Walter H

"Autofocus be damned" pt. II: 

It's more $$ but the DJI/Panny partnership is interesting and the SH1 is the DJI LiDAR test horse. Hopefully that system develops a rail-mounted focus motor to bypass the need for using a gimbal.

I mean, I would use it on a gimbal (although I would prefer to not have to upgrade to an RS Pro3) but it would be grand to have a system for handheld work as well.

Everyone's notes about image and shutter of the S1H/S1 series is compelling to me. Whenever I hear the "KLATCH" of my S5, I shudder and wish I brought my heftier S1 instead.

1 minute ago, MrSMW said:

I’ve never had an S1 but have used extensively; S5, S5ii, S1R and S1H.

For video, all ‘good’.

For forward tracking, ie, someone walking towards you, depends on the lens, the settings and the aperture, but in 4K crop mode, f4/5.6/8, pretty good actually, but if it loses the subject, it’s game over.

Unless it really goes wrong like someone walks in the way, the S5ii is of course a lot more reliable than the non-PDAF models.

For stills, real world not a lot in it. I have shot thousands of frames at (each of) 45+ weddings with L Mount and it’s both fast and accurate.

If I was shooting sports, there are much better options such as Sony and Canon, but as long as we are not talking subjects charging around zig zagging, any of the S line are great but as above, IMO the S1H is the pick of the bunch for stills.

Not max detail commercial or studio work, but for events and people, S1H for me on pretty much every level; size, weight, ergos, shutter damping, speed, results. Just superb.

Plus it’s superb for video as a secondary role 😉

Otherwise yes, also waiting to see what the next gen will be because there is something specific I am looking for…but that is another story.

Yeah, great. Confirming. I've certainly not had issues in terms of stills AF with either the S1 or the S5. No fast-moving subjects, etc. And 2x YES for the S1 (and apparently S1H) mechanical shutter. Makes me quote loathe using the S5 for stills, which is still sounds appreciably better than Sony some others. 

On 7/2/2023 at 3:20 AM, MrSMW said:

And final decision made…

The S1H is staying and the S5IIX going back without breaking the seals of the packaging never mind the box.

I went into this weekends 3 day shoot edging towards the 3 identical camera body approach, which I would prefer in principle, plus smaller, lighter, faster, newer has certain benefits, but…

The S1H is just too good a stills camera. Yes, stills.

It’s meant to be ‘The Video One’ but actually excels as a stills camera for shooting people and events because it’s that little bit less critically sharp than the others without The OLPF.

And then there is build, the ergos, the feel of the thing to use and the shutter sound is just sublime.

The S5ii by comparison feels and sounds tinny. 

So decision made. I can’t sell or not use the best camera I have ever used. At least not until a genuine replacement comes along. When or if that happens, but otherwise the S1H is being reconfigured in my line up as principal stills with occasional video and the S5ii’s becoming more video specific and less stills.

Same kit, just re-jiggled about a bit!

I think the gimbal is going though. Just not getting any real use out of it and the S5ii is pretty good in that department for my limited needs.

I really appreciate this post. I have an S1 and S5 for stills and video and recently was hired for a set of portraits, which I'd not done in quite a while. Doing that work again was a treat but I was stunned by the moiré I had to contend with. I asked each sitter to bring two outfits, but couldn't get around it with one sitter for either shirt. It really left me dampened about by kit's potential for portrait work.

I did try to investigate the S1H for photo work given its OLPF, but little to no commentary on that on the web - unsurprising since most S1H users are almost exclusively video shooters. I was also thinking about an S1H/S5II combo for hybrid work, with an emphasis on video, but that is still an investment given how little my current cameras are selling for used.

I've been holding out to see what the S1/S1H/S1R replacement might be, but I also rather doubt that machine will come with an OLPF.

How is the auto-focus with the S1H? I expect it must be similar to the S1 since firmware updating a year or so ago?

On 3/6/2023 at 2:23 AM, stephen said:

@Walter H - Yes can post some clips shot with Paansonic S1/S5 + BM Video Assist. Have many but the best would be to make some new test shots - one using internal 10bit 4:2:2 recording and same scene using BRAW and Video Assist. It would be easier for you to see the difference and decide if external recording is worth for you. Just give me a 7-8 days and I'll do the tests and upload source files on google drive or something similar and post the links here.

