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“Panasonic GH5 ($500) – still a great image and feature-set, however lacks open gate / phase-detect AF and RealTime LUTs” Oh, also the gh5 got an amazing update late in the game 2017 that brought 5k opengate. I shot a lot of doc footage in that mode for a project in 2022 and it was very, very sharp. 200mbps data rate as well. So sharp I was able pull some really high quality stills from the video shots. https://www.eoshd.com/news/shooting-5k-h-265-panasonic-gh5-new-open-gate-mode/

I agree with all but would add the S1R for $900 as the cheapest high mp image out there with 5k bonus s35 mode. Also, Fuji Xh2s on the used market. BUT certainly not new with the recent price increases. X-m5 is a baby X-h2s for $800 and does 6.2k ProRes raw external, 6k open gate internal. I second the LUMIX s5 original with last raw/anamorphic update still an amazing bargain at $750 used. Instead of fx3 I would submit ZV-e1 instead at 80% of the way there but with newly added features for less than half the price. As well, the fx30 over the fx2. My list is dated for sure but that’s because the value for 2020 cameras in 2026 is astounding. The Sony A1 is the pinnacle of this and that’s my next buy in 2026. We reached peak resolution for stills in 2019 and are close to video in 2020. Good news for us is that prices should keep dropping on older cameras like the A1 and the GFX line. In the meantime I’ve been buying vintage lenses LOL. Also, the yen is at an all time low so the used market in Japan is a solid discount for all of us looking for deals. Kowa anamorphic adapters for $200 all day long while newbies have them listed for $1,200 in the US on eBay… Harsh depreciation going on right now and a bad time to sell gear in Trump’s amerkkka. Great time to buy for the informed enthusiast who’s not out there following shilltubers.

I think there has been some decent kit launched this year, but nothing groundbreaking and indeed, some veritable bargains on the used market. My pick, for my needs, is still the S1RII (1 new at discounted price and 1 used) plus a used S5II and a new (discounted) S9. If I was making a case to myself for Nikon, it would be a Z8 + ZR set up. For Sony, A7RV + FX30’s…and they have the best glass options. Canon is far too expensive a flip for me and I find the glass for my needs too limiting but the new R6III looks the most interesting out of all the bodies. Which leaves Fuji. I think I could make a used GFX100 work plus a couple of XH2’s but I prefer other options more. Love the OM-1 but not going back there.l for various reasons. Cameras of the year for me are: 1: S1RII (best suits my needs) 2: ZR (wish it had a fully artic screen) 3: S1II (R model has more for me) 4: R6III (great spec, dull body, expensive system) 5: S1IIE (still thinking about getting one to replace my S9 which I love but isn’t quite robust enough to be my primary unit) Wishes for 2026 (other than World peace, various prominent political figures falling under a bus, personal lottery win etc) would be for a replacement for the S1H in an FX3/30/ZR body style with a fully articulated screen plus a longer focal length sibling to the Sigma 28-45mm f1.8, such as a 45-90mm f1.8 with internal zoom.

Has anyone had success with the Viltrox EFM2 and an Olympus PDAF body in video? I may still order the EM1X. I want to get the sigma 18-35 and speedbooster. But if AF doesn’t work I’ll need to get the Olympus 12-40mm 2.8 instead.

I'd be inclined to put the R5 II over the a7V on the IQ chart. The A9 III is probably worth mentioning somewhere too. The OG Komodo is almost worth including, even though it isn't a hybrid mirrorless - but I have seen some in the approximately $2,000 range on the used market - pair it up with a $500 RVLVR Clutch handle and a $300 Portkeys monitor and you have a setup that's not much heavier than most mirrorless cameras on the market, with good ergonomics. The main bummers are the battery (I use a V mount adapter from Wooden Camera instead of the Canon batteries that it uses natively) and the recording media (CFast).

I'd still put the Lumix S5 as one of the best values when it comes to used full frame cameras. I know with the S9 being so cheap, and having notable benefits like better AF, some might opt to go for that instead but I think the image quality is nicer, and I prefer the size for handheld shooting, especially with larger lenses. It's also compatible with the XLR1.

Do you agree with my choices... And did I miss anything? https://www.eoshd.com/news/the-2025-hybrid-mirrorless-camera-rankings/ The 2025 camera rankings for video quality and value for money are in!

Happy Holidays Everyone, Here's another brand new music track on my Fantasy 13 page: "DREAMING OF FARAWAY PLACES" https://soundimage.org/fantasy-13/ As always, it's 100% free to use with attribution, just like my thousands of other music tracks and sounds. Enjoy and have a safe holiday. 🙂

for pHotography def not. Use flash, so MUCH MORE power in a smaller body. For video its ok, but I would go for something more with an bowens s mount (so you can easy use softboxes, fresnells, spotlights,...)

And with SD card, no RAW video. Unless heavily cropped 4k30.

I dunno if it's a spammer or not, but in the event that it isn't: Lighting is very important for photography (and videography), especially indoors. Aside from producing nicer images, it overall helps you become a better photographer as you experiment and put more thought into your shots. Even as a hobbyist it's a good idea to learn and use lighting. I've never used this light specifically, but unless you plan to experiment with RGB and need a ton of output when doing so, you'll probably save some money getting a non-RGB light. If you need to add a little color to your shots you can get a cheaper RGB light to throw on the background or add a little stylish color to the subject. If you're strictly a hobbyist, you can start out with cheap clamp lights and LED bulbs, using things like shower curtains for diffusion. I still do this when I'm in smaller areas where I don't have a ton of room. There are also very affordable soft box sets that come with soft boxes, stands, and bulbs. They are very simple, but serve their purpose.

