mercer

Panny, I know you’re looking for that 3 CCDs Magic but have you ever used a BMPCC? I think that would be a camera you might love. Throw some old c-mount primes or even the Panny 14mm or 20mm and keep the thing pocketable and you would probably have a blast with that footage in post.

Yeah it is pretty much fact that Fuji has a better color science.

There’s a video floating around, I think Driftwood may have done it, but he tested a bunch of variable NDs and although it doesn’t compare quality wise to a Heliopan or Tiffen, it scored very high for neutral color and it is one of the few that has hard stops at each end so you don’t get the dreaded X pattern popping up in you footage. They say you may take a sharpness hit but it hasn’t bothered me yet. I shot this with the 5D3 and ML Raw with the 24-70mm f/4 lens wide open and the Bower ND and it seems sharp enough to me... And here’s one from the Nikkor 35mm f/2 ai-s lens, shot wide open with Bower variable ND... They’re cheap enough, so if you scratch it or drop it, like I’ve done, just buy a new one. I’m shooting my film down the shore, so with the salt air and mist, I am constantly cleaning my filter, inevitably it gets cleaning marks. Anyway for the price they’re worth a try and Adorama has a good return policy if you don’t like it.

Yeah maybe with the new sensor you’ll be able to shoot VLog at ISO 100... which could be the significance of the close up robot sky shot that Luke shared. Which will also probably mean that you will be able to bake in LUTS.

Yeah, Max... this is truly beautiful work!!! And this is the perfect example why Canon is a great choice. In the first few shots when you followed the lead actor, the Tracking was right on. With the depth of field, I assume you used the 85mm for that shot as well? Damn, I so want a C200. How was the post workflow? I just started shooting ML Raw on a 5D3, and now I can’t wait to make that my B-Cam.

That’s true and I guess VLog will be free instead of an add on. Since we’re speculating, I would love for Panasonic to release a GH5b that only offers 10bit 1080p 200mbps all-i up to 72fps, and IBIS. I don’t need VLog or any AF, I’ll take the waveform and the shutter angle feature all in a metal body the size of the G85. Make it a 12MP sensor for $1000 to $1200 and I’m a buyer. I assume I’ll see a Canon Rebel with 4K before I’ll see that camera... so probably never. And I guess I wouldn’t mind some anamorphic too. May as well.

That’s a grey market GH5... good price though. And a sale isn’t a price drop. But I live in NJ, and since 6th Ave is a NJ based store I’d have to pay sales tax... so with the sales tax it brings you over $1600. Better to get a New Open Box From Samy’s for $1599. But if you don’t mind grey market and you don’t live in NJ, then that is a great price.

Well he doesn’t use lights and often enters restaurants and stores where lighting may be minimal and everybody online knows Neistat, soooo he was probably the first to get one.

It seems odd timing to release a new GH5s with nothing more than increased lowlight performance, though? Since I assume the majority of GH5 sales are from video users, it almost seems like they’re killing their own GH5 sales for only $500 more? Unless there is going to be a price drop of the GH5. This is actually kinda strange marketing and timing. I tend to think there will be a few more features and the price will be $2999. Just enough to warrant a jump in price but not enough to really hurt existing GH5 sales.

I think there will be enough features to warrant the extra money but it will probably leave some current GH5 owners annoyed it was released so soon after the GH5. I would expect lowlight either via less MPs or a larger S35mm sensor... or both. But I would also expect something more, especially if it is a micro 4/3 sensor. Internal NDs would be huge but also internal/external 1080p Raw or perhaps ProRes. I know people don’t like the idea of an EF mount but at what price point is too high for a micro 4/3 sensor... or is there a price point that is too high? I don’t really have an opinion either way, and the only thing that would make me consider this camera is a new codec... ProRes or Raw would really tempt me, especially if it has IBIS. Add internal NDs and I am even more interested. Throw a S35mm sensor on it and... I probably won’t be able to afford it. Hmm... this is some mystery. Obviously this camera has been planned for a while now, and obviously Panasonic wouldn’t want to alienate their new GH5 buyers. And since the EVA1 is roughy $7500 and the GH5 is $2000, then I would assume the GH5s will fall somewhere between $3000 and $4000. Well I guess the new rumor is that the price will be around $2499... better lowlight is a pretty big deal and for only $500 more maybe there will be nothing more?

