MrSMW

In an alleged board meeting, it was suggested but in the end, ZR narrowly got the vote.

I suspect they got cold feet after the BS1H box camera and whatever the other box one was. See, no one even really remembers their names, or in some cases, that they existed. LUMIX just seem to have been one of those companies that have focused more on the internal than the external and expect enough respect to come from what it can do, not how it does it or how it goes about it. Meanwhile, Leica and Sigma within the alliance, have possibly had more focus on the external, the build, the form etc. Between them, they could build the ultimate camera. Individually they probably could, but no one ever seems to quite manage it... The bottom line is we are probably not representative of the bulk of their sales, but I think it's a case of they are not pushing the boat out far enough. I'm going to have a t-shirt made that reads; PUSH THE FUCKING BOAT OUT. OR DIE!

I would absolutely use it and as above, it would be my first choice, clean sheet. The ZR/Nikon probably doesn't quite have the AF of Sony and it might not quite have the IBIS of LUMIX, but we are really beginning to split hairs these days when it comes to spec and performance. It's compact, has possibly THE best lens selection (IMO, there is no 'possibly' about it, - it just does including near native adaptation of Sony E glass via Megadap) and it's e Shutter only approach on the ZR and Z8 would not be an issue for me as it is with LUMIX where in certain lighting conditions, it's shit (for stills). Give me a pair of ZR's, a single Z8 and 3 lenses of my choice, 1x monopod and 1x tripod and weddings/events would be a breeze. No better than my current LUMIX set up, just a sideways one and one I would not hesitate to use. I could make the same argument for Sony and Canon. It just comes down to personal choice.

Just another normal evening in the Reid kitchen. Meanwhile, other folks around the world are sliding a lasagne out of theirs.

Yup. Yup. Me. Bloody banding in low light LED’s 👌 They are a bit more but I would rather they had been in an FX3/ZR/C50 body style 1000%

100% Same here (eyesight slipping!) but would prefer a larger, brighter and more detailed LCD. A monitor would be better, but that doesn’t work for me for my use case. Tried it and it just doesn’t. Hence why the ZR has HUGE appeal and I just hope other manufacturers take note and follow suit because for too long we have had crappy little screens! Yes, I really don’t know where they go with that because it can’t out FX3 the FX3 and… I just don’t know what it’s going to be that the A7IV isn’t? That’s exactly what I did with my single Z cam earlier this year, but both of my zoom lenses (Tamron 28-75 and 70-180) MKii versions are now available in native Z Mount and are still the best options out there from any brand/Mount for my needs…but I can’t access them with L Mount and there’s no equivalent of the 70-180 sadly. Which reminds me, I still have 2x expensive Megadap Sony E to Z adapters I need to sell as I can’t realistically see any future for me with Nikon at this time.

@Django the ‘crippling’ I was referring to (for want of a better term) was the lack of IBIS in the C50 killed it for my needs and the rear LCD on the R6iii. Not that the latter would have saved it for me but the C50 had HUGE appeal to me but IBIS is absolutely fundamental to me. And the Sigma BF, yup, it’s a piece of jewellery. I really hoped they would have developed the FP and added a couple of features it was missing for me such as IBIS and a tilt screen. Re. the ZR, I also think it’s a bit overhyped at the moment and has a few missing elements, but for price especially, has been the ‘best’ overall release of 2025. At least so far, - Sony are popping their next A7 out later this month if the smoke from the Dolomites is correct and they may pull a surprise? My interest and commentary is more an impartial one. I’m 99% happy with the gear I have but at the same time if something else comes along that is quantifiably better (for my needs) and it’s financially doable, I am going to at least check it out. Right now, I’d like the C50 body and spec but with the ZR screen, (the size & res of it anyway but would prefer a tilt or fully articulated) with with Z or E Mount and the IBIS and video tools of LUMIX. Maybe one day someone will get it right for me and it all exists, just not in any single brand or camera! The closest is probably Nikon…

Nope. Approx 20 days of shooting with temps up to mid 30 Celsius and cameras get warm, especially in direct sunlight as all black bodied cameras do, but not a single overheating warning, never mind a shut down. No lock ups either. Well might have been one now I think about it but had more than that on my A7RV I had prior and a none issue. Most of the overheating talk is from; folks unfamiliar with the camera in the first place + use age of non-recommended cards + incorrect heat management settings + tests deliberately designed to cook the thing and so combined, well yes, you probably will make it have a meltdown but real world shooting with proper cards and set up? Err no. Actually, 99% of the overheating talk is people talking about overheating who do not have and have never had or used the cameras and are in reality expelling more hot air than the cameras do!

