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There's so many different levels and needs in motion picture production, no doubt. Now, it's a debate whether I'd be considered a professional or not, but I am scrapping by making a living at it. Somehow. Still, I'm stubborn about shooting my films with manual focus. The inherent flaws and mistakes the practice of manual focusing creates? I value the humanity in it. I actually like the look of a real camera person focus hunting. It's a love-hate relationship for sure, but, yeah, I just refuse to stop using it.

Same with me, I haven't felt the need to buy a new camera for years and years now. And by new I mean paying more money for no reason. I still class a used Z6 III as a new camera, it's just a smarter way to go about buying one (for example an open box mint condition with warranty just cheaper). But the urge is lacking... What is it that any of the new cameras are doing to justify such high pricing? Fair enough if you're working as a professional and haven't upgraded your autofocus for 7 years... Splash out.

Same sensor as Blackmagic Pocket 4K But it's a much more feature packed and better built camera, with an excellent stills photography pedigree as well.

For small M43 cameras like the GM5, prices have skyrocketed to the point where you’d actually make money if you bought one new when it came out, used it, and then sold it in 2025. This trend can’t last—I think it’s a bubble. For anything larger, prices have been tanking for the most part. Cameras like the GH5 and GH5S were roughly double their current prices just two years ago. I suspect that’s because affordable full-frame bodies are now tempting many M43 users to finally make the switch, especially since OM System and Panasonic still haven’t released the camera that truly blows everyone away. Both companies seem to have missed the memo about the kind of very small, capable cameras people actually want in the M43 format. Instead, they keep trying to compete with full-frame—packing similar capabilities into ever-smaller bodies with ever-smaller lenses. Eventually, M43 might only remain relevant for niche situations (like birding). Personally, I still love the format and keep my G7 with two AF lenses. I’m holding out hope. I just wish I could get the capability of the G9 II in an E-M5-sized body. You’d think that would be possible by now. Basically, I use M43 for fun outside and travel. FF is for anything inside.

IMHO the image out of the GH5S still looks amazing when exposed properly

GH5 for $350 is pretty good but I've seen GH6 for under $750, that's possibly an even better deal. GH7 is too new to see a big fall on the used market unless you get lucky, but you can get the similar spec G9 II for a pretty nice $1400-ish. Keep an eye out for GH5S too, it's an underrated bargain now

The R3D files made by the ZR are actually R3D NE, a new codec which may or may not just be the same as Nikon raw, but with different processing applied. Resolve 17 was released in 2020 before either Nikon raw or R3D NE existed so you will probably need to upgrade to 20. A potential workaround would be to use redcine-x to apply basic adjustments and then convert them to a format that Resolve 17 can handle.

Can't seem to be able to import ZR R3D files into Resolve17, do I need to upgrade? any workarounds? Tried a quick 4K ProRes shot and its looking good, not seeing the mushiness of h265.. 🙂

No. For now its only Flexible Picture Controls. Yes, but only with non NLOG profiles, like Flat and Standard. NLOG has a bug, or they deliberately added more NR with log profile. With YouTube compression, its not noticeable tho. You can just wait to see how the firmware update turns out.

Yeah, lucky. Local seller. Pick up only. I was looking to buy any old LUMIX and this one popped up. Dang thing is pristine too.

Cool, unfortunately could not test Prores other than on the camera due to no CFexpress but I may go back to the shop with my laptop to do further testing about this. Will report back. Another quick set of question I can't find immediate answers: does the ZR allow FX to DX crop and digital zoom while recording like on the Z8/Z9? Not sure the 24MP allows this but I'd like to know. Also I'm unclear about LUT support, can it import .cube files? And if so can you bake it in cam? Finally is the 4K60p as good as on Z8/Z9? Thanks in advance, I may pick the camera up today or tomorrow depending on these factors!

I've had good experiences with Prores 422 HQ on Z8, and am thinking the same, why don't tubers test and show the results in their comparisons? While the data rate is quite high (note that Nikon has stated they will add Prores 422 LT to the ZR in a FW update) it is a video file for which in-camera distortion and vignetting corrections available and there is some noise reduction in play as well. Cined has tested it it is included in the database and it seems from the numbers that the camera in Prores HQ mode applies less noise reduction to high ISO files than h.265. It seems like a good compromise and if the LT version comes soon it might turn minds.

Tried out the ZR today, quite impressed with the hardware. It's been said a lot but the screen size is shockingly impressive. I tried it with some Sony glass via the megadap adapter and AF tracking was smooth as butter. From what I could tell ProRes codec seemed quite good, why is there no footage comparing it to raw & h265? It seems like the right middle ground. I'm seriously considering picking it up. Any final thoughts before I pull trigger?

