John Matthews

@MrSMW, Why wouldn't you target some of the French speaking crowd? Given what I've seen in rural France, some of the photographers and videographers are fairly old-school. Bringing in different eye would be unique. I imagine your French is fairly good now.

This is veering somewhat off topic so all I will say is I operate within a niche within a niche.
I have worked very hard for over a decade to be in this position.
I'm not being bigheaded about it, but I'm not going to give or piss it away for either nothing or a fast buck.
And I have no obligation to share that knowledge, paid or otherwise.
As above, way off topic so I'll shut up about it 😘
But no John, it's terrible! 

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.

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.

Interesting takes 

The final line up for the 2024 season. 
From left to right…
S1H with battery grip, 70-200 f4 (not shown, Rode WG2) permanently on tripod shooting static full length ceremony & speeches, manual focus, 4k 25p.
Z6ii + adapted Tamron 70-180 f2.8 (not shown battery grip arriving tomorrow) with option Tamron 20-40 f2.8, stills only but can do video in an emergency. Sling on shoulder.
S5ii + cage + Sigma 28-70 f2.8 + Rode Micro as my all day run & gun, gimbal ready, 4k 50p unit (so 42-105mm equivalent). Right hip.
Zf + 40mm f2 candid stills but can also do video in an emergency. Left hip.
Single backpack with all lighting, all other audio, all spare batts, cards, power bank, chargers, gimbal etc, but actually lives in my cart along with the 2 big light stands, 40m extension reel and 500W portable power bank.

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.

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.

I've owned both (and the E-M1 iii, G80 and G9).
1. E-M1 ii is larger & heavier but has (for me) superb ergonomics and build quality. It's just a really nice camera to use.
2. E-M1 ii sound via the internal mics is way better than the GX85. It also has a mic input and headphone jack.
3. E-M1 ii 4k UHD is full sensor width (no crop) whereas the GX85 is cropped.
4. E-M1 ii has great battery life.
5. E-M1 ii IBIS is better than the GX85.
If you are seriously considering the E-M1 ii and video C-AF and IBIS are important to you, think about the E-M1 iii instead if you can afford it - it has better video C-AF and a choice of IBIS settings (the +1 setting is almost tripod-level).
Another cheap (used) alternative to the GX85 worth considering is the G80/G85 - same sensor in a larger body with better IBIS, larger battery and a mic input.
Provided the size is OK for you, the G9 is superb value used, and easily beats any of the above cameras for video quality (it also supports 10-bit video and 4k 60p, which none of the others do). Here in the UK, the E-M1 ii and G9 cost about the same used.

HLG isn't a standard, it's more like a semi-technical marketing phrase, however, rec2100 and rec2020 are HDR standards and you can use a CST to convert them to whatever you like.  If I shoot a clip in 709 and then HLG on my GH5, then the conversion from rec2100 to 709 is pretty close to the 709 version SOOC.  Close enough that the difference is irrelevant, because you're going to want to push and pull the image in post, and those adjustments will easily override the differences out of the camera.
It's easily tested - just record a clip in HLG and then in V-LOG and use the CST to convert both to rec709 and see which input colour space / gamma is closest to the V-LOG conversion.
The better you get at colour grading, the less you care about which camera or colour space was used, as long as it's a robust and efficient codec and has colour management support.

I think is just not lazyness - looks like OM Digital could not have the funds to develop new lenses. And maybe cameras. The future does not look bright there.

 

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.

I'm definitely not convinced (to upgrade as an OM-1 owner) - I think it's too expensive at the launch price of £2200 in the UK, especially now the £1700 G9 ii is around.
And as for that very large & heavy (for micro43) 150-600mm lens that's only F5 max aperture and costs £2500...what are they thinking - have they forgotten what micro43 is supposed to be about?

Internal variable graduated ND.
That’s fantastic for minimalist travel/landscape photographers.
This is an absolute gem of a camera and I wish I had a place for it in my life, but along with anything that begins with the word Hassleblad, at this point in time, it cannot and may not ever be.

Well this all went a bit stupid for me. After my last post in this thread I got myself a ZV-1F, the fixed focal length version, which would have been pretty ideal for my use case as I described it.
To digress slightly, a friend of mine has her 30th birthday party this weekend, for which she and some other friends have formed a band - just for that one gig - and have been practising their set since August. I had offered to photograph this one-off gig for them, but they had already secured the services of her brother, a photography enthusiast, to do it. Anyway, saw her in the pub on Saturday and she asked if I could do it after all as her brother has - unsurprisingly - decided he'd rather just enjoy the evening.
Fine. Except for the fact that I sold both my stills cameras in December to finance the FS7.
So now I'm selling the ZV and have lashed out on a s/h A6600. Luckily I've got a bunch of stuff on eBay right now, so I can swallow the cost.
I have to say, though, I'm rather liking the A6600. I know it's had a lot of knocks, not leat on this forum, for the dated sensor, RS etc; but bearing those deficiencies in mind it actually works pretty nicely. The AF (even on my adapted Canon lenses) is excellent, the IBIS is great and from the few video clips I've done it seems it will intercut with the FS7 footage just fine, despite only being 8 bit. It will also, obviously, also fulfil my needs for the festival film that first caused me to chime in on the thread.
So much for a no-gear 2024!

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.

To be fair, even Olympus themselves weren't interested in keeping Olympus cameras going anymore.
Better to have been bought and transitioned this way by a company that was - at least in the current term - interested in producing them rather than it being bought strictly for the name and it then be used just as a brand stamp on a succession of low end OEM stuff.
There are numerous examples of this in different industries but one example from photography is Rollei where that brand has gone from meaning this :

To meaning this :

With Olympus, we will now at least be spared that indignity and so it can be remembered for the cameras up to this point rather than being subsequently associated with a raft of shitty products.
 
 

Looks like a firmware upgrade and the final removal of the OLYMPUS brand name.
The latter doesn’t make any real difference, it’s just white lettering at the end of day, but the internal changes are not very impressive.
However, I do love this camera. I wish I could have kept it and made it work for me but the simple reality was my full frame Lumix was better for both video and stills.
But the size, build, ergos etc were spot on and paired with some of their fast PRO primes and lenses such as the 75mm f1.8, a really great compact system.
If I wasn’t shooting professionally, it would easily be my first pick. 
And of course it could (and is by some) used professionally, but I think for event work in lower light or after dark, it would be very hard to go to 4/3 after using FF for several years from an output POV.
Probably the most perfect camera physically I have had in my hands. Along with Canon’s R3.

In reality - neither, because having played around with an S5 ii, I don't like the ergonomics of that body design, it just feels uncomfortable/awkward to use in my hand.
Ignoring that, probably the G9 ii due to smaller & lighter long telephoto lenses, probably better IBIS, lower rolling shutter and less moire issues (assuming the video performance is comparable to a GH6).

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

I could go either way with these bodies…
It would be easy to say that for stills the S5ii full frame sensor is better and it almost certainly is in my opinion, but there is a strong counter with the G9ii despite having the same body, smaller and lighter lenses at equivalent focal lengths.
For event work, it’s a lot easier for me to say FF, but for most other stuff, I could be tempted with the 4/3 option.
Video and stills.
I presume the G9ii has the same shutter button feel and sound as the S5ii though and that for me has been the biggest and only real issue with the S5ii.
G9ii vs OM-1, I know where my money would go.

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

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.

I love Panasonic cameras, but I have a cold shard of hatred in my heart for whoever thought up the idea of releasing a camera as capable as the GX80 with terrible internal audio and no mic input.