newfoundmass

2 hours ago, kye said:

I guess you raise an interesting point.  Vintage lenses used to be good ways of getting a high image quality lens for relatively little money, but now that prices have skyrocketed for almost all the recognisable brands, outside some bargains in garage sales etc, maybe that's not the case anymore.

Considering that China has stepped in and is making new copies of older lens formulas with brands like 7artisans and TTartisans etc, and considering that we can go a long way to matching the coatings of old with diffusion filters and the like, maybe the time of vintage lenses for the masses is over?

Indeed, some of those Chinese lenses are pretty good especially for the price. Vintage will always have a place and the prices may go down again eventually, but unless you're going for a specific look there are a lot of other options out there these days. 

To be fair a lot of vintage lenses are worth what they're going for today but they aren't such a clear cut choice when they're going for close to what you'd pay for a brand new Sigma lens. We were very spoiled there for awhile, able to buy great lenses for almost nothing, that's for sure! 

10 hours ago, LPG said:

Andrew, it's great to see you posting more reviews on cameras again, because that's where you're good at. Critical views on gear without all the PR humbug that other sites quote from the manufacturer...

 

I do have one question. You still seem very fond of Prores, and you said you would like to have that on the new GH6 as well. I have Prores (and the DNX formats) on my Atamos Ninja Inferno, but nowadays I hate to use them...

 

My point is that these codecs seem obsolete to me. They take up extreme amounts of storage space, and to my eye don't really have an edge on h264 and h265 with higher bitrates. I understand that they were very welcome a couple of years ago since they weren't CPU and GPU hungry, but is that still an advantage nowadays when CPUs and GPUs have become so powerful? On my latest desktop and laptop I think that these low compression codecs have become even slower because of the gigantic storage burden. Then there is also the huge problem of archival space. Two hours of footage fills up my 2TB ssd on my Atomos... When working on multicamera shots of classical concerts, I am literally buried under data!

 

Maybe your experiences are different? I can imagine that if one does short films or commercials, the data flood is less of a problem? Do you still experience a higher quality image with Prores versus high bitrate 264/265?

 

I am curious to hear your thoughts...

Prores is still much nicer to edit than .264 and .265. The quality gap has gotten smaller though, so I never bothered to get an external recorder for my GH5. Generally I hate external recorders anyway. Still I'd prefer ProRes over h.264/265, though I don't think we'll ever see it adopted by any of the major camera manufacturers due to licensing. As far as data size, have you considered ProRes LT? 

I used to be all about vintage lenses but these days the value isn't there as much. Seems most 50mm lenses are still pretty reasonably priced (I imagine because they're more plentiful), but a lot of other focal lengths have sky rocketed in price. I still keep my eyes open for bargains on Minolta lenses, since they're my favorite. I still use my 50mm 1.7 for portraits and for some interviews, since it's a 100mm equivalent on my GH5. 

Subscribed! 

🙏🏻

5 hours ago, MrSMW said:

If they do announce a GH6, what would the point of a GH5.5 be?!

It's possible there could be 2 models, but in this day and age, I think it would be unlikely?

 

My only guess is that it's meant as a lower cost entry while a GH6 will be the flagship entry? I'm not sure, honestly. 

Maybe there is hope? https://www.43rumors.com/ft3-there-is-hope-gh6-development-will-be-announced-tomorrow/

(FT3) There is hope: GH6 development will be announced tomorrow?

UPDATE: I still cannot confirm if the announcement is happening tomorrow. That image you see on top is for the closed press event. Not sure if there will be some days of NDA before the actual public announcement!

I still cannot confirm this via solid sources. But one source heard that Panasonic will announce the GH6 development along the new GH5II launch. If this is true it would lift a heavy weight from all of us that are disappointed with the GH5II.

It would make indeed sense for Panasonic to offer an updated and affordable GH5II along a high end and more expensive GH6 camera. So let’s hope this one source isn’t wrong 😞

15 hours ago, EphraimP said:

I'm editing a doc-style video for a local academic institution. They have provided me with a lot less b-roll and pics to use over talking head and VO segments than I expected, so I'm searching for content to fill the gap. I came across an old Vice article with a headline and topline photo that are just perfect for what I need. If I grabbed a screenshot of it and ran it for 3-5 seconds, would that count as fair use? The piece is definitely reporting/editorializing on the topic at hand, so it definitely can be considered newsworthy.

I'm hoping someone who's had some experience with this can chime in. We in the US, so state-side legality is what I'm concerned with.

Asked my buddy that makes docs and his response: Yes, it falls under fair use. 

3 minutes ago, BrunoCH said:

Do you know on the XT4 with the latest firmware update, you can choose the threshold of the overheating auto-off protection? It is now possible to record at least 40 minutes ; 4K 60p H265 10bit.
Watch this video at 2'50 and 4'01mn

 

I need unlimited recording for my work. 

Give me better ibis and no recording limits/overheating over 8K please. 

5 hours ago, Tim Sewell said:

They very much wouldn't like you to keep using them. They'd like you to get out there and replace them with new stuff, preferably on a monthly basis!

