Thpriest

What do you mean? Brazil are sh*te! We’re going to qualify from our group!

Having just bought an S1ii I can agree that the price is high for most people. In my case I got it with the 24-60 2.8 for 3800 which is about 300-400€ less than buying both separately. With the 3 jobs I had over the last 3 days I’ve paid it off (once I sell one of my S5iis). 
So it’s all relative, if it’s a tool that makes money (whilst making my life easier in my case), then maybe it’s good value?

16 hours ago, MrSMW said:

That ability to flip between stills and video is great…as long as you either:

A. Don’t mind using an ND for stills. Personally I do mind.

B. Or don’t mind cranking the shutter for video. Personally I don’t mind and last 3 weddings I shot with zero ND and did not notice any difference to the quality of the video other than the image quality was better than the previous 3 jobs shot with a VND.

C. Or use a flip up or magnetic filter and I have tried both and didn’t care for either.

I hope your shoot goes as well tomorrow.

I have the flip VND. Very happy with it. For years I used magnetic VNDs but the flip is miles better. If I’m indoors and using flash I just take it off.

I had loads more photos that were keepers! I feel so much more confident in the AF, especially with flash, as the camera is just quicker. I sometimes found I’d be a split second behind with the S5ii which meant I had more shots out of focus or with the subject pulling a funny face.

Very happy so far. Let’s see how today goes.

5 hours ago, MrSMW said:

My prediction is it will and it is a step up from the S5II.

And your prediction is correct! A huge difference in responsiveness in general and so much easier to use when switching between video and photo. I felt it worked a lot better with my Godox flash as well (I’m still pretty new to flash). I feel I have way more “keepers”. The screen and evf are great. I had it on for 5 hours pretty much non stop with no problem although it was probably only about 20 degrees in the venue.

Tomorrow I have another similar event (video and photo) and on Saturday anther event with photos only. I think they are going to be a lot easier to manage than they would have been with the S5ii. I would probably have had 2 S5iis, 1for doing photo and 1 for video. Now I can do the same with one camera!

So…after the new firmware was announced I bought a S1ii. I was originally looking at the S1iie but after getting another couple of unexpected jobs before the end of the year I decided to stretch the budget a bit.

The reasons are mainly to do with ergonomics, making jobs easier and 4k 50p full frame.

I have more and more events where I’m asked to do video and photo. I found the S5ii a little frustrating when trying to jump from video to photo and back again. I’m hoping the dedicated video/photo switch and separate settings will make these events flow a bit better rather than being slowed down when readjusting settings. Same goes for FF 50p, no need to adjust for crop. 
 

I’ll be getting the 24-60 2.8 when it’s in stock (at pack price with camera) and selling the Sigma 28-70 2.8. It’s a great lens but I prefer 24 to 28. It’s more practical for the work I do. I’ll also sell one of my S5iis. After reclaiming the vat it’ll be about a 1300-1500 expense including CFexpress cards and reader.

First job today, video and photos. Hopefully it lives up to my expectations!

12 hours ago, MrSMW said:

Does it have a different processor? I don’t know… I thought it was S5II spec in S1II/R body but I could be wrong 🤷‍♂️

All my long takes will still be S5II so not concerned in that regard but zero overheating issues or even any warnings on the R’s, but then I only shoot clips on them.

New advanced Venus processor apparently. Dunno how that translates to write speeds etc

6 hours ago, ArashM said:

Just chiming in, I've had a fair bit of overheating warning and shutdowns with my gold Lexar CFB cards, not a single issue with Delkin black or OWC purple cards!

 

PS, I should add, this is with the S1Rii (x2)

What climate is that in? Good to know there are cards with better heat management.

1 hour ago, MrSMW said:

I’ll be selling my S9 in Jan if it’s of any interest?!

I’m in the UK for a couple of months and not back in France until the New Year.

It’s a red one, comes with a Smallrig cage and has no issues that I am aware of…

That aside, I think I am pretty set on an S1IIE with the 24-60 as there are some good deals on that and it does all I need it to.

This would replace the S9 for me whereas the S1II is a bit overkill and the overheating…well I doubt it would but the S5II doesn’t and the S1IIE is basically that in an S1II body so…

Or, I might just go the 3 body approach and shift one of my two S1RII’s over.

