Andrew - EOSHD

Having owned (and sold) a lot of the high-end stuff I have given up a bit on the idea of an 'end-game' camera, because limitations breed creativity and part of the enjoyment of camera tech is experiencing 'camera culture', all the rich tapestry of ways to get an image and how different tools inspire different shooting styles, altering the creative vision. So when you lock yourself into 1, or even 3 capable models, you always yearn for something more weird. Well, I do anyway. Everyone should have an old beater camera for instance where carrying flashy experience gear makes you nervous. I always feel tense with an expensive camera, if an accident happens, or it gets nicked, it'd be a fucking disaster. Everyone should try an old CCD model, they do have a different look. I recommend original Canon 1D with Panasonic APS-H CCD, Minolta 5D or a Canon Powershot G10. And the reason you can't stick to just one format is there's so many nice and unique lenses for other sensor sizes. Actually that's where a Sigma Fp-L comes in handy with the crop modes and Cinema DNG 4K even at 2x crop for the Super 16mm look and C-mount lenses. I'm still in favour of small sensor options, like a Panasonic G9 II or Olympus OM-1... Full frame look is not always what you want.

It's a bit of a vanilla option when you can get a used S1 for same price which is same spec but a much more premium body, or pay a bit more and get an S9 with PDAF

You can crop whatever but it's much more difficult to shoot & frame vertical video 16:9 than in open gate. And nobody seems to want to turn the camera 90 degrees

Much more doable than same ploy at the Mexican border.

Black market import shenanigans anyone? https://petapixel.com/2025/12/23/us-government-bans-new-dji-and-other-foreign-made-drones/

@stephen Thanks for the heads-up on the iPhone raw Cinema DNG app. Is it by the same people (or associated) with Motion Cam? Phones are not meant to replace mirrorless cams for video, and the file sizes in the raw video apps are of course enormous. But you have to admit the image is rather lovely and it's fun to play with. I like that it is open gate with optional 18fps mode, you can get very close to a vintage super 8 look with that. Interested to compare it to Blackmagic Video app LOG in terms of the unprocessed look though.

I'm actually surprised there's not a camera with a vertical sensor yet, for portrait video seeing as it's basically the dominant social media format. No square sensor either. And if Open Gate didn't pretend to be for anamorphic shooters, it'd be 1:1 not 4:3!

The files aren't as chunky and colour science not as good as Canon.

Unless it's a hybrid video camera, it ain't in 🙂 What is the video like on it by the way, does it have any? Surely needs a hack if not.

Wow the things you forget... 2017!? Panasonic were always very generous with firmware updates. Can't say same about Sony/Canon

You're right, better images... but they're not 2025 cameras.

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!

Rental market very different to buyers market isn't it? The MapCamera one is interesting but is always heavily skewed to what just got released. I'm more impressed when I see an older camera like the a7c II at number 3. That's quite some sustained sales pattern... Or maybe not, maybe it just got a big discount sticker on it last week 🙂

Finally someone has done it https://www.benro.com/en/prelaunch/NE1-nd-filter.html It has a nifty bluetooth controller with auto-AE as well. Curious to see how nice it is to use, but no word on pricing yet.

Interesting to look at the trends... Canon is extending their lead over Sony. Nikon is only at 5.56%... Had expected them to be closer to Sony, after all the Z6 / Z8 series seem popular, right now DJI is a growing threat. Blackmagic are slipping back as the bigger companies cannibalise their niche of advanced video features and RAW recording. Sigma is holding steady, but obviously this revenue relates 99% to lenses, there cameras are a very small niche. Fuji is steadily going up... Their stuff especially X-mount is not really Lensrental's target market but more pros are seeing the benefits of GFX Panasonic pretty flat at 2% mark, it's a poor showing considering how good their specs are. Leica are pretty stagnant despite lots of new releases, SL3, Q3, etc. Revenue from RED halved, Sachtler also down hinting at problems we know exist in professional filmmaking