That is no doubt due to the weather sealing, it could have a little more ribbing to help in the gripping of it.I wear glasses, so the adjustable view angle in the viewfinder is of value to me. Speaking of the viewfinder, it is sharp and clear without any lag or tearing.The power switch is perfectly placed and the three buttons for ISO, WB, and are ideally positioned on the top. I appreciate the little raised nubbin for tactile feedback on the middle ISO button.I did have to get used to the Playback button which is now on the left of the back, but that is now relegated to my lefthand thumb.I missed the histogram on the one display screen on the G85 until I found the 4 histogram display when I push the top Cursor Button of the Control Dial when viewing the info display screen.A small but very important addition is the lock button on the Mode Dial, just like the old SLR cameras, no accidental changes.I photograph scenery, portraits, and a little sports action and I am very impressed with the camera and the images out of it.As usual with a new camera, I had to update my Lensfun database before Darktable would recognize it, but I am used to that.This camera is loaded with features and options, so to take full advantage of them, I recommend reading the manual.
am1860 –
I have been using micro 43 cameras since the release of the Lumix DMCG1, including the G5, and renting the GH4. This is the top of the line for stills, as far as micro 43 goes. I have enjoyed using this camera. The picture quality is great, and I really enjoy the ability to control the camera remotely using the camera app. It also fits my hand wellI really like the deep grip.
Anonymous –
Took up photography again 40 yr gap after retiring 3 years ago. Wildlife and flowers insects my main areas of interest. Focus stacking is a great way of capturing more detail and shooting with everything in front the camera in focus, which sounds obvious, but is difficult to achieve with a large lens aperture. I have moved from 43 to micro 43 and from Olympus to Panasonic in the progression through G6 to G9. For wildlife I use the Panasonic 100300mm lens for keeping up with the local red squirrels and 1260mm for flowers. The G9 is very easy to use, after applying your settings you just need to move the lower dial under the PASM ring from single shot box to macro. This gives me focus stacking on macro and single raw shots without using any menu. After using an Olympus em1 this is just amazingly fast and fuss free. Overall I cannot fault the efficient design, handling and rapid focus frame rate for wildlife shots and then seconds later taking pictures of flowers using the focus stacking. So more shooting time and less fiddling with settings means more squirrels
ridento –
Great camera with great colors, lovely image, and state of the art stabilization. wonderfully easy to use. In well lit situations its hard to find anything better.
Anonymous –
Strictly for Stills Photography. Never used for Video. I do a lot of photography for Charity also Jazz Musicians, Portraits, Gardens and General Photography
Carlos –
Shot with FF over 10 years and finally decided to try the M43 system. So glad I did I have been shooting weddings full time just over 3 years and love using my G9 While I do miss FF I dont miss the weight. At times you can get the DOF of FF but you need to understand that this is a complete different animal. Oh and the video is just CRAZY The stabilization is like not other. Handheld not a problem. Dont knock the M43 system until you try it. While it may not be for everyone, it sure has been a pleasure to use for both my professional and personal use.
Roger –
Ive used just about every MFT camera and some of the better APS cameras and the G9 comes very close to being a dream camera. I love using it and it could be my best camera purchase.It has exceptional build quality, feels great in the hands and with a great lens like the Leica 1260 lens produces incredible imaging and great video too.The IBIS equals my best Olympus models and the speed of focus and sensitive shutter button makes for fast and accurate imaging. Video is also top notch with excellent 4K 3060P video.If you love imaging first but enjoy video too, this camera is just about perfect. If you are a Pro who shoot videos first and foremost stick with the GH5 or GH5s.
Anonymous –
This has always been my go to camera when I need something easy to pack and operate. The extensive feature list, wide range of available lenses as well as the ability to adapt vintage manual lenses gives, immense versatility. This camera can do it all, especially since the last firmware update which made it feel like a whole new camera.
igepard –
This is absolutely excellent camera. The most affordable professional camera with the unmatched dual stabilization system, 4K60p gorgeous videos and a ton of features like a full touch screen, the largest viewfinder in the industry, a hires 80 megapixels still images mode, incamera post focus, dual high speed SDcard slots, WiFi and Bluetooth and a lot more. Just search Google for Lumix G9 and you will find a lot of articles and videos reviewing the camera and detailing every feature. Did I tell you that it has a magnesium body designed to be dust and weathersealed
Ginger –
This camera is amazing The pictures turn out stunning even in low light condition. It is a huge improvement from the G7. The inbody stabilization is amazing. I did so many comparisons and readwatched reviews. I was looking at the Sony A6500 at the same time. I am so glad I made the decision to go with the G9. The camera has the ability to focus fast and accurate. I did do the firmware update before taking any photos. The camera feels solid and well made. You can charge the battery while it is inside the camera while the camera is turned off. You can also have the camera plugged in while using the camera and the battery will not drain. The night mode is nice too. I love the camera pictures below are unedited and jpegs
JOSEPH –
I LOVE IT . There is so much to learn, and to little time. I dont mind though, its so much fun. Youtube is essential me maximizing this little puppys potential. Start off with AI mode and go through all the different modes, I doubt you will be disappointed. There are so many lenses to choose from as well I have several, my favorite is the Olympus 60mm macro so far. Forget about all negativity re the MFT format . You a multitude camera bodies to choose from. Lenses can be had for less than 100.00, new Low light has never been an issue for me, even when I use my GX80. A worthy tool, for both beginners AND pros. That cant be said for all cameras. Enjoy
rmce2980 –
Theres not many better options. Theres the GH5 for a few other video features but this thing G9 does 150mb 4k 60p,and I think it has half a stop more stabilization than the GH5. Theres the A7iii thats pretty awesome and wins in low light and auto focus but the mirrorless image quality isnt much different other than the color science. Theres the new Panasonic G1 full frame but its way overpriced and honestly it only goes to 6400 ISO and still looks good, Id probably pick the A7iii over the S1 due to the auto focus and better low light. This camera cost half what the S1 does and the video quality isnt much different. The S1 will have 10 bit but Ive been unimpressed by previous results of 10 bit capable cameras when compared to 8 bit, yes more dynamic range but when strictly viewing it side by side with 8 bit you cant tell much of a difference after render. This is The best hybrid on The market and while not the best video camera, its quality matches the guy but has a few less features video wise. Pair this with a DJI Robins and a few good lenses and you will have everything you need to become a professional.
MICHAEL –
I am a newbie to formal photography. I am fortunate to have someone I know who also has the G9. With some bookwork and support by my friend, I am finding the G9 challenging but great It is something one needs to learn and grow into. I am enjoying the journey.
Anonymous –
I bought the G9 as I shoot both stills and video. As Im doing more freelance work, I wanted a camera that could do both well and there is something about the picture that Panasonic cameras produce that is so much more pleasing than the Sony cameras I use for my regular work. Points for improvement While the DFD focus is fantastic in good lighting conditions and for stills, it is still unacceptable for video as the autofocus pulses almost constantly when shooting, even in properly exposed conditions. It can also be really slow to grab focus and often with face detection on, it just refuses to grab focus until I press the autofocus button on the back of the camera, despite being in continuous autofocus. When tethered, I am cant choose whether I output to the LCD screen on camera as well, which would be great when using RavenEye on my Ronin. Right now I am must have the mobile phone attached or use the tiny screen on the Ronin to try and see what Im capturing Id prefer to just look at the back of the camera. The next issue, which really surprised me, is that the G9 doesnt tell me what colour temperature it registered when setting custom white balance. This means for Multicam setup I can not set all the cameras to the same temp. The last, and final niggling point is that it would be amazing to disable video record from the shutter button. Its weird that it is possible to disable the dedicated video record button but then not to be able to disable shutter button for video. The button is so sensitive amazing for photography but I have so many short clips from tapping it to wake the camera up or just hitting it accidentally not a huge issue but also one that seems an easy feature to add. For stills an amazing camera. For video, there is so much to like, especially the quality of the video, but that autofocus is just too distracting.
