newfoundmass

I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting a camera to "look nice." It shouldn't be a deciding factor, but I don't think most people are using that as their deciding factor anyway, at least not professionals/enthusiasts. I think you can also connect camera design to functionality. I didn't like the way Sony cameras felt in my hands and that was, in part, because of the overall design and Sony's emphasis on making things as compact as possible. They've improved it somewhat by making deeper grips for people like me that have big paws, thankfully, but I still don't enjoy holding and using them. I don't mind the way Panasonic cameras look but I don't fault anyone that does.

I mean, it's a full frame camera. It'd be nice to be able to do 4K 60p without a crop. I like to have the choice between full frame and APS-C. It's one of the benefits of full frame that has won me over, as I can extend the reach of my lenses.

Guessing they want one that's Netflix approved that they can charge extra for? Very strange. I hope it doesn't mean the S5ii is lacking some video features like shutter angle, etc.

Everything looks good, but that crop in 4K 60p makes me shake my head. I'd much prefer full frame 4k 60p over 6K. That is a bit of a bummer.

Looks very good to me, though 4K 60p with a APS-C crop? The primary difference seems to be ProRes?

I haven't seen a ton of complaints honestly about using Sigma lenses with Panasonic bodies. My primary reason for not getting Sigma lenses is due to the dual IS that I can get with Panasonic lenses. The complaints I have seen, and it's kinda hard to call them complaints because the people I've seen weren't that angry or anything, is that autofocusing on Panasonic bodies in VIDEO is slightly better with Panasonic lenses. I'm not saying there shouldn't be more cooperation, and that lenses shouldn't work flawlessly regardless of the body manufacturer, but I don't really think that there are that many people out there who feel like their expectations weren't met, especially if they follow the camera industry. I also think there's some confusion about what the alliance means/meant: they are still camera companies that are in competition with one another, fighting for the same customers (well, maybe not Leica.) Sigma, if I'm not mistaken, already has PDAF on their fp L don't they? So one of the members already has gone in that direction. @MrSMW would know better than me, but in videos like this I've seen that the AF performance with Sigma lenses isn't that much worse than with Panny lenses in video. And maybe my trust is misplaced, but I think if Panny goes the PDAF route they'll pretty quickly end up at the Sony/Canon level. They have a track record of delivering when implementing new technology into their cameras. I don't think anyone faults you for your purchasing decisions, I think people just are a bit confused about your insistence that it's a "dead" mount/alliance when your complaints for why honestly apply to every other camera manufacturer. I guess those issues aren't as significant because they're not in a formal "alliance?" I think you went with Canon, right? I feel like I'd be a lot more annoyed buying into a system that decided four years in to clamp down completely on third party manufacturers than I would be on the L-Mount alliance's issues. With some luck Panasonic will finally go PDAF, and we'll start seeing some of those really affordable Viltrox and other third party lenses finally getting released for the L-Mount. Maybe even Tamron! There are a lot of possibilities on the horizon.

That's not just an L-mount issue though. Sony is starting to do the same thing, where if you're not using Sony lenses you miss out on things like focus breathing correction. A big selling point for Sony was how open the mount was, which resulted in tons of third party lenses when Sony themselves didn't have much of their own lens selection. We're now seeing them becoming a bit more closed off with features that only work with their lenses. And Canon is trying to cut out every other third party completely. Granted, they aren't in any "alliances" but the end results are the same: if you're not using their lenses you're taking a hit with capabilities/performance. The thing about the L-mount alliance is that things can literally turn around in a moment for them. IF Panasonic finally go the PDAF route, I think you'll start seeing a ton of third party lenses for the mount, like you've seen for Sony and Fuji. Ideally the alliance would have more cooperation, and I hope there is more of it moving forward, but even if there isn't it's not really any different from what every other camera manufacturer is already doing.

I just picked up another Lumix S5, making my kit two S5s and a GH5. I sold my G85 and GX85, along with one of my 12-35mm lenses. It was time. I'll miss the GX85 the most, because honestly that camera with the 35-100mm lens is such an awesome combination, but I just didn't use it as much as I should.

If it has PDAF that rivals Sony it'll be very, very interesting to see if people switch. The S5 really was/is the most underrated camera out there right now. The images I get out of mine, and the stabilization with the 24-105 lens, are amazing. I don't regret selling my G85 and GX85 to pick up a second S5 even with a mark II coming out, but I definitely look forward to trying it out and eventually buying one in a couple of years on the used market!

