newfoundmass

I'm loving the videos @Andrew Reidhas been posting on YouTube lately. They're cracking me up, because he's saying a lot of the things I'm thinking, but doing it with the British humor and wit that I lack. The Matt Granger one did me in this morning! If you haven't watched them you should! Keep it up, Andrew!

40 minutes ago, Kisaha said:

This is just one rare case..

most youtubers do not even care for "normal" jobs, and most blue collar videographers do not even know any youtubers..

As I said it might not be typical, but I don't think it's one rare case at all. I think quite a few YouTubers end up producing video work for others, whether it's a friend asking to film their kid's recital or a family member asking if they'd film their wedding. Once the ball gets rolling it can lead into something else. Many of us "blue collar videographers" started out as hobbyist and got our first paid gigs because we were known as "the video person" or "the person with the video camera." My first paid work was because as a 13 year old I'd bring my video camera to pro-wrestling shows to film for my own enjoyment and one time I was offered money in exchange for the footage. In many ways the aspiring YouTuber is the modern equivalent of that. To say that it's rare I just don't think is correct.

I was talking to a friend this morning who started out planning to be a YouTuber but ended up doing actual paid work and losing interest in YouTube. He's a Sony user and he gave me a different perspective for why this camera sucks and it is a pretty simple one: given it's limitations it can't grow with you.

His first paid jobs were because people knew he did "that YouTube stuff" and they wondered if he could film something for them. He was of course stoked about it, but ended up having a problem: his A7iii was good for his YouTube channel but the 30 minute record limit didn't cut it for the theater productions he was asked to film. Suddenly the camera that he bought because all the YouTubers he wanted to emulate were using it, and that he bought on credit (he was 20 at the time and didn't know better), wasn't the right tool for the job. He was able to get around it when he found out the trick to remove the limit, but he still found it'd overheat sometimes. His parents eventually helped him buy an A7siii once they saw the potential in what he was doing, but it was a costly lesson. 

Obviously his experience might not be typical, but his point was that if he was just getting started now he'd probably buy this camera but end up regretting it because of it's limitations. People's intentions/priorities change over time. People buying this camera might only intend to use it for YouTube and short takes, but what happens when your co-worker offers to pay you to film their kid's play? Or you're asked to film your cousin's wedding? 

Anyway, it was an interesting perspective from someone that started out as a YouTuber that I thought I'd share.

No offense to the other posters, but the original poster mentioned taking stills with the camera so Blackmagic isn't a good option.

17 hours ago, GregButcher said:

I'm looking for video camera and lens suggestions for filming modelling shoots and close-ups in as high definition as possible within my budget of $3,500.

Being compact is not a concern as it will be kept in one location. 

I would be happy to go refurbished/used if that's advised.

There would be very minimal movement when shooting (e.g. video camera will be mounted on a tripod or held by a cameraman for a slow-moving modelling shoot or interview). It will also be used for taking still photos but this is much less important than the video quality.

I would be very grateful for any advice please as I'm quite new to this - I've used a Sony RX100 iii for several years and I feel like now is time for a considerable upgrade.

The S5II with the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 if you're looking for a zoom lens

Or

The S5II with Panasonic Lumix S 24mm f/1.8 and the Lumix S 85mm f/1.8 

I went with 24 and 85mm because it'll give you a wide shot and a great portrait lens.

The Sigma primes are also excellent, and are faster (f/1.4) but the 24 and 85mm would put you over budget.

12 hours ago, Amazeballs said:

Listen, guys. I love my A7S3. Yes I would love to have new dynamic stab, and better AF. I also would want a new video oriented clean on-screen menu layout, but I can live without it. The camera still rocks. The problem is not about it beeing crucial feautures, its the attitude to the community, to us, its customurs. And this attitude stinks. In our age not giving your hardware avalible software updates is really really unexusable. Showing support to your older product is showing love to your customers. And feeling abandoned for a new youger girlfriend is not exactly a stimulating emotional experience. 

It's one thing if the hardware can't support it, or if the camera is ancient, but the only reason these new features aren't being added to recent cameras via firmware is because Sony doesn't want to. As you said, they are features you can live without, but that's not really the point. These companies want brand loyalty without giving it back in return.

On 3/27/2023 at 9:49 PM, SRV1981 said:

To what degree does this matter for you?  To bring focus to the questions let’s consider 3 scenarios:

 

1. you’re shooting weddings, events, and documentaries  output YouTube and other mediums clients want

 

2. you’re shooting narrative filming mostly and some event work as in 1  output YouTube and other mediums clients want

 

3. you’re shooting for personal use, run and gun personal docs, narratives, sports, travel. Output: YouTube 

 

 

Unless you're shooting in a log profile or doing lots of color grading 8-bit is fine. I film the majority of my event work in 8-bit because 10-bit just isn't necessary when I don't need to do a ton of corrections. I film in the natural color profile on my Lumix cameras, set my custom white balance, and I'm good to go.