Michelle –
First off, I am a professional graphic designer, so I use a camera to capture textures, patterns, small products and food, and the occasional landscape.Before investing in quality photography gear a few years ago, I was using stock images and paying an absurd amount of money each year for images that were mostly MEH.So I decided I would only buy stock images for the specific types of photos that I couldnt take myself.Then a little more than a year ago, I injured my shoulder, making it nearly impossible to hold and carry my fullframe gear for any extended period of time.So I sold my lovely Nikon D750 and lenses and bought the Panasonic Lumix G9 and a couple of M43 lenses. And heres why its a great camera system for meSmall and Lightweight Lenses.6.5 Stops of InBody Image Stabilization.Super Large EVF All viewfinders should be like this.Fully Articulated Touch Screen that I can even use to navigate the menu.Dual SD Card Slots that both take the faster version II cards, and are also backwards compatible with the cards I already have.Fully Weather Sealed BodyVideo Options 4K 24 30 60 FPS and super slow motion at 180 FPS in 1080P at this pricepoint is simply awesome.While the AF in video is not as good as Canons or Sonys, its not as bad as many reviewers will have you believe. Its workable for me, and Im a newbie.No AA Filter for sharper images with great IQ.ISO is good, even at 6400. Though I prefer using lower ISO for cleaner files.HighResolution Mode choice of 40MP or 80MP stills. Its great for product photography, and macro shots where nothings moving etc.Silent Shutter really is silent. I can toggle the Mechanical and Silent shutter modes w the front Fn Lever its set to do that by default.Time Lapse Stop Animation. Nice extras to have as a creative. The more features the better for me. Its like the Swiss Army Knife of cameras.Tons of Customizable Options The G9 has 3 dedicated Fn buttons on the back, and a programmable AE button right above the joy stick to enable Back Button Focusing like many cameras offer.It also has a Fn Lever bottomleft front that allows you to toggle On Off a setting of your choice.The Top Bottom Left Right areas of the back scroll dial can be programmed as well. Theres also 2 buttons at the front, near the grip where my fingers naturally landthough only the bottom is programmable. Ive set mine to turn on bracketing.6K 4K Photo Modes makes it even easier for me to capture quick moving subjects.The only downfall for me personally is their Users Manual. I do not understand most of what Im reading.Allinall the Panasonic Lumix G9 is a great tool for my business.If you can look past its smaller sensor size, and have a solid understanding of the foundations of photography, then the G9 might be a great option for you to consider.But dont just take my word for it rent it first.
BRADLEY –
I have not had the camera for long but it is my fourth Panasonic camera and so far it seems to be a great piece of equipment. I am not crazy about the location of the review button as it is on the polar opposite end of the camera from all of my other Panasonics. Also I dont love the location of the ISO button but other than that I love the feel of the camera. It locks on focus superfast and has a great selection of lenses for this camera. There is definitely going to be a learning curve with all of the features this camera has to offer but I am excited to learn them and use them.
Anonymous –
I have recently purchased another G9 to compliment my first issue G9. Love the cameras. My new G9 is permanently attached to the 100400mm lens. My older G9 I use to interchange lenses.. Ive no complaints apart from I believe that the 100400 isnt fast enough. To prove my theory i would dearly love to try the 200mm lens in combination with the 1.4 and 2x multiplyers
Anonymous –
Absolutely love this camera with the kit lens 14140 I am a hobbyist photographer and all my recent images on my Instagram channel travelwhistlingtrails are with this camera. Captured some really good sunset time lapse as well.
Carol –
I got this camera to replace my EM1 original, which the G9 outdoes in many ways. A bit more resolution, more features, and better tracking. The G9 is extremely solid and wellbuilt, though on the large and heavy size for me. The EM1 was pretty much just right, but even the bodies in that line have gotten larger.I do enjoy using it, and am glad I got it, but the G9 does come with limitations based on its sensor size and the continued use of CDAF by Panasonic instead of PDAF. The small sensor size leads to more noise and less DOF control than in systems with larger sensors, and the resolution is lower than most larger formats. Sensor development is behind in m43 due to the small market, and this is likely to get worse. The smaller sensor does have advantages, such as faster readout and the availability of smaller lenses. but the options are far broader than they were when I got into m43, and this will likely be my last m43 camera.In spite of its limitations, the G9 is a great camera and I enjoy using it. I feel it close in capabilities to the EM1 MkIII, and it much cheaper, especially during sales like the recent one at 1000, which is when I bought mine. I would certainly recommend the G9 to anyone committed to the m43 system who wants a fast, solidlybuilt camera with highend features and who does not mind the size.
Anonymous –
This is a great camera which I bought as a more portable backup to my Nikon D800. Its ease of use and image quality quickly meant that it replaced the Nikon The only downside is the limited multiple exposure features Nikon, Canon, and even my iPhone allow sophisticated in camera blend modes and I cannot believe that Panasonic processors are not capable of handling this. Some of my favourite photographers Valda Bailey, Chris Friel use these to great effect.
nero –
Plenty of users have posted detailed reviews of the G9. I can only add my overall impression that especially with the 2.0 firmware update, considering quality, functionality and price this may be the finest camera ever made. Ive had it for only about a week, and I simply love this camera.
Greg N. –
There isnt a creative and impactfull enough way to properly describe how incredible this camera is. Coming from high end Canon systems I was not expecting to love the G9 so much that I would actually sell off my Canon bodies but it has happened. There are so many many great reasons for this to be your camera to be your next camera, literally about a thousand reasons…. but the 2 most important are these I can take beautiful photos with increased control and speed with the viewfinders amazing capability. The second reason is that this camera makes me want to get out there and take more photos. Its a camera that inspires.
Andrew –
This is my 2nd G9 body, Yes… its that Good. I have used Nikons and some canons for years, but this MFT camera system is perfect, especially if you shoot images videonot at the same time.I love the touch screen, I can drop the cam to the ground and use the lcd to view, I use the eyeface detect setting without me having to lay on the floorground ect. It has very fast still image burst rates two different settings with great autofocus speed. For video the tracking is Good not superior like sony, but really good. The Audio is amazing with the limiter on. 4k at 60 fps… do I need to say anymore… it has 4k 60fps I does use up batteries with the lcd on full time, so invest in a few… The ISO performance is really incredible, the colors are nice Nikon canon have the best color straight out of the camera so do a white balance if the event is important . I love the LCD top panel, like my DSLRs have… very helpful… It also has 180fps mode with only manual focus and no other adjustments, but the camera does a great job of getting great exposure. I use the Olympus 1240 2.8 pro, the Sigma 30mm 1.4 and the Sigma 56mm 1.4 without any issues. Its Fast, reliable, lightweight, affordable, good grip in my hands, full function packed, with a flip up and sideways lcd touch screen, with lots of affordable glass to choose from. Its a Winner… I may buy a third body soon…
Neil –
I have had Canon 5D MKiii since it came out and others before the iii. I might keep the 5D and a lens or two just in case of a real special situation but this Lumix G9 is one fantastic camera. It is now my goto camera for all uses. Have a Leica 1260mm and 818mm, super lenses, had Canon pro white or red stripe before. Will soon have the Leica 100400mm and that should be it. Im not going to extol its virtues, there are plenty of reviewshowto videos on YouTube that do that for me. I bought from BH due to their previous good customer service and to take advantage of their 30 day return if I did not like the camera. I knew in less than 7 days it was a keeper.
