Trek of Joy

Looks great on my 5k iMac. I'm also impressed by the lack of banding in the skies, aliasing with all the lines on the boats, no weird artifacts on the rippling water, and no moire in the brick walls.

Judging by the DPreview comparison tool, IQ with the EM1.2 is no better than the the rest of the current m43 world. Unless the GH5 has an entirely new sensor, it will be virtually identical to what we're seeing from the G/GX80/85's. Olympus' claims of a 1-stop improvement are clearly bunk.

I use to use Music Bed all of the time, but this year I had an employee contact me. She was asking me if I could help out by telling her more about the project that I was working on. The musician that wrote the track I used wanted more pieces to show their music with. So I told her about the project. She started investigating into employee counts etc... Anyhow, it turned out that I had the count wrong so I owed another 100 or so dollars. It was my mistake, but I found it very sinister and devious the way she approached the whole thing. It left a bad taste... 
So that being said, here are the places that I have been using every since:
https://www.pond5.com
http://www.art-list.io/
http://www.premiumbeat.com/
http://freemusicarchive.org/
http://www.epidemicsound.com/
And I also hire musicians to create custom tracks or contact people directly about licenses.
 

Judging by the DPreview comparison tool, IQ with the EM1.2 is no better than the the rest of the current m43 world. Unless the GH5 has an entirely new sensor, it will be virtually identical to what we're seeing from the G/GX80/85's. Olympus' claims of a 1-stop improvement are clearly bunk.

What about a used Canon 17-55/2.8 IS? 

More experience maybe, but your BMMCC footage is amazing, everything I shoot is all run-and-gun ENG style since I worked in broadcast news for a long time. I don't shoot anything narrative, and I don't so any lighting outside of on-cam and fill for interviews. I'm in awe of anyone lighting an entire room/set.
I've decided some of the compromises with my current Sony setup are no longer things I want to live with - namely a hit/miss lens lineup that getting zero attention on the APS-c side and bloated overpriced/overweight lenses on the FF side, the worst rolling shutter of any camera on the market, rampant overheating, and that damn LCD going dim when you hit record. I've decided I'm passing on the a6500, and selling my a7rII/a6300 to move to a dual XT2 kit. Lenses like the 16-55/2.8, 23/1.4 and 56/1.2 are calling me for photo/video event coverage, and the OIS on the 10-24, 18-55 and 50-140 are really good. I can add a Zhiyun Crane if the need for more stabilization arises.

Nice  You've probably got more experience than me, then, I'm 31

X-T2 looks great. Colours are awesome. I'm basically in your position - heavily invested in Sony, but tempted by X-T2 - mainly for photography, actually.

I use my Blackmagic Micro setup for more serious shoots/clients - but never for "run and gun" stuff.

I am really liking the image from the GX85. Especially the 5-Axis stabilisation performance, and really good rolling-shutter performance. I'm considering the GX85 with a 20mm F1.7, and Metabones SB for the Canon-EF primes I already own.

I'm not someone that shoots in "no light", so any camera than can handle ISO800 is plenty for me. I have really high hopes for the GH5. Also hoping to see a Blackmagic Pocket Mark II in 2017 

Amazing kitchen, err, I mean can't wait to see the finished product.

Good thing they added IBIS since the LCD still darkens when you record 4k, at least you know things are relatively stable when you can't see what you're shooting.

Venice looks amazing, I'll be there next year. Astia fits Venice well. Lots of CA with that Canon lens in the sun since there's no internal corrections happening.
Have you seen this one? He cycles through all the film's.
Here's one with a seascape, cycling through the film emulations as well.
 

This was a really intriguing camera until I saw the AF limitation, now the a99II is a no go for me. Some will throw out the "pro's don't use AF" crap, but AF sure makes it easy to set focus with the short focus throw of photo lenses. And after using the tracking on the a6300 and A7rII - its incredibly convenient for a one-man-band to shoot handheld footage or shoot on a gimbal. I don't use AF all the time, but its something I do use. With an AF system this sophisticated, tracking could be next level compared to everything else.
Early adopters are reporting the full AF system doesn't work with older Minolta and 3rd party lenses, so that Sigma 18-35 won't AF either. As much as people on this board want to bash Canon, DPAF works with all Canon lenses and most 3rd party lenses in any mode, not just P and at f/3.5. SMH.
So close Sony, so close.

