Optimized for Content Creators. The Panasonic Lumix S9 is optimized for content creators’ social-media workflows. Its improved connection speed and stability help get your videos and images directly from the camera to your socials quickly, eliminating the need for a computer or third-party software. Its Real Time Look Up Table (LUT) system lets you use a dedicated button to instantly apply signature color and tone presets to your videos and photos to give you the look you want right out of the camera, without the use of color-editing software.

Social-Media Friendly Video Options. The S9 offers full-frame, open-gate 6K30p video capture with 4:2:0 10-bit color for up to half an hour, and unlimited video capture in DCI and UHD 4K60p 4:2:2 10-bit mode. You also get MP4Lite video, a new file format optimized for quick uploads, and 120p capture for high-res slow-motion video. The 6K30p option uses the entire sensor to produce a 3:2 aspect ratio file that you can re-crop to any other aspect ratio you need, including 1:1, 2:1, 4:3. 16:9, and 65:24. It features clean HDMI output to an external recorder, a built-in stereo mic for quick audio capture, and a 3.5mm mic jack for your advanced audio-recording needs. Please note that for 6K and 4K capture, you must use an SD memory card that’s UHS-I Class 3 or faster.

Real Time LUT System. The S9’s expanded Real Time LUT system lets you apply pre-loaded custom looks to videos and stills so that you can post content directly to your socials without the need for outside-the-camera color editing. You can use LUTs with any of the S9’s Photo Style color modes—not just the V-Log style—and you can create and store custom looks that combine two different LUTs and apply them on top of a base Photo Style. This camera can store up to 39 LUTs in its internal memory, which you can instantly access via a dedicated LUT button.

Full-Frame Sensor, High-Efficiency Processing Engine. This camera’s 24.2MP full-frame BSI CMOS sensor features on-sensor phase detection. It works in tandem with the processing engine, developed in partnership with Leica, to enable full-resolution shooting at up to 30 fps with the electronic shutter. You also get great low-light performance, a 100-51,200 ISO range that’s expandable to 50-204,800, and enhanced color reproduction and suppressed noise levels throughout the camera’s sensitivity range. This camera can record stills in 3:2 format, 65:24 and 2:1 panoramic formats, 1:1 square format, and 16:9 format.

Phase Hybrid Autofocus System. As mentioned above, the S9 incorporates an on-sensor Phase Hybrid autofocus system, which uses 779 phase-detection points to facilitate fast and highly accurate performance, even in backlit or low-light shooting situations. Six subject-based tracking modes can follow certain subject types—humans, animals, cars, motorcycles, trains, and airplanes—and even prioritize certain parts of those designated subjects to help to ensure maximum precision.

Versatile, Vlogger-Ready Image Stabilization. The in-body five-axis sensor-shift image stabilization system compensates for roughly five stops of camera shake, giving your hand-held videos and stills utmost sharpness. The Boost I.S. mode approximates footage shot from a tripod, giving you increased steadiness with less mobility, while the Dual I.S. mode syncs the camera’s in-body stabilization with compatible lenses’ optical image stabilization for up to 6.5 stops of correction. Finally, the Active I.S. mode improves stabilization when you’re shooting video while you walk, making it great for going live when you’re out and around.

Intuitive Controls. On the top of the S9’s body, you’ll find the mode dial, the shutter button, which is surrounded by a programmable command dial, and a programmable red button that acts as a Recording Start key if its function isn’t defined otherwise. The camera’s only display is a 1.84m-dot 3.0-inch flip-out rear touchscreen LCD, which you can use for menu navigation; focus-point selection; and image composition, review, and playback. The LCD’s free-tilting design lets you work from low and high angles, even when you’re shooting in vertical orientation. There’s a four-way controller that you can also use to make menu selections and choose focus points. There are dedicated, programmable LUT and AF On buttons situated in an easy-to-reach spot above the touchscreen, while the highly sensitive control dial and other buttons are to the right of the touchscreen.

L-Mount Alliance. This camera’s wide-diameter lens mount is a joint collaboration between Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma that’s focused on a line of premium cameras & lenses in a mirrorless format. At 51.6mm mount diameter and just 20mm flange distance, the L-mount is well-suited for fast-aperture full-frame optics with compact dimensions.

Connectivity, Media, and Power. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity provide wireless control and viewing options via the free Lumix Lab App for Android and iOS, and the Lumix Sync app for Android and iOS. This camera has a single UHS-II compatible SDHC/XC memory-card slot and uses the rechargeable DMW-BLK22 battery, which is rated for approximately 470 shots per charge.