Anonymous –
Mainly used for photos birds, nature, architecture. Have previously owned the Panasonic G3 and G80. Thought the G9 would provide sharper images with the increased number of sensor pixels. How wrong I was Having invested in MFT lenses, preferred because of the smaller size and lower weight, I may now reluctantly have to consider full frame if I want better quality images without constantly having to post process. Unfortunately I have come to the costly conclusion that the Panasonic MFT cameras are not capable of producing images of sufficient sharpness.
Anonymous –
Easy to operate, lots of features, need to have the instructions handy at all times. Like the 4K6K features and the rapid burst features. Got so great shots of children diving into the sea from a harbour wall.
Anonymous –
None of the above . I bought it because I wanted a camera that was lighter to carry than the Canon. It filled that function but I aways describe it as needing a PH.D to operate as opposed to the Canon needing good A levels. I do not use the video option much preferring to use my iPhone . Good macro function and use the focus stacking function but instructions could have been clearer.
Anonymous –
For compact, lightweight wildlife photography the G9 paired with the Leica 100400 is in a class of its own. The image quality is exceptional, even at 400mm 800mm FF equivalent and with firmware 2.0 the focus speed and focus lockon in birdanimal mode is amazing. The only reason some users find the images soft at 300mm must be because of atmospheric disturbance. In cooler weather or early morning air, the sharpness is very good even at full zoom.
Randy –
I simply love this camera. I moved up from the G85, and before that, I had tried a few APSC cameras from Sony and Nikon. The G9 strikes a great balance for me. Its on the bigger side of the M43 world, but it feels very solid and fits my larger hands perfectly. The controls are right where I want them, and the 3 dial setup makes fullmanual mode a breeze. There are many buttons and levers, making for a very customizable body to suit varying needs. The 20MP sensor feels like a big upgrade from the 16MP G85 for the occasional crop. The PannaLeica 1260 is a great fit for this camera if you can afford it. I also have an Oly 75300ii that works great, too.At the current pricing, this body is quite the bargain. This camera feels eager to take the shot, with many winners right off the card.
Anonymous –
I bought this product 6 weeks ago as a replacement for my previous 43rds panasonic body. Although the weather has not been great I have played with the camera to get acquainted with the camera for a wildlife trip to India. First impression are very good, easy to set up, menu very good as is the picture quality. The introduction of the screen on the top of the camera is a great improvement and very useful.I have however had the camera freeze where nothing operated, not even the onoff switch and had to remove the battery to switch off, once the battery was replaced the camera operated normally.
Benoit –
After 30 years of pro. Photography, I started with the Panasonic system 4 years ago with the tiny GM1. I quickly moved up with the GM5, and then GH5 last year. I just got the G9 last week. My other cameras are a Nikon system D800D850 and Leica MDMP as a legacy system. For the last 3 years, I have taken 90 of my shoots with my Panasonic cameras…The G9 is a dream comes true. Compared to the GH5, the top LCD screen is a real improvement. No need to look at the viewfinder or the screen to set up ISOEV compColor balance. With the dedicated button and the top LCD, you can do it in a snapI almost never use the screen, anyway. The electronic viewfinder is AMAZING. Better than the Hasselblad H1 and Amy offering from Sony. You can preview the image you are working on, including exposure and focus, BEFORE shooting No need to look at you screen afterwards, you stay on task, shooting.The image quality is on par with The GH5 excellent even compared to a Nikon D850 I always shoot raw.However, things are really interesting when you start using the advanced mode stacking focus, HDR, or now the new super high definition 80MP mode on a tripod. You got a much better control of depth of field than a full frame camera, a similar or better dynamic range, and… a higher resolution than the D850 and the Leica in a snapNot to mention the fantastic portability if the Panasonic system with excellent Leica lenses like the 1.7 and the 42.5mm 1.2.In short, getting an impressive 80MP raw file with this new camera was quite a shock for me. Add to this a WiFiBluetooth mode that works very well, videos that are stunning.Finally, the G9 is fast. Super fast. This is the camera I have the most keeping shots with, well above the D850.Now, Im considering returning the D850, that looks like a totally outdated, bulky thing if the past… this is how great is the G9
Anonymous –
Im still getting to grips with this great piece of kit, but so far, Ive taken some great pictures that I wouldnt have been able to take with any previous camera Ive owned. Ive also used it for videoing myself playing music for some online concerts. Ive had some V positive feedback from viewers. I would Always advocate recording the sound with a decent separate recorder, as the mics in most SLRs are not up to much IMHO. Im really looking forward to learning how to use the Burst Shooting facilities.
David –
ProsGreatlooking video, love the look of moving backgrounds w the better Leica lenses, now 10 bit internal Video w V2.1, plus 180 fps adjustable, mostly all the GH5 can do and video AF is better. Had decent results taking AF wildlife movies w Animal Detect.Nice grip, EVF, UHSII slots, joy stick and decent IBIS when used with sync lens types.Slightly better overall image quality than Olympus and better jpeg SOOC. Better control of highlights and AWB than Olympus.ConsStill photography lags well behind Olympus, both camera and lenses. Aaf and Caf are still a problem for Panasonic. I had better hit rate using Olympus lenses on the G9.Battery life is much worse than my GH3 I assume for processorIBISEVF and 4k. My GH3 runs video in the full sun till the battery is empty. G9 gets hot quickly.Though comparable image quality, Olympus is sharper for crops, much better noise and shadow control, and raw files process better. Olympus is an easier camera to get confident infocus pictures, better button feel, brighter EVF, much better IBIS AF, better run n gun movie shooting and better native lenses with their WR pro series.I am keeping my G9 because the firmware update made it more attractive for video and the video color is much nicer than Olympus, though my EM1mk2 is likely the real hybrid performer for my wildlife work.
Emilio –
I bought the GH5 a while ago and I regretted the minute I tried the video. I immediately I realized that the Olympus OMD 1 mark II had a way better image stabilization for video and photography. The G9 has the best image stabilization that there is out there. With the right lenses is almost as good as any full frame camera for photography. Panasonic make the easiest menus and easy to work with cameras in the market. Love the EVF Love the ergonomics and the looks but feels more plasticky than the GH5. Weight decrease is unnoticeable and feels bigger in your hands than the GH5. If you are not a professional film maker, get the G9… and if you are… buy the G9 and see what it can do for video.
Anonymous –
This is a camera which is great in most situations. There are some good M43 lenses out there which make it an excellent option when you dont want to carry much weight.However it is seriously let down by AF performance on fast moving wildlife and action photography such as birds in flight. Some of the hybrid AF focus systems offered in cameras by competitors are leagues ahead for this kind of work. If Panasonic could match AF performance by rival it would be a near perfect camera. If you dont do this type if photography the G9 could be a great choice.
Anonymous –
Im no expert but having used the Lumix TZ97 travel camera I realised what I needed was something with a bigger sensor to get more detail in the photos. With no prior experience baggage I wasnt biased towards the older formats so went for the micro four thirds DCG90M with the HFS12060 lens which looked like the new kid on the block from the technology point of view. Its also quite light weight so its not going give you a bad back carting the kit around. With the included standard zoom lens this kit will do most types of photography very well. Impressive camera software and the WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity allow transfer of photos to computer or cloud storage with ease. The Android phone app also allows transfer to your phone and control of the camera with your phone. I found this particularly useful. I was particularly interested in wildlife photography and bought the Panasonic telephoto lens HFSA100300. This was neither overly expensive or heavy. Compared to the guys with standard format cameras with Bazooka sized telephoto lenses, the micro four thirds system seems eminently more sensible.
