Add 300+ Lenses to Your Panasonic Lumix S9

One of the most highly anticipated camera releases in 2024 was the Panasonic Lumix S9. A petite, full-frame camera housing a 24.2-megapixel (MP) sensor with phase detection autofocus (PDAF), coupled with 5-axis in-camera image stabilization, an ability to use real time look up table (LUT) color style files, and featuring a Leica Camera AG L Mount Alliance lens mount, the Lumix S9 looked like it was destined to be a big sales winner.

Unfortunately, after it landed in the hands of the public it was quickly derided as a flawed camera. What caused the rift between the S9 and photographers, you ask? There were several  strongly-voiced “problems” with the Panasonic Lumix S9. First and foremost among these complaints was the lack of available/affordable lenses.

While Leica Camera offers a dazzling collection of L-Mount lenses, they are priced nearly 3 to 8 times higher than the cost of the Lumix S9 camera body. Furthermore, there’s a substantial number of L-Mount lenses that are geared for APS-C sensor cameras and not the full-frame S9. That is, unless you like an unavoidable vignette populating your photographs.

Lenses, What Lenses?

Certainly, there are L Mount lenses available for the S9. Both manual focus and autofocus models in either zoom or fixed lens configurations can be found on today’s marketplace. The main aspect of these lenses that irritates many Panasonic L Mount users, however, is redundancy.

A quick scan of the mainstream photographic market shows no less than 21 35mm lenses, for example. Plus another six 70-200mm zoom lenses. These sums are rather shocking when compared to the total available market volume for L Mount lenses which equals around 230 models. Therefore,  this is equivalent to 21/230 or 9% of L Mount lenses are 35mm models.

Contrary to that perceived redundancy, chief among all first-time L Mount lens purchases is the much maligned Panasonic Lumix S 26mm f/8 lens. It’s manual focus, plastic body, and filter thread-less barrel are the primary features contributing to its general disfavor. When used in a fixed focus or pan focus setup, however, the Lumix 26mm lens delivers its best photographs.

APS-C

Yes, you can use APS-C size sensor L Mount lenses on your Panasonic Lumix S9 camera. The savings that these cropped-full-frame-size lenses generate must be evaluated against the noticeable vignette tradeoff that will be visible on your photographs.

Furthermore, most, if not all, APS-C L Mount lenses are manual focus coupled with a manual aperture. This could be a deal breaker for many photographers, but there is one silver lining. The TTartisan APS-C 40mm f/2.8 Macro lens is that silver lining and may be worth your consideration.

This robust, metal lens with a 1:1 life-size magnification capability adds a 6.7-inch minimum focusing distance. When using this lens on the S9, it will be roughly equivalent to a 60mm lens with a 40-degree angle of view. Considering the Sigma 70mm f/2.8 DG Macro Art Lens for $629 is the nearest full-frame equivalent, this APS-C lens might be worth a thought.

Finally, another APS-C sensor L Mount lens that merits a second look is the TTartisan APS-C 50mm f/1.2 lens. Built as ruggedly as the above mentioned 40mm Macro lens, this crop-factor offering provides legitimate low-light handling with its f/1.2 aperture. Yes, you’ll have a vignette, manual focus, and manual diaphragm issues, but you gain a ridiculously inexpensive low-light lens.

[Please note: There is, also,  a TTartisan APS-C 50mm f/0.95 lens.]

Nikon F Mount

This is where the lack of available L Mount lenses issue gets very interesting. The purchase of an adapter, the Nikon F/G to L Mount adapter opens the Panasonic Lumix S9 L Mount camera up to a universe of over 300+ Nikon F Mount lenses. Low cost and plentiful, vintage F Mount lenses are supplemented by an irregular stream of new lenses which will continue to extend your selection.

Best of all, however, is the ability to use one of the “most important lenses in the history of development of NIKKOR lenses.” That lens is the Nikon Ai Micro Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 lens. Oh, you don’t think this is a significant lens? Then please read what the Nikon engineers had to say about it in their legendary online series: NIKKOR – The Thousand and One Nights of Nikon history. Refer to episode No.25 (First Part) and No. 26 (Latter Part).

M42 Mount

Our last stop at raising the threshold of lens that are available for the Panasonic Lumix S9 is with the unlikeliest of all lens systems: the thread mount lens. Yes, the venerable M42 or Universal Thread Mount or Pentax Thread Mount lens can also be added to your L Mount lens arsenal. This “addition” consists of approximately 280+ vintage M42 Mount lenses!

Once again you’ll need an adapter for blessing this unusual marriage. An M42 to Nikon F adapter plus the aforementioned Nikon F/G to L Mount adapter can both be added to the S9 for welcoming the wide wonderful world of M42 into your full frame camera’s life.

Now that you’re Lumix S9 has more lenses than you’ll ever be able to use, it’s time to scale back the negative rhetoric regarding L Mount lens redundancy. Rather, now you can embrace the rejuvenation of historically-significant vintage lenses and confidently fill any omissions that you felt were obstructing your use of the Panasonic Lumix S9 camera.

Enjoy.

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