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It's quite wild how the prices are going up. I'm a hobbyist so I'm too cheap to spend more than 2k, maaaybe 2.5k-ish, on a camera body. I'm always waiting for the inevitable massive price drops that come just a few months after release or try to find a used one. With the S1 II going up so far and the US tariffs, I wouldn't be surprised if a Sony A7V will go over 3k too. An additional point of frustration is that I picked Fujifilm and their cameras are just straight up not available to buy. X100VI? Sure, for a 500 EUR mark-up from a scalper. X-M5? Never really materialized. I'm holding on to my X-T4 as a second body next to the X-H2s because I couldn't find a X-M5 when it came out. A brand specific issue is also that they have just too many models with not real focus. X-Pro, X-E, X-M, X-S, X-T (in two flavors), X-H, X-Hs. Zero interest in the new gimmick they released, I can honestly not see who this is meant for. If you love INSTAX (which I do and own), this does not scratch that itch.

The only brand new cameras I've bought (in the digital age) were the GH4 and, more recently my FX30 (which is exceptional VFM). Unfortunately I've just had to sell the FX30 because I can't afford a decent Sony B-cam for it and instead bought 2 secondhand S5s. The only thing I've seen recently that I've thought was well-priced was the XM-5, but too much for a fun purchase even then. It's not only bodies, though. Prices for even fairly quotidian lenses are just laughable these days.

When comparing to an FX3 for example, which is 4.482,18 €. Hopefully by spring the combo will be around 3500€ which is when I might look to buy them.

In 1988 I wasn't too displeased with the result, though...

Pre-tarrifs and recent inflation up-tick, I was wondering how sustainable $7000 was for a flagship mirrorless camera, or $3200+tax for a mid-range camera like the S1 II ($4k with kit lens), and now we have the first joke camera with bad AF for $850 thanks to Fujifilm. https://www.eoshd.com/news/camera-prices-have-the-japanese-taken-leave-of-their-senses/ Now we're about to add more inflation and tarrifs to these numbers, so it's possible that by the end of the year a new mid-range full frame camera will be released to the market for over $4500, and that the Sony a1 III might cost $9000. At what point does the line get crossed for you guys, when will you stop buying?

How about a mode to simulate when you get the bleach and the fix steps back to front because you're a bit drunk?

That’s honestly my favourite bit! They need to have a proper hardcore mode where you can only “carry” four rolls of “film” with you and use the app like Pokémon Go where have to go and find a virtual chemist or photo store nearby to get another roll when you run out. I’d make these virtual shops have opening hours as well ! Would be a big fan of the app making you have to load the “film” into the app in the dark and you then having to do all your “developing” in the app with the screen having a faint red glow across it. You could even use the gyro sensors in the device to make you have to agitate the “film” to develop it. I wouldn’t even be averse to you having to post off for a code when you’ve shot a roll of “film” using a reversal simulation and then having to wait a week to get a code back that will unlock the roll and develop it with a non changeable preset process.

This is where I was going - if Fuji released this camera at $300, I'd totally get it. Or even maybe $500. But... at $850, that's why I say fashion accessory.

This camera is not made for us - is for the youngsters that are getting old P&S cameras to experiment something different. If fact, Fuji marketing strategy should be: reach the Tiktokers that created the X100 V and VI frenzy and drop a shitload of money to make this become viral. Saw some reviews, there are some very lovely things there and a ton of likely mistakes - but as I said, we are not the target group. - Video: forget, is crap. Less than FHD resolution, bad AF, 30 seconds max. A lost opportunity, goodish video with the film sims would be great. - Camera is VERY cute and small, but at the same time could have some more "details", have some toyish vibe. - The interface is very simplistic (kinda a cross of the digital Instax cameras and the current Fujifim menus). The use of the left display for the menu item and the bigger for the itens is intriguing. - The diptych idea is very neat, but as some reviews said, easier to do in the app instead of doinf it in camera. - The "film mode" is VERY gimmicky, but could have some traction. Again, the target group will have the veridict. Biggest problems in my point of view: - Flash photography is a VERY big use case of the youngsters getting old cameras. They love it. And this camera could NOT use any flash - the camera have a led instead of a flash, and a cold shoe without any connection. Huge mistake - if they don't want to put a proper integrated flash, at least could provide a center pin in the shoe to put an external manual flash. And since the camera is so bad for video and don't have a mic port, don't know how to use this dumb shoe for anything. - The rear display is very small - and since the younger people probably will use it a lot, could be a problem. In fact, when the rumors started, I said that Fuji should go full Instax mode, making the camera to be designed "vertically". But this would not bring the retro vibes. - OVF looks good, but have zero infos. Could have some displayed settings. Biggest problem: the price. A camera with no EVF, very basic AF, with a very small main LCD, very few buttons, no integrated flash, a coldshoe, very basic video, for $850? You can just get a X100T or X100S used for the same price, and is a miles better camera. I know that it is a "experience" and fun camera, but it should cost much less, around $600. The X-M5 with kit lens is just a tad more. Don't know if the "experience" with this price will get traction. Hope it does - at least is something different.