Anonymous –
I love this camera I have taken some brilliant Bird pictures. Some pics have made cover shots on local bird mags. With the 100400mm Leica lens it still half the weight of other birders cameras with the similar reach. Love the Raw processing, Image S, and quick dial adj. to hand. If it had better focusing I would recommend to any Birder. But this stops the G9 from being a Brilliant Camera. I lost a lot of good Bird shots because of this, and not just BIF. Sometimes it will just not focus statically as well. I have the new firmware nearfar and animal detect, which helps, but it is still not good enough at times for birds and wildlife. It needs the Phase, focusing, most other good wildlife cameras have this focusing. This DFD Contrast Focusing is what really lets the G9 down.
WILLIAM –
I have had this camera for almost a year and LOVE IT. Because it is mirror less I can carry all my lens and the G9 in a small back pack. Not heavy It has lots of features I use and is easy for me to understand the functions and menus. I have 4 cameras, but this is my go to one.
Anonymous –
I really love the G9, the whole experience of owning my G9 has been pretty brilliant. I love the format of the menus, the ability to change what quite a few buttons are programmed to do, the weight is just right and size wise it fits into my small hands much better than most larger cameras do. The only downside Ive found with the G9 body is the rubber surround coming away from the body after prolonged use. It also seems to warp slightly so Ive been unable to get it to go back in completely.
Anonymous –
Why no options for photographer under Describe Yourself. After all it takes photos doesnt it Id like to see a Panorama setting in Intelligent Auto. The cheaper Lumix cameras have this very useful facility so why drop it from the more Pro models Usually its normal to add features not take them away.
Anonymous –
I use this camera everytime Im in mountains and when abroad. Its relatively easy to use once you get to know the menus. It has a comfortable feel in the hand which makes it a pleasure to use.
Anonymous –
Was going to buy a GH5 until I heard of the new V2.0 firmware for the G9 which gave me pretty much everything I wanted for video in a much cheaper package. I still think as a purely stills camera, my Olympus EM1 MK II edges it especially AF, but with firmware 2.0 especially, the G9 trounces the Olympus for video.Really nice EVF big, sharp and very detailed, and some very nice features and feels really good in the hand. Works very well with my Olympus lenses. Seems to be quite picky over UHS II SD cards to get the best speed I settled on Sony G 300MBs cards. Overall and at its current price point its a steal and a very nice addition to my arsenal.
rayb1571 –
There are many indepth product reviews by professional photographers on YouTube who all like this camera. It has advanced features I didnt find on other cameras like automatic focus bracketing and in camera focus stacking. Cons are, for a micro four thirds camera it is large. The PC tethering program is useless, although the Panasonic camera phone app is great.
Anonymous –
Compared to the G80, the G9 is larger and heavier but I find the weight difference is negligible and that it does not feel that much bigger my hands are smallmedium especially if using one of the larger lenses e.g. 100400mm or the 818mm. I expected the G9 to be even faster in operation and it is. I knew it had more Fn buttons wow, theyre in abundance and very useful. The only Fn Im difficult to adapt to is the Play button used to review images, it has moved from under the right hand thumb to left of the EVF. On the other hand, the Joystick and Focus Point adjustment are very convenient in the area previously occupied by the Play button, on balance a good trade.The EVF is fantastic and very usable while wearing my varifocal spectacles. The touchscreen is the usual top class implementation, though I tend use the EVF only most of the time.Overall, now the G9 has been out for a couple years and with recent offer prices, this is still a top performing camera and exceptionally suited wildlife and action. I rarely use video but by all accounts its very good for that too.
Anonymous –
Had the GX7, GX8 and now the G9 which I use virtually everyday. Paired with the 100400 PL its perfect for my needs as I mainly try and shoot birds and nature. Had an issue with grip peeling from card door but Panasonic rectified that straight away. New firmware is quick but could be better might just me me but the annual detection isnt always as sharp as single area. Great thing is size and weight so can walk with it all day unlike the canon gear you see people lugging about at reserves.
jabr2462 –
A gigantic leap forward from my old Canon 7D. Just about anything you would want in a mirrorless camera this camera has at an astonishing price. Pics look fantastic, and video is razor sharp even when shooting in 1080p. 4K video quality is almost beyond belief at this price point, and the ability to shoot 4K 60 outdoes competitors at 3x the price. Are there limitations to be aware of, especially in comparison to the GH5 Yes 4K 60 has a recording limit of 10 minutes All other recording modes 4K 24, 1080 60, etc have a recording limit of 29 minutes Even with those limits, the G9 is a tremendously capable camera at this price point. If youre new to DSLRMirrorless cameras, or looking to transition out of some old gear into a smaller form factor, this is a great place to start.
Anonymous –
I am a semipro nature photographer and the major drawback for me is the cameras autofocus system for capturing moving subjects. I would strongly recommend the G9 for photography of stationary subjects but not for moving subjects.
Eric –
THE LUMIX G9 HAS SPECS AND FEATURES FAR BETTER THAN ANY SONY A600 or Canon offering below 2500. Lets start with the twin UHSII both high speed SD card slots, 422 10 bit internal yes, internal, 4K 60p50p 422 10bit HDMI output, and VFR Variable Frame Rate shooting in full HD 2180 fps and 4K 260 fps and HDR video recording Worldclass video stabilization, perfect ergonomics, 3.68MP .83x mag Viewfinder, flipout screen, 4k60p at 150mbitsec, 1080p to 180fps, and the best video you will see from ANY camera below 3000.00 including anything from Sony and Canon Ive owned both. The video from the G9 is much, much better for colorgrading than my Sony A6400. Focusing which includes animal and face detection especially in the video mode is very smooth and cinematic in how it pulls from point to point. Its not quite as good as Canon and Sony in runandgun situations but great for serious video applications. I mapped one of the front buttons to focus and it actually works much better than depending on the camera to figure out focus. You can pull focus by tapping the screen also. The G9 has an inbuilt feature called Live Cropping that uses the 4k capability to create a smooth pan in 1080p. This feature alone lightens your gear load in a big way. Also, USB3 charging allowing external power from a large battery if needed in addition to the huge internal battery. The G9 does this right If plugged into external power, the internal battery isnt used at all so youve got a full battery when you unplug from external power as opposed to sony which will have expended the internal battery even while plugged into external power. Lumix cameras have long been considered futureproof and the G9 is probably the best example of that.
Jun –
I am a long time Canon shooter but have used M43 Systems for several years. This is my 5th M43 camera. My other main M43 camera is Olympus EM1 Mark II. Compared to my Canon and Olympus cameras, I especially love the ergonomics and user interface of this camera. Canon is known for its usability and interface, but I like this cameras interface even better The three thumb wheels allow me to directly control the aperturespeed, exposure compensation, and ISO separately. The top LCD plate, well placed AF joy stick, buttons, and dials made the camera easy and fun to use.
Anonymous –
Photography mainly and occasional stop motion video. I have watched a lot of online videos about the camera, but its true the more you use it the more you understand. I set myself a project to embed my knowledge, to get the most out of the camera,its good for me too.
Cameron –
This is the third Lumix camera Ive owned. I started with the G5, upgraded to the G7, and now the G9. The G9 is a leap ahead, with features, ease of use, and speed that you would expect from a much more expensive camera. Its resolution is also increased. I do a lot of long exposure bracketing, and this camera will allow auto bracketing using the built in timer, which is a really great feature for me. I love the change to using single buttons for frequent menu items, such as ISO, and I particularly love the large number of userassignable buttons, so I can customize to switch things up instantly without having to navigate menus. I love that it will take two SD cards. The autofocus which was already excellent is substantially improved, lightning fast, and works even with my longest lens 100400mm fully telescoped out. The video features are great and easy to use. If you are thinking about getting this camera, take the plunge and do it, you wont be disappointed.
