Panasonic's latest firmware update for the S9 improves startup time

Photo: Dale Baskin Panasonic has released a firmware update for the Lumix DC-S9, offering some smaller performance-related fixes. Firmware Ver.1.3 is mostly subtle, but it promises to address one of the S9's slightly frustrating features: its slow startup speed. When we reviewed the S9, start-up times were occasionally upwards of four seconds. On paper, that doesn't seem like much, but it was notably slow at times. In many situations, that won't be much of a problem beyond a slight inconvenience. But when you are trying to capture something happening right that moment, four seconds could mean the difference between getting the shot or not. The official note for the firmware update says, "The startup speed when powering on has been improved." We haven't tested the new firmware to see how much of a difference this makes, but it's good to see that Panasonic is addressing the issue. Beyond startup speed, Ver.1.3 also promises improved operational stability and offers some subtle Wi-Fi-related updates, all of which you can see below. You can download Ver.1.3 now from the Panasonic website. Firmware Ver.1.3 notes: Feature changes due to security enhancements When directly connecting the camera and smartphone via Wi-Fi, the connection has been changed to always require password authentication. (The [Wi-Fi Password] menu has been removed.) The [TKIP] encryption method is no longer supported when connecting to Wi-Fi via an access point. The [No Encryption] option in network authentication is no longer supported when connecting to Wi-Fi via an access point. The image transfer feature to PC via Wi-Fi has been removed. (Only European/Ukrainian models) Other improvements The startup speed when powering on has been improved. The operational stability has been improved.

Mar 27, 2025 - 23:07

Panasonic's latest firmware update for the S9 improves startup time

Photo: Dale Baskin

Panasonic has released a firmware update for the Lumix DC-S9, offering some smaller performance-related fixes. Firmware Ver.1.3 is mostly subtle, but it promises to address one of the S9's slightly frustrating features: its slow startup speed.

When we reviewed the S9, start-up times were occasionally upwards of four seconds. On paper, that doesn't seem like much, but it was notably slow at times. In many situations, that won't be much of a problem beyond a slight inconvenience. But when you are trying to capture something happening right that moment, four seconds could mean the difference between getting the shot or not. The official note for the firmware update says, "The startup speed when powering on has been improved." We haven't tested the new firmware to see how much of a difference this makes, but it's good to see that Panasonic is addressing the issue.

Beyond startup speed, Ver.1.3 also promises improved operational stability and offers some subtle Wi-Fi-related updates, all of which you can see below. You can download Ver.1.3 now from the Panasonic website.

Firmware Ver.1.3 notes:

Feature changes due to security enhancements

When directly connecting the camera and smartphone via Wi-Fi, the connection has been changed to always require password authentication. (The [Wi-Fi Password] menu has been removed.)
The [TKIP] encryption method is no longer supported when connecting to Wi-Fi via an access point.
The [No Encryption] option in network authentication is no longer supported when connecting to Wi-Fi via an access point.
The image transfer feature to PC via Wi-Fi has been removed. (Only European/Ukrainian models)

Other improvements

The startup speed when powering on has been improved.
The operational stability has been improved.