Now any iPhone (pratically from 12 and up) can shoot open gate RAW video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TkrKTOOGLE However after trying extensively RAW or Android and Log on iPhone I am not keen to shoot video on smartphones. Too many restrictions and the whole idea to have a cinema camera that you can just pool from your pocket at any time and start shooting doesn't work in practice. Still several accessories like ND filters, cage + hangle or gimbal are needed. I would rather take a small camera with small lens like Sony ZV-E1 + Sony Zeiss 35mm f2.8 with me than a bunch of smartphone accessories.

Sounds like random people making stuff up; the ZR has a fast read time in video mode (for a relatively low-cost mirrorless camera); it doesn't make any sense to make a video-first camera based on a sensor that is more than 10 years old and has a very slow read time. I couldn't find any reports of it on NR.

I, for one, would like to welcome Zhiyun's marketing team and/or their spam bot to this forum. As to that specific light, if it doesn't come in an ugly leather case and have Cam Mackey's signature all over the light and all of its accessories, is it even worth considering?

End of 2026? Djeez, even released today it would be underwelming.

Hey all, I’ve been shooting mostly with natural light for a long time, and honestly never thought too much about artificial lighting. Lately though, especially when shooting indoors, I’m starting to feel like light control might matter more than I gave it credit for. Not even talking about fancy setups — just having a consistent light source seems to make framing and exposure a lot less stressful. At the same time, I’m still not sure how far I actually need to go with this, or if it’s easy to overthink lighting as a hobby shooter. While browsing around, I ran into the Zhiyun X200 RGB. I haven’t used it, just saw it mentioned a few times. Has anyone here tried it or looked into it? Does it make sense for photography, or is it mainly a video light? And do you actually end up using the RGB part, or mostly keep it on white? Would love to hear how you guys think about lighting in general.

And now the ZRc: Fourth quarter of 2026 is too late, or something lost in translation. Z30/Z50II sensor at that point is lame. No IBIS is shame, and 4k60 with crop on APSC is unacceptable. But why its not Z30II? Doesn't make sense.

That price is a steal, especially at €180. The tiny size and weight are a huge win, and for 1.6× FF anamorphic the sharpness sounds solid. Pincushion is definitely the odd part, but at that focal length it’s kind of the modern trade-off—curious to see how it stacks up against your Iscoramas, especially on character and flare.

Yes you’re right about the 2x. I was doing quick math and then it was too late to edit once i realized my mistake. If you watch the video link above Ed shows the results of the Saturn + adapter combo. It kind of accentuates the pin cushion distortion a bit unfortunately and creates some funky edges but it’s all very personal about what is character and what is a flaw. I think for the size, weight, close focus and ease of use the Blazar Nero is still my choice of low budget semi DIY. Still will pick up a Sirui 1.25x whenever i find one cheap enough though. The rear 82mm threads work better for larger lenses while the Nero 52mm threads are the perfect fit for older vintage taking lenses like my Kowa R’s and Topcon glass. The Sirui Nightwalker lenses are going for $180 each on ebay right now and they fit really well with the 1.25x adapter. I think that’s a super good deal for a tight little S35 kit for a mild anamorphic look. Sony shooters still have no open gate so a great kit for the fx30 etc… I’ll probably pick up a set now that the shilltubers have moved on to the newest releases and these are old news.

AI is not a person or a human being and it doesn't share evolutionary history or biological safeguards with us. It's therefore more unpredictable what it might do. I share a lot of the concerns you express in your article. It's worth following what Bernie Sanders has been saying about AI and the impact on the workforce and that the benefits of AI should be shared among all of humanity and not concentrated in the hands of a few ultra-rich people. Although Musk has been claiming that work becomes optional in the future and there can be universal income that allows us to do anything we want but everything that the big seven companies and their billionaire owners have been doing suggests that they only care about power and getting even more rich and are not at all likely to share the riches with the people. What in their past and current behavior would make anyone believe this would ever change, without society and its political leaders forcing a change? Musk seems to think he is player 1 in a computer simulation (the world) and so everything that happens is part of a game and an adventure to him. World destroyed? No matter. Restart simulation. As long as he gets to try to get to make it to the next level (Mars) in the game, that's all that matters. We are all just extras in the game. What concerns me the most is that in the race for Mars and superpowerful AI, the Earth's environment, the climate, and its people are sacrificed and yet Mars is and will likely always remain hostile and unsuitable for human life, so all that we have could be sacrified on a useless and pointless goal by a person who doesn't have all the birds at home. The situation is a clear demonstration of why individual wealth must be limited and redistributed when it gets out of hand.

Cancelled my EM1X order. I was definitely interested, but turns out Viltrox speed boosters don’t work in video AF on Olympus bodies 😕 I am contemplating a G9 II instead or simply holding out with my Nikon Z6 for a while more. End tangent. I don’t wanna derail this thread haha.

Hahahaha yep. I’m iceman and I shoot on Nikon

Thanks for chipping in. Yes Pocket og II would do really well. I actually have had so much fun shooting with it since the video and will have more stuff to put out soon. Watch this space. When I say it is so much fun, it is actually very inspiring just taking it with me wherever I go with a few batteries and capturing life happening around me. It is a great storytelling tool. Take care and have a great holiday everyone.

Appreciate it. Thanks for watching

Iceman, is that you? You can be my wingman anytime.