Ricardo –
Ive been a photographer for 10 years and most of that at a professional level. Ive used Canon fullframe and APSC cameras for about half of that time and m43 the other half of that time.For the image quality and performance, the G9 will do just as well as any other camera short of medium format out there. A mediocre photography will get better looking images from a camera costing 3x more. But a great photographer will get even better images with a G9. Its that good.As a primarily stills person, there are just tiny little things I would do to make the camera better short of putting in a vastly more powerful sensor and processor. Things like illuminated buttons would be nice. But yes, almost trivial little things.Paired especially with any of their Leicabranded lenses, you can pretty much do any professionallevel work with it. I have a Nocticron on my G9 most of the time and its nothing short of exceptional.I love using my G9 cameras.
Sheldon –
From the Lumix G1 to the Oly EM1 mk1, I have found m43 to be practical. They have been innovative and have forced traditional dslr makers to wake up. Canon once said, there is no market for mirrorless cameras. Look where we are now.The G9 with firmware 2.2 is now a very powerful tool in a relatively small package. Get it before it EOLs
Anonymous –
Bought it to use alongside GX9 for wildlife sports photography. Great ergonomics. Customisable. Its a bit big to use with Peak design capture clip on belt or rucksack, but perfect with wrist strap.. Mainly being used for bird photography, but recently for landscape with the PL 100400. Had to work out back button focussing on my own via you tube as the instructions were too simplistic. I couldnt work out how to achieve the principle from the instructions which is similar problem elsewhere in the books. Like the in camera profiles. Impressed with IBIS. Havent yet tested it on video. Dull light, low contrast is slow to focus am increasingly using manual. Image quality is more down to the lens I think. 20Mp fine for my needs. Now Ive learnt not to pixel peep, am less concerned about noise sharpness
Anonymous –
Really liked this camera but could not get used to the shutter release. Ive had dozens of pro and semi pro cameras over 50 years. This would have been one of the best if the shutter release was more stable. Been considering the new full frame models but scared the shutter release may be the same.
Anonymous –
Mainly for wildlife, landscape and travel using a range of lenses including telephoto and macro. I like its versatility and the ability to switch quickly between high quality stills and and 4k video. I have been disappointed with some of the coverings coming away from the camera body but this doesnt impact on performance.
Anonymous –
I use the G9 purely for photography and find it a joy to use. Very customisable making it quick and easy to change settings when taking photographs. The focusing system is very responsive and adaptable to all of the situations that I have needed, including the faceanimal recognition feature which has proven to be very effective. The compact nature of the system and the constant excellent pictures that it produces make it a pleasure to use.
Adnan –
It is Sep 2019, so why did i buy a G9 now Here are my reasons and maybe they would be helpful to you.1. Best bang for the buck there is amazing value you get for like supe fast shooting speed, 4K video, hi res mode, IBIS, improved JPG engine, multiple bracketing modes including focus stacking.2. Is this sensor good for 2019 This is perhaps the most cited reason for not choosing micro 43 sensors. So, let me tell you that it is at par with APSC sensors. I have shot with this camera and printed 20×30 prints with incredible results.3. How does it compare with other APSC and similar priced cameras I would say ergonomics of this camera is amazing. Lots of buttons and dials that are customizable, so you dont have to fiddle with the menus. Amazing EVF best in its class.4. How does it suit my requirements I am not a professional photographer. I do family, travel and landscape photography. Hires mode with fast glass helps me in all situations. With the new lumix 1025 F1.7 it works like a charm. See some of my photos of this cameralens combo.
karenkay123123 –
Great product, Pretty much as new, dont have visible sign of wear, did quick test out so far working well, everything seem to function. have all accessories batteries, charger, guide book etc… All look rather brand new, 12 month warranty. Im pretty happy with it. Delivered within 2 days. Brilliant thank you x
Anonymous –
I dont know why the questions were videocentric. The G9 reigns as a still camera its complement of video functions like 422, 10 bit recording, Vlog if paid for are still well beneath what the GH5 brings.
Marcio –
Camera has horrible low light performance If you do night photos or low light photos then be prepared to deal with lots of nasty white dots of noise Even if you put your camera on a tripod plus ISO 100 and you will see that it does not matter You will get nasty big white dots of noise all over the shadows of the photo as soon as you try to recover information in it Panasonic GX85 has better noise performance than the G9 It seems that Panasonic pushed to far this little G9 sensor Retuning mine as soon as possible Going to where I should already be, I mean, Sony full frame 42mp cameras By the way, that 80mp photo from G9 is a joke It comes not sharp no matter the tripod plus cable release plus whatever you try It is not sharp enough
Anonymous –
As a journalist I need a camera which supports still photography and video shooting. Lumix G9 offers great balance between photography and videography. I also like the compact size in comparison to full frame DSLR and its bulletproof design. It handles great and the lens controls orientation is same as on Nikons I used before. Only the battery could last more, but you can manage that with additional battery or USB charging possibility.
Fortemd –
This is my 4th or 5th Panasonic camera and my 3rd M43rds body. My previous M43rds body was the GX8.The G9 represents a quantum improvement in autofocus from the GX8. Its at the same autofocus performance level as my Sony a7RIII, excepting the unworldly eye tracking of the Sony. The dials, Custom and function buttons are better laid out than those on the quite admirable Sony. The main program dial is not locked like that of the Sony, but I havent found this to be a problem. Like the Sony, all of them are customizable.Its a bit larger than the GX8, but in a way that actually makes it easier to handle beefier grip and intuitive button placement. The battery is very good and probably will suffice for a days shooting in the wild, though Id never leave home without a second battery.The continuous shooting modes are scarygood and are something to behold. Ive not done any serious video as yet.I dont shoot using the back screen. The viewfinder is clearer and sharper than any camera that Ive ever used. It is stunning. I only shoot raw, so I cant say much about the in camera Jpeg processing. My impression is that the sensor is about what one would expect, very good in good light, but with significant noise above ISO 1600 and especially above ISO 3200. Ill try to export some shots from Lightroom and attach.The G9 is destined to be my backcountryback packing rig or when I need to blend in to a crowd. Ill use the Sony when its easy to carry and in low light and at night. Ill continue my weight training so I can handle the gorgeous, but ohsoheavy Sony glass…
bigfdd –
I have always preferred Olympus to Panasonic, but I have to admit the G9 has changed my mind. Great image quality, particularly in good light. Fast and accurate focus and perfect exposure every time, Add more video options than you can shake a stick at including 4K and flat CinelikeD profile. The one thing that niggled me was the size, it is pretty big for micro four thirds. But all the positives far outweigh that and it doesnt bother me now
Allan –
I took the chance thanks to Very of purchasing this fabulous camera and so glad i did, i had previously owned a Panasonic GH5 had it over 2 years, however, many great reports were coming in for the newer G9 camera claiming its photographic quality was actually better than that of the GH5, and that through firmware 2.3 Panasonic had given nearly all of the GH5S video features to the G9, so alas with my well used and over 2 years old GH5 I decided to sell it and purchase the G9 from Very with whom i have had an account with for a few years now, and purchasing from them again was a no hassle as usual experience, my G9 camera came on time, very well packaged, brandnew sealed i love this camera, i love the look of it, the feel of it, it is a beast of a camera featureand performance wise and feel it is now the best for me camera i have ever owned, if you have any doubts about purchasing a G9 for yourself, dont have get it also thanks again to Very who made my purchase possible and with great and easy fair terms, and as i said earlier a most pleasant experience, and can assure you this one wont be my last, many thanks to all who read my review
Robert –
This beauty of a camera was my first Micro Four Thirds Camera after deciding to transition from my Nikon Z50 APSC. I found the Z50 while compact and well laid out to be somewhat restrictive, AF focus points were not customizable, and no ibis. I made the jump after watching hours of reviews and informational videos on YouTube. The features far surpass what I had seen many full frame advertised as having.The ergonomics of the Panasonic LUMIX G9 make it wonderful to use, deep hand grip, convenient power switch around the shutter button, AF lever placement is wonderful for quickly switching between single, continuous, and manual focus. The fully articulating screen is amazing as well, I really didnt care for the tilt screen on the Z50 as it was always exposed and awkward to use. Initially I did not think much of the lcd top plate but that has since changed and I use it regularly for wide angle landscape photos.Other features that this beast of a camera comes with that I havent seen anywhere else include a night mode and monochrome live view.Starting with Night mode, I have used this at night to save my eyes from the bright EVF and touchscreen. Night mode lets you choose if one or both screens are changed to a red and black virtual boy style display. This is also great for astrophotography in dark zone areas.The monochrome live view option has been wonderful while shooting on bright sunny days, especially when taking a photo of the clouds or sunset. This does not change your JPEG settings to monochrome, files will still use your selected color profile.One of the biggest features for me by far is the ridiculously comfortable eye piece. The eye relief is top notch.I have had no issues shooting at reasonable ISO values in dark environments due to the amazing IBIS.Overall I love this camera and would recommend it in a heartbeat to anyone looking to get into photography or looking to switch to the M43 ecosystem.
