John Matthews

Here's my Panasonic 2024 travel setup: Generic bag Panasonic HC-VX980 (integrated 31-626mm lens), 2 batteries, USB power cord Panasonic GX800, 3 batteries, lenses (Panasonic 12-32mm, 17mm f/1.8, and 45mm f/1.8), USB charging cord Variable ND + CPL that fit both cameras Olympus LS-P4 audio recorder with wind muff 3 x SD cards The total weight: about 1650g. This setup is significantly less than my FF setup (especially considering I'd need a bigger bag, NDs, lenses, etc.). With the release of the new Panasonic 28-200mm, I thought I might get away with that but have since reconsidered. I like the idea of having two devices, one for video, one for photos and b-roll video. At $900, the 28-200mm's a decent deal IMO, given the size, but I'd probably need to sell the remainder of my M43 stuff. Also, I'd probably end up wanting more lenses for lower light with a FF setup.

I've had both for at least 2 years each. If your priority is size, I'd go with the GX85. If your priority is features, the E-m1 ii blows away the GX85 in almost every regard.

Exactly! It's just lazy. I guess it's better to have a lens than to not have a lens, but this lens doesn't inspire, regardless the results. The L-mount version of the lens is $1500 and the difference between a high MP L-mount camera and the OM-1 will be insignificant mounted with that lens... probably better with the L-mount anything.

Can we say the OM-1 ii is the first OM System camera? All the other releases seemed very much Olympus developed products. Really, they put a new processor, improved the AF to extend to humans, and added photo ND features. All of those look good, but maybe this camera should have been the OM-1. I'm still not 100% convinced, more like 50%. It's a strange thing because I feel like all the manufacturers are giving us great options for the same category of camera (big, fully-featured) rather than going for smaller cameras with the standard features of the past 2-3 years.

Now the GX880 is discontinued without replacement, the OMDS/Olympus E-P7 is the lightest/smallest DSLM capable of recording 4K you can currently buy on the new market. Is that correct? Over the GX880 and payment for the extra 67g, you get: proper downsampled 4k image using the full width of the M43 sensor proper IBIS much more capable shutter hotshoe and high flash sync 1/250 24fps, 25fps, and 30fps in 4k 30 minute time recording time limit better dials and handling far more color options proper sd card better battery You lose: flip up screen vs. flip down screen Panasonic menus and other Panasonic video-related features better build quality (E-P7 is VERY hollow feeling and doesn't give much confidence) better quality 60fps footage way less expensive Am I missing something?

Well, it sounds like the GX880 has been discontinued, according digixo.com, the "smallest 4k DSLM camera with a proper shutter". I'm hoping for a non EVF replacement, but I know no one thinks it'll ever happen. If M43 has only become G9ii-sized cameras, Panasonic will have problems IMO.

I know some are excited about 150-600mm rebranded Sigma FF lens. The OM-1ii sounds more like a Sony update than anything else.

Man, you really don't like the shutter in the S5ii! It doesn't bug me that much, but I have heard better.

APS-C on L-Mount is going to compete well against M43 if Panasonic continues with currently sized cameras. What would you you choose? Sure, M43 has more features and better resolution, but the FF offers more possibilities when you're not trying to go small.

Just saw another deal on the GX880 +12-32 kit for 449 euros new. Given the prices on the used market for point and shoots and small DSLM, it's super-hard to get a deal on any smallish camera theses days. According to some, no impressively small cameras will ever be made again. That would be sad and in that case, it makes sense to grab what you can.

Needs to be a DSLM. Also, we don't talk about action cams anymore on this forum. 🙂

I've owned both cameras (GX80 and E-M5 iii) for 2 years each. If you compare the image and audio only, I feel the GX80 has a slightly better image more often than the E-M5iii, but the audio is no comparison. The GX80 has usable audio until you film the same thing with the E-M5iii as you cannot hear the ibis working in it. On the GX80, you hear the ibis and focus motors if you have them going. Still, both have better audio than the GX850. Also, the continuous AF performance is night and day with the GX80 with the E-M5iii outperforming it in every aspect. The EVFs are also light years apart- way better on the E-M5iii. The GX80 does feel chunkier though, but no weather sealing.

It's close with that 27mm lens, but still bigger and priced outrageously, even used. Quality is probably in a different league to the GX850 though.

The cheapest choice with the biggest feature set is going to be a used Olympus E-M5 iii or E-M1 ii in my opinion. Both of those offer fantastic value unrivaled for their size (especially the E-M5 iii. The gotchas on both of them on the used market is the questionable usage of glues on their outer shell. The E-M1 ii often has the rubber coming. The thumb rest on the E-M5 iii often comes off and you need to be careful with not putting too heavy of a lens on it as it has a fragile tripod mount.

