John Matthews

For what it's worth, so far, I have to say that my experience has been very positive. I've bought lenses and cameras without hiccups. I've sold about 5000 euros of gear to them and most of the time they upped my initial quote. A key part of that process is they don't report the amounts they pay me to the French government either as it must be some loophole, unlike when you sell on leboncoin.fr. The process is a little slow, but I don't have the same headaches about wondering if I'm going to get paid or scammed. If they don't accept my condition for an item, they just send it back to me. I'm happy.

On 6/28/2025 at 5:01 AM, newfoundmass said:

Virtually any camera released in the last 10 years, if used with care and consideration, will look good. And ten years from now the GH5 will still be able to generate lovely images, assuming there are some still out there that work! The pace in which people upgrade cameras is crazy to me, it just seems pointless and wasteful.

The human eye isn't going to get any major upgrades last time I heard. It's the one constant from the early days of image creation to now. The crazy thing about the upgrades is that many cameras being sold have less than 5000 actuation.

13 hours ago, PannySVHS said:

My second GX85 has arrived yesterday. It feels like new. I'll sell the 12-32mm, since I'm owning two of them now. Great deal for a great camera. I still got my first one, which I bought eight years ago thanks to a great thread on this forum. I should let the GM5 go, since the faux orange rubber coating is kinda too cute to stress test it when using the camera for photography. I might give it a photo tour before departing from it. Decisions.:)

That sounds great, coming from a og pocket and Bmmcc afficiando like you! @kye How is sharpness on the GH7, artificial looking or natural? What about punchin focussing during recording? Does the camera offer a 2x crop mode with good codecs and quality for some b3/4 goodness? True S16 mode or 16, 2.87 vs 3x? More questions to come.:) Thanks!😊

I have so much great footage I've taken with the gx80- the one that was used in that gx85 thread started way back when (and briefly became the most popular thread on EOSHD ever). Every camera I've used since (there have been many of all shapes and sizes) was either bigger, lacking features, or didn't have add significant improvements over it. In retrospect, I probably should have stuck with it and I would have saved a bundle and paid off my house that much quicker.

Just last night, I was live streaming via HDMI with my S9 (not recording) and the camera over-heated mid-session (about a hour in), something  my M43 cameras NEVER did. Granted, I don't think the S9 is made for what I was doing with it in a VERY hot attic (~35C), but still I wasn't even recording and I had a dummy battery. I guess the S5ii will now need to be doing that job and I'll set up my GH2 as a backup (just in case it happens again).

6 minutes ago, MrSMW said:

Or, instead of forcing my 6k open gate camera into shooting 4k cropped, I can stick with my smaller and lighter Sigma 28-70 f2.8 🤔

Arguably, the new zoom is the equivalent of 1mm wider and 10mm longer in terms of focal range and arguably f1.8 is still f1.8 for light gathering purposes, but for DOF equivalencies, f2.7 = f2.8, but nah, zero real world gains for my needs and a HUGE downgrade from 6k open gate. 

Now if the lens was significantly smaller and lighter, maybe a small argument could be made, but nah…

For APSC users, it’s a different matter and the lens makes sense. Just not for me.

Good point!

2 hours ago, MrSMW said:

My S9 sits smugly looking on.

At sub 1k prices, its video spec is in another league.

That is VERY clear! Even in terms of photography, it's not that bad even for studio work if you use continuous lighting (which I now do). For outside stuff, you'll need a good reflector.

On another note, the S9 can also be fitted with the new Sigma 17-40 f/1.8, which would perform like a M43 camera with a 25-60 f/1.2.

I've had the E-M5ii and E-M5iii. I've also had the E-M1ii, E-P7 and E-PL9. All of them had decent images in 4k. The E-M5iii and E-M1ii were definitely a step up when you turned on its picture mode (I forget the exact term). Shooting in 4k in the other normal modes wasn't bad, but a little "soft" for extreme detail. The major problem I had with the E-M5ii was absolutely horrendous moiré issues. For AF, both the E-P7 and E-PL9 did way better continuous AF in video than Panasonic contrast detect.