10-bit is great to have for narrative, commercial, and even corporate/interviews where you're going for a certain "look." It is also very good for green screen work. Since getting the Lumix S5 and full v-log I've filmed more in 10 bit. I really like it, but it's just not necessary for a lot of stuff.

I've seen some really good stuff from the S5II, so I think overall it's a very good release. But they do need to fix the issues that are there and let people know that they're working on them. Given their track record I am confident that they will, but I hate how poor their communication can be.

48 minutes ago, Andrew Reid said:

As for the reason behind a lack of firmware updates, it's because the A7S III is still selling well and is already feature-packed... so it doesn't matter what Gerald says really, if it is selling well, they don't need to change it.

I'd also argue that they've already got people's money, so they don't care. They want you to buy the next camera, not increase the value of the camera you've already bought. And it works, because more than a couple notable YouTubers ended up getting the A1 and the A7RV after selling the A7SIII, which I'm sure then influenced others to do the same since that's how it works. I just wish more people cared about this shitty behavior.

2 hours ago, Evgeniy85 said:

Do people expect to film 2 hour interviews with it? 

If you're dropping $2200 on a camera you probably should be able to in 2023.

50 minutes ago, IronFilm said:

It is not just while recording, but simply being on that apparently it can overheat under certain conditions 

These tests also don't take into consideration things like humidity during summer, which can make it feel a lot hotter than it is. 

Some of the AI features ARE decent, but overall it's just a re-release of a 3 year old camera that is meant to appeal to those on a budget. It'll do great, I'm sure, but it's not much more than an attempt to squeeze a little more juice out of an old sensor and processor.

I couldn't possibly rely on this camera in the summer even at the temps Gerald tested it at because that doesn't account for how warm it really feels with humidity, in direct sunlight, or in a venue filled with hundreds of people with no AC, etc. And I live/work in Vermont! But it's not meant for users like me.

I will say, I'm not a fan of companies releasing cameras that have these kind of reliability flaws, even if they are honest about them. To me it feels like a step backwards, especially for Sony. I thought they'd moved on from releasing cameras that overheated. That you need to pay a premium to get a camera that won't overheat will never sit right with me. If you pay $2200 for a camera it should be usable in all but the most extreme conditions.

I think there are better cameras out there for what this camera is marketed for, but for those who've spent the last several years watching YouTubers gush about the A7Siii or the FX3 but couldn't afford one, I think this will be popular with them. I think we forget that the "famous" YouTubers are but a small fraction of those trying to create successful YouTube channels. There are millions of people on there trying to become the next big YouTuber but with limited resources. This is a camera that will probably appeal to them. They were probably ready to whip their credit cards out the second every reviewer said "it's like a A7Siii but for half the price."

35 minutes ago, ntblowz said:

And micro hdmi .. suddenly on Sony that is not a flaw.

Canon users really have a victim complex. Of course it is a flaw. As is the plasticky body, the single card slot, the insane crop needed to get usable stabilization, the overheating, etc. The difference is that Sony has more credibility with people because they haven't spent the last decade dicking people around while Canon has, so people are a lot less fervid in their criticism.

If you want to criticize Sony then their firmware upgrades are a great place to start. It's ridiculous that they don't push some of these upgrades that are available on cheaper cameras to their more expensive ones, given the hardware is capable of it. Not everything on the ZV-E1 can be carried over to older cameras, but a lot of it can be and SHOULD BE if Sony values their customers. 

Finally, can't understand the complaint of the sensor. 12 megapixels isn't a flaw because it has a purpose: better low light. If you don't need those low light capabilities or just want more megapixels then you should get the A7IV. 

This will probably do well for people producing social media content for businesses, but it'd do much better if they'd included an open gate mode so people could output video to the aspect ratios each service uses. Maybe it's a limit to the sensor size?

It will sell bunches based on being a lower priced A7Siii alone. There are also a lot of people still using the A7c and this is an easy upgrade path for them.

I have no interest in it, but I absolutely see the market it is going for.

My YouTube feed has been trash today, between the Freewell filters, Insta360 gimbal, and now this.

It'll be a great vlog camera with terrible/no stabilization, as is tradition with all cameras marketed as vlogging cameras whether it's Panasonic, Nikon, Canon or Sony.

30 minutes ago, markr041 said:

Forgive me, what do you mean? So, I can figure out whether to forgive you. [Rule "4. Please be polite to other users."]

I mean it quite literally, how does the boot of Jeff Bezos and Amazon taste? This kind of corporation apologia is ruining the world. And this is me being polite.

39 minutes ago, markr041 said:

Yes, Amazon bought it, and and finally had enough. Amazon has and had plenty of things they bought into that lost money - brick and mortar stores, hardware devices. Lots of stupid things. This was one. And Amazon bailed on those others too, like a good company should. They made a mistake. All those thousands of layoffs are due to their mistakes, including DPReview.

DPReview is a money loser, in which the leadership made no attempt to find revenue sources. Amazon is not to blame, the people running the site are.

The site is now filled with posters blaming Amazon, despite the fact that Amazon was subsidizing this no-revenue money pit for years. Not a single one these complainers spent a nickel towards the maintenance of the site. Some are saying they will never buy anything from Amazon again, as if they bought their Nikon Z9 from Amazon. Who the heck buys a serious camera (beside Instamax) from Amazon?