Brilliant. And thanks to others for footage already posted!

Tonality and detail is gorgeous as are the colors for the most part. Thanks for sharing.

I do see some of that cyan tilt to the sky that other reviewers have mentioned with raw footage. But I am also not finding a lot of footage online from the past six or so months and I'm curious how this has all developed and what people have learned.

Still interested to see some BRAW/Panasonic footage.

@stephen or anyone else, would you be willing to point me/us to some of the footage you have shot with a Panasonic and the Video Assist? I'd be really interested to see.

I've been a 10-bit 422 VLOG shooter both with an S1 and an S5. I'd love to see what else might be available.

Anyone have any updates on this lens they would like to share? Particularly as a video lens?

I've got the 24-105/4 but would be glad to use something more compact/lighter for a day of hand-held video work. I really don't need the extra 4mm at the wide end. 

Also curious about the character (if any) of the lens. I find moderns glass a bit sterile but do like the 35mm & 65mm DG DN's pretty nice on my S1 for video. 

(Also considering tracking down a Tokina 28-70 ATX Pro but certainly noting saved in terms of weight there. Would be more for aesthetic character of the image...)

Firmware 1.6 has just been released: https://av.jpn.support.panasonic.com/support/global/cs/dsc/download/index4.html

Improved autofocus, gain, 4k xfer over wifi, other bits...

@ParkerThose grabs look fantastic. What are you using for lensing for the S1 in these shoots?

Could you say a bit about how you anticipate the add-on modules will work with this AFX module as they are developed? Do they literally "add on" to this initial component for greater functionality, i.e. eye AF?

Thanks much. This is a really exciting development! I am also a Panny S1 shooter and this could really be the component to address that camera's AF inconsistency. 

3 hours ago, omega1978 said:

Thanks Mattias, for explain it.

For me film weedings are the base of my work and i like to capture emotions and all what happens ( sometimes i have to gather up to not cry in some situations )

But i understand completely, that is not for everyone 

Just don't cry more than your client.

Also not for me to do, but I appreciate seeing this work since it is about as "high-stakes" for a videographer as it gets.

So @omega1978, could you say a bit about how it performs for you? Are you using manual focus or autofocus and how is the latter working in these changing situations? Is the camera limiting you and how? How do you have it set up (are you doing photo and video or strictly video)? etc. All this could be helpful for event shooters in general, which I am from time to time.

Also, on the current topic, have you noticed moire in your filming? 

I'd not say that moire is anything that I have noticed shooting mostly at 4k/24p FF and a little bit of cropped 4k60. Interviews later this month. I'll be sure to try out fabrics and patterns beforehand myself. 

9 hours ago, Cliff Totten said:

HA!,...its funny that you say that as I'm holding my S1 with the MC21 adapter and the Sigma 18-35 f1.8 right now as I type this. It REALLY looks great. I can tell you also that ramping iris open and close is pretty smooth too. AF in video is very accurate with "AF-ON" one push AF.

Don't worry about Super35 mode. It looks just as beautiful as FF in terms of VLog, dynamic range and signal to noise ratio.

This image sensor in VLog is blowing my mind.

CT

Really glad to hear this impression re. Super35. I've been selling of a tone of un-/ under-used kit to streamline and fund this transition to the S1. The 18-35 almost went, but considering that 4k/60 is an APS-C crop, I decided to keep it to preserve the option.

Haven't grabbed an MC21 yet since I would only do it for this combo. Perhaps imminent. 

Willing to post a little footage? Some 4k/24 as well? Thanks.

8 hours ago, Walter H said:

Is the S1 able to "decouple" shutter speed, ISO, etc. settings when switching between photo and video modes ala the X-T3 or Nikon Z's? I've been searching the menus & online but I'm not finding any mention. 

Really hoping there is a selection to be made that when I turn to video on the mode dial, it reverts to the previous video settings rather than the last photo settings.

 

(keeping the Vlog image thread about the Vlog image.)

 

edit: more or less answering my own question. Seems there is no way to de-couple settings as I hoped. Will rely upon setting up the custom modes for video as needed. 

