JimFenner

This thread didn´t help to stop me. As some long time forum enthusiasts @IronFilm might remember, I have been thinking about getting a F3 for a while. The term "mini alexa" didnt help me much for resisting. So I just bought an F3 with the 444 update for around 750 eu. It was 200 more than I was dreaming on spending as max. But then I was thinking, when will a 444 model come around again. Plus my FS700 gives 2K aliasing parade over SDI, so I would have to record 4K output to really make it shine.
But then again, how long will I have to wait to find a deal on a 444 recorder.:) Crap, 750, these days, for a 1080p camera! Well, better than spending all on toilet paper. This video gave me the last push towards my weird purchase. Such beautiful colors. Darn, some talented people on this forum can achieves this look with a GH3 or a 5D3. Right? Anyone want a F3 with 444 output? I should stay away from dangerious threads like this one. cheers:) By the way, no cheap deals on the OG BM Pockets anymore.
 

For me, you buy what you need when you need it.  
For instance, I might buy something like this if I had a particular client on deck that would be put at ease seeing me run around with a "real" camera.  (That's still a thing in the circles I'm in)
Obviously, you need to know if you're served by playing this sort of game.  I've rented camera gear just to impress clients, not for any particular production need. 
If I was in that situation again, heck, might as well buy a package like this for the same cost.  Also, wouldn't be the last time I'd buy gear only to sell it again quickly.  Which is kind of like renting, just with more flexibility.
Once, a few years back for a client, I borrowed a bunch of unnecessary cinema rigging from a friend/colleague and buried my LUMIX camera under it. Looked cool, but was incredibly gratuitious.  All that nonsense just to do a talking head interview.  Whatever, the client enjoyed the spectacle.  Afterwards I bought my buddy a nice 18 year single malt scotch for that one, which we shared.  Win-win-win.

Yep, respectfully useless, but I thank you for the thought 😂
Switching back and forth several times a minute all day between video and stills with a pair of bodies and a pair of gimbals, changing lenses from time to time... Err, no!
I have tried to embrace gimballing twice and both times did not get on with it...but each to their own and all that!

Well... with the X-T4 release, maybe pick up another X-T3 body at a good price used and get a gimbal???
As you can probably tell, I have no idea of what your workflow is like on site, so I my suggestion is probably as useless as can be. That hasn't ever stopped me in the past

I precisely said the stills, which we shot RAW so no picture profile to talk about. IQ wise video was great (I actually used the recommandations from this forum in a post I created prior to the trip and that was great).  
I edited hundreds of stills from both cameras, since we shot with a friend and myself. Many times we got "duplicates" like similar photos of a sunset for example taken with both the A7III and the XT3. And I confirm the A7III shots were much superior both in Dynamic range and noise control. It's just what I see on my screen. 

 
I agree, LX100 was disappointing. 
For sure a GH6 with proper AF would be killer, so would be a smaller S1 with better AF. Panasonic makes great video cameras, their main flaw right now is AF across the line. 
 
 

Definitely my experience was based on XT3 and not XH line or future XT4. For sure if it really has better battery life, grip and so on it could be a great package.
I guess I just made a focus on a few aspects during the 2 weeks of travel but they frustrated me very much and had a better experience on the Sony. now reviewing the footage I have more keeper on the Sony due to AF, IBIS and not missing key moments with battery issues. 
 
Also I have to be honest, now I want to stick to FF. There used to be a time Where you could only find good video specs at a good price and good form factor with M43 sensor size, or APSC, but 2020 should finally bring us all of this into a nice FF package and with a very decent weight and size unlike old FF DSLRs. 
Between an XH like body and an EOS R like body, there isn’t much difference. Some savings on weight with glasses... but FF rules it for me (and for stills also mostly). 
I am not even mentioning marvels like the sigma FP that almost competes with M43 sizing. 
Having GH5 video specs in an LX100 form factor would be great and have a real advantage and I could see myself using that in combinaison with a FF system. At least there is a lot of difference between the 2.

