MrSMW

I like reviews in principle because they do provide a certain level of information that can then help you with a purchase decision. But I never ever base my decision on them and go instead with my own instinct. I don’t like to follow the crowd either, or the latest brand etc. In fact I’d rather by ‘the same’ unbranded t-shirt or whatever than pay 5x the price just because it has Superdry printed on it. I used Fuji before it became a thing and it is part of the equation why I left them for the new underdog, the L Mount Alliance. I wanted to love the original FP...and did, but not enough to buy one to use, though it has been in and out of my shopping basket a dozen times. When the L was announced recently, I confess I was originally disappointed... I didn’t want and still don’t want the side attached viewfinder. In fact I hate it and would much prefer a top mounted tilt version of it. I would dearly have loved a tilt screen. Not a flippy, just a tilt...but this can be ‘fixed’ with an aftermarket job. No grip? This is the reviewer one that makes me laugh because that is being willfully ignorant in regard to the options that only fools the extremely dumb. 61mp. I didn’t want 61mp...but now I do for that simple reason that a single smaller prime can be used like a zoom (except without increasing compression the more you crop in). So initially I dismissed it, but now I may very well buy one and I could go in any one of three directions in regard to my third (needed) camera choice. Option A: The FP-L + grip + 28-70mm f2.8 for ALL my photography (only) needs and I would probably do the aftermarket tilt screen option. Option B: a user S1R that makes more sense as a camera and as a pure photography tool, but I would not love it or enjoy it as much. Option C. Another S5 which would work, but is not as appealing as the new FP. So I agree, the industry largely has it wrong. Sony arguably get so much increasingly right, but that does not mean that others have got it wrong. And if you watch the roughly 30 minute long presentation that the boss and I think head of the family(?) does in regard to the new FP-L, it doesn’t make you want to buy the thing because you were sold the shizzle, but makes you want to buy into the whole Sigma ecosystem because they are passionate about what they do. Which is rare today, a business that appears to genuinely care about what they produce, even in the knowledge it will not have mainstream appeal. I have to wait a few months to see what happens work-wise, but if I was making the decision this week, it would be FP-L.

Just not 4k 50p 10 bit which is what I shoot, but otherwise, very capable.

Spider-Man maybe, but not Batman as there’s zero contrast and good luck with The Flash.

I’m still undecided re. my third body, (needed once I get back to work) and can make a case for another S5, an S1R, or an FP-L. Decisions decisions...but not one I need to make any time soon as all (paid) work up to the end of July, has now postponed or cancelled. Another S5 most likely because it works as the best hybrid for my needs, but the step up in megapixels (handheld) is something I could make use of at times and the S1R is insane value...just not so good for video. The FP-L ups the ante even more in the megapixel department and I love the stills I am seeing competent persons producing...but again, like the S1R, not a video camera for me. I’ll see when the time comes...

More like 99.9%

I will try this soon!

I don’t BBF so don’t know but believe you can? I tried the Sigma 56mm f1.4 and it could not autofocus to save it’s own life. I ‘assume’ the other two in that line would be similar... The new 28-70mm f2.8 is quite good. Not as good as native Panny but then define ‘good’ in this context anyway! It’s OK, good even for anything but serious tracking. I am still waiting to push the button and test the lens I am most interested and that is the Sigma 65mm f2. If that works out OK, I will probably trade the 45mm f2.8 for the 35mm f2 as it will make a better pair for my needs.

Not a lot in it really. The S1 if you 100% want to shoot video externally and create the best rig. The S5 maybe for the more hybrid shooter (like me) who shoots non-log, dislikes monitors and gimbals etc. So I use the S5 as my hybrid and S1H as the more dedicated video camera, but just as it comes out of the box. Horses for courses and all that but pretty much and and all of these options will work and it more depends on your specific needs and then getting familiar with them over an extended period of time.