Read the news recently? Lived in France recently? Recently engaged politically in France? The "direction of" doesn't mean they do everything like in Hong Kong as described in the video. Have you got any knowledge the power of the president in France? No need to be rude. I assume you're talking to me but don't have the guts to quote me or respond so that I can clearly see you're talking to me.

I spend lots of time debating in my head which lens to take on a family outing. It's ridiculous. Inevitably, I think I have the wrong one. Then there's: "Do I use the EVF or the screen?" situations or "Do I take my big camera or my small camera?" Now, I have fewer lenses; so, it's better and "only" two camera possibilities. Sometimes, there's something to be said for camcorders or super zooms.

Look at The Tiger King. There was tons of old MiniDV, interlaced footage they definitely profited from. It couldn't be further from Netflix specs. Content is king. 😉 I've also seen stuff. Usually, great ideas originate from junior or female managers. Almost always, their ideas are poo-pooed by a senior manager, only to be taken up later with a different "wording" by said senior manager. Classic. Personally, I think this is better new than Panasonic shutting down one or the other division. Who knows? They might find a way to rid themselves of some unneeded employees. I find it amusing they'll start on April first 2024. I'm fairly sure the GH2 was the camera that started all of this. Once hacked, it was getting comparable results to DVX series of cameras. The shit must have hit the fan at that point. I'm fairly sure, starting from the GH4, they had reps from the pro video division having their say about what becomes "consumer" and what doesn't.

This is what Cined said: Personally, I never noticed it that much.

Is this H.264 or H.265 footage? On Panasonic, H.265 messes more with the image IMO. I remember the GH6 having crushed blacks in H.265.

Look how great 8bit is! ...10bit is better ...12bit is even better than 10bit ...I think I know where this conversation is going. According to ChatGPT, to get the most out of 8bit: Use a Flat Picture Profile: Any suggestions on Panasonic (without adjusting highlights and shadows)? Expose Carefully: I use roughly -.3 to -.7 EV comp. Anyone else? Control Contrast: that's part of the Picture Profile (on Panasonic) Use a Lens Hood: good point in general, but it makes my setup bigger. With modern lenses, does it really matter so much? White Balance: seems obvious... for those don't have multi-camera setups, do you just use auto WB? Avoid Aggressive Color Grading: of course, it's 8bit, but how far can you go? Shoot in the Best Quality: what's the minimum? 4k 100mbps -ish? What about on a tripod? Use a Tripod or Stabilization: less movement = better image? Control Lighting: obviously, but does 10bit even matter in such controlled situations?

So many people loved the RX1 series of cameras. Leica is Leica with the price. Granted, the Minolta TC-1 was made of rather exotic materials to get to that weight. Heck, I'd be happy with a hard plastic version with "only" APS-C sensor and f/2.8 lens. Really, the Rocoh GR (a rather popular camera) would be perfect if it had some reasonable video features. My point is here we are, 28 years after the TC-1, and we cannot do better with a digital point and shoot. I'm hoping for OMDS to make something.

The Minolta TC-1, 200g (with battery), f3.5, FF, 28mm lens (5 glass elements in 5 groups). This camera, made in 1996, is the target for small, compact digital point and shoot.

In recent years, there have been a few, but mainly at the long end where size REALLY matters. I think Canon made a 600mm F/11 (fixed aperture). IMO, in terms of size, it still doesn't compete well with the Panasonic 100-300mm. Fast and wide lenses on FF will probably be impossible to beat for M43. Even a 24mm f/1.8 on FF won't be beaten by a auto-focus version of the equivalent on M43. However, there are other lenses in the middle that make more sense. A very small and light-weight FF body with a tiny F/4 lens could kill M43 unless more effort is made to make a smaller M43 body. There is still a market for M43. I've seen prices on the used market go up and up. It's not as if people are really dumping M43 without more new shooters buying in. There is still demand and its high. If Panasonic developed a GM1-sized camera more pancake updates, wouldn't people buy it? Or, would people say "my FF camera is small enough; I'll just use a phone on the go".

At some point M43 was about small bodies and small lenses. Now, it's about is about bodies with more features due to the smaller sensor and "smaller than FF" lenses. This must change because FF sensor will inevitably catch up to the features and cost less than the M43 sensor. The M43 lenses will probably be smaller, but it won't take other manufacturers long to make smallish, f8 versions that compete with the M43 lenses.

I have an M1 iMac; so, I don't have the latest and greatest, but does really well with FCPX. The problem is, after several hours of processing, I can't really tell much of a difference except for compression artifact in 4k. At least the M1 is super efficient. It does decently with aliasing (electrical wires in 1080p), but moiré is another beast apparently. In fact, I don't know any consumer software that fixes it. The biggest fix for moiré is more resolution out of camera (and even then, without a low pass filter you'll have some frequency with it).