The OM5 series could be so good if they could just put a little better processing in it and 10-bit.

The beige looks like puke. Maybe it would be stealthy for a safari or desert situation. Also, OM System is thinking they can way more for this camera, but they will soon realise the contrary. It costs 1299 euros and 200 cheaper in dollars. I get the feeling OM System is asking the europeans to pay those effing tariffs for the Americans rather than asking the Americans to pay. The price gap is too much, especially since the dollar has been in a rather large decline since January 2025.

Sadly the new OM5ii isn't offering any real video upgrades. The E-M5iii remains the smallest M43 camera with PDAF at a decent used price until Panasonic pulls their head out of their rear-end.

14 hours ago, PannySVHS said:

I bought myself a second GX85. It will hopefully arrive this week. Comes with the 12-32, which I already own and enjoyed using for some test clips with the og pocket. I think I should let go my GM5, as it was more an object of desire than being a practical artists tool for me.

What do you guys think? Prices are pretty nice and high for these at the moment. Mine is orange and in a very good shape. Much usage would rub the faux leather off I think.

I love the subtle color grade @kye Great results with your GX85 cinema beast.:) Btw I really love the colors of the GX' raw files when taking photos . This camera is perfect for street and to carry along. Anyway, how is Prores on the GH7?:) Any nasty artefacts? Awesome to hear and read about your findings with this exciting camera, Kye!

Out of curiosity, how much is that combo going for where you live? I'm always looking for it, but it often seems a bit pricy for me. In France, it can be found for about 350 euros.

4 hours ago, Sebastien said:

As I understand it, the only mode that allows for locking the shutter at 1/50 and being able to adjust the aperture via the camera is the manual mode under the movie mode - which does not allow auto iso, right? (Strangely, the M mode for stills allows for auto iso). 

This is correct. Use a variable neutral density filter to adjust the exposure. If you REALLY want auto ISO, you need to also accept shooting in 30fps because this is only achievable in 4K photo mode.

4 hours ago, Sebastien said:

But how do you achieve that, provided it is a 4/3 lens without an aperture ring (like my olympus 17 & 45 mm 1.8 and the 12-32 kit lens)?

None of those lenses have apertures to control via the lens. They have focus rings, unlike the 12-32. With the 12-32, put the camera into manual focus mode and there will be a [AF] button in the bottom right corner. Tap it and the lens will focus on that spot- this is your friend. You can also just tap where you want to focus and it will also focus on the object. All of this can happen in MF mode and without any physical focus ring on the lens... if that makes sense.

24 minutes ago, fuzzynormal said:

Man, I lost my GX7 years ago --and when I look at that 1080 footage I still find myself coveting it.

I had that camera for about 1 month and then sent it back to Amazon because the GX80 came out at the same time. Still, I recorded some great moments on it. One of the videos is so precious that I have it on my desktop at all times.

Just a note for @Andrew Reid: that's Richard Wong, not Robin Wong... I know, both review M43 cameras.

15 hours ago, Noli said:

Means I can also leave my diffusion filters at home 😄

I don't think its that bad actually.

Good comparison.

"The Straight Story" was one of my favorite films. I'm sure there are people with very big money bidding on this stuff.

I'm seeing deals in Germany and France for a S5D + 28-200 for 1299 euros- that's a great deal!

Oh yes. That would be great to have a 60-180mm f/4.5-6.3 with a 62mm filter thread, under 250g. Let's add on that 28mm or 40mm f/2.8 pancake about the same size as the stupid 26mm MF one. The system would then be complete!

I know it's 2025, but does anyone still consider using Loupes on the back of the LCD? Don't these seem more elegant and lighter solutions like for the S9?

Or even just one of these:

1 hour ago, MrSMW said:

Depends on your preferences but all of the Sigma f2/2.8 primes, all the Lumix f1.8/2.8 primes, various small zooms including the new 24-60, all very good combos.