Since the color shift in ND filters vary depending upon brand, I doubt it goes into consideration. If I were you, I would get ND filters with the most neutral color cast. A good neutral color cast ND filter is B+W on the more expensive end and Bower if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative.

Wow, that looks so good. Sorry for OT but I love seeing good videos from old forgotten cameras. I spent an hour this afternoon watching old hacked GH1 videos.

Looks pretty good. Checked out your Vimeo... what did you shoot Victim on?

It is so funny, I immediately thought... what camera did he/she shoot it on? Even when I try and discuss alternative ways to make films... I wonder the same things. Last year I started a post about camcorders and today I watched a couple XA10 videos and thought... Damn, if I was smart, I would just buy a camcorder with XLR inputs, a Rode NTG and go and make a movie. And then I needed to check the sensor size and rolling shutter tests and... Ugh...

I’ll do it too... 6 months to make a feature film on a hacked GH1 or consumer camcorder. I double dare you.

Panny, pick up a hacked GH1 for $100 and make a feature film with it. It will be the greatest marketing story since Tangerine was shot on an iPhone... or pick up a $200 camcorder with a mic input.

And if you insist on going old DV, probably a Panasonic DVX would be the cheapest best choice... except for the amount of time it takes to input the footage with a FireWire. And even then get an HV20 which is still considered a cult cam. Hell if you make a movie on an HV20 today, you would probably be considered the coolest filmmaker in the hipster world. ?

I do like the grungy look as well but I think that look can probably be pretty easily obtained, even with an iPhone. Probably a hacked GH1 could easily give you a similar look, with a few touches in post.

Sorry Panny, when I looked I didn’t see the embedded video. If you want my honest opinion... I know exactly why you would want a camera like this to shoot a movie on. But I would probably go with a C100. Nice small, yet malleable file sizes. XLR inputs for in camera audio, built in ND filters. For scenes without dialogue, you can take the handle off and the camera is a lot smaller. It’s just a workhorse.

I think we need more info, Panny?

Care to elaborate on the “well, yes and no?” Sometimes the issues can be seen as a liberation instead of a limitation. As proven dozens of times, by the many videos floating around, there isn’t a camera on the market incapable of creating amazing imagery in the right hands or circumstances, some tools just make it a lot easier. But there is something exciting about taking the bare minimum and working around its limitations... not that the X-T2 is the bare minimum, it’s obviously a professional piece of equipment. If only it had IBIS.

Exactly and there isn’t much of an image I’ll be happier with than from I’m already getting with the 5D3 and ML Raw, so my second camera really needs to be fairly small, simple to use, and most likely 4K. Right now it’s a toss up between the Leica 109, an RX10ii or maybe an XC10 if I can find one for the right price. For the most part I don’t want to deal with interchangeable lenses, and if I do then another host of features come into consideration... IBIS, sensor size, etc... In the meantime I’ll just continue to watch the cool videos from eoshd members.

I’ve been eyeballing their mods for the past couple years, first with a GoPro and now with the Yi, but I just never seem to pull the trigger. My main cam is a 5D3, but I’m looking for a second glove cam camera that I can carry around mostly for fun. I’m leaning towards a Leica Typ 109, but I may get another GX85 or an E-M10 M3 or maybe a Fuji X-E3... or something. For the price, the Z is kinda tempting though.

Thanks, this is great info. I’m actually kind of interested in pairing this with some c-mount lenses and a tiny swivel foot monopod I have. Any chance you have a Fujian 25mm c-mount lens to test it with? Also please report back with your Z-Log results or thoughts.

@markr041 Really, no manual control in the 850? I hadn’t even conceived such a notion... that’s a useless camera. If you have a minute, I have a couple questions... does the Z files have any grading latitude... obviously I don’t expect much, nor would I do much... but do simple corrections break the image? I most likely would just correct and then add a light Tint or Colorize in FCPX. Also did you expose to the middle, over, under? And finally how is the build quality? I read it is made of magnesium, but how do the buttons feel? How is the battery and microSD door feel? Oh yeah one more... how is battery life? Thanks for taking the time?