This is a pretty cool update, I'll wait for the version that doesn't require me to walk around with a big goofy drone for handheld shots. They'd sell a LOT of the camera/osmo combos if you didn't need a drone for the recorder. I'd buy the 1" version with the gimbal in a heartbeat.
DJI, are you listening?

This was a really intriguing camera until I saw the AF limitation, now the a99II is a no go for me. Some will throw out the "pro's don't use AF" crap, but AF sure makes it easy to set focus with the short focus throw of photo lenses. And after using the tracking on the a6300 and A7rII - its incredibly convenient for a one-man-band to shoot handheld footage or shoot on a gimbal. I don't use AF all the time, but its something I do use. With an AF system this sophisticated, tracking could be next level compared to everything else.
Early adopters are reporting the full AF system doesn't work with older Minolta and 3rd party lenses, so that Sigma 18-35 won't AF either. As much as people on this board want to bash Canon, DPAF works with all Canon lenses and most 3rd party lenses in any mode, not just P and at f/3.5. SMH.
So close Sony, so close.

This is a pretty cool update, I'll wait for the version that doesn't require me to walk around with a big goofy drone for handheld shots. They'd sell a LOT of the camera/osmo combos if you didn't need a drone for the recorder. I'd buy the 1" version with the gimbal in a heartbeat.
DJI, are you listening?

You say its a workshop, is this a one-day thing, a weekend, a semester class? The amount of time you have should guide how in-depth you go with certain topics. Gear-head talk like sensor size or jobs and gimbals are a waste of time if its a half day thing since few will ever shoot with anything other than their phone.
The basics of composition are huge. I worked for an after school program teaching photography, videography, ENG and short doc production for 6 years (full time - worked with high school students every day) and I always started with composition, getting them to understand all of the elements in the image and what to avoid. I'd also add nose room when subjects are looking to one direction, lead room for anything moving, foreground and background, framing, leading lines and so on.
After spending years working with students, the most impactful stuff we did always involved hands-on exercises on covering a single topic and critical analysis - so they'd take the cameras out and shoot 10 different examples of the rule of 3rds, or shallow DOF, or setting a scene with long/medium/closeups adhering to all the other rules - then we'd review all of the images as a group on a 60" TV and discuss what was good and what could be improved upon (I never say something is bad, no matter how awful, just what can be improved upon to help boost their confidence and start thinking about what's in the shot instead of just mindlessly hitting the shutter or record button, works great). Scavenger hunts were always a lot of fun, a vague list of stuff to shoot - silver, vegetables, fast and so on - the creativity and interpretation was always a lot of fun when we reviewed the results.
You can build on them too, so you do a rule of 3rds, then focus on headroom, then horizon and so on, while coming back to what was previously covered when doing the critical analysis part. Its amazing how quickly people pick things up and start to see everything with a critical eye. I always said your grandmother takes a picture, just points a camera at something and click, then you get those crappy shots of two kids at a table with a lot of ceiling, why is there so much ceiling? They love that. Photographers take photos - there's thought put into each image before its captured.
My work was all based on a lot of research/feedback from the students as we were grant funded and had to conduct program research to meet certain benchmarks, so all of our lessons were always evolving as we found more effective ways to communicate. I still get FB messages from students that I worked with 10 years ago about how they still think about headroom and nose room when shooting photos or video. And they all shoot video in landscape orientation, an achievement in itself.
But unless they're gear-heads too, talk about sliders, moire and other things are just in one ear and out the other. Focus on skill building that improves the quality of their shooting regardless of what camera they're using.
Just my $0.02

I'm always so paranoid about my tripod flopping over, I have a Benro S8 carbon and the head weighs twice as much as the legs, so it feels really top heavy. Fortunately I don't use a spreader and with the legs in the first locking position its rock solid. I still hang my bag on it photo style to keep the center of gravity lower in case the operator (me) bumps it, which frequently happens.

Super impressed by the lack of RS. Olympus claimed the new dual processor setup eliminated it, sounded like marketing speak, but it looks legit.
 