I prefer the Sigma f2’s for stills and for their build and looks, but I went with the Lumix f1.8 primes for mine with the 18, 50 and 85.

I’m now questioning the 18 and might trade it for the 24 as it’s just a bit too wide for my needs and taste.

The 35 is not quite wide enough and a bit close to the 50.

The 50 has been my workhorse the last few jobs and the one I am currently on, but whether I stay with L Mount for video or flip to Sony (or Nikon) 99% sure I will pick up a Sigma 28-45mm f1.8  because that would suit my needs best.

I already have a few of primes you mention. I have the 24 and 50mm, but I fear they might be only for a pinch. I'll probably use the 18-40 for the moment. I'm going to give it go with my Konica lenses too, especially my 40mm f/1.8 and the 50mm f/1.4. Also, I have the 21mm f/2.8 and the 100mm f/2.8; so, plenty of options there. It should arrive tomorrow.

The S9 is now getting interesting at recent prices I've seen it for in France- under 1000 euros. I'm contemplating now. I figure the launch price should have been this. All they had to do is not give out so many of them for free to influencers. It only really has 3 or 4 modern lens options and a slew of vintage options, but it might be enough.

Quick question: Is the G7's 4k line-skipped or pixel-binned? I cannot seem to find definitive information on this. I can easily get it to moiré but usually in the blue channel.

2 hours ago, MrSMW said:

I am looking to almost certainly go fully Sony or Nikon for bodies next year for one single overriding factor and that is lenses.

What about focus breathing compensation? I've heard only a few high-end new lenses do that. Is it not an issue for you?

10 hours ago, EduPortas said:

That looks really good. The G7 has much nicer and warmer colors.

For a doc-style scenario it could be a great option. Other than the obvious jello effect of the tortutre test it could stand up to any modern day camera.

As we've said in this forum quite a lot: from about 2010-2018 Panny was a true disrupter in the videocamera world.

I'll credit @Andrew Reid for the look with EOSHD Pro Color. I only tweaked it a little.

From what I've understood about Panasonic in that era, even their pro video division was surprised by the hacked GH2. I remember many videographers were saying the 1080p out of the GH2 was WAY too sharp and digital. Some of the hacks even offered less sharp versions. After with 4k, it didn't seem we had to worry so much about detail anymore. IBIS meant we could now actually see the detail because with no IBIS, it turned to mush. 

14 hours ago, TrueIndigo said:

Thanks for the kind words, John. I remember an old friend of mine, who is a very experienced DP, once said - with regard to "unmotivated camera movement" - that you "shouldn't move without a reason". For the purpose of the camera test I just enjoyed finding the CinemaScope compositions and letting the action (a very busy location) move within the frame instead. I now have a GH5 and a S5, but my use of IBIS is still very modest - it's more useful to me to simply iron out the micro jitters in my hands than to try to emulate a gimble.

I think your DP friend gave you good advice. Nowadays, IBIS is way overused. Don't get me wrong, it still looks better than any shot with jitters. Recently, I've been looking for ways to simplify my workflow and shooting experience. Part of that is to use more tripod shots.

13 hours ago, TrueIndigo said:

I still have my G7 -- I got rid of my GH1, nice though it was back in the day, but kept this little camera; the simplicity of using it remains an attraction. This was my first camera test with it:

 

Very nice. Your video exemplifies something interesting about the G7. I especially take note that you locked down every shot. I'm fairly certain that someone doing this today would have left the tripod at home and everything would be with IBIS. It looks great the way you did it. As I demonstrated earlier, you can easily use stabilization in post on a wide lens and get decent results. However, the standard should be the locked-down shot.

Here's the original video. Of course, this is for testing purposes only as I don't usually shoot like this. I just wanted to see how stable I could make the G7 and see how fast it could reacquire focus once in a settled position. What I learned is the smaller you make the AF box, the faster continuous will reacquire focus. I just went from subject to subject, placing the framing where the focus point was. I doubt the footage of my Panasonic VX980 would have been better, just WAY noisier.