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A little bit of trial & error plus fine-tuning in the final (all LUMIX) line up and I really did think the 28-45 would be perfect and Job 01 I was kind of OK with it but Job 02, it was niggling me and I flipped to the 50mm f1.8 just to see the difference and the penny dropped. I think even if they popped out a 45-90mm f1.8 with internal zoom, I wouldn't bother now as with a 35 and 85 (which is how I used to work pre L Mount, 90% of my work), I can real world do anything a 28-45 + 45-90 pairing can, but at 1/3rd the weight, 1/2 the size and 1/2 the cost. It doesn't but you can do exactly the same thing with C1/C2/C3 etc. For the brief period I used the S5ii for hybrid, I had: C1 outdoor stills (5600K) C2 indoor stills (4500K) C3-1 6k 30p 5600k Low auto ISO outdoor video mode C3-2 6k 30p 5000k High auto ISO indoor video mode C3-3 4k 60p e stab on 5600k auto ISO, gimbal-like / slow mo mode (obviously goes into crop mode for this) The photo/video switch on the new bodies simply gives you 5 options for each instead of 5 total as with the S5ii. Those were the 2 lenses and for the same reasons, I was using the year before last. I wouldn't trust the S1Rii statically, on a tripod, in direct sunlight, on a 30+ degree Celsius day, say filming a ceremony. Not tested it, but no need because I have no need and the S5ii does it just as well if not better, so right tools for the right jobs and all that. Unless you need above 6k video or stills above 24mp, absolutely no requirement for either the S1Rii or S1ii and even the S5ii can shoot raw for anyone that needs it to with a paid software download. I think if I had 10+ years left in the industry, I'd be at least looking very hard at raw video, but I haven't got 10 years and don't want to get into a whole new learning curve and massive hardware/storage updates for something my type of clients would never notice, so nah. Your plan for a pair of S5ii's with an S9 makes sense. I could live with 3, but having 4 in the end I decided now makes most sense with 1 permanent static (the S5ii) and 1 semi-static (the S9) with the pair of S1Rii's hybrid in the hand.

More back-pedaling, it’s going back. Tried it for 2 jobs and actually, real world, I don’t actually like the size & weight. With the ability to take either 2 steps back or 3 steps forward, the less than 1/3rd the weight and 1/2 the size plus 1/2 the cost, 35mm f1.8 makes more sense. I ‘liked’ the 28-45 and really did think it would be perfect for me, but nah, going back to my roots and 100% primes for stills and hybrid but sticking with zooms for video. And sorry @Thpriest but that means keeping the S9! Shooting these last 2 jobs just reconfirmed what a joy it is to shoot free hand or on the freestanding monopod for all my run & gun clip work. Ridiculously light, quick and easy and probably the only thing I’d replace it with now is either a next gen S9, or possibly (but not this year!) third S1Rii. You can probably tell I am a bit of an S1Rii fanboy, but it just works for me…and I have barely touched the video side yet. Yes I would still rather it was an FX3/30 style body, but I’ll take what it can do what those cannot, every single day. If I change anything else this year, Mrs SMW will walk, so it’s; S1Rii x2 paired with any combo of; 18, 35, 50, 85mm f1.8’s (could do with something longer but not a ‘need’ as such) plus S9 with the Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 glued on plus, S5ii with battery grip and 70-200 f4 for all static longer capture duty. 4 bodies, 6 lenses, 1 system vs what was at the start of the year, 5 bodies, 9 lenses, 3 systems, so a BIG improvement in logistics. I do have a single mint S5ii for sale, EU only, €1000 inc postage for anyone that is interested or quick enough as Monday it’s off to MPB…