Basically it’s a 4 body + primes vs 2 bodies + zooms question and there are pros and cons to each.

No decisions until the New Year when Panny may throw a curve ball and despite not needing one, an S2H is so desirable, I have to have one 😵‍💫

I might be interested in the S9!

S1iiE, as far as I can see it’s the S5ii sensor in a better body with a faster processor. Or have I got that wrong? The CFExpress cards will still be a problem but not as much as the other new Lumix cameras I believe. I’d love to have no crop in 50p but I work outside in 35+ degrees 4-5 months of the year so the S1ii is just a no go for me which is a shame as everything else about the camera would be almost perfect for me.

On 11/14/2025 at 4:54 PM, MrSMW said:

There’s also another camera in the LUMIX lineup that barely anyone talks about and that is the S1IIE.

I overlooked it myself when it was announced as I already had S5II’s and the S1II and especially S1RII looked a whole lot more interesting…and arguably are, unless…

Price + you prefer the updated body and a few other specs over the S5II and in the UK, a couple of places such as WEX and Park are doing them at £500 off, ie, £1800 none grey import.

Compared with my S9 which I have now decided to replace (it isn’t robust enough and I’ve had too many niggly issues with it trying to use it as a pro tool) and the S1IIE seems to make the most sense to me.

LCD is in line with the body and not sticking out of the side. Hurrah.

MUCH better built than the S9 but hardly a chonker.

6k 50/60p in 2:4-1 CinemaScope and before you spit your dummy out, drop that on a 16:9 timeline, it’s about a 1.3x crop and on a 2:1 timeline, only about a 1.1x crop compared with the S5II/X with it’s 1.5x crop. 

And you can do that log gop 420 300mpbs or 422 all intra 800mpbs which is not tooooo large.

No it’s not open gate and I was all for open gate until a few weeks ago and the end of another season when I came to 2 conclusions:

1: Divorce stills from video in the same unit and go back to dedicated stills or video units.

2: Use something else for the fast turn around social stuff such as a Pocket 3.

Not pushed the button yet and things may change, but I think an S5IIE could become my run & gun unit with S5II on sticks and either a single or pair of S1RII’s for stills, dependent on a set of primes or a single all in one 28-105mm f2.8.

I really can’t be arsed with any large scale brand flips, but swapping a body and a couple of lenses is pretty straightforward and low cost.

 

It makes sense to change cameras and not brands!

I’ve been interested in the S1iiE as it does resolve a couple of things that I dislike about the S5ii. The S1iiE’s screen and evf would be much more comfortable for me. Like you I prefer the screen behind the lens.  Whilst in general I prefer 1 camera for video and one for photo that’s not always possible. The photo/video switch would be a real upgrade. 
I have written the S1ii off for me as it won’t handle the heat here in Madrid but from what I’ve seen the S1iiE handles the heat better. So I’m thinking of changing a S5ii for the S1iiE and maybe picking up a S9 if I can find a good deal.

There’s a lot to be said for buying only second hand in general. Cameras, cars, clothes, houses etc

As a freelancer I have a mix as after claiming back VAT the second hand prices are more or less the same. In saying that I bought a brand new Sigma 18-50 apsc for 300€ for 50p gimbal work on the S5mk2. 

How does the stabilisation stand up on the Nikons and Sonys compared to Lumix? It’s such a huge plus for me when covering events etc

Do you think the Kolari magnetic oplfs might push the S1ii into the S1h territory as far as look goes? (Added cost of course)

Nikon/Red might be an interesting option. Has anyone tried the remote hand grip? How does that work? I used to love the ergonomics of the Canan C100 hand grip. For my line of work all of the latest cameras are pretty good as far as image is concerned. Now ergonomics, ease of use, reliability and price are key for me. I’d love a remote hand grip for Lumix.

19 hours ago, MrSMW said:

 

Single S5II with battery grip still doing the long form static stuff where overheating might be a risk, or battery running out. I do wish that 6k wasn't limited to 30 mins though. Not because I 'need' to shoot ceremonies or speeches in 6k, because I deliver those to the client in 1080 still, but more because I like to use some of that footage in their wedding highlights film and it's more compatible using 6k mixed into 7.2k capture than it is the 4k that I use, but hey ho...