Sean –
This is my 6th LUMIX G series body, and I have seven lenses. The G9 is by far the best yet. It has all the bells and whistles, and more, that you would ever need, and in a very solid, weatherproof body. I am especially impressed by two features 1. the high resolution stills when using a tripod and photographing static subjects such as architecture, art work and landscapes. The 80mp images are stunningly detailed. 2. The image stabilisation when shooting video is so good its like having a built in gimbal, amazing. There are many other features which I wont list here. It would take a lot of study to fully appreciate the camera.
Anonymous –
I photograph mainly wildlife and sports, so need fast FPS, and Procapture is very useful for catching the moment. Its easy to configure the camera controls and settings to how you like, the menu system is easy to use, the pdf online UserGuide is very good too. Point Scope is an excellent aid to focus. It would be good if Live Composite could be added as a software upgrade, this is a feature a lot of photographers would appreciate. The EVF is big and clear, but when using afc there is a noticeable flicker. I find a noticeable lag writing to the memory card, even when using 10 U3 cards. I use generally only use jpg as the quality is so good. Overall a very capable camera which I have recommended to friends and family.
juave0 –
I love this camera, although it has a lot of technology I am surprised by how intuitive it is to use and handle. I also have an Olympus OMD, but I have not been able to get used to its use, due to the messy menus for almost any function you have to navigate through endless menus. The ease of use of the G9 I attribute to the number of dedicated controls it brings physical and tactile, but that can be adjusted to the needs. Excellent build quality, image quality, among many features although I am still a beginner it is a delight to use and learn. Great purchase.
Pietro –
Ive been using FourThirds system since its beginning with the Olympus E1 in 2004……. fast forward to 2016 with all in to Micro 43 with Panasonic GH5 and 2018 have purchased a Panasonic Lumix G9. Just few weeks a go went in person to B H in NY city and picked up another G9 body. have several lenses and now i use the GH5 for video and all my Photography still assignment are photographed on my G9 s.Build solid, reliable, full features for the modern still photographer I have been a full time Pro since 1986 have just updated the firmware to the latest version and now the G9 has even more features in the video department and several improvements in the photography still department. Im very happy with the performance of the G9 and very happy with B H Photo and Video team who i have enjoyed being a customer since 1986. Thank You B H Pietro C.
Anonymous –
My main interest is photographing wildlife, especially birds. With additional speed and efficiency this beats my previous APSC kit easily. Image quality is excellent, even JPEGs out of camera are first class requiring little work, if at all. I have been using cameras and computers for many years and this system fits in well. In use it is comfortable in the hand and all buttons, switches and menu settings make sense. Great I now patiently wait improved UK weather and especially my free battery grip which is still awaited, no despatch information as at 20 February.
Anonymous –
I am an amateur photographer who switched to Panasonic from a muchloved Nikon DSLR. I love that the G9 provides me with features I need good controls, top LCD, dual card slots in a more compact and lighter package. I dont use the cameras video capabilities so cannot comment on them at all.
Anonymous –
I was really disappointed initially because of the dreadful focussing using video taking sports, the camera never being able to follow a moving subject and focussing on the background. This problem was solved when I upgraded the firmware and it is now a lovely camera. However, I still think that contrast detection focussing is inferior to the phase detection system when taking moving subjects such as in sport. I love the 43 system
Anonymous –
I use my camera for some filming but manly for photography, it takes excellent quality photos in all weather conditions and even very poor light indoors, my camera has relay helped to take my YouTube channels to the next level in photography, the duel image stabiliser has relay helped to take photos I dont have blur photos any more, taking photos of wild life is just amazing it relay looks like they stopped to pose for the photo with no issues at all with the picture quality. the only down points I can give my camera are battery life I had to get an extra battery, even then if I am taking photos all day they are both dead by the end of the day, and some of the features are difficult to understand, know when to use them or what they are for, filming and sound are ok but not as good as my Panasonic V770. My Final thoughts I have had my new camera for three months and I am very delighted with it performance if I had too I would buy it again and I am very happy to recommend it to family or friends.
Mark –
The only weakness this camera has is very high ISO shots. The EVF is amazing. The AF is lightening fast. I have medium size hands and the layout of the controls really works for me. If there is a feature this camera is missing I cant think of it and it would probably be something I wouldnt use anyway. The 4K and 6K photo modes make it very hard to miss a shot. It can even record before you hit the shutter button. This camera really makes photography fun.
Kurt –
So far, it has been a wonderful camera. I have the Lumix 1260mm and 35100mm lenses and those have covered pretty much everything I need to get stellar portraits to wildlife shots. The focus for action has been lightning quick, unlike the early reports of inadequate focusing speed for action with this camera, so I have had a lot of keepers. I still have plenty to learn regarding stills and video features, so I have barely scratched the surface of the G9s capabilities Im sure.
Anonymous –
I liked this camera a lot when it first came out, and invested heavily in M43 as the best available mirrorless system to complement my DSLRs. But in the end, I am a long term Nikon user, with a lot of highquality F mount glass super tele, tiltshift etc., so when the Nikon Z7 and the Z50 came out I sold all of my M43. Both Z sensors are larger than M43, the Z50 is much smaller than the G9 and the Z7 is about the same size. The native Z mount lenses are excellent. The best F mount autofocus is better than the G9 for sportaction and the the Z mount autofocus now on firmware 3 is at least as good as I remember the G9 being. So, however much I liked the ergonomics of the G9, I am sorry but I just dont see a role for M43 in my system. Im not interested in video.
