MrSMW

Say what?! Who’s feeling ‘frustrated and cornered? I stated I’d like my next camera system, whenever and whatever that may be, to consist of 3 identical bodies. None of the 3 I have make me feel in anyway frustrated or cornered and I’m not looking for the perfect camera anymore than 99% of the rest out there. I would hope that might be the lovechild of the S1R, the S1H and the S5. With better tracking AF for that 5% of the time I need it. But until such a time comes…and it will come, I’m very happy using what I have and in a career I have few concerns about and frustrated, cornered or desperately seeking Susan doesn’t come into it. You have me confused with some other bloke Kye 😜 It’s a forum. It’s just chit chat whilst I mostly twiddle my thumbs ahead of a projected 400+ day workload that starts in 4 days after 2.5 years getting by on just 10% of what should have been. I’m in my groove, my mojo is overflowing, bring it on. Any issues that may exist are beyond my control and right now, I can’t think of a single one. My kit is essential for what I do. Not necessarily any more or less so than anyone else’s situation but as the only (that I know of) one man band who shoots full photography as a photographer and full video as a videographer, at the same time at the same gig, it’s perhaps more important than it might be for others. And what I have ticks every box. Except that 5% AF tracking and I have a workaround for that. But none of my 3 main cameras are 100% perfect for my needs…but the combo of…and everything else I use, is the best suited to my specific needs based on what exists at this time. ’Frustrated and cornered’ made me laugh though 😘

Inspired by the Oscars, Will slap on a vintage lens some time soon.

3 questions: Q1: Will you live in your car whilst writing the script? Q1b: If so, what car do you drive/will you be living in? Q2: Can we assume you will get the haircut and will post a pic as proof? Q3: Will you use autofocus? (Just keep in mind that no serious pro uses AF). Otherwise sounds like a great project and I’d offer my services but, A: Too busy the rest of this year and B: Doesn’t work well in groups of more than me. Looking forward to the photography site also. There isn’t really anywhere I use for that side of things right now, so an EO Shed version for stills would be welcome.

Aaaaargh... 5k 25p (30 and 24 available in NTSC) HLG only...which is fine...but it's pixel:pixel crop mode only! If shooting internally, which I do, only do and only ever will do. At least when shooting hybrid as I do. Ah well, I explored it at least, but across 3 Lumix bodies, all slightly different spec (S1R, S1H, S5), I'll just stick with shooting Natural for consistency across the board. Next time, all 3 bodies are gonna match...

Anyone know where I can get one of those disco light speakers that communes with the other side in slow motion? Asking for a friend.

Very comprehensive review and thanks for the link. The OM-1 at this time still remains the benchmark camera (inc. lens options) for me, ie, it ticks more boxes than anything else out there. That exists today. 1 disappointment that I hope they fix with firmware and 1 question only I could answer with a test. The auto-ISO. I use it all the time for stills and the implementation sounds like it isn’t great. It never ceases to amaze me how any company can get so much wrong but the drop the ball on something so simple. How the (raw) image quality stacks up against full frame. I could go back easily enough to 24mp FF from 47mp that I currently shoot, but 20mp… I have had several 4/3rd cameras and the best of these was the 16mp EM5 mk II which was OK for stills but I think I’d be shocked if I tried putting something like that up against my S1R today. The thing is, I don’t wish to and won’t change my current system for the sake of change. I would…and at some point will, only when a system ticks as many boxes as my current system, as in on a tech spec level, we are already there, so for me, all that remains is: Size, weight, ergos. Slightly smaller and slightly lighter S1H would be the ideal, so why not the new GH6? Well it’s a contender. More video spec than I need, but it’s also on the list.

Well I’ll be as the old folks say… I bought the camera used and immediately updated to the latest firmware which is I think V1.9 I shoot 4K 50p so forced to shoot 8 bit and .mp4 which is fine because I only use the S1R as my C cam and only during wedding ceremonies where it’s sole purpose is to cover a third ‘bonus’ angle for the occasional random clip while the A and B cam are on sticks. Never even occurred to me it would only be available with .mov and 10 bit 4K 25p! But I checked and that is indeed the case. One factor for certain whenever I change camera bodies again and that is all 3 bodies will be identical. Constantly juggling between the S1R, S1H and S5, playing to their strengths and weaknesses. If I had to pick today, 3x S1H, no question, stills and video. Proved wrong. Thanks @BTM_Pix 😘

HLG photo not video. I am on the most recent firmware and it’s not a profile option for video. Unless anyone can prove otherwise and I would thank you if it turned out to be the case.

Just this morning I was considering this very thing. Damn, but as you got there first, I’m happy to not contest you on this.

Cracked it. I thought I’d give it one last go and based on someone’s suggestion, I tried another angle of attack. Finally, a result equal to or better than I can get out of my tweaked profile. Then I hit a snag. The S1R doesn’t shoot log or even HLG. That’s a bummer because it’s going to cause workflow issues based on my specific use case so although I would now be happy shooting this season using log, I’m going to stick with Natural for consistency. Thanks for all the input folks. It helped.

I love how these threads develop. We’re now onto 4K TV sales outside of the US/EU and meanwhile, I don’t think the OP ever came back to see the answer to his question which would now be: Buy an OG BMP4K plus a 4K TV. I think… 😬

All of this plus better focus peaking, but especially make all the LCD's the same as yes, there is a massive difference between S1H and S5. There are a couple of other options for me to consider...and will be others I am sure when the time comes, but next year, if I stick with the current system and no new Lumix models have appeared before next season starts, I reckon I'll swap out the S5 for another S1H. Or I might...just might however, flip the S5 for a BS-1H as the role I use the S5 in as static on a tripod, longer duration stuff, so less concern about rigging it (the Bullshit-1H). Probably a pair of S1H's for video and my S1R for stills.

There is a switch, but I hadn’t accidentally tripped it. I just had no idea it could possibly connected to unmute video playback!

Well my old monitor was an NEC and I replaced it with a Benq. The NEC was maybe 8 years old and cost me around 1250. The Benq I replaced it with (because it was in it’s way out) cost around 400. The Benq…comparing my two specific models looks ‘nicer’ to me and I guess that is progress for you. And 1/3rd the price. You probably can’t go wrong but I make no claims on being a monitor expert. Or an expert on anything at all 🤪

You are a gem. Solved. I assumed incorrectly it would be in the menu…and so it is, but only if you know it’s connected to the front 2 position lever I never even knew existed. Or rather, I knew it was there but served no apparent purpose to me. So thanks. I can now help anyone that asks the same question any time in the future!

Nah, not off the deep end, - just stating my take on the situation which remains the same: I can go out and shoot the same scene back to back using my tweaked profile and log, but in post, can't get as nice (as I'd like) result. As I've said and keep saying, I don't deny it's me. Not for one second. But it is something in the grading I am failing at, not the capture. It's not the camera, it's not the capture, it's not the use of log itself, - I'm no workman who blames his tools, but there is something I am missing in the grading process and I have not yet been able to nail that down. But as I also said, I'm going to leave it for now and revisit the subject later in the year as I outlined above.

Silent mode is set to off but only appears to be an option when in stills mode, ie, doesn't appear within the menu structure when in video mode?

But the thing is, it does work. Most of the time and in most situations. Just arguably not as well as it’s main competitors. As with all things, there is a pecking order. Such as in F1 motor racing, Ferrari are back up at the top vying with Red Bull whereas the mighty Mercedes are currently running in the middle of the pack. Lumix cameras currently have this double whammy of having the least good AF coupled with the worst press because of that fact. The reality is however, it’s not that far behind Fuji which is not that far behind Nikon, but Canon and Sony are arguably the Ferrari and Red Bull of this current time. In AF terms that is. For stills, I can’t criticize it, but then I don’t shoot F1 or anything even remotely faced paced. The fastest action I see and have to capture is a newly married couple strutting up the aisle. It’s actually highly accurate and I don’t even think about it. When it comes to video, OK, for the best result you should use native glass and you should take the time to understand how the system works and tweak a few settings. For general video capture useage, it works pretty well. In real life. It’s just the forward tracking where it can come unstuck and that I will admit, is an issue. But most of the negative reviews talk I read is from folks who have never given it the time or never even used it. If I climbed into an F1 car and failed to drive it, it doesn’t make it a shit car. It’s the perception of Lumix cameras AF that is their biggest issue. The perception of it. Plus their less good than the rest marketing. But on a positive note, there is a core of folks who own the kit that appreciate what it can do and I think especially in regard to the S5, a growing appreciation. I’m one of those. Obviously. Not a fanboy or tied in any way (came so close to going OM Systems just a few weeks back) and hope and pray (in an agnostic manner) that there is a next gen and they don’t stuff it up.

Not that I am aware of. I spent around 2 hours this afternoon trying to work it out and reckon it’s one of those oh so obvious things, I just can’t see it…

Well I don’t know your age and I’m 51 myself which even to me sounds ‘old’ on paper, but I don’t feel any older than maybe 35? I’m not talking about the, “who are you kidding mate?!” scenario but most folks I meet at weddings think I’m just over 40…but the reality is I was started shooting weddings when most of my clients were at kindergarten. I also have plenty of industry mates well into their 60’s and still holding their own in this industry. I’m not planning on going past 60 myself. I just reckon that the 30 year point will be a good time to call it quits. In the meantime, I’m not even slightly bothered about the cheaper guys. They have always existed and some even make it, but I just do my own thing and for 22 years that has worked for me. What does my closest competitor charge? Don’t know, don’t care. Who is my closest competitor? Don’t know, don’t care…but it’s not the guy charging less than 50% that I do know. I think it’s relatable across most industries and for YouTubers etc ie, it’s a constantly evolving situation and you do what works for you. There’s parts of my job I don’t much care for but compared with a 9-5, 48 weeks per annum, with a commute each day? Not many options out there I’d swap my situation for.

Or even more specifically, S1R users, how the hell do I get unmute footage on playback? I don’t have silent mode on, am shooting 4K 50p, cannot find anything in the manual, in the menus or on-line. Or maybe I am just being thick? The audio is there when I download it but in camera, it displays the slashed out audio icon? I don’t need it to. It’s just bothering me that it exists and I can’t solve it!

That’s not my situation Kye. Not being big headed or anything but absolutely zero issues with capture or exposure. The opposite. I never come back from a job, look at the footage and say, “Oops, I effed that up. How am I going to fix it?” Never happens. Or at least not to any degree where it’s a concern ie, some random human mistake we all make from time to time, but never incompetence or any shortcomings in technical ability in that sense. Instead, I’m more than happy with what I bring back on a technical level and if I am less than pleased with any results it will be due to other factors that were beyond my control…and a lot of fuckwittery can go on at weddings! Re. log or beyond that, raw, it’s simply a case of something you alluded to above… …but rather than this sentiment regarding AF (and I agree with your sentiment), the same principal regarding log vs shooting a profile. Accordingly there are 2 and only 2, issues that I wrestle with and these are: 1: Why can I not get correctly exposed clean log footage to look better than I can the same thing shot with a profile? I guess because I really like what I get from the profile I shoot or because I am not sufficiently skilled in grading to achieve what someone else might from log. I suspect the truth is both things. 2: This ´truth’ as it were that log is better than a profile just as MF is better than AF or raw is better than Jpeg. Technically and in the right hands, I do not dispute for 1 second that log has more scope than a profile. How can it not and MF in the hands of a master probably beats AF and I know for a fact that raw beats Jpeg as I do that one week in week out. So it is ultimately just one single thing and that is whilst I can get more out of raw vs Jpeg, I cannot currently get ‘more’ out of log than I can my tweaked profile. And I don’t know why that is and the truth is, I am not overly concerned but rather would like to explore further why despite ‘the rest of the world’ saying that log is best, to date, it has not been for me. My season starts shortly and I have run out of time with log, - I need to start and complete the season with consistency. What I shall probably do however is shoot the final job of the year as log and then use that as a project to crack the bloody thing!

I think there is an element of fact in that but also there are more people than there ever has been with more access to tools that are ever easier to operate and a platform to inform the world that reaches more people by a factor of x 1000+. By that or any logic, far more and arguably some even greater artists exist, but at the same time, the body of water has increased exponentially… A Mozart or a Davinci was a big fish in a relatively small pond. His or her equal now live in an ocean. That doesn’t mean they can’t be seen or heard but rather they have to work harder to be found. I know that even in just over 20 years, there are at least 5-10x more people offering a wedding photography service now than there was back then and there are more ‘better’ photographers than there was in 2000 also. On another level actually. Back then it was easy to be found and it took maybe 5% of your time and effort at most meaning you could spend the other 95% effort in your craft. It is almost impossible to put a definitive number in it today, but I’d say for effort alone, it’s more than 50% of what I do, - being found and seen/heard. And I think if you can remain authentic and that has a market, you can do well.

That’s what I intend Kye. I may very well travel somewhere in the world to do so and combine both some kind of vacation with the educational. I am 100% sure it’s me because you can’t ague with physics but also coupled with the fact that Panasonic’s profiles, like Fuji’s, are great SOOC. Not that I use them SOOC but have a very unique combo of a tweaked profile, lens choice, filter choice and a grading LUT I have created specifically to suit this footage and the end result I am looking for. And even then, each individual clip is also tweaked. And this I think is my problem and was the same problem I had with Fuji before. I developed something that suited me from what is arguably the lower potential source…but then I don’t and never grade hard so… Finally, it probably helps that I shoot a pretty specific thing in fairly similar circumstances which is a girl getting ready in a bedroom near a window followed by an outdoor ceremony followed by an outdoor party followed by some indoor dancing. Sometimes the outdoor stuff has to take place indoors either due to weather or choice, but it’s all pretty consistent and takes place mostly Apr-Sep. I also don’t need to be colour accurate to a clients brief but simply be consistent to my style. I don’t want to call it ‘rinse and repeat’ but actually, it mostly is; different couple, sometimes same venue, sometimes same venue back to back weekends, but generally the same blue sky, green backdrop, bird in a white frock. I think all of the above adds up to less requirement to have to try and fix things in post because for me, there is rarely anything to ‘fix’ because familiarity meant I shot for it in the first place. Usually… 😜

That’s what I think also. At one end of the scale there is filmmaking. At the other there is photography. Cameras such as these sit somewhere in the middle. Arguably something like this the GH6 sits slightly more towards the filmmaking side of things and something like the S1R, more towards the photography, but both are hybrid cameras. The S1H is also regarded more for it’s video capability (and is a very underrated stills camera) but for filmmakers, it’s box brother, the BS1H (though why they labeled it BS is beyond me) is more suited to rigging out and being a filmmaking specific camera. I am in no way a serious filmmaker and no longer purely a photographer as I once was (haven’t been for over 10 years now actually) so I need tools from that middle hybrid/crossover ground and I think if Panasonic’s camera division is not to die, they need to really gun for a bigger slice of the pie. That can only come with having a great, relevant, competitive autofocusing piece of kit. Plus some at least above average marketing. It’s just my opinion, but I think they could and should be regarded over and above Sony if they only had better AF and marketing. But they don’t and Sony has been eating their lunch for some time now. I really hope so anyway because they tick more boxes for me than anyone else and I think the next gen…if it happens, could tick them all.