It’s a bit small and lower res in 2025 I think… As someone who will not rig out beyond a cage and a mic and only uses the rear LCD, 3” and 1.6 million dot isn’t great, especially when the ZR has 4” and over 3 million dot screen. OK the Nikon is a bit more cine orientated and the Canon, more hybrid, but I know which I’d choose between the two. Canon just don’t seem to be innovating enough or if they do, still cripple hammering too hard. Looking at you C50. The bodies are also looking more and more old hat unsexy plasticky blobs, even if they are well built. No IBIS is a very hard sell in 2025 to the more mass market. Or maybe they don’t need to sell to the more mass market/prosumer? What do I know… Canon, as it always has been for me, just don’t have that ‘want it’ buzz about them and it was Nikon who used to always seem to play second fiddle to them, but looks like Neekon have jumped them in recent times.

Ah, the forgotten LUMIX. At least by me, but whenever it is mentioned and I am reminded of it, I start to think how I might get and use one. But then I remember it needs rigging out with at least a screen and it dies for me. I suspect for at least the run & gun brigade, the flatter and wider ‘rangefinderesque’ body style is more desirable in 2025? Folks don’t want to rig out which is why the ZR is so popular, the RED association aside, - it’s all about the form factor and that 4 inch screen. It’s the wrong screen of course and should be fully articulated so it can remain behind the body and in line with the lens, but it seems we can’t have everything 😏

I think your current GH7 set up is giving you all of the cinema already, but an S9 could be an exceptional full frame option in a pretty small package. There’s a new TT Artisan 40mm f2 which suits it perfectly and is cheap and has ‘character’. It’s decently sharp and contrasty but also has a certain glow to the highlights reminiscent of a subtle mist filter. Sharp of course is not necessarily a desirable requirement for ‘cinema’ but it’s something that is easier to dial back than add. The main appeal of this set up for me is it’s pretty small and pretty small means more likely to take it everywhere and use it and it has that ability to be both a personal/family camera and decent cine camera as you wish. I had been using mine as an A/B cam for work but now repurposed it as a personal/C cam with either the Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 for cropped video or when I pick it up, this new TT Artisan. Also toying with getting a Thypoc Simera or two for my slightly more pro S1RII’s and turning my S9 back into my working B cam purely for autofocus situations. Options options options…

For me the future of LUMIX lies in; A. will we see an S1Hii and B. if so, what will it be? If there is one in the pipeline and it’s a banger, it won’t ‘save’ the brand anymore than it would for any other manufacturer as it’s a much bigger picture than that, but as a (pro) consumer of this brand, it will at least have demonstrated their short term commitment. Also we have to remember that the sky was falling in on Nikon just a few short years ago and they were utterly doomed…and at the end of 2025, they are the industry darling. Financially how any of them and doing and what their short, medium and long term goals and outlook is, probably even they don’t really know and Panny are probably on the shakiest ground of all, but had a fairly big surge, at least amongst the community bros this year so… Being totally honest, clean sheet tomorrow morning, I’d pick Nikon without hesitation, for my needs, but I think LUMIX/L Mount would still be in second place and really loving my S1RII’s which are arguably the best tools for my specific hybrid needs available today. ZR vs S1RII for stills? Zero contest, easy LUMIX win. For hybrid? LUMIX wins again. Run & gun video? Could make a case either way but unless shooting R2D2-3CPO raw, I think LUMIX has more advantages. As an outright cine camera, maybe the Nikon. As a brand for the short & medium term, probably Nikon is the safer bet, but depending on how invested you already are. Will this pro services thing have any bearing? Well as a pro with Panny for nearly 5 years now, wasn’t even aware of its existence so… 🤷‍♂️

MYPANASONIC ? That would be 6 more letters to fill in with my black sharpie than I already have to and 6 too many. They are not going to change the camera brand from LUMIX. Maybe for some kind of service, but not the brand itself. Unless they have been smoking some serious grade shit and/or are ‘seeing someone’ for their personal difficulties.

A bit small and lacking in res for 2025, but otherwise looks a decent spec overall but nothing especially exciting. That sounds pretty decent though... With a clean sheet, I'd still go Nikon personally, - I just prefer their history and direction they are going in.

The polite version is “no thank you”.

That’s what I ‘converted’ mine to. It no longer had a place in my lineup, the trade in value is a bit shit and my zoom has too much cosmetic damage to realistically sell, so I have mashed the 2 together and made it a C can and personal camera and re. the latter, don’t mind shooting APSC stills. You and me both, but it won’t happen will it. No way will they repurpose an old body, - they would be destroyed by ‘The Community’. If you are not moving forwards, you are going backwards. I think they need to pop it out in a ZR/FX3 body style but have the fully articulating screen and a big one at that a la ZR and done deal, - I’d flip my second S1RII for it at launch. Possibly even my S5II also.

Remembered it now, they are called Nikken Techno and are the official repair centre for France for Lumix cameras…or so I was told and guided to by Panasonic France. Used them twice to date. Very efficient.

I had no idea it existed and send my stuff to a place in Paris and a company whose name I forget… And Panasonic Lumix told me to do this with no mention of these so called pro service so 🤷‍♂️

If only they had opted for the S1H/S1RII/A7RV style mech 🙈 It’s not a dealbreaker (for me) but might just have sealed the deal for me as this kind of fundamental, but so easily could have been included. I work exclusively off the LCD for both photo & video and simply prefer it behind the camera, in line with the lens and not on top or off to one side.