 

Mine records 6K with no limits. I think you have to change the thermal management settings to access it. I've had 2 S5mk2s filming a 50 min podcast in 6K with no problem (interior).

I usually use normal white balance but some venues have the most bizarre mixed lighting and it’s very hard to nail WB. That’s the only time I used AWB. If the lock feature was more sticky it would be great. Unfortunately it seems to randomly turn itself off!

As for being perfect, where’s the fun in that? 🙂

2 hours ago, MrSMW said:

It doesn't but you can do exactly the same thing with C1/C2/C3 etc.

For the brief period I used the S5ii for hybrid, I had:

C1 outdoor stills (5600K)

C2 indoor stills (4500K)

C3-1 6k 30p 5600k Low auto ISO outdoor video mode

C3-2 6k 30p 5000k High auto ISO indoor video mode

C3-3 4k 60p e stab on 5600k auto ISO, gimbal-like / slow mo mode (obviously goes into crop mode for this)

The photo/video switch on the new bodies simply gives you 5 options for each instead of 5 total as with the S5ii.

Those were the 2 lenses and for the same reasons, I was using the year before last.

I wouldn't trust the S1Rii statically, on a tripod, in direct sunlight, on a 30+ degree Celsius day, say filming a ceremony.

Not tested it, but no need because I have no need and the S5ii does it just as well if not better, so right tools for the right jobs and all that. Unless you need above 6k video or stills above 24mp, absolutely no requirement for either the S1Rii or S1ii and even the S5ii can shoot raw for anyone that needs it to with a paid software download.

I think if I had 10+ years left in the industry, I'd be at least looking very hard at raw video, but I haven't got 10 years and don't want to get into a whole new learning curve and massive hardware/storage updates for something my type of clients would never notice, so nah.

Your plan for a pair of S5ii's with an S9 makes sense. I could live with 3, but having 4 in the end I decided now makes most sense with 1 permanent static (the S5ii) and 1 semi-static (the S9) with the pair of S1Rii's hybrid in the hand.

I'm going to try the C1 etc set up. I've been a bit lazy to try that. It makes sense to start with auto ISO when switching to video, I hadn't thought about that.

Heat is a big thing here and the S5iis handle it perfectly!

I sometimes use AWB with AWBL (lock) in very tricky lighting. The AWB does a good job but the lock seems a bit random. Sometimes it says locked for a good while and other times it turns off and I haven't worked out why.

I have no desire to go into RAW. I'm just starting to use VLOG and built in LUTS! 

Have you ever tried 3.3K 4/3?

Sounds like you are finally getting what you were looking for!

I'm still mainly video but still have quite a few video and photo events. I think I've decided that I prefer having one camera set up for video and one for photo as the S5ii doesn't have the photo/video switch. I've been using 6K OG 30p and it's good but I miss 50p. I'm starting to test the 3.3K 4/3 50p. It's apsc but I think it might give me a happy medium for horizontal and vertical filming with 50p, kind of a OG lite. This means I'd have my 28-70 2.8 as my main photo lens with the Lumix primes for special moments and I think I'll test a second hand Sigma 18-50 2.8 apsc lens to see how that works for video. It would give me similar focal lengths on both cameras. If it works well for company events then I'll try that at a wedding when i get my next hybrid one (this year they are 95% video only). If that turns out to be a good combo then I might look to get the Sigma 17-40 1.8 for video.

I've decided the new Lumix's are not for me at present. It's too hot here to make use of the video features so I'm going to workout how to get the most out of the 2 S5iis and if it all works out, get a 3rd camera, the S9 and the Sigma and that's me good for a few years.

I’d also be interested in the pwer bank charger. When I’m out and about I use a normal Lumix charger with a power bank but a all in one solution sounds good! The company is called Llano?

Have you used the S1Rii for video? How is it?

If you do sell the S9 I might be interested.

Josh Cameron on Youtube recommended the Tilta multi battery charger. I bought it and it’s been a great change. Only 50€ as well.

4 hours ago, MrSMW said:

Official review, mentioned in another thread, it’s fucking awesome.

