Now, as mentioned, full-frame compact cameras are nothing new. Sony has been releasing the ZV-E1 series (currently $1,898 on Amazon) for quite some time now, and the Sigma fp (currently $1,880 on Amazon) is also ridiculously small and cheaper too. However, the Panasonic Lumix S9’s $1,499 price is lower than both cameras.
$1,500 is certainly not pocket change, but compared to the likes of Fujifilm’s cameras, the Panasonic Lumix S9 is in a stellar position, as it’s priced inferior $200 over the Fujifilm X-T5 (currently $1,780 at Best Buy), though the -T5.
Whether the Lumix S9 is the camera for you depends on your use case and how much you value touch controls, although it has an articulating screen, dual dials and a separate mic port, which means it’s likely that is at least somewhat competent in a variety of conditions, especially in video. The Lumix S5II (currently $1,797.99 on Amazon), which shares the same sensor as the Lumix S9, is also popular among video creators, so the Lumix S9 may even replace its much larger predecessor in some cases .
Given the Lumix S9’s features and software – open-gate 6K video capture with 4:2:0, 10-bit capture along with the dedicated LUT button and new color science – it could easily be a viable alternative to the likes of Fujifilm X-T50 and X100VI. Thanks to the compact size, it might even be an M4/3 killer, as the lower starting price eliminates one of the biggest downsides of choosing a full-frame camera: expense.
What’s even more damning for the likes of Fujifilm and other players in the compact camera space is how age affects price. While the Sony ZV-E1 is currently priced at $1,898, it launched at $2,199.99. Applying the same logic to the Lumix S9, photographers and videographers won’t have to wait long for the small full-frame camera to hit the $1,000-$1,200 mark; at that point, the value will be hard to deny.
