mercer

4 hours ago, BTM_Pix said:

I would say that Z mount would be the way to go.

It seems to be the case. Pretty amazing what Nikon has accomplished in the past few years.

4 hours ago, BTM_Pix said:

It can adapt everything you’ve got in your lens collection to be near native.

Not just your AF EF and F mount but with the TechArt you can have AF of all your manual lenses as well.

That is a pretty cool feature, even though my mind cannot grasp how the Techart is accomplishing it. I had a quick look on BH and they only seem to have an EF to Z and a Leica M to Z... do they make an F to Z? The M mount one is kinda interesting because the more I get into shooting film, the more I have become interested in an M6 or earlier model... again completely perverse for my needs considering I usually shoot with an FE or the random Pentax/Canon/Minolta camera, but there's just something unique with a rangefinder.

Speaking of the FE... the FE/FM variants are damn near perfect cameras for stills for the type of stuff I shoot so as I started researching Z mount cameras, I almost forgot about the ZF and I instantly got a little excited about it... even though it lacks a lot of the video requirements I want for a hybrid... but so does the ZR... anyway after a quick search I found this...

Then I searched for a size comparison of the ZF vs. the DF and other than the grip, they were basically the same size... I thought mirrorless was supposed to give us smaller, lighter bodies. I mean my GH6 is only a little smaller than my 5D3...

What a joke in some ways...

Rant over.

4 hours ago, BTM_Pix said:

If you can stretch to a used Z8 then that would close the argument on every aspect and would be a - if not THE -forever camera.

The Z8 would be amazing, but I don't know if I could do it. I think I'd rather have a ZR/ZF combo or just a Z6iii. Maybe if I could figure out a way to make some money from this stuff, a Z8 could be in my future... but then that would open a whole new set of possibilities... an R6iii/C50 or C70 combo...

And this is the problem I have been dealing with since I started this hobby. No camera meets all my needs (wants) but it's obscene for me to really have more than one camera. 

Another off topic rant... I've been seeing social media posts from the filmmaker Pete Ohs... I posted about him a long time ago because he made a film a year with a 5D Mark iii with ML Raw and his films were screened at SXSW and Sundance and they all got some type of distribution deal... well he's still making at least a film a year... his films are still being screened at SXSW and Sundance and he still gets distribution deals and he still makes his films using his 5D Mark iii with ML Raw and when asked, his reason is... "that's the camera I own." I immediately feel like an a complete asshole for chasing these other cameras. Of course, he's a tripod guy with very static shots that he shoots in basically one location (or very few) whereas I am trying to shoot more run and gun and stealing locations whenever possible., so I've realized how important IBIS is to my style of shooting and AF on some level... but not as important...

END RANT.

Anyway, I'm still in my early phase of thinking this through. I guess if I was smart, I'd dust off my tripod and shoot with my 5D or FP... or learn how to grade Log footage and use the GH6... but I really want 32 bit float audio and R3D/ProRes files... or nRaw/ProRes files... and IBIS in FF with some halfway decent AF... is that too much to ask?

first world problems...

4 hours ago, BTM_Pix said:

I say this as someone who has still failed to buy one for the past three years despite it being THAT camera to me.

But I’m going to London this weekend and you know what, I might well end up feeling saucy and doing a Wayne Campbell…

Do it!!! You're a Nikon guy at heart it seems and you've been taking about it for a while... how nice would it be to have your "forever camera?" 

4 hours ago, Aussie Ash said:

If you do decide to go with Nikon the FTZII adaptor works very well with F mount AF-S lenses and the resulting auto focus speed is very close to z mount.AF-S lenses are easy to get second hand and far cheaper than the new lenses in Z mount .My AF-S 35mm f1.8 was only Aus $200 second hand and to purchase new in Z mount is around Aus $1000.

Good to know, thanks. All of my Nikon lenses are non-ai/ai/ai-s but I did see that the special edition of the 50mm 1.8G is available refurbished from Nikon for $199... so that's kind of interesting. Of course the 40mm f/2 Z is only a little more, so it'd be a little redundant. Either way, it's good to know that option is available. Do you know if the EF adapters for Canon R cameras have the same level of consistency as the Nikon adapter does? Also are there good portrait, AF-S G lenses that are relatively inexpensive but still good lenses... say 85-105mm?

