Panasonic Camera Deals

Lumix is Dead. Long Live Lumix!

I have to say that patience is a virtue when buying new gear. In the past, I admit that I have always jumped on the bandwagon when a new product that I really want is released. However, that has changed as I get older, and it paid off.

Panasonic S1H

I REALLY wanted this "Netflix-approved" camera when it first came out, but the £3600 price tag was a bit rich for me. However, a couple of years after release, I spotted a brand new Lumix S1H on eBay for £2600. I did my due diligence and contacted the eBayer selling it and after a bit of to-ing and fro-ing, I was convinced it was a great deal. I bought it.

For a few years I really enjoyed this camera. It is amazing not just for video quality but the photography features are superb too. Note: I was saddened when I saw that some of these cool photography features weren't added to later Lumix cameras such as the S5ii/X and Lumix GH7.

The Day my Camera Died

Anyway, just before Christmas 2024, whilst making a YouTube video with the camera, I knocked it against the kitchen counter. Even though it was only a slight bump, it did something strange to the camera sensor mechanism. Through my insurance (Hiscox are SUPERB by the way), I was told that the camera was irreparable so I accepted their offer of £2400 (less £200 excess), PLUS I got the broken camera back. 

So in effect, after many years of use, I only lost £400...BUT! I was going to keep the camera for posterity (and background interest for my videos, but I put it on eBay instead. After all, this is still a great camera and if someone out there can fix it, they too will get a bargain.

It sold for...£400! I had incredibly broken even after all those years of use by both a great deal on eBay and an unfortunate accident. 

Let's Try That Again With the Lumix GH7

Once again, when this was released 8 months ago (at the time of writing), I REALLY wanted this camera. I had just sold my trusty old Lumix GH5 after a lonnnng relationship, and what with the new Phase Detect AF on the GH7, along with a plethora of other amazing features:

I wanted that camera! However, for whatever reason I held off. I wanted to look for more Panasonic camera deals.

eBay to the Rescue Once More!

A few months had passed since release of the GH7 and I was ready to buy, even at £2k for the body only. I already had a bunch of M43 lenses as well as the Metabones Speedbooster so I could use my old Canon glass on the GH7 like I had on the GH5.

So I thought I would take some time and look on eBay which I did for a few weeks before biting the bullet on the GH7. I already had the lovely full frame Lumix S5iiX but the GH7 offered so much more, even with its smaller sensor.

One morning, I was on eBay and much like my experience when buying the DJI Mavic 3 Pro Cine (where I got a £4,800 brand new drone for £2,900), a new listing popped up on eBay as I was on the site. And it was direct from Panasonic!

They had three, brand new, "box open" (meaning they were opened for whatever reason but never used) for sale at...wait for it...£1400 each!

I didn't hesitate and hit the buy button right away. Good job I did as the other two sold within minutes.

When the camera arrived, it was MINT. All batteries still in their packaging, no photos taken, no marks, no dust. To say I was overjoyed is an understatement and yes, the camera is everything I knew it was! Note: I had borrowed on through the Lumix Loan Scheme a few months prior which I HIGHLY recommend.

The Moral of the Story

After these two incredible Panasonic camera deals, I just had to write about it in the hope someone else may spot one. 

There are three good reasons for having the patience to wait when a new camera is released:

Lumix, in my opinion, are truly starting to make some noise in the semi/professional camera space in the world of mirrorless. Finally adding Phase Detect AF to their cameras has propelled them to new heights. Whilst the GH and S range were superb cameras for both stills and video, that less-than-adequate Autofocus was a pain in the *SS.

Adding Phase Detect, internal Pro Res and RAW along with all the other goodies will surely get more people to notice the Lumix cameras and bring more creatives over to the dark side (think Lumix S5iiX body colour : )