MrSMW

I just learnt very early in my career, unless I did not do that, it left me open to all kinds of issues. I make it very plain before each and every client books that other than a handful of things that are more or less a given, I do not and will not shoot to shot lists as they both stifle creativity and are open to interpretation and potential recrimination. Nor will I edit or produce a result to any other specification than my portfolio would suggest. Despite it being in the contract, I will still get someone every now and again who will send me a detailed shot list of 50 other individuals work on 50 other days, that may or may not even be the same season never mind time of day, captured at 50 different venues...and then have to politely remind them I cannot do that...and they will STILL complain after the fact I have not done what they paid me to do. Well actually, I have done EXACTLY what you paid me to do, but fortunately these freaks are maybe 1/100 clients and all you can do ultimately is politely and professionally move them on. Having said that, if I feel I can accommodate or work something in, I will at least try, but we are never going to get close to that 50 'Must Have' list...and you still won't win, but at least you can occupy the moral high ground and state you bent over backwards even though you did not need to. It's just part of running a business and anyone who has been doing so for 25 years, will have experienced issues from time to time and as long as they are not the norm, then you are doing just fine. I can count on just 2 hands from 850+ jobs/clients over 25 years those who have had a hissy fit and hand on heart, can say with 100% conviction, it was them not me! But I do work in a very specific niche where I can operate in this manner and I am the type of person who is comfortable saying no with a smile.

I count myself very lucky in that regard in that I don't work to client briefs or input. At least, not beyond the most basic of levels. Ditto end result where there is zero input. It means I am only ever looking at how I am doing something or how I would do something. But a lot do not have that luxury I know!

Ha, me, everywhere all the time. I cannot step out of my house without continually working out how to shoot in any given environment whether it’s public transport, a restaurant, a bus, an elevator… It’s something that is just hardwired into you! 😂

Other than the price, that really is my only criticism. Pull out tilt 100%!

It is nuts isn't it?! I'm shooting 4:3 ratio, 4.7k APSC 300mpbs on my S1RII's, specifically so I have the biggest box for both orientations with 50p. That is 3552 pixels tall so even with a 9:16 end product, plenty of scope to punch in if needs be. 2x crop markers, one set at 2.4:1 landscape and the other at 9:16, 75% blackout. No need to tilt the camera 90 degrees and no need for a dedicated social media camera. The only 'compromise' is visually composing for shooting for 2.4:1 and 9:16 within the same frame, but I personally like being able to make 2 entirely different end products from the same original footage, - there is both continuity yet difference. But 7k raw files? Nuts!!

Oh, you have met some of my family then?

About the lack of IBIS, I suspect…but could be wrong, that they deliberately skipped it as another point of difference with a future S9II which not only would have an interchangeable lens mount, but extra bells & whistles, ie, your P&S can’t be too sophisticated. Re. the size, back when these things were competitors, I went with the Sony RX100v over the LX100 and thought that was an ace little camera and truly pocketable whereas the LX100 was less so. I am not bothered about pocketable and though the new ‘LX100’ might have grown, just as the Fuji X100 line did, I think it’s just about right and for years have wanted a fast zoom lens ‘version’ of a Fuji X100/Ricoh GR and skipped everything, every year. Until now, - it’s time.

I envy Sony’s lens line up which being honest, blows away what is available from L Mount. But that is it. And I try not to think about it too often.

I suspect there is at least one person out there who is currently debating which one of yesterday’s 3 cameras to get or a fancy tropical fish tank.

Same intern that is currently doing their marketing is also in charge of product naming.

Looks decent and loved my A7RV, but I have nailed my colours to the LUMIX mast for what remains of my career. But if I did switch, it would be to Nikon. Or Leica. Or dammit, maybe even Canon. Or possibly Sony actually. The simple reality is they all make good shit these days. Remaining a Lumix bro, - it does what I need it to do.

Another stroke of Lumix’s marketing genius. They were hoping for a full 24 hours of limelight, but the intern responsible for product launches only had 10 fingers and 10 toes to count with.

Ha, also another of my thoughts! As I am in the twilight of my career and have not yet scratched the Leica itch, if the LUMIX option is not available prior to the end of June, I might as well skip it as half my season will be done before I got to use it…so would probably hold on until 2027 and pay the massive premium to get the same thing with a red dot and a fancier box to put in the back of a cupboard. Or I might just upgrade my phone…

Normally I’d also want IBIS, but in this case, e stab is fine for me as my use case for this would be freestanding monopod use for video and handheld only for stills…so gets a pass. The only comp for me really is a phone like the Xiaomi Ultra for around the same price which would also do the same job, but would be a ‘one & done EDC’ which a camera in addition to a phone, is not. Plus my phone is getting a bit old and battered and will need replacing soon. Hmmm, decisions decisions… I did not want to do anything this year and was planning new phone only next year, but my current camera drama has forced the issue!

Yes, the price is a bit high, but if you can wait, these things tend to drop quite quickly. I’ll be wanting the titanium one. Quite fancied that for the S9 but as I already had one, wasn’t going to trade just to get it, but if I’d had that choice from scratch… GH7 sensor + S1II processor in a tiny body… OK, fixed lens but it’s pretty decent. It’s not a ‘pro’ camera as such but one I think pros can have fun with which was exactly how they billed the OG GF1 in what was it, 2008/09? That was interchangeable lens but I drank that Cool Aid and bought one.