I have used during two weeks of shooting in a recent Asia trip the XT3 and Sony A7III. 
The XT3 was a massive disappointment. 
I had to use 4 batteries in a day where I used 1 for the Sony. The grip was awful. The AF was much worst than I anticipated.  The lack of IBIS ruined some footages and the stills we took at the same time same place are laughable versus the Sony.
I am much more interested to see what the A7SIII and Canon bring at this point 

With Canon debuting the C500 II today, demand for a full frame in a C-series body is clearly there but Fujifilm is looking further into to the future. Their X-Trans IV sensor technology has already debuted in the GFX 100 and X-T3 but I can reveal a leaked slide-show shows Fujifilm might be taking the technology much further than we believed...
A large format 44x33 camera optimised for open gate 4K3K RGB.
Read the full article

I just wanted to quickly pop in here after reading the article. It's not that I disagree with Andrew's words on the A7III, or that it's ranked in the number 2 spot but that you had nothing positive to say about it. Again, it's not that anything you said was necessarily wrong. But how about giving it credit for shaking things up. For being the new de facto for "Entry level" full frame. For not holding back where other camera manufacturers would have.
Yes, the Fuji has some of the best video quality but I'd say it's only just 'Slightly' better than the A7III. I have a feeling that a lot of the time you won't notice the difference. It's got the Sony beat with color straight out of the camera but most of us do a little grading anyway so I'm not sure I could fault them for that.
But I get it, Fuji deserves the #1 spot and Sony deserves the #2 spot. I agree with that. It's just that it would have been nice if you had mentioned some of it's stronger points:
With the A7III, Sony brought highend features like IBIS, 10 FPS, dual card slots, amazing low light performance, amazing auto focus, beautifully detailed 4K video, improved color science, and far better battery life ("Amazing" I should say) to a platform that many people where on the fence about. And I think they also forced Nikon and Cannon to show their hands. Maybe even before they were ready. The A7III showed the camera world that Sony were serious about about being #1. Even if they only made #2. ;-)
But yes, you're right,  it's a boring looking, utilitarian, working photographer's camera. It's menu's are crap and the screens are average at best and don't flip out and around. But your argument that it doesn't inspire artistic photography... again, I'm not sure I can really fault them for that. Sony has a very subtle, clean, and flare-less design language.  And just like the car industry, some people appreciate flare like BMW while others like the subtlety of Audi.
I have to say, I do feel inspired by my A7III. It's perfect for me because I do a little of everything. Portrait, landscape, still life, street, plus tons of video. it's small size paired with the right lens, makes the A7III great at all of it. To me, Sony hit a sweet spot with this one. Just enough high end features where it matters and skimping on the features that aren't as good as the competition but are ultimately "good enough" to keep the price down. This is the first camera to tick off all the little camera features that I wanted and it did it in a $2000 body. That works for me. Take my money!   

Yeah but the XT3 was innovative that is why it got a high ranking. Plus we know Fuji is putting out a body with IBIS within a year or so, will Canon do the same? 

I just looked at a thread from 2016 where a guy was saying that the 1DX2 is the best on the market, but in a couple years it probably no longer will be relevant. 3 years later and its still one of the best choices on the market. 

 
 
I wasn't saying they were wide, I was saying there are affordable options. 

Canon 1DX2 is still the only FF camera that can do 4k60p in early 2019. Fact.
Dual Pixel AF is still the most reliable AF for video. Fact.
Sony has been maxing out 8-bit 100mb codecs for some years. that's another fact.
XT3 doesn't have IBIS. It's the smallest camera of the pack. Still got number 1 position in the ranking. Fact. 
 

Also by the time you add a decent speed booster, follow focus, gimbal, evf & batteries.. you are way way over $2K for essentially a pimped out M4/3 video only camera. not trying to slam the P4K (any form of raw is a blessing) but in the end it may not be as cheap and easy a route as some may think..
 

