Rumors The latest from L-Rumors: S9ii, S5iii, S1Hii

[Pete_W]

This article was posted a few days ago on L-Rumors.

It suggests a number of new models from Panasonic this year for the 25th Anniversary of LUMIX: S9ii, S5iii, S1Hii and some m4/3 models too.

Panasonic 25th anniversary: Bold prediction list from chinese social - L mount system camera rumors and news

The S9II I listed as on my Amazon "wishlist" store The big chinese socials are betting on an impressive 25th anniversary product launch year from Panasonic: LUMIX S9 II – A lightweight and portable full-frame camera. It's expected to finally feature the long-awaited hot shoe, and the build...

www.l-rumors.com

That's a lot of camera releases and in my view a bit hard to believe.

 

[pdk42]

If the S9ii has an EVF and a second dial, it might be hard to resist.

 

[dirk]

If a Panasonic S9ii would be released with a high res EVF and later also a 28mm FFL i-series lens from Sigma, I would probably sell my Leica Q3 for it.

 

[pdk42]

If a Panasonic S9ii would be released with a high res EVF and later also a 28mm FFL i-series lens from Sigma, I would probably sell my Leica Q3 for it.

But an S9ii + Sigma lens just wouldn't have the "gestalt" of a Q3 !

 

[dirk]

But an S9ii + Sigma lens just wouldn't have the "gestalt" of a Q3 !

If you mean the size: That does not matter. As long as it is not a smartphone or a Ricoh GR, you have to carry it over your shoulder anyway. A few cm more or less do not make a difference. Same for the Fuji X100. A Lumix S9ii with a small i-series lens will weight probably the same like a Q3

If you mean the "Leica feeling": Yes, there is for sure a high quality feeling vs. the more plastic feeling of the S9. But I do not care. I never had problems with "plastic" cameras, no matter from which brand. They were always very reliable. I call the Nikon D800, Z6, Fuji XT5, Oly EM 1.3, Lumix G9 etc. also plastic cameras by the way.

But the burden of a Leica camera is the price you carry around and cost of replacenent, if its get stolen. I do not feel as "free" or as "relaxed" using the Q3 vs. i.e. a Nikon/ Sony/ Fuji or Lumix camera. That weights a lot more for me.

I was in Marseille for a week. Not a very secure city in France. I did not take the Leica with me because of that. I took my Ricoh GR3 and GR3x with me. Nothing else. And I was happy.

I love the lens in the Q3 43. A dream. But I would also be happy with an "inferior" lens. I always look at the whole package of all pros and cons for my equipment for my use cases. I think at the end of the day, a S9ii with a 28/2.8 and 40/2.0 would be a better compromise for me than a Leica Q3 or Q3 43.

But we have to see first the real data of a S9ii and whether Sigma will release a 28mm i-series lens and a 40mm lens at all. Hope dies last.

 

[Jonathan-Mac]

That's a lot of cameras to come out in one year. I think it's about time for an S5 III and I'd hope for an S5D II to replace the S5D as a budget offering and obviously the S9 could do with a refresh to add all the stuff that's sorely missing from the original but I don't see Panasonic doing that as I think it would make it as big as the S5 series.

Lense are more what's lacking.

 

[dirk]

I'd hope for an S5D II to replace the S5D as a budget offering

Why should Panasonic replace it? This would only add costs in production and for us higher prices. There is nothing wrong with the S5D and the more cost efficient that entry level fullframe camera can be build and sold, the better for the market share of L-Mount. As soon as you add features, it will become too expensive for a cheap entry level camera. Sony held old models for years in the pipeline to have more offers in the lowest price ranges.

I think it's about time for an S5 III

Same arguments count IMHO for an S5III. We do not need an internal competition to the S1Rii or S1ii/iie. Panasonic needs to offer in many different price and feature categories different models, without adding costs in R&D and production/distribution. The camera market is very small and L-Mount has only a very small part of it.

We might get an addition abover the S1Rii or somethong crazy for video only. Above a S1Hii. Both might make sense in the product line without cannibalizing the other products. Maybe also a rangefinder model above an S9ii (but I doubt that because of Leica M EV1).

That's a lot of cameras to come out in one year.

I had the same thought, but it does not have to be L-Mount only. Could be MFT or P&S too. It would be a shame, if there would be no new MFT body for this year.

 

[Pete_W]

and later also a 28mm FFL i-series lens from Sigma

I would like to see a 28mm lens, and especially pancake size. I would be buying it right away.

 

[Jonathan-Mac]

Why should Panasonic replace it? This would only add costs in production and for us higher prices. There is nothing wrong with the S5D and the more cost efficient that entry level fullframe camera can be build and sold, the better for the market share of L-Mount. As soon as you add features, it will become too expensive for a cheap entry level camera. Sony held old models for years in the pipeline to have more offers in the lowest price ranges.

Same arguments count IMHO for an S5III. We do not need an internal competition to the S1Rii or S1ii/iie. Panasonic needs to offer in many different price and feature categories different models, without adding costs in R&D and production/distribution. The camera market is very small and L-Mount has only a very small part of it.

We might get an addition abover the S1Rii or somethong crazy for video only. Above a S1Hii. Both might make sense in the product line without cannibalizing the other products. Maybe also a rangefinder model above an S9ii (but I doubt that because of Leica M EV1).

I had the same thought, but it does not have to be L-Mount only. Could be MFT or P&S too. It would be a shame, if there would be no new MFT body for this year.

I read within the last week that a Panasonic representative has stated that the S5D has been discontinued. Here in Spain at least it looks like there's no stock. That's not the case in the UK though, which is a bigger market.

As every other manufacturer does, Panasonic need to provide a viable and not obsolete competitor in each price bracket in which they compete. The S5 II is two years old which I think brings it into the zone of becoming obsolete compared to it's peers at least in some ways. Obviously they'd need to look for a balance between competing with Nikon, Canon & Sony and not rendering their higher-priced cameras irrelevant or poor value for money.

 

[CharlesH]

I could go for a LX100iii.