Is the S1 able to "decouple" shutter speed, ISO, etc. settings when switching between photo and video modes ala the X-T3 or Nikon Z's? I've been searching the menus & online but I'm not finding any mention. 

Really hoping there is a selection to be made that when I turn to video on the mode dial, it reverts to the previous video settings rather than the last photo settings.

(keeping the Vlog image thread about the Vlog image.)

4 hours ago, Justforfun said:

I would love for @Sage to make a GHA LUT optimized for the S1  

I also "pestered" @Sage in the other thread. Dunno if they appreciate it or not but I do think a growing number of video-oriented folks are going to pick up this camera, whether they also work with the GH series or as a stand-alone. 

I am also picking up my S1 later today. Glad and nervous - big shift. (And a return to Panasonic after a bunch of years away with Canon and Fuji.)

Looking around for VLog exposure guides (other than what is available for the GH5/-s) and happened upon this - https://na.panasonic.com/ns/253602_V-Log_Excerpt.pdf - which may not be anything new for many on this thread, but might be helpful for others. It was for me - some good reminders.

Curious about sharpening Vlog shots vs. the same shots in CineD or Flat - needed?

@Sage As a very new Panasonic S1 owner and being extremely impressed by the image you have created, I'm piling on with others who have said they would be very interested in applying this to the S1. 

Thanks, and I will follow this thread. 

@Skip77 You are not trying to help. You are jerking your ego with an argument, soapboxing, being disparaging to others, and dragging all of us thru it. That's my experience of your presence and intention anyway.

So how about F*CK OFF this thread and give users who either own or are genuinely interested in the camera the opportunity to share and work with one another to get the most out of the tool. 

Minimally, I will ignore you and I suggest others not reply or quote you unless you are posting something constructive. 

9 hours ago, webrunner5 said:

Yeah but they are going to Have to do something with AF a lot better than they are doing now. That is pretty unacceptable in this day and age.,

Everybody knows about the AF compromises already. This sort of comment has been made hundreds and hundreds of times throughout the internet including this site. That's not what we are talking about here. 

What are people's experiences with fw 1.2? (I've seen the one youtube review.)

How's C-AF performance? Also particularly interested in the near/far prioritization and if that helps hold a subject and lessen pulsing...

39 minutes ago, Parker said:

How/where did you do this exactly? I thought it wasn't being released until July 31? 

If you are asking about the firmware update, the link has already been posted up thread. If you have an activated software key, the V-Log, etc. will be unlocked as a part of fw 1.2.

2 hours ago, Geoff CB said:

Great specs and impressive viewfinder and video.

Poor AF, expensive lenses, and a large body turned me away from it.

Appreciate that choice, and I hope this thread can remain focused upon people's current experiences, what's working for them (us since I plan to purchase one in the next few weeks), how they have been able to work around limits, what feels/feeds creativity.

20 minutes ago, currensheldon said:

Love this. I love my Contax lenses, but for compact, lightweight, and fast lenses (f1.4 or faster), there aren't many options. The 50mm f1.4 is a beauty, but the comparable lenses that have the same size and filter thread (both very important to me for gimbal work and filters) are all 2.8.

But I have definitely been eyeing all of the f1.2 variants of the Voigtlander M-Mount lenses. Might have to make the switch soon. Plus that 21mm f1.8 is very tempting. 

Anyone have any comparisons of the Contax Zeiss and Voigtlanders? 

I also love the tiny adapters needed for M-Mount. The Sigma MC-21 adapter adds a good 150-grams of bulk on every lens, which isn't ideal. 

Yeah, this really gets me going. @Simon Young How well does the 40 perform wide open? What about fringing and CA?

I had the m-mount CV 35/1.2 for quite a while: first on an M3, then a NEX-7, and I sold it around GH-3 time. The CA wide open on the digital sensor was strong and only really mitigated by f2.8 or so. I am, however, thinking of a Minolta Rokkor 40/2 as a walk-around lens. The CLE version.

1 hour ago, currensheldon said:

 

 

Image quality feels on par with the EVA-1 or C300 that are often my A-Cam already when they are all set to a Rec709 image. 

What profiles have you been shooting with? Prefer to shoot with?

I really hope Panasonic or Sigma get some native f2 primes out for it fast, because I'm not on board with the giant f1.4 lenses most manufacturers seem to be creating now.

+1