Anonymous –
The LUMIX DCG9 is an awesome tool for everyone who takes pictures. It has the latest and greatest technology included so that almost every kind of pictures can be taken with great results. The extra battery grip optional makes the camera even for big hands and big lenses like the 100400mm a perfect match. The camera feels solid and is very responsive. It can be set up to ones needs in many respects and makes taking pictures even in odd circumstances an intuitive experience. The Bluetooth and WiFi possibilities and the cream on the cake when it comes to remote shooting or getting GPSdata stored withing the images.
nventivetv –
Great performance in a small form factor. The weight savings is important to us, and when we factor in the size of the lenses, it really adds up. We are very happy with this camera
Mark –
I got the G9 7 months ago to replace my 5yearold APSC DSLR travel camera, the Canon SL1, a good camera, the thensmallest DSLR on the market. The G9 beat the SL1 on almost everything faster, more accurate focus IBIS that was 2 stops better than IS lenses on the nonIS SL1 better controls and customization, rivaling my primary camera FF Canon 5D4 much better lenses body same size and weight but lenses much smaller and lighter terrific in the hand feel and therefore much more fun slightly higher resolution 20 vs 18 noise surprisingly not worse despite much smaller pixel size, maybe even slightly better deeper depth of field, which is worse for portraits but better for landscape and perhaps most importantly I can compose my preferred 43 aspect ratio in the viewfinder can only use liveview on 32 DSLR. The only negatives were native ISO of 200 poorer lowlight focusing and useless EVF at night and expensive OK, I got 4 lenses Pan 1260, Oly 25, Pan 42, Oly 75.The 1260 is a marvelous lens for an allpurpose, primarily travel lens. Small relative to my APSC view, sharp, fast, solid feel. Well balanced on the G9. The 24120 FFE range slightly exceeds the 27112 FFE I used on the APSC and the 24105 I use on the FF. I also got three primes when I have the luxury of changing lenses because theyre smaller, lighter, faster, and slightly sharper, but the G91260 combo is easy to live with for allday everyday travel. Prints 17×22 perfectly.
david –
Had this some weeks now and still discovering more wonders. I tend to believe a camera should just provide the basics, and simply do a quality job at it doing that. Now I realize that such an attitude developed becuz cameras were cluttered with too many reeeeally stooopid toy features. OTOH the G9 has numerous features beyond plain basics that are really useful functional features that help me do the same things that Ive always done, but do them better, faster, etc.Example of what I mean Fast burst drive goes way back into the film days. I had a top shelf EOS that could shoot a whole roll in 3 seconds. But the G9 can record images from both BEFORE and AFTER you press the shutter button, at insane speed, at full format, and at 95 of maximum MPs. Theres more, much more but Im not writing their ad copy here. Just emphasizing thatthe camera is loaded with useful things that leave you asking how did I get by without this u until now That is NOT the kind of question youd ask about candy color art filters or other useless clutter Im tempted to say If you want all the great details, download the user manual. While you can do that, the manual is not very informative. Mostly how to turn things off or on, but almost no hint at what all of those features can really help you to accomplish.Not EVERY control is EXACTLY to my personal preference, but its nevertheless very ergonomic and easy to customize. Its admittedly kinda big for an m43 body, but those who use some of the bulkier lenses wildlife shooters, etc will surely appreciate having a more balanced outfit.The camera is incredible, and reasonably priced for a top of the line model.
Robert –
I love this camera. My micro four thirds journey started with the Olympus Pen EP1 moving on to the EM5, EM1, Pen f, then the Panasonic GX9 and now the G9. In truth, once digital hit 12mp the quality was competitive to film. 20mp is fine for me. I also love the extra features that I still havent had time to test focus stacking, high resolution 80mp mode and many more. It is on the heavy and bulky side of mirrorless, especially for m43s, but for a sturdy, metal bodied camera that feels good in hand is worth the weight.
Anonymous –
I have been a keen photographer for the past 70 years I am 85 . In my early days cameras were simple, shutter speed, aperture and focus, that was it. Film speed was determined by what you loaded into your camera and you were stuck with it for 8, 12 or 36 exposures. The G9 is the most complete camera I have ever had. I struggle a little with the menu but that is because the G9 has so many settings to offer. Age probably has something to do with it also. HD mode whilst very good I would dearly like to have a hand held option. Other than that I wouldnt change a thing.
Anonymous –
Excellent feel and handling with all buttons falling to hand easily. The G9 felt natural in my hand from the outset. Dare I say it was like having my 5D Mkll back again, with the new top plate being easy to read and a useful addition to the tool set. The viewfinder is a dream to use too. Menu system is typical Panasonic, easy and intuitive to navigate. I ordered a new battery with the camera from the off, being a Panasonic MFT user for some years now its a must and not too much of a problem. The new battery grip will enable a good days worth of images with no problems. Images from this camera are just amazing… Coupled with the new 200mm f2.8 this is a dream combination for my wildlife photography. The image stabilisation just blew me away it will never replace my tripod, but its so good to know you can rely on it when needed. Great to see Panasonic delivering a camera dedicated to stills photography
Floyd –
I have been a photographer for about 45 years now. I have shot with everything you can imagine, in every format. Cameras from Nikon, Canon, Minolta, Rolleiflex, Leica, Hasselblad, Fuji, Sony, Panasonic and the list goes on. This New Lumix G9 is absolutely the most exciting camera I have ever used. Its fast, sharp, excellent in low light, perfect control layout, ergonomically perfect in my hand, incredible Viewfinder, Video is the best so far, next to the GH5, if you are primarily a Videographer the GH5 is probably a better choice . The 6K Photo is unbelievable. Top LCD Screen is a great added bonus. The set of features this camera has are way too long to even begin to review. I havent been this excited and happy with a camera since the first Integrated Auto Focus Cameras, The Minolta MAXXUM 7000, I bought back in 1985. Be warned there is a lot to learn with this beast, so take your time and learn to use the features you the need most at first, then delve into the rest. I am a fan of VerticalBattery Grips and I was able to get one with the current free offer from Panasonic, so while thats still be offered NOW is the time to get this camera and a Free 350.00 Grip to bootNow with the Grip this Camera is not the smaller Micro 43 you might be using. It is sizable in the 43s category but still so much smaller and lighter than any other DSLR out there. For me this was sort of an Upgrade from my current GX8 but with the size difference Im keeping the GX8 as my second go to body, plus my wife likes shooting with itThere are some great YouTube Videos which explore so many of the features that the G9 has to offer. Check them out.One final note and I have read this from others in several forums, the Shutter Release Button is super sensitive and takes some getting use to. When I first used the camera I found myself taking pictures accidentally with what I felt was my lightest touch of the shutter button. But after a weekor so of shooting I got accustomed to it.Bottom line, Panasonic got this one sooooo right
Julia –
I am still learning and breaking in my G9 but after just three weeks, I am so pleased with my purchase. The weight and location of controlsdials are ideal and what I was looking for in a mirrorless camera. I am extremely impressed with the touch screen response. I look forward to learning more about this camera and additional lens options.
alanr22 –
The Lumix G9 is a Prolevel camera with many, many features. It will take some serious effort to learn them all but will be well worth it. The G9 will help you make images that a few years ago would have been extremely difficult or impossible. This is not a toy camera is lauded all over the Internet as the best camera they ever had.
Bob –
I have been a Canon shooter for quite some time 5dmiii 7dmii. I used to scoff at micro fourthirds. To me, it always seemed like a step in the wrong direction. Then I purchased a G85 last year for a good price. I was blown away by the features, and overall quality of the teenytiny sensor. I am a portrait and wedding photographer well I was for about 10 years, fulltime, and now I shoot professionally about 12 times per month. I decided to pull the trigger on a G9, and do not regret the purchase. There is a learning curve coming from fullframe, and it is key to use good glass. I am currently shooting with Panasonic 35100 f2.8 25 f1.7 42.5 f1.2 Leica Olympus 1240 f2.8. It is a great camera
Anonymous –
I use my G9 for still photography. It wasis an upgrade from the G7 which I still use as a back up and also for some of the features not in the G9 such as builtin flash, panorama mode etc but I am more than happy with the extra features of the G9 which I use mainly with the 14140 lens for general photography. Also find it works well with the 100300 lens for birds and wildlife.