Speaking of disconnected, I recently got curious how much the GH7 had come down in price. I guess it's still $2,200 new (usually) but on sale for about $1,800 now which is a close match for the going price used? But... are there people out there still spending $2,200 on a GH7? I'm not saying it's a bad camera, but I'd really have expected the new prices to be <1500 by now, especially given that just about anybody who was willing to buy a GH7 at anywhere near $2,000 probably already did. (That and I've sort of always wanted one and really want the used price to be closer to 800 than 1800) That's a fantastic deal! Going rate is a lot more.

Regarding Andrew's original post, unfortunately for many of the camera companies, not just Panasonic, I'm a consumer that feels pretty comfortable being behind the curve in exchange for bargains. Meaning, I only buy older used cameras. Just bought another GH5 for $350, for instance, to help my wife do YT content creation. Not only is that cheap, but it's still better than anything else I could buy brand new for under $400. Are there enough people like me? Combine like-minded-folks and typically obtuse Japanese attitudes about the global market and the magic 8-ball sez "Outlook Not So Good"

Man that H265 doesn't look all that great beside the other formats

The reality. I am sure you can get more out of R3D than Lumix log, but at 5x the data rate. But then again, I have seen the size of the Lumix raw files and they are over 10x log, so err, no thanks. The actual reality is that no one will notice, especially as all they are interested in these days is the 60 second short on social media that can easily be shot on a phone or action cam...which coincidently, is exactly what I will be doing next year... Should we care? Yes we should...but always within the realms of reality and that reality for me is I'm not going to be shooting data rates 5-10x what I already have that are already more than good enough, because where does it stop? I still love the ZR, - I think it is THE camera of the year, all factors considered, but mainly for it's form factor and rear LCD, although I do wish that was tilt not flip out, but hey ho, not buying one so what does my opinion matter!

R3D NE, NRaw, Prores and H.265 compared by Cinema Tools. Not that much difference between R3D and NRaw, but not sure if they exposed according to this Recommended Zebra pattern values for R3D NE footage at Different ISO levels document. https://download.nikonimglib.com/archive8/ocJ930074UNE07okE3j44a40zA01/R3D_NE_datasheet_for_Zebra_pattern_(En)01.pdf

I’m not desperate to buy a new camera, but this is what is missing for me also. The A7CR is currently closest but other than format, the A7RV trounced it for me. Ditto the S1RII vs the S9. I can live without the EVF but the lack of mech shutter really caused me issues on the stills side. Sigma FP/L ditto. That camera for me is 2 elements away from being my perfect camera: Mech shutter + hi res tilt/flip LCD. The lack of IBIS used to bother me but I would shoot it on a monopod so not an issue. Tried the Leica TL2 but it was a bit clunky and moved on a bit from APSC anyway and would really only consider full-frame or medium format today.

I took it from the same site that @Andrew Reid mentioned: https://www.slashcam.de/artikel/Test/ARRI-ALEXA-35-Sensor-Bildqualitaet--Rolling-Shutter--Dynamik---Die-neue-Referenz---alles-.html I looked for the Nikon ZR, but I couldn't find similar IQ tests regarding 120fps. It's important to note these are super crops. Andrew thinks it was a bad performance for the Alexa. I don't think so. I don't see the same amount of aliasing as I do on the A1 and S1R ii (which line-skipped) shots.

You sure its Alexa? Here is ZR 4k120 in super35 crop for comparison

The best test so far

That's a terrible result from the Alexa 🙂

Nope - the dial works different on different cameras. In the X-M5 and X-T50, the FS positions only works with a chosen Film Simulation plus a general color setting for ALL the positions of the dial. You can´t create a custom setting for each FS position. In the X-E5 and X-T30 III you can store different color settings (Color Chrome Effect, tone curve, color, sharpness etc) for each of the FS positions - Fuji even created a "recipe" menus for each FS position. My X-S20 have a unlabeled dial, that comes as a Film Simulation by default, but don't have FS "positions". For all the cameras, is just a firmware update away. It involves a lot of steps (choosing the photo, opening the menu, and I don't know if in this menu now you can choose a recipe - at least in my X-S20, you can only choose the original Fuji Film Sims). People that use repcipes (like me) don't want anymore to waste time editing and converting photos (yes, I was a RAW only shooter not a long ago - I still save the RAWs too).

I'm not sure of the practicality of sensor processing/detail tests at 120fps. Who watches much more than just a short clip? The only exceptions I can think of are in Clockwork Orange and Billy Elliot- both shot on film. I had a look at the GH7 test at 100fps and 120fps. It looks better than both the Sony A1 and Lumix S1r ii. For reference, here's the Alexa 35 at 120fps: