Thpriest

My understanding is that PDAF is more expensive to implement than DFD and could explain some of the price difference between Panasonic and almost every other brand. In that context I would have no problem paying extra for a reliable AF unit.

So you think that it would only work on the next generation S series cameras? I hope not. If it works on my S1 and S5 I'll be buying one as soon as it's available.

I am starting to think it might be a variation of their DJI LiDAR Range Finder system for RS3 but will work via the hotshoe of Panasonic cameras enabling a system interface to focus electronically using the LiDAR attachment. 
We wont know until next week, likely Wednesday or Tuesday.
I think a lot of us are getting super excited though, I been contemplating going back to APS-C for autofocus and lighter lenses but having LiDAR AF system that plugs on the S5 would be dream come true for run and gun.

So when is this actually happening?

I do hope its one without external motors, not looking forward powering external focus motors as well.

Hoping for a hotshoe enabled LiDAR system for multiple current cameras. I’d probably get it if it’s amazing. Otherwise, I’ll just stick with serviceable DFD AF.

Its most likely either a new camera made in joint with Leica, S1 mark 2 or the S5 mark 2 otherwise that would not bother gathering big YouTubers if there was no new system to test out.
But we are all dreaming of a LiDAR module that works on all their cameras.
I guess a man can dream.

Why not both Lidar and DFD? A simple Lidar system built into the camera to get general ballpark focus then DFD to subtly fine tune it. As DFD is worst when it does those drastic big leaps backwards and forwards, if Lidar could eliminate that then it is a big improvement. 

Oh and from what I have read...and it's all a bit sketchy TBH, but it 'sounds like' Panasonic are looking at both Lidar and PDAF and possibly have not quite made up their minds as to which.
But that would be concerning over any new S series in the Spring as they would have had to have made that decision a loooong time back such is the development of these things. At least as I understand them.
I would suspect...and it's purely a best guess/instinct, they not already know, but have as above, long since made whatever the decision is and maybe we'll get some leaks sooner rather than later.
My money is on them bringing something out in the Spring and I suspect it will be some kind of amalgamation of the S5 and S1 in terms of size and hopefully in 3 different flavours; S2, S2R and S2H.
At least that's what I'd like to see...
If they did do that and the spec was to my preferred requirements in my previous post, it would then simply be a case of trade in my current bodies as soon as, or see out the next season and then do it over the Winter break.
The prices of 'old' units will probably drop quite a bit I imagine but if I'm mid season, until I have any new kit, I can't offload any old.
We'll see but I do think it would be pure suicide to launch anything now that does not have up to scratch AF.

Yes, I would very much like to know 'if' closely followed by 'when?'.
Surely they could not realistically release another camera without some form of 'on par' AF?
I think they'd bomb 100% if they did not.
And other than perhaps a size & weight concern for some, it's not just their weakness, but their Achilles Heel.
For some dedicated hardcore filmmaking purists, maybe not, but to the other 99% of the market, decent AF is a must.
I've wrestled with it for the last 2 years now.
OK, it's ONLY been an issue for less than 5% of my work where I need decent forward or backward tracking and there IS a workaround (it's called f8), but it's not ideal and I came sooooooo close to flipping to another brand to counter this.
That 5% need may be small, but it's a very important 5%.
But ultimately I decided against switching at this point in time and will go at least all of 2023 before making any changes for the simple reason that the cost to change is not worth it for the workaround.
Basically, it's a ballpark figure of 10k to make the move and it would be Sony because despite having zero desire to go with them, currently the package I'd be looking at with them works better than the package with anyone else.
But as above, I am sticking with L Mount for at least 2023.
In the process of having 2 bodies repaired from '22 battle damage, dumped a whole load of lenses (still have an EF Meike 50mm T2.1 cine if anyone is interested?!) and purchasing a few faster f1.4 primes and one new zoom.
All Pannyboy need to do to NOT cock it up for me with their next FF camera is:
A. Reliable AF at least close to if not better than current Canon/Sony.
B. Ideally, S5 size, but with the S1H style screen.
C. Ideally no crop 6k 50p / 4k 100p, 10 bit, internal.
Job done. I'll buy 3.

By request: An ISO 6400 4K Slog3 Video:
Every shot is at ISO 6400. Sony FE PZ 16-35mm f4 lens.

Yeah, you might need an address. Anyway, as far as I can tell the 1579 euro deal is gone now.
 
Panasonic is getting it one all sides. I think there are many who think the X-H2s and OM-1 are better depending on their use-case. For me, I've always preferred video from my Panasonic cameras, but it's close. I'm still not 100% convinced I'm going to like the GH6, but I really want to try it, especially at that price.
M43 users who want Panasonic are probably upset about the AF and all the lying for years about DFD promises. In this regard, I've found Olympus CONTRAST AF in the E-P7 and E-M10 iv was much better at latching onto faces than many Panasonics I've used (not sure about GH6); so, I'm not even sure PDAF is necessary, but Panasonic users have made it necessary due to all those lies. Once Panasonic can pull their head out of the sand (and they will), they will be back with a vengeance as long as they continue with lenses. Sony is the Evil Empire and Panasonic is... never mind. 😀

I bought my Lumix S5 with a 500€ cash back deal in Spain. It works as you say. I think it took a month or 2 to get the cash back. Great deals.

So....any idea how 4k 50p at 6400 or above looks?

I bought my S1 with Vlog for 1100€ a year ago. A fantastic but slightly heavy camera. Best value I think.

I bought my S1 with Vlog for 1100€ a year ago. A fantastic but slightly heavy camera. Best value I think.

I agree that’s a great system. There is an adapter for EF to L mount that has a vnd but I’m not sure how it affects af.
I use Xume magnetic filter rings for my vnds. They are very useful. I don’t know why they stopped making them.
 

In Spain the S5 is 1835€ with 200€ cash back, so 1635€. The FX30 without the XLR adaptor is 2300€ which is quite a lot. Enough to buy a quality lens.

With the S5 you can record with no limit with 4K 25 8bit and 1080 10 bit. I do long form streaming with one. 2-3 hours non stop. I have the XLR unit with pro audio. It's the same price as the FX30 XLR unit.
Anyway, great to have so many choices. just make sure you don't take Youtube influencers as gospel.

Not necessary to compare the FX30 to a S5, as the S5 is a full grown hybrid offering Full Frame goodness in 10bit video and for photography as well, also offering a variety of features like anamporhpic modes, which the FX30 does not offer.
The S5 offers Full Frame and you can go down to Super 35 as well, cropping to the sensor size of the Sony FX30. The sensor of the S5 is more than twice the size of the FX30, still it only being almost half the price of it. For people who don´t need AF and timecode, the S5 is the better option imo. Best bang for buck!
Better image quality, cheaper wide angle options, full frame and full image cirlce on cheap wide angle lenses, cheap adapters for taking advantage of it, same rolling shutter in its optional Super 35 crop mode. No brainer. Back to you FX30 fans, I will hold on to myself and stay calm. FX30 looks appealing due to AF and full HDMI. 🙂

I've come to the same conclusion for now. I can't find better value than L Mount. What I would say is that if you haven't tried the Panasonic 1.8 lenses then you should. I really like them and they work well for both photo and video.

I agree that’s a great system. There is an adapter for EF to L mount that has a vnd but I’m not sure how it affects af.
I use Xume magnetic filter rings for my vnds. They are very useful. I don’t know why they stopped making them.
 

I've come to the same conclusion for now. I can't find better value than L Mount. What I would say is that if you haven't tried the Panasonic 1.8 lenses then you should. I really like them and they work well for both photo and video.

Well after a lot of humming and hawwing, I've decided to remain with L Mount for 2023 at least.
I've looked at every single possible option and nothing quite 'works' for me...
I've used bits and pieces from Sony before and it's probably the system that most meets my requirements...but it's nearly 17k to purchase (less what I'd get for the total sale of my L Mount gear which is around 7.5-8k trade) which is a big investment, ie, spend around 10k to get what exactly?
An incremental 'improvement' in certain areas. None in some and quite a bit in another (AF) and really it's only the latter where there is any significant/worthwhile change. But 10k cost to change? For my needs, maybe not...
Fuji. I had one in da house. An XH2. I came from Fuji and I love Fuji gear but same question and that is what do I stand to gain and what do I stand to lose? I didn't shoot a single frame before returning it.
That one would be a 12.5k less 7.5 so 5k to change. For what? Possibly slightly nicer colour science...?? Smaller, lighter and slightly more efficient set up but otherwise...
Nikon? Love the Z9 as a camera, but the rest doesn't quite work so...
Canon? Too many questions for me, too much fudging, too expensive. (More than the Sony set up).
There just isn't anything else...for my needs so I re-evaluated L Mount.
I never completely gave up on it anyway and have always stated I hoped they might bring something new out over the Winter '22-'23 period that fits my needs better camera wise...and that may still happen. Or not. Or some time in '23...
But I have decided to keep all 4 bodies that I have, sell some 'old' lenses and get some new ones and generally just re-purpose some elements of kit and practice based on my need/use case.
So in that regard, I'm going to carry on with 4 bodies and not flip to the 3 that I would prefer and one day hope to.
I could move to 3 with L Mount, but it doesn't quite work so I'll stick with 4; a pair of S1R's, an S1H and an S5.
Selling all the f2/f2.8 primes from Sigma and buying Sigma f1.4's instead. The; 20mm, 35mm and 85mm specifically. One area where I have felt that I have made some sacrifices (glass-wise) over the last couple of years is in low-light capability. This switch of lenses will improve that capability.
These 3 primes will be my workhorses mostly for stills ie, will only be used with the S1R's which themselves will carry on with 'stills only' duty other than a few bits of handheld 5k video during ceremonies and speeches. I LOVE the 5k that the S1R produces but I wish it was 50p...
The S1H will continue in the role of primary video camera, mostly handheld. It's just so good. Size, weight, ergos, rear screen, quality of output and for '23 it's getting a new companion. The Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 has been my main workhorse here and that is going to continue, but as my outdoor combo. My new indoor combo is going to be the Sigma 16-28mm f2.8. Because I shoot 4k 50p, these give me; 24-42mm indoor and 42-105mm outdoor in FF terms which is bang on for my needs.
That leaves the S5. That one is being paired up with the Sigma APSC only, 18-50mm f2.8 and going to live on a DJI RS3 gimbal. 
I still need something longer than the Panasonic 24-105mm f4 so hoping Sigma might bring out a more compact (a la 16-28 and 28-70) 70-200mm f2.8 next year and if so, I'll trade for that.
And the cost? Nada. Or thereabouts... The sale of some existing lenses and a few other bits and bobs covers the cost of the 4 new lenses and gimbal so I'm pretty much covered. 
Sometimes the grass just isn't greener.
 

Yes, the Deity V-Mic D4 DUO:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1567144-REG/deity_microphones_v_mic_d4_duo_two_way.html
Bingo!