I didn’t expect to like it as much as I do, but actually…

So the OG S5 I really liked and I switched from Fuji for video and stills because I wanted a full frame system over a cropped one.

For a while, I actually carried on shooting a ‘cropped system’ for video because the 4k 50p in the S5/S1H/S5ii is of course cropped, so it was more for the stills I wanted full frame.

My overall feeling at the time was it was a marginal step up, but nothing anyone else would really notice.

Bought a pair of S1R’s and whilst the image quality could not be questioned, did not care for the body too much and it was just a bit old school DSLR and too different from the S5 and S1H.

Bought an S1H for video. Stellar camera. Would still be using it today if it just had a couple of features the S5ii has. But it doesn’t so had to eventually go.

S5ii’s became my video workhorses and can’t really fault them but hated them for stills, especially coming from S1R and S1H which were MUCH better IMO as photo cameras.

S9. Bought it. Sold it. Bought it back again. Love it, - my favourite run & gun video camera ever. Yes I have a few niggles with it such as it’s too easy to knock the dials etc and when I thought I was shooting 1/100th notice I am shooting 1/80th or 1/160th from time to time and aaaargh. I need to look at maybe even just a small bit of tape or something to prevent that.

S1Rii vs Sony A7RV and Nikon Zf, because it has replaced both of those cameras.

Vs the A7RV I’d say it’s about equal. Near identical sized and handling bodies, build, rear LCD’s etc with zero real world image quality difference. The Sony is a touch better in the AF department but not by much.

Vs the Zf, the Zf is more ‘fun’ and my favourites point & shoot camera ever and again, very little real world image quality or AF difference, but the Lumix is a better lens platform and as a single body over a pair, it’s very very good.

Pros:

Size, weight, handling, build, image quality, hybrid crop zoom.

Cons:

I honestly haven’t really got any. I was hoping originally for the sensor from the Leica SL3 and a mini S1H body and whilst we did not get the former, I’m over that and re. the latter, it actually has that vibe.

I had a few minor niggles first job I shot it, but then realised I had missed a few things on the set up so tweaked those areas for the job I am currently working on.

What’s missing and any other comments?

Well as above, hated the 28-200 zoom and it’s going back. I prefer primes but recognise they are not always practical for what I do or shorter zooms, preferably with internal zooming (or at least very short extension) are my preference. And do not care for slow, variable aperture lenses.

So it’s going back and getting the lens that I know will work for me and that is the Sigma 28-45mm f1.8. 

What is missing for me now is just one more lens, a same size but longer focal length to the above lens, ie, something like a 45-90 f1.8 internal zoom. Please Sigma, make this lens 🙏

But for now, I will have to make do with hybrid zoom which is a bit of a revelation to me.

It’s a massive thumbs up from me and now having 1 less camera, 3 less lenses and everything in one system, just a much better way of working.

Nice to hear it’s working for you. Have you pulled any 8k stills? How do they hold up?

Are you mainly using it for photos?

What use were you going to give the 28-200? I've been thinking that it might work as a compact long zoom for filming ceremonies. Having it locked off on a tripod. 

Does hybrid zoom work with sigma lenses?

On 7/4/2025 at 11:14 AM, MrSMW said:

Decision made, I am sticking with LUMIX regardless of what Nikon or Sony do next.

S1Rii inbound...

Here's my reasoning and intentions for those that are interested in such things!

Currently I am using:

S9 + 2x S5ii for my video work, plus a Sony A7RV and a Nikon Zf for stills.

That's 5 camera bodies plus 9 lenses spread over 3 systems with 3 different menus, batteries, handling/haptics etc.

In summary, it works, but not without issues.

I am switching to 4 camera bodies plus 7 lenses over 1 system.

I have 3 principal aims:

A: Reduce the amount of kit I have to work with and

B: Have it all within one single cross-compatible system.

C. Ability to pull 6k stills from video footage on a consistent basis.

Nikon is or was an option with Z8 + 2x Z6iii + Zf and all my Tamron e:Mount lenses would work just fine, but the negatives for me are mainly; no write to second card back up, Vlog is easier/better to grade and looks better to my eye (marginal but looks that way to me) and costs a few thousand more than an all LUMIX line up.