And underlensed. And overbrod with the wrong type of shills. Marketing/timing’s loss is our gain now at those prices, particularly with the 18-40mm lens. The Hybrid Zoom function they introduced with the S9 and now have on the S5ii etc makes it an 18-62mm in 4K and 18-125mm in HD. This cheap HDMI powered EVF that popped up on here recently might also be a good “in the pocket in case” pairing.

It's a mark of how far fucked Panasonic are, in that the S9 is now going for Lumix GM5 prices on eBay. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/177072111627 2x crop 2015 camera, 10 years old. Vs the 2024 full frame camera they wanted all of Instagram to buy. The last time I saw depreciation like this was with Samsung!

I will look forward to picking one up for £350 in a few months.

FujiFilm have officially announced the anticipated X-Half camera that rumors sites have been talking about since last year. The technical specs are a bit below ho-hum and Fuji decided to go a bit far with film nostalgia, including requiring the user to crank a film advance lever between exposures and setting a limit of frames to match a roll of film. Video specs are about 3/4 of full HD in normal mode at 1440x1080 at up to 24p (recorded in 3:2 format) and there's a "2in1" feature which will do 2880x1440 at 24p, but I don't understand what this is at all from CineD's write-up. Photo resolution is about 12 megapixels (4:3) from the 18 megapixel 3:2 sensor. Retail price will be $850. I hope that there's some incredible... something from this camera once I get around to watching the reviews. Otherwise, it seems to be pure fashion accessory. Otherwise, the cheaper X-M5 and a panacake lens would seem to be a better and almost equally portable option. https://www.cined.com/fujifilm-x-half-camera-announced-when-analog-heritage-and-digital-capabilities-merge-together/

I bought mine at whatever was the launch price, used it once, liked it, but decided I was better off with a 3rd S5ii, so returned for a refund. I then decided over the Winter, I’d actually prefer one over that 3rd S5ii, so bought one back. Happy with that decision plus a trio of f1.8 primes which make for a really capable compact kit. Yes the S5ii is a ‘better’ bit of kit, but it’s not better for my needs. Probably overpriced at launch.

The first stage of large S9 price drops in the UK started in February - I bought an S9 as soon as it happened, as I'd been interested in getting one for a while. In my case it was a red S9 + 18-40mm kit for around £1100 in 'like new' condition. With further price drops about a month ago that kit is now about £1200 new. I quite like it - nice solid-feeling body, decent battery life and with the 18-40mm a fairly compact kit (for a full-frame camera). Not quite a modern GX80, but close enough for most of my use cases. My main criticism is probably that, for a camera presumably aimed at new/inexperienced users, there's too much of the higher-end video stuff cluttering up the menus with options and choices they probably won't understand or ever use. Sure, you can use filtering, My List, customise the 'quick' menu and set up custom mode dial presets to simplify things - but you've got to understand what the options mean in order to set those up.... Why not split the video bitrate/fps/frame size/codec options into 'basic' and 'advanced' sets out-of-the box? And when you press the 'record' button in photo mode, default it to shutter priority with 180 degree shutter angle, instead of 'P' mode with variable shutter speed/angle (but that is a historical Panasonic issue/feature going back many years - at least the 'flicker decrease' workaround for it is still in the menus).

I don't see the S9 discounts in Spain but the new S1ii packs are out: 3.850,52 € for the S1ii and the 24-60 2.8. That looks a reasonable offer.

The discounts don't seem to have come to the US, at least not yet. Used bodies are still about $1,200 here and new is still about $1,400 body-only.

https://www.wexphotovideo.com/panasonic-lumix-s9-digital-camera-body-with-20-60mm-f3-5-5-6-lens-black-3170471/ £800 off. Which makes it £999 with the 20-60mm kit lens. The body only is down to as little as £750 open box mint used. Down from the RRP of a few months ago £1600. One can only assume they are having massive problems shifting them. Which is a pity because the S9 is a fun little beast.

I certainly don't follow the mergers or spinoffs of semiconductor companies too closely (and especially not closely since apparently the acquisition happened in 2016, though maybe the Fairchild branding still remains?). 😅 I think they've said "designed and manufactured by BMD," but I'm guessing that's "manufactured" as in "handed money to someone who owns a sensor fab who is probably apparently-former-Fairchild-now-OnSemi" since BMD building a sensor fab would be pretty bonkers.