Full frame, more dynamic range, better low light, better built, better ergos, IBIS for both stills and video, plus with the latest firmware, more capable as a ‘cinema’ camera if you wish to rig it up and record externally. In regard to the latter, I don’t, so it doesn’t make any difference to me. Fuji wins for me on; size (but needs at least an aftermarket bracket grip which cost peanuts and in fact I have 2 to give away for the cost of postage EU) and SOOC colour science if you do not shoot log. A better comparison is the XT4 as that has IBIS. S1 vs XT4? I would choose XT4. S5 vs XT4? S5 for me. The ‘issue’ that some struggle with is the lenses... Fuji make many, but none really float my boat. If I had to pick one, I’d go 16-55mm f2.8 ‘one and done’ giving a full-frame equivalent range of 24-83mm. Panasonic get criticized for a lack of full-frame lenses and that most are too big and heavy and to an extent this is true...but smaller primes have begun to appear and all the Sigmas and Leica’s (budget busters for most) etc. I’m happy with the pairing of Sigma’s 28-70mm f2.8 which is shorter in reach than Fuji’s equivalent but the Panasonic’s can all do APSC crop mode turning the 28-70 into a 28-105mm. To conclude, the package of S5 + Sigma 28-70mm is no bigger, actually lighter and more capable than the pairing of the Fuji XT4 + 16-55mm. Just... Couldn’t go wrong with either! I do prefer primes but that for me means more bodies as I need multiple focal lengths at the same time so use 2 bodies (need a third) and 5 lenses.

The Panny S1 is ‘probably’ the best value bit of kit available right now, just pipping the Fuji XT3, but unless size & weight is more important, S1 for the win. However, if size & weight is a factor, Pannyboy S5 over the XT3. That’s where my money would be going, Panasonic or Fuji.

I debated for a long time whether I would get one or another S5. Zero regrets, even with all the firmware updates to the S1. Mostly it was the size (false reports everywhere about how massive it is) though the cost played a part but I bought used (like new) model and in the hands it is near perfect ergo-wise and not heavy at all. And as a non-fan of flippy screens, the tilt that it has is perfect for me. 9/10 overall with just the single point removed as the AF is not on par with the likes of Fuji or Nikon, never mind Canon or Sony. It’s a proper pro piece of kit with the bonus that I can now sell my wedding videos to Netflix 🤑🤩🤔

For stills, I don't let the shutter go any slower than 1/250th unless the subject is very static. For video, 90%+ of what I do ends up being 50% reduced in speed and I see no problems shooting 10x the 180 degree shutter rule. Vlog, you just need to use an in camera viewing LUT, either a camera standard one or an imported one. I use the one from Gamut rather than Panasonic's because it's better. But then I don't shoot Vlog but a tweaked version of the Natural profile. Each to their own and all that but IMO either shoot Vlog if you wish to grade or a non-flat profile if you don't because otherwise you may as well shoot Vlog and get a better result!

Ah, I don't have one but assumed that because it has a stills/cine switch, it could store different settings. My bad. XT3 (as above), I used the silent video mode and flipped all the time. With my S5 and S1H, I simply have an indoor stills mode set to C1, an outdoor mode set to C2 and then 3 video modes, C3 1-3 (4k 25p, 4k 50p and 1080 100p).

Fuji XT4, Nikon Z6/7, Pan S5/S1, Sigma FP all do...and maybe others.

Depends how long I have to wait! Right now, things are slack but when it does start, it will be full steam ahead. But when is the big Q right now...

For me, it’s the lenses that took me away from Fuji. I’d have a 50mp version of this for stills in a heartbeat...as a body, but could only justify a single unit so would need a zoom and that would be the 45-100mm f4 and it’s massive/too big for me. And a teeny weeny bit too slow, even if it is medium format. XH2 or at least my version of it, would be perfect for video...but even worse choice of single (zoom) lens, but could probably get away with the 16-55mm f2.8. Just. I like Fuji a lot, but they just currently don’t make anything that suits my needs, so ‘other manufacturer’ full-frame is my sweetspot.

My current issue... My PC could not handle the 4K coming from the Fuji XT3 so had to convert to pro res first. It handles the Pannyboy 4K better SOOC, but struggles. Anything more or layers on layers etc and it just bogs down. I need a new system and currently debating Mac mini m1 or Mac Book M1. Laptop I think because I have an increasing need to work on the go due to changing times within my own niche.

No ND’s here, fixed or variable. I own one but don’t use it. Aperture wide open unless I specifically want a less shallow DOF. All my lenses are f2, f2.8 or f3.5. ISO as low as poss, so 100 most of the time. My exposure variable is controlled manually by thumbing the shutter speed. Anything from min 1/100th to 1/8000th, stills or video. I ignore the 180 degree shutter rule willfully. I use a combination of histogram and my own eyes for exposure, ie, if it looks right, it is right and any minor adjustments can be made in post, but as there are at least 3-4 stops possible in either direction, it’s no big deal. Unless you blow the highlights, so that is my conscious priority, ie, not to do so. S5 and S1H combo, though the S1H is dedicated to video capture and the S5 hybrid, but more stills oriented now I also have the S1H.

I’ve been ignoring it my entire career and no one has ever noticed. Or at least commented. Without an auto internal ND, it makes true hybrid coverage very difficult...which is what I mostly do. I’ve never chased the next ‘latest & greatest’ spec. Chased certain standards at times yes and for the last few years, that has been 4K 60P plus great SOOC picture quality (stills & video) that can easily be lightly graded. 8K? No thanks. Raw video? Yet to be convinced for my needs. Super shallow DOF. I do like a shallow DOF and have done my whole 20+ year career, but the main reason I personally prefer faster lenses is more because of the lesser need to crank up the ISO and introduce unwanted noise. Because sensors continually improve in that regard, f2 & f2.8 are now my go to’s whereas just a few years ago, it might have been f1.4 (for full frame). Great colour SOOC is not negotiable with me however. Anything that requires extensive work to look good isn’t for me. And in all of the above regards, I’m done camera spec-wise for at least 3.5 years unless something breaks in that time. As with all these things, it’s just finding that balance of the tools that will best do the job that you need them to do within a certain budget. Anyway, my tastes must be different to the masses as I took the blind test and Sony didn’t win for me 😜

When Toneh Northrup did a blind test on all major manufacturers, didn't Sony come out on top there also? I seem to remember...

Sorry yes, meant 24mm.

Posted 3x for effect 🤪

I’ve seen some utter trash (a lot of what is out there) and some really wonderful stuff. What it comes down to is what it often/usually comes down to and that is the skill of the operator + the glass used + the grade. The typical reviewer tests will rarely showcase anything to it’s best other than by accident, but those folks who actually own something and work with and at it, can demonstrate something far superior by design. I don’t claim to be any kind of expert but with the combination of camera choice (S1H) + lens choice + diffusion filter + tweaked profile in camera + basic initial tweaks in editing before final light grade, using a LUT I created from a photography Lightroom preset I created, used at 25-30%, I’m getting a consistent end result that I really like. And the YouTube anyway... All kinds of nasty compression etc. I only upload to Vimeo and in 4K. It’s all still a work in progress, albeit somewhat limited progress because of the limited chances to actually get out and shoot real projects that are almost impossible to recreate from home.

I’ve seen some utter trash (a lot of what is out there) and some really wonderful stuff. What it comes down to is what it often/usually comes down to and that is the skill of the operator + the glass used + the grade. The typical reviewer tests will rarely showcase anything to it’s best other than by accident, but those folks who actually own something and work with and at it, can demonstrate something far superior by design. I don’t claim to be any kind of expert but with the combination of camera choice (S1H) + lens choice + diffusion filter + tweaked profile in camera + basic initial tweaks in editing before final light grade, using a LUT I created from a photography Lightroom preset I created, used at 25-30%, I’m getting a consistent end result that I really like. And the YouTube anyway... All kinds of nasty compression etc. I only upload to Vimeo and in 4K. It’s all still a work in progress, albeit somewhat limited progress because of the limited chances to actually get out and shoot real projects that are almost impossible to recreate from home.

I’ve seen some utter trash (a lot of what is out there) and some really wonderful stuff. What it comes down to is what it often/usually comes down to and that is the skill of the operator + the glass used + the grade. The typical reviewer tests will rarely showcase anything to it’s best other than by accident, but those folks who actually own something and work with and at it, can demonstrate something far superior by design. I don’t claim to be any kind of expert but with the combination of camera choice (S1H) + lens choice + diffusion filter + tweaked profile in camera + basic initial tweaks in editing before final light grade, using a LUT I created from a photography Lightroom preset I created, used at 25-30%, I’m getting a consistent end result that I really like. And the YouTube anyway... All kinds of nasty compression etc. I only upload to Vimeo and in 4K. It’s all still a work in progress, albeit somewhat limited progress because of the limited chances to actually get out and shoot real projects that are almost impossible to recreate from home.