The reality. I am sure you can get more out of R3D than Lumix log, but at 5x the data rate. But then again, I have seen the size of the Lumix raw files and they are over 10x log, so err, no thanks. The actual reality is that no one will notice, especially as all they are interested in these days is the 60 second short on social media that can easily be shot on a phone or action cam...which coincidently, is exactly what I will be doing next year... Should we care? Yes we should...but always within the realms of reality and that reality for me is I'm not going to be shooting data rates 5-10x what I already have that are already more than good enough, because where does it stop? I still love the ZR, - I think it is THE camera of the year, all factors considered, but mainly for it's form factor and rear LCD, although I do wish that was tilt not flip out, but hey ho, not buying one so what does my opinion matter!

I’m not desperate to buy a new camera, but this is what is missing for me also. The A7CR is currently closest but other than format, the A7RV trounced it for me. Ditto the S1RII vs the S9. I can live without the EVF but the lack of mech shutter really caused me issues on the stills side. Sigma FP/L ditto. That camera for me is 2 elements away from being my perfect camera: Mech shutter + hi res tilt/flip LCD. The lack of IBIS used to bother me but I would shoot it on a monopod so not an issue. Tried the Leica TL2 but it was a bit clunky and moved on a bit from APSC anyway and would really only consider full-frame or medium format today.

Or maybe you will not 😂 I still stand by the ‘fact’ that it’s an excellent choice for my needs and the only alternative combo I would switch to right now at the end of 2025, would be Nikon Z8 + ZR + Z6iii (or perhaps 2x ZR’s) vs 2x S1Rii + S5ii and if a fairy waved her magic wand in my direction and said it could happen overnight with zero faff or cost, I’d accept her offer. But as fairies don’t exist, I’ll just have to stick with what I have!

I don't know about the Sony A1 but against the Z8, the S1RII might be? I do think the S1RII is the best of the line. It's more capable than the S5II/X for video and offers quite. bit more than the S1II for stills, so for hybrid users like me, is a bit of a gem. 8k 30p @ 300mpbs video with stellar IBIS, especially if the E stab is switched on with a quality that for every test I have seen, just looks better than the S1II. Or 7.2k 30p open gate as I have been shooting most of this year, but pretty sure I am going to 8.1k 30p next year using the 2.39:1 crop markers (ie, the flexibility in post to do anything within a 17:9 output but see and shoot in pano mode). From a stills perspective, I think my old A7RV had a slight edge, but I had my editing of those files absolutely nailed down to my taste and it's taken a little longer to dial in the S1RII and again, probably going to start using the in camera Jpeg 65x24 crop mode whilst retaining the full 3x2 raw file in case I wish to use it. Having 5 custom photo and 5 custom video settings is fantastic as I have settings for 'everything' now. Factor in the hybrid zoom function for stills (can only use it up to 4k in video mode) and the prime lens equivalent, is great for getting a 1.4x crop whilst still retains the full-size raw file, so again, great for composition. I'm still debating over whether I can get away with just the Sigma 28-70 or whether I do need the 28-105 (for ceremonies and speeches and I probably do), if I start shooting in 65x24 mode where you lose so much height in favour of width, longer lenses tend to be too long for the format... I am going to pick up the new 24-60 f2.8 for sure for video as pretty much every test shows that despite it not being an S lens, it's pretty exceptional for it's size, weight and cost. I think Andrew, you'd come around to the S1RII in time, especially as the prices come down. Better than the OG S5 and S9 easily. I love(d) the S9, but just not quite 'pro' enough for my needs and other than as a C cam, I won't use it as a primary camera in 2026, - too many niggles. Mainly too easy to jog a dial and have your settings off when shooting video and if shooting 1/50th at 30p as I am doing in a PAL region, aaaaaaaaargh, LED light flickering and banding!! Better than the S5II other than for long static stuff. Better than the S1II? I think so also as that I see as a more dedicated video camera or at least one with less stills capability and I think the colour is just better with the S1RII being a different sensor. Would I trade it for a Z8? Easily...but only as a sideways move as there are pros and cons to each... S1RII to Z8 for stills? Probably... My other S1RII for a ZR for video? Possibly, but only for that rear screen and the form factor. S5II for the Z6III? For my static work, pretty equal. Cost to change = not worth it, especially as a sideways move which it would be for me. I loved my S1H and I do see my S1RII(s) as a mash up of the S1R and S1H but more capable than either, in a pretty decent body.

I’m a big believer in both planning and walking when I choose to walk rather than being pushed. Or fading into irrelevance 😉

Maybe, - I couldn't say as there are a lot who say the opposite and say the market is over-saturated and everyone else is undercutting them. I really don't know and pay almost zero attention to what anyone else is doing and never really have! Perhaps another reason why I keep ticking/plodding along? And on that note, back to editing the 4th to last of the season and then 'just' 3 more to go for this year...