I found time to go for a walk down along the river today, here's a few images from the m1 iii and the takumar smc 17mm fisheye. I did notice some interesting flares, so next time i hope to have the gimbal and do some simple moves with it. Pretty happy with the character of the 17mm fisheye, i figure with the crop from mft its toned down alot but i am liking it. Its autumn over here so there's abit of a red theme happening. I did massage the reds, the saturation and contrast very gently in post. I also experimented with a sharpening technique i saw in a simon booth youtube which appealed to me, its not a one click process however it can all be done in 5 minutes which is fine by me, however if your getting paid by the hour it might be a different story. I read the comments on the anamorphic letterboxing and it makes sense, no idea why my brain wasn't connecting the dots earlier, but thanks for the help.

Greetings Creatives! I recorded some brand new music to share with you...free to use in your projects with attribution, just like my thousands of other music tracks. They are: On my Fantasy 13 page: "AFTERMATH 2 " https://soundimage.org/fantasy-13/ On my History page: "THE ANCIENTS" https://soundimage.org/ancient/ And on my Sci-Fi 14 page: "DEAD END IN SECTOR 3" https://soundimage.org/sci-fi-14/ Ogg GAME MUSIC MEGA-PACK Please be sure to check out my mega-pack which enables you to download all of my game music at once in higher-quality Ogg format. Ogg tracks loop better in game engines and they're a great way to support my hard work, too. 🙂 Plus I add new tracks to it all the time. You'll find it here: https://soundimage.org/ogg-game-music-mega-pack/ Have a good week, stay safe and keep creating! 🙂

Fairchild are part of OnSemi now. The Blackmagic 12K sensor manufacturer is probably OnSemi as well?

We all understood your point and you seem to have completely ignored the responses that you quoted. Panasonic don't have to make their own sensors in order to have access to the latest/greatest technology. Other companies like Red, Arri, and BlackMagic don't make their own sensors and go to third-party vendors like TowerJazz, Fairchild, and OnSemi. Each of those three vendors have sensors that are desirable over the sensors made by Sony for various reasons. As to the patents thing you halfway brought up, a google search for Panasonic image sensor patent returns a non-zero number of results. You say Panasonic doesn't have anything to bring to the bargaining table, but you don't seem to actually know that, especially because you make statements like "Canon's DPAF builds on Sony's PDAF" which doesn't make a lot of sense, given that they are radically distinct technologies (sure, DPAF is a form of phase detecting AF, but then, in any realistic way, that sort of phase detection is how every manually-focused rangefinder camera in the history of cameras has worked). But more than any of that, people already brought up specific examples of Panasonic buying sensors from someone other than Sony, including for the GH7 which was announced almost exactly 1 year ago and has the most advanced Micro 4/3 sensor ever made - with PDAF.

My orig comment was in response to why Panasonic can't compete in regards to access to image sensors and instead gets access to the latest tech a year/cycle behind Canon, Nikon, and Sony. Their organic sensor never made it out of the lab and even if it did Panasonic themselves have no fab to manufacture it themselves and would have to contract it out to a third party. I have a little bit of experience in filing patents, and in a segment as technical and complicated as cameras the IP landscape is like a minefield, there is no way to not encroach on a competitor's patent. So all companies (including Panasonic) will end up having licensing agreements and patent swaps to allow themselves to conduct business, lest they sue each other into oblivion. Sony is the largest image sensor fab with 60% market share and is leading the market in technology, Nikon makes the 2nd best lithography equipment, and Canon makes the 3rd best lithography equipment, own their own fab, and are the historical market leader in cameras. The thing is, Sony probably uses some Nikon and Canon lithography equipment to etch their chips, Nikon contracts Sony to manufacture some of their sensors, Canon DPAF probably builds on some phase detect patent that Sony owns. Panasonic in comparison has nothing that comes close to this when they go to the bargaining table. And this is in addition to lacking the amnt of staff in image sensor development that the other companies have possessed for decades (accumulated patents). So arguments on why couldn't they include the latest sensors earlier are moot because it is probably impossible. They have to make do with what they have. Although this also forces the question on why they tried to compete with Sony/Nikon/Canon with the S1II instead of trying to differentiate themselves with novel features like internal ND or what not like @Andrew Reid said. But maybe there is some exclusive licensing agreement with RED or Sony blocking that. I think sensor capabilities have platued and it is more about small features to differentiate systems. I've been pretty happy with my Z6 and am not sure how the latest and greatest would help me (although I am just starting my journey).

I miss Ming a lot, the guy is brilliant. But now he have a very well respected watch company, only shoots for some clients and (of course) all the media for his watch company. https://www.ming.watch/