9 hours ago, Emanuel said:

Yes, Z8 is a temptation. And now ZR... : ) However in my case, the Blackmagic 6K FF and the FX30 are both in a league of their own.

Thanks for the reply. It looks like I'll probably go Nikon or Canon, but if I was thinking about this at this point last year, the FX30 and possibly an a7c2 would definitely be in the running. I love the output from the FX30 but the media and the price isn't worth it to me. If the FX30 was $1200 or less, it would be a contender. As far as the BM 6K FF... just not a fan of BM cameras for what I do.

9 hours ago, eatstoomuchjam said:

For sub-$2,500, a used EOS R5 ticks a lot of your boxes, I think.  Afraid of overheating and want longer takes?  R5C is right at the top of your price range, but would be doable. 

Being a Canon fan over the years, obviously I drooled over the R5 since it was released, especially after the overheating got sorted out (thanks to the fine folks on eosHD) but it was waaaay over the reality of my life. Since my interest was once removed, I'm a little unsure of the specs but believe that the 4K raw is cropped, not downsampled, right? 8K is complete overkill for what I do... in some ways as I started thinking about this, I've gone back and forth that the 1080p raw on my 5D3 is probably plenty good enough for the short films I don't finish (HA) so 8K is just perverse for me.

9 hours ago, eatstoomuchjam said:

If you're willing to compromise on IBIS for the Nikon ZR and if you're willing to bypass stills, a used OG Komodo is just in the $2,500 price range.  If you already have some stuff around for rigging up a cinema camera, you'd be able to use it pretty cheaply after that.  If not, you'd probably be in a few hundred bucks more and out f your price range.  The Komodo does have a built-in gyro, though, so it can be stabilized.  Otherwise, the ZR seems to be a fantastic choice.

Unless I misunderstood your first sentence here... I believe the Nikon ZR does have IBIS? My real concern with the ZR is the 4K R3D crop in 4K. I'm sure I can live with S35 crop for video or maybe the 6K is soooo good that I will get over my analogesque snobbery. But the Komodo suggestion is tempting... another camera I have drooled over.

10 hours ago, eatstoomuchjam said:

A used Nikon Z8 would be just out of your price range, but would also be a really solid choice.  A used Z6 III would do you really well too.  Price is about the same as a brand new ZR.

Z8 is also a dream camera... basically any camera with internal raw and IBIS is a dream camera for me, so the Z6iii fits into that equation as well.

Shit... just checked BH... the Z6iii is on sale brand new for $1999...

Hmm... that complicates things a little.

10 hours ago, eatstoomuchjam said:

lensrentals.com has a used BMCC 6K for under $2,500 as well.  It's a sensor from 2018, but you can get good results and nowadays, it has surprisingly good autofocus.  No IBIS, though.

Not interested in BM products.

Thanks for all of the suggestions, a lot to think about.

1 hour ago, Aussie Ash said:

Hi Mercer are you intending to purchase auto focus lenses as part of the equation ?

Hey thanks for the reply. More than likely yes, but only one prime to start out with. For instance, with the Nikon or Sony, I would go with their 40mm prime. With Canon, probably the 35mm or that new 45mm. 

Hello all, settle in for a long post...

For the past 10 years I have mostly shot with my Canon 5D Mark iii with ML Raw. Other than a couple short stints with some native lenses, the only one I kept was a beat up 28mm 1.8 because it was cheap and I really like the rendering.

I also have a Sigma FP which delivers a fine raw image but I've always found it to be an awkward camera to work with... especially with its horrific battery life and annoying SSD tethered to the camera.

For the past year I've been using a GH6 a lot I bought on the cheap. It has the Arri LogC update, and I've been fairly happy with it except for my normal distaste for crop factors... although I have found the cheap 7artisans 24mm 1.4 lens to be a treat. For the most part, I think the GH6 could be the ultimate low budget filmmaker's camera. The LogC curve/color science mixed with 4K/5.7K ProRes HQ codec truly is remarkable... not to mention the IBIS which is nothing short of miraculous. Even the 1080p, with its small ProRes file sizes looks pretty amazing to me.