Forgive me, but how does that boot taste?

Shit I just pissed in my mouth made me LOL

5 minutes ago, SRV1981 said:

How would you wade through deciding on that many cameras?

Decide what you NEED and then go from there. What sensor size would be you satisfied with? Do you need stabilization? Do you want a bunch of codec options? Is autofocus important? Low light? All those cameras have their strengths and weaknesses. It's all about finding the one that checks the most boxes for your budget. 

double post!

5 hours ago, MrSMW said:

Ditto.

I used to always upgrade to the most recent latest & greatest whether it really was or not and sometimes it was and other times it wasn’t.

Ideally, unless I absolutely need it, I hold off.

Since 2018, I have bought precisely 2 new cameras. That I have kept anyway (returned the OM-1 and XH2). These have been the S5 after I sold off all my Fuji gear knowing I was not going to stick with what I had and then recently the S5ii as I do have need for reliable AF for a % of my work.

But my S1R's, both now gone, purchased used for 1500 and 1600 euros and my current pair of S1H's, 2150 and 1850. 

For me it is the equation: need + cost + timing and I like to start any season with all the kit I am going to use and if I can, not make changes until after any season has finished.

Too many lens changes last year as I wrestled L Mount into submission but think I have it nailed down now…

COVID really opened my eyes about being extra thoughtful about how I spend my money and what I have my money tied up in. There were several times, even early in the pandemic when I tried to convince myself that things would be better by the summer, where I almost pulled the trigger on completely overhauling my kit. I had the money to do it, and my gear would've fetched more than it did last year when I finally did start the transition to the S5. But I'd have been in a really BAD situation if I had spent that money in 2019 or early 2020. I'd probably have had to start selling my gear, which I would need when things got back to "normal", to survive.

By waiting though I scored two S5 bodies in the last 12 months for a little over $2000 total and didn't put myself in a poor financial situation doing so. These cameras will serve me for at least the next two years, I'm sure longer if I really want them to, and will have paid for themselves over and over again by the time I decide to upgrade. By then they'll be 4 or 5 years old, but they'll still do the job just as the GH5 continues to do for me 6 years after buying it. I'll let others take the financial hit that comes with buying a new camera, because short of some MUST HAVE release, my days of buying the latest gear new are over. I'd rather keep that money in my pocket because if COVID showed me anything it's that I just don't know what the future holds and when we leave it to people to make the best decisions for the collective they often times don't.

39 minutes ago, SRV1981 said:

Understood. I’m wondering if it could be good for non-pros as an A-Cam if photos aren’t a factor. 

It'd be fine as an a-cam for a lot of pros too. 

The biggest knock I have towards the FX3 and the FX30 is that they are supposed to be part of the cine line, but they lack most of the cine features. But still, the FX30 is a more than capable a-cam for a lot of professional work. Maybe not HIGH HIGH end work, but still.

Wonder how it will handle thermal issues.

35 minutes ago, Django said:

I dunno sorry but that's a really goofy way of looking at things, especially if you're a pro. Buy the best camera you can afford that fits your requirements wether that's specs (resolution, codecs etc) or i/o's ergonomics etc. Obviously be smart and on the lookout for what camera will be a better long term investment rather than short if the camera is at the end of a cycle.

The FX3 is imo a much better investment and solution than the A7IV. First it doesn't overheat. That alone is key. Then you have all the cine features including LUT support. The fast readout sensor, A7IV has terrible RS. And of course the cage-less body and top handle with XLRs. If you're on a budget or don't need FF then the FX30 makes even better sense. 

S5ii is also very competitive. Why wait a year or two if you need the camera today?

Don't get me wrong, I don't buy cameras often at all, in fact much less than your average person around here. When I find a camera I'm comfortable with I stick with it forever. And I rarely go for flagships when they are new (I skipped R5, A7S3). 

But there are plenty of excellent options in the $2K-$3K region right now both new and used if you're in the market for an upgrade. So many in fact that it is hard to choose!

He seems to be an enthusiast that is looking to film personal videos and some stuff to put on YouTube.

There really is no reason to get the FX3 or any other expensive camera when he would be just fine filming with a more affordable one, like the A7IV. Please re-read the original post before recommending that a $4000 camera is a good investment for someone that is looking to film personal stuff that he might put on YouTube. If he has the money to blow, then I guess go for it, but he does not need a cine camera.

As far as my own personal philosophy, I want to get the most out of each and every camera investment I make. By waiting I not only will have made more money using the equipment I have, but the equipment that I want to upgrade to will have come down in price even more. In our disposable society where people need the latest and greatest that might seem goofy, but for me it makes the most financial sense and ensures that more money goes into my pocket. In the 5 years I've owned the GH5 it has paid for itself at least 50x over and continues to be a camera I can make money using over the next couple of years. That's what I'm concerned about the most as a freelancer who could one day find himself out of work for a year because of a global pandemic.