Fuji certainly isn't cheap, but Sony's F1.4 primes and F2.8 zooms are considerably more expensive than Fuji's, and none of their APS-c only lenses are faster than f/1.8. When you start looking at the system as a whole, costs are not very different and can easily fall in favor of Fuji when you start comparing all of the lenses. The Em1.2 is $400 more than the XT2, and I'm betting the GH5 will be priced even higher.
NX doesn't have anything close to Fuji's lens selection, outside of the two S zooms, everything is slower and doesn't cover nearly as many FL's as Fuji. And there won't be any new NX lenses. Or bodies. Ever.
Fuji has a new lens every few months and all of the traditional focal lengths covered. They have zooms from 10-400mm, along with fast native primes in 14, 16, 18, 23, 27, 35, 50, 56, 60 and 90mm with more coming. There's also 3rd party Touits and Sigmas that are mirrored on Sony. 
I've been a die hard Sony shooter for years, but I'm seriously looking at Fuji with the XT2 and dumping my a7rII and a6300. The controls, dual cards, the joystick, the speed (its so much faster than the a6300 and a7rII in operation), the SOOC colors, the lack of Sony's ugly magenta tinted skin tones and so on make it a pretty compelling option. I rented one for a few days and absolutely love shooting with it more than any Sony body I've ever used.
These are great times, we have so many compelling options that are capable of producing some incredible images.
Happy shooting.

A nice collection of SOOC 4k shots using various lenses. Fuji's IS and continuous AF is pretty effective. Color and detail are fantastic. 
 

Resolve Lite perhaps? Is your 13" MBP Retina really too heavy?Why would the lack of a retina screen on the MBA be a deal breaker? Just curious...

This. 
There has been a few discussions over the past year or so about using a surface for editing and I don't remember if there was any resolution on how effective it is...
I think @Mat Mayer was researching a Surface for editing. So he may be the guy to ask. 
I have a 2015 Air and it works pretty good with FCPX. And since you're already used to Final Cut, I'm not sure why you'd want to change and invest in a new editing program.
With that being said, I haven't used Vegas, but my friend had it for a little while when he was in between Macs and he really liked it... He thought it was the closest to Final Cut/iMovie.

A nice collection of SOOC 4k shots using various lenses. Fuji's IS and continuous AF is pretty effective. Color and detail are fantastic. 
 

A nice collection of SOOC 4k shots using various lenses. Fuji's IS and continuous AF is pretty effective. Color and detail are fantastic. 
 

The problem is that we are getting lots of superficial reviews from pretty untalented image makers working far too fast with equipment they don't master in non-professional situations, all, apparently, desperately trying to get views. 

I spent some time with the XT2 and 18-55 last weekend, its a great combo. Stabilization is pretty good with that lens - I can get three stops with it and I have some pretty shaky hands. Combined with really good rolling shutter (compared to say the Sony's and the NX1) handheld shooting is very do-able and has a great look, not jittery at all. It would really benefit from a touchscreen because the new AF system is up there with the best (excluding Sony's eye AF, though Fuji will continually refine its AF with FW updates). Lots of Fuji lenses and most can be had at a great price used. The best stabilized options are the 10-24, 18-55 and 50-140. I'd be all over the 16-50 if it were stabilized, its among the best standard zooms around. There's a post in the XT2 thread here that matched colors to the C100 pretty well, I'm sure you could do the same with a FS5. No aliasing and moire at all, Fuji really got it right with this one. And there's Flog with an external recorder if you were so inclined. Controls are so nice, everything is right there so adjustments are easy, plus you have the quick menu button and "my menu" in the menus so you can group all your most common menu items in one place. Its really well engineered/built, no plasticky feeling at all. Makes my a6300 feel like a toy in comparison. A cool little thing I noticed, when shooting video if you hit the menu button you always go to the video portion of the menus. So you're not cycling through endless garbage like Sony. The EVF is something to behold, the best I've ever seen and despite the A7rII's having a slightly better magnification spec, the Fuji's looks much better. Focus magnify isn't soft like it is on my a6300 either. I recorded an hour of video (in consecutive 10 min increments), the camera didn't overheat and there was still 15% of the battery left. The grip adds two batteries, extends record time to 30 minutes and adds the headphone jack. 
The EM1.2 really has my attention as well - touchscreen, IBIS, dramatically improved battery life, weather sealing, great ergonomics, blazing fast shooting, dual cards, headphone jack and so on. Like many I have a mental roadblock when it comes to a m43 camera that costs $2000. They surrounded a small/noisy sensor with the best feature set of any camera on the market IMO. Though I suspect the GH5 will cost even more, so the price bar has been raised in m43 land, its a new reality. I just have to decide if that reality is acceptable on the stills side as I'm not running two systems anymore.
Whatever I decide, I'm looking at getting two bodies and investing in the system. I prefer the sensor and the stills on the Fuji. And the price. The XT2 + 18-55 kit is $100 less than the EM1.2 body alone.