Well, there is always something better coming around the corner, I try and not obsess much over that or else you're just chasing the dream. As a working pro my only concern is what tool fits my needs now. I'm invested in a system, and i don't intend on switching everytime the competition drops a newer, better body. When Canon drops that pro body you're talking about well I'll upgrade to it, simple as that. 
Limitations, i try and work around them, every camera has its strengths & weaknesses. IBIS is neat, however, we got along fine before it and no cine cam even uses it to this day. I'd hardly call it a deal breaker even if its a nice convenience. Canon's smart EIS (using gyroscope & 2 way lens IS com data) is a workable alternative & might even prove to be better in some cases.
For stills,  i look at the system as a whole: lenses, color science, ergonomics, AF, flash options etc.. that is what is going to get me the picture I want, not a sensor/chart comparison. Yeah Sony sensors are the best, but I still prefer what Fuji & Nikon do with them.. YMMV.
 

EOS R certainly wins most hated camera of 2018 award!
Yet despite it's on paper limitations and for sure poor 4K RS performance, its a camera I very much enjoy shooting with.. and the perfect B-cam to a 5D/1DX/C100/C200.
Canon did get a few things right:  the only FF MILC with a flip out screen, the FF MILC with the highest bitrate ALL-I codec, the most reliable and smoothest AF in the game. Those 3 things alone should give it some points. The IQ as stated is indeed just cinematic. That word gets thrown around a lot but the reason it applies here is thanks to the thick codec, alongside 1:1 resolution and lack of digital sharpness on default in C-log, paired with the acclaimed Canon color science.
Then you have the smaller things: Smart EIS, 3 custom movie modes, custom ring lens control, MF bar (works for me personally), touch & drag AF, MF focus guide, AF override..etc
Finally when the Vari ND adapter will become available.. well that could just be a game changer.
Now i do understand, none of this makes up for the poor RS or severe crop factor. So yeah dog this camera all you want if those 2 are deal breakers to you.
Just wanted to add some perspective as one of the very few owners of this camera around here. And FWIW i do think Fuji, Nikon, BM & Sony have all kicked it out of the park much further than Canon and certainly deserve the praise. 
Happy NY everyone ?

3 years ago ML was the bee's knees. Now, you can get a raw capable camera for 1300$, speedboost it to reach 1.3X crop factor for less than 2000$, and a camera made for that purpose, not an after thought while you still can officially service it after recording raw.
Times, they are a - changin'...
 

A few of my 2018 winners would be :
"Signpost Award" : Insta 360 One X, not for its actual 360 necessarily but for pointing the way to how much that omni-capture can bring to the table in terms of stabilisation and re-framing for regular flat content. I picked one up just before Christmas and whilst its not my first rodeo when it comes to 360 cameras, its the first one that has really delivered on the shoot now frame later concept. Don't get me wrong, it is full of flaws but it is very close to being there for being the first choice leisure/travel/vlogging camera for a lot of people. It doesn't take much imagination to consider the possibilities for other type of film making as well if manufacturers like Pansonic, Fuji, Sony etc were so inclined.
"Hannibal Lecter Award" : Fuji for cannibalising sales of its video centric X-H1 by having better video specs on the X-T3. 
"Bob Marley Award" : Jointly won by Sony for making everyone Wait In Vain for the A7Siii and Blackmagic for the Pocket 4K batteries Jamming.
"Horticultural Award" : The Blackmagic Pocket 4K for sprouting more plants than the Chelsea Flower Show in this forum in September.
 
 

I am quoting just for everyone to re-read this great post.
Insta was in my shopping list for Christmas also, but finally I went full DJI (Ronin S/Mavic 2 Pro).
People praising the little Osmo camera but Insta is closer to the future than that.
 

I do not know the others, but came from another winner the NX1. I have the X-T3 since a few weeks and I am really impressed about filming with the Fuji. Only the size and feeling in hands, battery life ... NX1 still winner. The X-T3 produces colourfull footage also when there is less light. I filmed recently at 'Winter Efteling' in the Netherlands, most shots during evening and even night. Very colourfull and even at ISO 6400 good. For (professional) photography I think perfect... for me ;-)