Larry –
I recently purchased the G9, because I wanted to upgrade from my gh4 to a camera similar to the S the new Panasonic S series without having to buy a new lens. The G9 has all the features of the S series without the price, the G9 is an awesome camera for stills and video as well. My daughter just purchased the S1R other than it being fullframe I love the G9, I gave it five out of five stars.
Anonymous –
I have three G9s and love their flexibility. As I travel frequently, they are easy to carry, weather sealed and provide great photo quality. I do however, occasionally use the video facility which now with the latest firmware has excellent picture and sound qualities. I permanently have a 1260, 50200 and a1025 attached to these bodies which then gives me the total coverage I require.
Anonymous –
This is the 4th Panasonic Lumix camera I have owned and as always the quality is brilliant. I purchased the G9 as I wanted extra punch from a zoom perspective and therefore went micro four thirds to reduce weight on lens and also get closer images at a reasonable cost. The G9 with Panasonic lenses provide the perfect setup for my aviation photography and the Dual IS also helps a lot. I guess this will be my go to camera until I can afford te Panasonic full frame model due in March
Maurice Mr.Mo –
In comparison to my old model Lumix, this seems to have far more user features that will work. There are one or two items that need to be easier to comprehend, but all in all a very nice camera.I Especially like all the filter settings,Main dislike is the duplicated setting buttons.
Shawn –
So Ive had the camera close to a month. I have two other Panasonic cameras so no problem getting use to the menu which is pretty user friendly to begin with. Ok lets go over the best features. One it can film in 4K at 60 frames but only in mp4 and only in 8 bit. Also the super slow mow in at 180 you have no control over things like aperture, iso, or white balance. So far as I can see the only 10 bit filming which this does have is in MOV setting Im trying to figure if my computer does this so far it doesnt. I really love this camera it will take time for me to fine tune all the amazing features. I do use this for video and not for photo which is what it was made for, but I feel a lot of videographers could really use this. Built in Stabilization 4k at 60 frames which few cameras have especially under 1,000. dual SD card slot heres another big thing I really like they did a full HDMI input The thing I hate with my G85 and G7 is having a micro HDMI input they tend to get bent or broken a lot. One thing I wish Panasonic would start doing is with their battery life indicator stop using bars start using percentage like Sony. I really like knowing how much battery life I have left not guessing. This camera is solid built has great inputs including headphones The lcd is so much better then the G85 view finder is much cleaner as well. I would recommend for video
David –
I got this camera mostly for shooting sports videos and stills at fairly long distances. By using the Ext. Tele Conv feature a sensor crop zoom I can pull far away subjects into range easily. Another positive is the 4K60p video feature, which delivers 8mp frames. Since these are high quality and with enough resolution to print out nicely at 8×10 or even 12×15, I no longer have to decide each time do I shoot stills, or video Just shoot 4K60p and if I want key moments, use Avidemux to save those frames as PNG or JPG.Image quality and video quality are both great. Its great to have a lot of dedicated buttons and programmable Function buttons, to avoid a lot of menu diving.The bad some awkward design features.Diopter, which is very hard to turn, is right next to a function button. Almost impossible to adjust without hitting the button by mistake.Function buttons are poorly placed. Previous Panny cameras put them all on the right rear of the camera, or on top. They were all easy to access with one hand. Now theres one tucked up to the left of the eyepiece. The ones on the front are not too bad to access, but not as easy as previous layouts.Function button on front Fn button 5 is too limited in terms of options. So is the Function lever on the front.Due to the top display, the Mode Dial is now on the L top, away from everything else. Before, you could manage all the controls with one hand. Now you have to switch grips and switch hands. With a heavy telephoto lens, this is cumbersome and slow.Video button placement is not as good as on previous models a bit awkward to reach.Bottom line great performance, but gets clumsy if you need to make a lot of changes on the fly. This was never a problem on the GH3, GX7, GX8 or GX85. So in terms of functional design, the G9 is somewhat of a step backward.
Umar –
Pros Amazing image quality across the board in both photo and video new firmware update has made video even better. IBIS is a game changer. Great performance even at high ISO levels. 2 memory card slots, standard HDMI out, mic and headphone jack.Cons No flash.
Rich –
I have the Panasonic Lumix G9 for a few months now, and Im amazed at all the things it can do and how well its built… like a tank. Its shutter is rated at 200,000 cycles and its weather sealed real weather sealed, not Sony weather sealed. Image quality on this 20.3MP camera is excellent. Its a lot of camera for the moneyat just under 1000. The list of features is very long. Just to name a few two separate UHSII memory card slots, and from my understanding of the instruction manual of advanced features, the contents of one card photos and videos can be copied to the other card INCAMERA Check out the manual for yourself. The DFD auto focus is lightning fast, silent, and razor accurate with Panasonic lenses. If you get this camera get memory cards that are UHSII. And get Panasonic glass. When you record video, and the battery dies, all the video is saved up to the instant the battery died. Videos and photos can be stamped with text.
gisguy1 –
Best camera Ive ever owned. Top notch build quality, excellent ergonomics, great performance and wonderful image quality. This camera is a photographers dream, and it doubles as an above average video camera as well.
Raymond –
Pros it has a lot of features but will take a while to master but a nice camera to hold.Cons button for taking pictures to sensitive try to press halfway you take a picture. will take some getting used to but only tried it a few times.
Anonymous –
Fits my big hands very comfortably. My only complaint, which seems silly and is just a moan really, is that it is almost too customisable. There are so many function buttons available that I forget which one I have programmed to do what. My age doesnt help. It has the best Quick Menu I have used for a long time. Nothing unnecessary on it and the touch screen makes it doubly useful. Combined with the Leica designed lenses it is a formidable outfit. The performance of the 43 sensors never ceases to amaze me. Love it.
Andrew –
Pros Well built camera suitable for novice and advanced users alike, offering good image quality from its micro 43s sensor. Offers a wide degree of customisation which beginners might find overwhelming but does allow you to set the camera up for a variety of situations.Cons None so far.
Anonymous –
Most incomplete instruction manual I have ever seen. Over half of the manual is for a video camera not a stills camera which this is. Doesnt describe how to use it, we are not all experts, things dont flow, no explanation as to what the symbols mean. Had to get someone to set it up as I find it far too complicated. Scared to change anything as I found it really really struggled to focus at all. When it does take a picture, it is usually good. Which is why there is 2 stars. For ease of use, it deserves nothing.
Amish –
This camera really is as close to perfect as anything available today, including the offerings from CanonNikonFuji. Ergonomics are excellent, menu is excellent, 4K60 works great, IBIS is really solid and HighRes photo is really something.Theres a lot going on in camera, in terms of corrections and I dont mind. Dynamic range is really really good for M43, I came up from a GX8 and its a huge improvement. I spent an hour customizing buttons auto bracketing HighRes mode back button focusing theres a button for everything.Sure, its never going to be a full frame but its a master of all, in an overall smaller package than any of the cheaper mirrorless full frames, youll be making concessions in functionality just for that full frame.You know what, at its current price point, pair it with the Olympus Pro Leica lenses and you wont be able to tell the difference. Awesome.
Anonymous –
Mostly used for wildlife photography, with Leica DG Vario Elmar 100400 lens and macro lens. Would love a teleconverter to get even more distance with the 100 400. Light weight and portability great virtue of micro four thirds system, without sacrificing picture quality.
Anonymous –
I use this camera for landscape photography. I find it performs as well as a crop sensor in most situations, and once you get to know its features can produce some excellent captures.