That's not entirely true. Yes, they'd like you to buy the new versions but the systems depend on DSLR shooters being enticed to switch to mirrorless because their lenses can still be used. I think they realize that the change over from their old lenses to the better mirrorless ones will happen slowly over time, both as the need arises or users decide they'd prefer to get lighter version of the lens. 

It'd be interesting to know what percentage of Canon and Nikon mirrorless shooters are still using legacy lenses, though I imagine it's nearly impossible to figure out. 

If Fuji could get their IBIS to Panasonic levels and get rid of recording limits / overheating they'd be nearly perfect. Their color science straight out of camera is my favorite out of every other manufacturer. 

14 hours ago, EphraimP said:

Having a market thread is not a bad idea. I was more interested in moving my gear on quickly with as little hassle as possible, rather than maximizing the return I could get and increasing the risk of getting ripped off. The fact that it helps a fellow legit shooter is definitely a bonus. If that's the vibe people approach things with on the board, it could add value to the community.

Agreed. I'm willing to make a little less if I know the person, even if it's just through this forum, that's now using it. And I know there is a section to sell on here but it doesn't get a ton of traffic. 

8 hours ago, ntblowz said:

up to 25meter is fine, more and it will have to be active fibre HDMI cable?

So 25 meter is like 80 feet? Sorry we're American and don't use the metric system like a bunch of assholes! Lol

7 hours ago, BTM_Pix said:

Have a look at converter solutions such as this which run it over Cat5e/6a/7 to get 50m runs

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07H8Y5JF4

They are only 1080p but so is the switcher so thats not an issue.

It needs power at the camera end but its only USB so there are a gazillion solutions for that.

The IR transmitter might be relevant if you use Sony or other cameras that have IR remotes because you'd then be able to control camera functionality such as focus/zoom remotely.

You could also do a similar thing using SDI converters at either end but they need power at both ends and even at the low end they are double the price of this £35 per channel option.

 

 

Was looking at something like that, especially because two of my three cameras have smaller HDMI which probably limits my options but also I need to make sure they're kept secure so not to ruin the HDMI port. I was thinking, in addition to locks on their cages, it might not be a bad idea on general for the longer portion to be separate so to ensure as little stress gets put on the HDMI ports as possible, though then that adds another possible point of failure! 

Is there a specific brand I should also use? For normal use I've just gone with Amazon Basics cables for my TV and gaming systems. They work fine but obviously that's for simple stuff that I'm not gonna be screwing around with. 

Seriously, give me more of this! Imagine if they figured out how to make it even smaller and more compact? 

14 minutes ago, MrSMW said:

Obviously, they are not going to give up every single bit of info, but I just do not understand how giving a road map is an issue?

That's the thing, they don't even give us the bare minimum. Remember how everyone had a road map that covered the next 3 years when they entered the full frame Mirrorless market? There's literally no reason not to do this, unless you've got little to show for it. The times have changed, the camera market is becoming more of a niche. And the remaining customer base expects more transparency. And the thing is, it's easier than ever to do it! 

And to emphasize something...

That's my go to multi camera kit. That's a GH5, G85 and a GX85. There's two 12-35mm f2.8 lenses (mark I and II), a 35-100mm f2.8, a 14mm f2.5, 25mm f1.7, a 20mm f1.7 and the XLR audio adapter. Not shown are the 42.5mm f1/7, a Olympus 7-14 f2.8, and the Pana Leica 15mm f1.7. And I had every intention of getting a GH5s before covid-19 hit. It still blows my mind that I can fit all that into one case, and if I really wanted to I could fit the lenses not pictured into a slightly larger case and bring it all with me to every shoot. 

There are people more invested in native M43 gear than I am, but I'm pretty invested. I'm not complaining just to complain. I want M43 to succeed! Do you know how wonderful it is to be able to throw the 35-100mm on the GX85 and get stable footage in 4K with such a small footprint? Concerts, festivals, sporting events, and anywhere else that has restrictions on what kind of cameras you can bring don't bat an eye at a tiny camera with a lense that's about the size of a can of soda! You simply cannot do that with an APS-C or full frame camera with a 70-200mm lens. 

It's a system worth keeping! Panasonic though seems to be moving on. 

1 hour ago, Alt Shoo said:

This whole topic is pretty much super speculative. The mft format isn’t going anywhere. There’s a whole eco system that’s been built and maintained for too long. As I said earlier, Panasonic isn’t abandoning it. They just released a MFT cinema camera last year with incredible specs. Most of the contributors here are missing that fact. I’m quite sure the GH6 is soon to be announced. This mark ii business is most likely a streamlined version. 