Otherwise, I borrowed a friend's Canon R7 for a few weeks and found it to be a pretty amazing little camera. The h.265 files were way better than I thought they'd be. The cLog2 was a treat to grade, the AF was practically perfect and the IBIS was better than I expected.

Since the pandemic, I've gotten into shooting stills a little. I first started with film and loved it. I still shoot some, but they're a little expensive since I don't have the capability to process/scan them myself. I then picked up an Open Box Pentax K10D which I enjoy taking out and getting some random shots with the beautiful CCD sensor, but video is more important to me than stills and I don't want to maintain multiple systems so I am thinking of starting over and investing in a new camera and a lens or two...

So... I was looking for some advice from anyone who has first hand knowledge about a few different systems. My criteria for stills is basically nothing... shoots decent stills. For video, I'm looking for a full frame camera that shoots internal raw video, or ProRes, has decent IBIS and decent AF. I'm a few months away from a purchase, but I'd like to keep it below $2500 for the main camera and then possibly pick up a second, lesser model,  camera in a year or so.

Right now, it seems like Canon or Nikon are the two obvious options, but after reading Andrew's mini review of the FX2, I'd be open to going Sony as well even though there's no internal raw. I have ruled out Panasonic and the L Mount. I have extensively used an S5iiX and have meh feelings about it. I just didn't jive with it.

I'm kinda leaning towards Nikon due to the ZR, but it doesn't seem like the best hybrid camera. But in a lot of ways, it's kinda my dream camera... even though I think 6K is a bit of overkill. I'm also interested in the Z5ii because it seems like it gets me a good bit of my list and gets me into the Z ecosystem for a fairly decent price.

But since I started shooting video with a ZR65, I've always gone back to Canon and have always been relatively happy about it.

And finally, although lenses are important for stills and those times I'd like to track an actor in a short film or something, I'd probably use my vintage lenses more often.

Anyway, I know this is a lot, but any insight you guys might have would be much appreciated.

Highly unlikely they'll produce two versions. More than likely you purchase the base kit which is basically a GoPro and then for X dollars more you can purchase the cinema kit which will be a new faceplate that has some type of mount. Probably a weird bayonet or c-mount. From there, they'll sell you adapters to PL, EF, etc...

The screen will go away on the cine plate but they may leave an hdmi port for a monitor. Once you unsnap the faceplate, you can unplug the screen which you can reconnect to the hdmi port... or whatever.

Either way, interesting camera. 

The Duke and Dorkess of Dividends

replicate the simplicity of iMovie HD with some modern tools.

Haha, "paid promoters of newness."

Been using the GH6 with the cheap  7artisans 24mm 1.4. I really like the lens, are there any other 7artisans hidden gems?

I've never had a reason to research this, but I would assume someone makes an adapter for EF (or whatever) to Arri Standard mount. Use your favorite old lens and buy more film.

Who knows you could be opening yourself up to a niche market that's very popular right now... the actual film look.

Even mushy 1080p from the t2i looks better than 8K/12k except for DR. The best tech from the past 5-10 years is IBIS.

Any new full frame cameras have good 1080p raw without a crop?

@maxJ4380 love this shot.

Nice color and sharpness. I like how you used the fence rails to add an even tighter window into the frame... especially with how busy the frame is...

A window into chaos.

It also looks like a frame right out of Yellowstone.

43 minutes ago, ND64 said:

Either these reviewers don't know what they're doing or R3D NE is not exactly repackaged NRAW. Nlog is noticeably softer, in both NRAW and h.265. 

R3D details is close to SDR h.265, even at second base ISO.

Even the skin tone is different

That would make sense. Why would Nikon buy Red, introduce RedCode Raw into a camera and trick everyone by using NRaw and calling it RedCode? Seems kinda pointless. I am no expert in coding, but wouldn't it make more sense that Nikon had to implement R3D into the "language" that communicates with their processors. So R3D was reconfigured slightly. Just a guess, but has anyone tried to rename the R3D files as NRaw... I would guess that it works. 

On 9/22/2025 at 6:17 AM, kye said:

I'm not really sure what you're saying.