To me, the best camera out there right now is pretty darn close to my perfect camera, and that's the Z9. Of course that's way out of my price range and would require switching systems. I have never enjoyed using Sony cameras. They are utilitarian to a fault. So it's always so wild to me when people say Sony is the closest to being "the perfect camera" for them. The IBIS is pretty much useless unless you're standing still, their ergonomics aren't good (some like them though), I don't like their color, S-log is harder to grade vs. V-log, they lack the video focus features that entry level Panasonic cameras have (how are you going to release a "cinema camera" that lacks video features?!), and ultimately I don't get any joy out of using them. That last one is the most important. To me the biggest selling point for Sony is that they're arguably the most stable brand right now, and so I wouldn't have to worry about investing into the system and it being sold or shuttered as the market shrinks and companies decide to get out of the camera business. If I was just an enthusiast that wouldn't matter so much, but as someone that makes a living using this equipment it is a huge factor. The S5 honestly is really, really close to being all I'll need for the next 5 years, short of some huge breakthrough in technology. I feel like most cameras are more than enough these days when it comes to capabilities. On the S5 there are so many little things that I'd like to see improved upon, but they're more "quality of life" type things. I'd LOVE to get that S1H screen on a S5. I like flip screens, but there are absolutely times when it'd be nice to just tilt it down or to the right in tight spaces. A full sized HDMI port should be standard on ALL cameras by now. E-ND would be nice, but I honestly don't mind using variable ND on my lenses. Better autofocus would be nice, but again I've made the autofocus work for me. A bigger EVF would be nice, but again, not a dealbreaker. I wish the rubberized texture was on the SD card door. I hope that the GH6 not having a battery grip was an oversight and not the direction they are moving in, so I hope whatever iteration that comes next has a battery grip. Related: I don't know if Panasonic made it difficult for third party manufacturers to make their battery grips or if the S5 just wasn't popular enough, but if they did make it difficult for them to make one I hope they don't do that going forward because while the S5 has very good battery life, it's still nice to have more. The DSTE grips I got for the G85 and GH5 were wonderful.

Cloud back up is fine for short term purposes, or if you're not dealing with TONS of data, but unless you're paying a significant amount for some enterprise level service or building your own back up workflow using AWS S3 Glacier storage or something, you're inevitably going to run into issues, whether it's limitations or price increases. Ultimately it is a case by case thing, and you're mileage will vary. If you're only dealing with 1 or 2 TBs of data that's one thing. But most everyone I know has had nothing but bad luck when it comes to larger amounts of data, due to price increases or limits being imposed. And when you've got a massive amount of data it's not that easy to switch from one cloud storage server to another. The only exception has been those who can afford or work for companies that can afford enterprise solutions with companies. Most of us though don't have thousands of dollars to spend on online storage. Photos are also a lot easier than video when it comes to cloud storage. Consumer level services like Dropbox or Google Drive are often enough for a lot of photographers.

Looks like they've got a press event on January 4th.

I'd go with option 1.

I have the XLR version, and have had it for the last 6 or so years. The $200 and under mic market has gotten really competitive in the last couple of years, so there might be better values by now, but I really, really like it and have no need to "upgrade" until it stops working, if that time ever comes. Azden gets overshadowed by Rode and Deity, but they have some really solid gear.

A very underrated mic! Thank you for sharing! Always love getting your opinions on stuff!

In the new year I might be able to send some work your way, @slonick81. I'll reach out soon!

He claims that his previous videos "shook a tree" and netted him some "reliable sources", but his account is literally just him creating videos "reporting" what the rumor sites report, so I am skeptical that he has any sources of his own. That trip IS very peculiar though. I still feel it's unlikely they flew so many people out to Japan for just a lens reveal for M43, especially because people like Chris Hau were there, and they're S5 shooters not M43 ones. Perhaps it was a combination of a lens release and getting feedback from YouTubers on a future release? Or maybe we're all just dumb and getting our hopes up? It could be anything, haha!

Please don't take this the wrong way, but are you Russian by chance? I know you said you're in Georgia, but a lot of Russians have fled to Georgia. The reason I ask is that since the war my Russian friend that lives in France has had a harder time getting work, too.

I can't imagine they'd do that but nothing would surprise me these days.

I'm not too big about the holidays, especially since most of my family has passed, but I wish you all a wonderful holiday season filled with love and happiness. Treasure those moments you spend with your loved ones. ❤️

It will be very disappointing if it's solely lens releases (they announced a new 12-35 today too.)

I know in the past DJI released drones with M43 sensors and even released a 15mm f1.4 lens, which was just a re-branded version of the Panasonic Leica 15mm. I'm curious what DJI gets out of this new partnership, assuming it's all related.

I'm much more cautious than John, ha ha, especially regarding the specifics, but I do suspect something significant. I've seen folks post that they've returned from Japan, so I imagine we'll see what's up once the embargo is lifted. I do, however, think if it was something ready for release they'd have done it while everyone was there still, so I am thinking whatever it is probably won't be ready for a while and this is just Panasonic trying to keep people more informed on what they're working on, which is really all most of us Panasonic users have been asking. I do think an external LIDAR system is better than nothing, but I also am unsure how I feel about having to spend more money to get better auto focus technology. It's probably something I'd pass on as I've made their AF work for most of my uses, but I would kinda also ask myself "what are we doing here?" I mean, external hardware to get better AF? Really?

It'd be asinine to fly a bunch of auto focus obsessed YouTubers across the world to release another contrast AF camera, right? Then again this is Panasonic, so who knows?!

It's probably wishful thinking but I still think it might be something significant. That the people I've seen are video shooters, it'd be weird that they were flown for a photo centric release. I suppose we'll find out over the next couple days.