Video Hummus

On one hand, we have a video company (Panasonic) with a very robust video imaging pipeline, managing to squeeze an amazing amount of DR and latitude performance out of sensor that first appeared (lackluster; performance wise) in the Z6III. However, the camera was still heavily criticized for "terrible" rolling shutter performance and seemingly NOT being a SONY camera. Never-mind sony has released several cameras with terrible rolling shutter but people still shat their pants for them. The curse of being Panasonic LUMIX and not Sony Alpha. Nikon's take-2 on the same partially stacked sensor housed in a new body--apparently designed less than 1.5 years after they bought RED (Press X for doubt) for a measly 85 million (RED probably had massive debts that Nikon absorbed). It seems to me they did their best to squeeze enough RED tech for marketing purposes into a camera that was clearly just designed to be a Z6III with a new body, minus EVF, and with a huge giant screen. More like a Version 0.5 of "Z Cinema" than a V1.0, IMHO.

Fujifilm will probably release a GFX 100RF with a 28mm f/2.8 in 3-4 years, with IBIS, and an updated sensor and no one will give a shit about wanting a FF fuji camera. They'll instead be asking Leica why there isn't a MF sensor in their Q, hmmm?

They also fixed their horrible n-log view assist. Nikon is really killing lately with their value for money, firmware, and camera offerings.

I've owned and used both of these cameras. I had the R5C when it first came out. R5C is dead in the water for me because of the RF lens mount lock-out. It's one of the main reasons I left RF. So, get the Z8. I use a Z8 with 400mm f/4.5 with and without the 1.4x TC and love it. If telephoto lenses are important to you than Nikon has perhaps the best lineup right now with the Z mount. They are the only ones that have the holy grail end-game of telephoto lenses: 400mm f/2.8 and 600mm f/4 both with built-in TC. They also have cheaper and excellent options: 180-600 f/4.5-5.6 being a standout value proposition. The 400mm f/4.5, 600mm f/6.3, and 800mm f/6.3 are still kinda unmatched. Z mount has some cool third party lens options and growing. Nikon has been slower to release non telephoto Z mount but they are doing it. The Z 28-135mm f/4 PZ being their latest. The Z8 is my favorite camera I've used in the past 8 years: A7III, GH5S, R5, R5C, X-H2S. I've shot some of my favorite photos with the X-H2S and am very fond of that camera but the Z8 performs so much better has a hybrid camera. I'm also really excited to see what Nikon does with their RED acquisition and Z mount. I think there are exciting products coming from Nikon.

It involves their partner and I'm not talking about Leica. RED going down market and Sony's success with VENICE has stirred up some unlikely partnership collabs.

It started with the YT AI slop science channels. It has progressed to AI generated "Let's Play" slop content for children. They WILL start using it to make commercials... ...then move on to making kids shows for your kids iPads so you can go to work and forget about parenting... ...then endless Netflix AI slop TV shows for the parents... ...parents that went in to debt to go to college but didn't learn anything because they used chatGPT to write their papers and get their grades... ...who then go into critical jobs without knowing jack shit... ...which they will then lean heavily on chatGPT to do their jobs (because that's what they learned in college). The lucky ones will die in the next drone war powered by Anduril.

On another note… Panasonic needs to release a f/2.8 PZ lens. If Fujifilm can do a 28-180 f/4 surely Panasonic could do a MFT 12-150 f/2.8

Panasonic product releases perplex me. March 2019 - S1/R flopped because they released the much smaller, cheaper, and functionally the same… September 2020 - S5 the Sony’fied version of Panasonics FF. Still no PDAF. Sales probably OK. February 2022 - GH6: quirky, no PDAF. Didn’t sell well because… January 2023 - S5II with PDAF and FF. mFT iS DeAd! June 2023 - GH7 with PDAF, improved sensor over GH6 (less quirks cleaner image), internal everything kitchen sink! The S1H should be slotted in there in 2019 but I left it out because it really was a niche product. It did however have a huge impact on future camera designs: mainly the GH6 and S5IIX. I suspect we will see a S2H soon to continue the cycle of shooting your own cameras in the foot.

A few years. I have been disappointed with Canon’s third party lens fiasco, lack of mid-range quality L-glass, and some other things. My R5C is sold off. I kept the R5 for photos but might sell that off. It says “wholly-owned subsidiary” of Nikon. So my guess is key technology will trickle from Red to Nikon (global shutter sensors, raw compression on high end Nikon gear, etc…) Red probably continue to do what they do but with Z-mount ecosystem integration. I also wonder if this is a way for Nikon to break free from Sony Semi-conductor in a way with global sensor technology, which seems to be the direction the industry is going.

Big moves against Canon. This has to be related in someway to the settlement as it was extremely hush-hush. The corporate culture couldn’t be more different between the companies. Very interesting. I think they will be run separate with some co-branding happening here and there and of course technology sharing. Red fanboy panties will be twisted hard if Nikon is slapped on their camera.

I have the R5C and the R5 and I prefer the R5C setup over the always on IBIS in the R5 for video. At least with the RF 24-70 the OIS + EIS combo has worked amazingly well for hand held static and controlled handheld pans and tilts in my experience. IBIS wobble is horrible. I come to really notice it and hate it.

LP-E6NH give me on average about 30-35 minutes of actual record time with occasional waveform and false color usage, 4K XF-AFC, Continuous AF, Lens IS. If you are running and gunning you can use the media button hack and extend standby battery life considerably probably even more if you flick the IS Off on the lens as well.

It sucks ass. - A R5C owner I enjoy using the camera though and just carry 3x more batteries with me than if using just my R5. You can rig and shoot for hours but I don't like using cables if I don't have too. I would have gotten a C70 but would prefer FF with RF glass I have.

It seems so. Kinda shady, for sure. Although the camera and cards become really hot. I would say the CFExpress becomes so hot it can cause burns if taken out of the camera too fast.

I would say the R5 does respectably well for a 45MP FSI sensor compared to those other cameras in that test. S5 definitely is a goat, if you don't need reliable video AF.