You know what would help out a ton? If Panasonic addressed the concerns directly and made concrete efforts to let their M43 user base know that they're committed to the system for the long haul. What we've seen over the last 3 years have been lackluster updates, like the LX100ii and the G95, or cameras no one asked for like the G100 (that I've heard nothing about since the initial release.) Now we're getting a GH5ii, again something none of us asked for, with modest improvements using the same 4 year old sensor. Meanwhile we've gotten very little concrete information on when a GH6 is coming, other than references to it in the rare interviews they'll do. The only thing of note that they've done in years with the M43 system is release that incredible 10-25mm f1.7 lens but it is nearly $2,000 and not a ton of people are going to drop that kind of money on a M43 lens, especially right now. 

That cinema camera? Those incredible specs are virtually identical to the GH5s, a camera released 2 years ago, with a few added bonuses. 

There's no one to blame but Panasonic for the reaction people have on this forum and the Facebook groups I'm in. They've done terrible PR, which seems to be typical for these major camera companies. I can go in the Z-Cam group and ask questions directly of their president but getting some kind of road map for the future of M43 from Panasonic is literally impossible. We can't even get concrete information on a GH6, which they should be getting people excited for! What we do have though are more people saying they don't think a GH6 is coming, while Panasonic twiddles their thumbs! 

I just purchased an ATEM Mini Pro and am curious about which HDMI cables will work best. I've only used switchers that had SDI inputs, not HDMI. I know that longer cables can have problems: are there any reliable 50+ ft HDMI cables? What's the go to solution for that kind of distance? 

35 minutes ago, EphraimP said:

Helping others with their gear addiction helps me with mine. It's what they call a win-win situation 😏

Thanks again man! 

@Andrew Reidthanks to this site Ephraim sold me a ATEM Mini Pro for a great price. It's a testament to the community you've built that we're able to help one another like that. I think you'll do fine selling stuff through here! 

19 hours ago, EphraimP said:

Sure you should. I can make it relatively painless for ya 😏

He wasn't lying 🤓

5 minutes ago, TomTheDP said:

They have the best full frame camera on the market right now though. Which is why I’m sticking with them.

I agree, which is what is frustrating. But I can't trust a company that does this to their customers. 

1 hour ago, Thpriest said:

My thoughts too. Either Sony or Panasonic L (S5 or S1) for me. I need  2 cameras from the same system which makes Sony very expensive. The A7iii is fine as a B cam and for photos but the "good" video cameras like the A7Siii, FX3 and A1 are very expensive (especially when you factor in lenses, cards etc). But my tired eyes like the AF! But my wallet and ears like the fact that I could use my XLR adaptor on the S line Pannys🤔

If the A7Siii cost 3000€ I'd buy it but 3900€ is a lot nevermind 4500€ for an FX3!

It'd be very difficult for me to go with Panasonic again. I'm very skeptical about the L-mount alliance's long term viability, and frankly I'm not too eager to go with Panasonic again just out of principle, even though their cameras are my ideal tool. 

I was really hoping to at least wait it out until Fuji finally nailed a video focused camera that didn't overheat and had no record limits. So if I do something this year it seems like Sony is the likely destination, and that bums me out because I don't get the same joy out of using Sony cameras as I do pretty much every other company. 

Panasonic never should've gone full frame. It was too late into the game, people had already chosen their horse. And now they're on the verge of abandoning one of the most loyal customer bases in the camera business. 

As it seems more and more likely this is real, I'm just filled with disappointment. I've got a hard decision to make soon: do I run my M43 kit until I have to switch systems or do I sell my kit now while it still has decent monetary value that I can put towards a new system? And what system do I go with? Ugh. 

On 5/9/2021 at 5:19 PM, EphraimP said:

Man, these stories are an eye opener. I was just thinking of listing my ATEM Mini Pro on eBay so I can move to an Mini Pro ISO. Not really feeling like doing that now. I could always try Craigslist, but I'm in a relatively small market for such a specialized product.

Anybody want to by a lightly-used ATEM for reasonable price?

I do but shouldn't! 😭😭😭

Just now, Andrew Reid said:

Agree 100%

Having a flexible road map is one thing, nobody wants to bring out cameras that people won't buy if demand suddenly shifts or a GH6 is no longer there it's at...

But making the intentions clear is whey they fail completely, everything is either hidden under NDAs or just complete silence.

Is it any wonder customers are confused?

It's so self sabotaging, because by doing this to your customers pretty much ensures that they're never going to buy your products again. 

I love my GH5. I love the XLR adapter. It is such a compact set up. I use it for everything from filming pro wrestling to interviews. I don't have to build up a rig unless I want to... just throw a lens on, connect the XLR adapter and you can get excellent results. No fuss. 

I WANT to stay. Give me a reason to! Can't lead the pack with specs now that full frame has caught up? Fine! Innovate in other ways! What's stopping you from putting a GH5 into a GX85 body? I'd buy two, along with a GH6! Nothing would delight me more than even smaller, lighter cameras! I'd carry one with me pretty much at all times! 

And I don't believe this notion that you can't sell a kick ass GH6 for less than a S5 because the truth is there's a segment of the full frame market that won't consider a M43 camera no matter what the specs are. Go for broke, fuck it! Or just give people what they want: I mean just adding phase detect AF alone to decent bumps in specs would sell a bunch of new M43 cameras!