Sony has the best lens lineup options for me and I prefer the FX style bodies by a large margin, but no 6k camera (at least for now) kills it for me. 

Nikon may come out with this rumoured ZR for 2026 and it may answer some of my current Nikon criticisms...but it may not and if it does, c'est la vie, 'sideways' rather than anything I actually need.

Ditto Sony. It's the lens lineup mainly that is the draw and if there was a 6k camera available now, I would probably have gone in that direction and in FX style bodies, it would have sealed the deal, but again, even if that comes into being by the end of this year, too late for me and I'm not a brand hopper for the sake of the latest new thing just because it's the latest new thing, ie, this current crop of ex-Sony Shillsters to now LUMIX Shillsters are all going to be hopping back in the direction of Sony within the next 6 months for sure.

Nope, I can't and won't do that. If I have a Porsche, I might look at Ferrari or Aston and think, "yep, they're nice, but I already have a Porsche and it's fantastic". (I don't, - I have a used 150,000 miler Skoda Octavia Scout 😜 )

I'm 2 weddings in to a 17 wedding season and the new boy won't arrive in time for the next 2 which I leave for on Monday, but at least the 13 jobs after that will all be with the new system which will now comprise the following:

S1Rii with Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 until I have sold all the stuff I need to sell and then will be picking up the Sigma 28-45mm f1.8 for indoor use and use my existing LUMIX 70-200mm f4 for outdoor use. I hate lenses that extend with zooming and neither of these do! Hybrid use, - mainly stills but I will also shoot video with this.

S9 with 18/50/85mm f1.8 on freestanding monopod which is my current and going forward will now share duties with the S1Rii as my 'run & gun' units.

Pair of S5ii's remain as my 2x statics with any 2 of the above 6 lenses that are not in use on the S1Rii or S9 at any given time, but at some point, I am going to add the Sigma 28-105mm f2.8 into the mix, ie, still 1 less body and 2 less lenses than I have currently been using this year and last, but the 28-105 will give me a bit more flexibility that my current L Mount lens lineup lacks.

The only thing that put me off doing this sooner really was the body design...

It's not that exciting and I was hoping for something more S1H or even Sony FX style but upon reflection, it's a better body than the S5ii being slightly chunkier, a MUCH better rear LCD and a few knobs and whistles that improve the overall use.

Dream camera? Probably not, but a very very solid move (for me) I think.

The bottom line is once you have pushed that button, how do you feel about it and will I miss the A7RV and Zf?

I feel good about it actually because the positives outweigh any negatives and the Sony + Nikon pairing has been stellar, but there is simply a better (for me) option now.

7.2k 30p Open Gate Vlog here we come...

 

 

A logical move I ‘d say. Better to have just one brand. I’d love the S1ii but I don’t see it being up to the task of events snd weddings during the Spanish summer. A shame but it makes me realise what a bargain I have with my S5iis.

The Canon C100 was a fantastic camera. Great images and ergonomics. It's main problem for me was it's size. It was hard to pack away quickly with a lens attached.

On 5/25/2025 at 3:35 PM, MrSMW said:

Even then, I very much doubt I will as I work with 3 (video) cameras and only 1 of them would need to full frame 6k 50p OG and that would be the one in my hand/monopod and the S5 body is a wee bit too heavy for my liking.

I mean it's not like it's a beast or anything, but now I am using the S9 in that role, it's actually a surprising difference.

Or could also be the fact that I have a very slim baseplate on the S9 whereas it was a Smallrig cage on the S5ii and using the f1.8 primes rather than the f2.8 Sigma 28-70, so all in, maybe around .5kg difference.

Otherwise I am just one camera away from a switch to Sony or Nikon because then I can drop 1 body and 4 lenses from my current 5 body 9 lens combo for stills and video...which is pretty considerable! I can't do it with L Mount in any combo of Lumix/Leica/Sigma.

I admire your ability to manage so much gear at a wedding! 

14 hours ago, MrSMW said:

Ditto, but I don’t want it enough to €2k+ per camera to trade for it!

Yeah, I’m in the same boat…for now at least. That could change when the offers start!

I’ve started shooting mostly in open gate on my S5ii. It’s really very handy. If I had 6K 50p open gate I’d probably use it 80% of the time.