Panasonic Lumix S9 to launch with IBIS alongside new pancake zoom lens perfect for street photography

Details recently surfaced about the Panasonic Lumix S9, suggesting a new creator-focussed full-frame camera was on the way from Panasonic on May 22. While the 24 MP Panasonic S5 II sensor was rumoured previously, a new rumour from prolific leaker Andrea Pizzini on YouTube claims that the Panasonic Lumix S9 will also feature IBIS and launch with an all-new compact zoom lens specifically designed to be paired with the Lumix S9.

These latest rumours claim that Panasonic's May 22 event will see the launch of an 18–40 mm pancake zoom lens that will be sold alongside, and potentially in a kit with, the Panasonic Lumix S9. The closest current-generation wide zoom lens from Panasonic is the S Series PRO 16-35 mm F4 L-Mount Lens, which costs an eye-watering $997.99 on Amazon, despite a 33% discount. However, this is far from a kit lens, so it would make sense for the Lumix S9's companion lens to come in a little cheaper, similar to the Panasonic Lumix S 20-60 mm F3.5-5.6, which retails for $499.99 at the time of writing.

Pizzini's claims of in-body image stabilisation on the Lumix S9 are not followed up by any CIPA rating for stops, but it would not be surprising to see the Lumix S9 have the same 6.5-stop IBIS rating as the Panasonic S5II (curr. $1,799.99 at Best Buy), since it seems to be using the same sensor.

With both the Lumix S9 and its companion 18–40 mm zoom lens both targeting a compact form factor, it seems as though Panasonic will be aiming directly for the same online creator crowd as the Fujifilm X100VI. Panasonic is even adding a LUT button and putting a lot of work into colour science this time around.

While the Lumix S9 isn't slated to have an EVF, like the X100VI, the price is also supposedly going to be right around the same ballpark as the X100VI, meaning it should stack up to be a decent alternative to the X100VI, especially for those looking to do more hybrid and video work than the typical X100VI owner.

The Lumix S9 will also be launching shortly after the alleged Fujifilm X-T50, which features many of the same specifications as the X100VI and $1,699.99 Fujifilm X-T5, although it supposedly has a slightly larger footprint than its rangefinder-style counterpart. Competition in the high-performance, compact, prosumer camera space is definitely heating up, which can only be good news for consumers — especially in a market where shortages have pushed the price of Fujifilm cameras to over double retail price.