I pulled the clip into Resolve and brightened it by the certain number of stops I specified.  If it wasn't actually darker then it would have become too bright.

You said you used auto exposure, so the lack of noise, in the "underexposed" image, is probably due to auto shutter and/or "native/base" iso.

Maybe NRaw from the Z6iii onwards is Redcode?

8 hours ago, BTM_Pix said:

This was at the top of my YouTube feed today.

Genuinely thought at first glance it was going to be Mackey’s review of the ZR.

Maybe the world has got so twisted around that Depp is now cosplaying Mackey.

 

Or is Mackey playing Depp playing Mackey...

33 minutes ago, BTM_Pix said:

 

Double post... sorry.

30 minutes ago, BTM_Pix said:

That’s the end of an era right there.

I’ll have to part ex my S5ii and some lenses to get the Z8 like I should’ve done two years ago.

Less the end of an era and more the end of an error.

I have been interested in Nikon for so long. My favorite lenses are vintage Nikkors, one of my favorite cameras was the D5500 and the Z9 and Z8 look like fantastic hybrid cameras but waaaay beyond my budget as a hobbyist narrative filmmaker. The Z6iii got me close and the Z5ii even closer... the ZR... I think I may be sold. And Cam Mackey doesn't love it... so... LOL. Just kidding Cam if you read this site. 

44 minutes ago, BTM_Pix said:

I was exactly the same watching the CVP review.

 

I watched half of Mark Bone's video... I get it.

1 hour ago, BTM_Pix said:

The one I’m least arsed about is the HDMI port as no matter the size they can all snap off if you hit them.

Theres an argument to say the Micro version is preferable because it’s a smaller target 😂

Last week, I sold the final part to my old BMMCC rig... SmallHD Focus and I have no intentions of ever using an external monitor again. Honestly, I get annoyed with fully articulating LCDs... I use the camera strap method and when articulated, the image is blocked by the strap. That's why I love the GH6's LCD sled. Greatest design for a camera screen ever!

18 minutes ago, John Matthews said:

Maybe it's me, but the ZR seems more like a S9 with a bigger LCD, internal RAW, and a slightly more functional hotshoe in a heavier body, worse IBIS, not as many tools, and roughly for $1200 more. Am I missing something? The ZR also has 4k 120 in S35, which could be a big deal for some.

I don't know, I think you answered your own questions... bigger LCD, internal Raw (multiple Raw formats... and ProRes HQ) ... those alone are worth the price increase. When you add internal 32bit float audio (a real game changer) ... as far as tools, I have a feeling some of Red's exposure tools may be implemented... I've heard a lot of folks refer to the stop light as being a really cool one?

Listen, I get it. I like Panasonic too. I still really enjoy my GH6 (with LogC) and will probably keep it. Am going to test the pixel:pixel mode today with some old Cosmicar c-mounts, but not every thread, or new camera release, has to be an affront, or comparison, to Panasonic.

That said, this idea of Raw video, r3D or otherwise, is NOT for most video shooters and probably unnecessary for most YouTubers and people who frequent this site. The storage requirements are insane. Someone upthread said that you get 28 minutes of footage on a 320GB CFExpress card... I assume that's 6K, so I'll do a little better with 4K but that's still a lot of media and storage needed. But if you look at the camera for what it is... a powerful, entry level, Raw video camera, then even with its quirks, it's an epic release.

I know the phrase of the day is content creator, but I, personally, see this as the ultimate, low/no budget, DIY, short film camera. I don't think I have ever been so tempted to hit preorder.

I understand its inconveniences and there are a couple things I need to research... battery life (the FP is atrocious), overheating, IBIS quality, etc... but I must say this is the most excited I have been for a camera since I bought my 5D3 and installed ML Raw onto it.

25 minutes ago, eatstoomuchjam said:

Raw controls, at least for my Ronin 4D 8K are pretty basic compared with some other editors, but the most important stuff is there.  I'd like to see black and white point adjustments in the raw tab, but there are other tools that can be used in a node to accomplish similar things.

Highlight recovery would be nice too.

Maybe more advanced controls will come in subsequent versions.

 

Off topic, but nice image. 

Weirdly, Red announced a new Raptor where you can choose between RF or ZF mounts...