MrSMW

@ntblowz what’s the fan you have on there?

Except they went more for the ‘content creator’ market than the photography one where the X100 is aimed. As photo cameras, take away the mech leaf shutter, the viewfinder, the internal ND, the hotshoe… and send it out into battle with an f8 lens, people are going to point and laugh. And they did. I still bought one. Sold it. Recently rebought, but would I consider or use it as an alternative to an X100? Nah. For me although it can be used as a stills camera, it’s exactly what it’s meant to be, - a compact filmmakers or content creators tool.

Light rain a few times, but as my other 3 cameras and lenses are all weather-sealed… And nope, only ever had one card failure and that was about 15 years ago immediately after it came out of someone else’s camera. Coincidence? I don’t know but binned it and nothing since in 15 hard years use. But there is always the possibility…

I hear you. I have actually decided, for the moment at least, to not buy any new (used) Lumix primes but instead actually drop shooting 6k 30p and go back to 4k 50p and in APSC crop mode so I can use my 'tiny' Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 (FF 27-75 equivalent). It will save me spending around €2k on 3 primes which would give me a greater focal range, but only when swapping out lenses and in the end I decided having the flexibility of '27-75' at all times would beat having 18 or 50 or 100 at any single time. Also I am going to have to give up the lower light capability of 6k 30p vs 4k 50p and f1.8 vs f2.8, but it's like all things, a compromise somewhere. I have my 2x bigger units for static stuff and this particular unit has a more general role and flexibility, portability, speed of use and size + weight are the most important factors. I just weighed the full rig and it's just under 2kg. It's 1.91kg to be precise. That is: S9 + grip + lens + mic + freestanding monopod and does everything from low level, to eye height static to in hand to 'gimbal-like' in one uber-portable package. The only thing it really lacks is all-weather capability as neither the body nor the lens are properly weather sealed, but then my work doesn't really require it.

I forgot about the ZV1 and used to own one of those also! Yes, the S9 is a bit chunkier than the LX100, but I quite like that. The pair of them are about the ball park for a ‘compact’ for me with the RX/ZV being a bit small personally. Not that I have big hands or anything but there is small and too small and I like a bit of chunk!

While I am at it, here is the Lumix LX100ii vs the Lumix S9 with the new 18-40mm lens. The FF camera is not that much bigger but IMO needs the Smallrig grip but the lens size is perfect, albeit a bit slow for indoor use...

Sony RX100 series on the left, jeans pocket easily enough and a decent wide to medium zoom, ND and relatively fast aperture for a 1 inch sensor. Lumix LX100ii will squeeze into non-tight trouser/pants pocket and has a bigger sensor. Leica Q3 isn't much bigger but we're talking jacket pocket now and has a fixed lens, but with a 61mp FF sensor, a lot of cropping power. As much cropping power as the same sensor Sony A7CR at less than 1/2 the price and with a constant aperture f2.8 zoom, albeit a bit bigger still. Finally, the A7RV with the same lens as the A7CR but a much better camera in almost every regard and barely bigger, but costs more. The latter 2 cameras are strap or small bag territory now though. I think for a compact, the Lumix is actually where it's at for size, so something like that please with a FF sensor like maybe the 33mp one from the Sony A7iv? It would almost certainly need a different lens, but a shorter zoom such as a 28-45 f2.8 should be no bigger than 28mm f1.7 on the Leica?

How compact does a compact need to be?

Indeed. My interest in a lot of these compacts evaporated when instead of faster, wide to moderate focal lengths, they went all superzoom. I honestly don't give a shit about zooming out to 400mm at f16 FF equivalent as it's totally unrelatable for my needs. I had the RX100V and they then went all long zoom. I had the RX100II prior to that and they did the same thing with subsequent models. Killed it for me. Give me a bigger sensor every single day, but one that allows for reduced file sizes and have crop zoom features etc. 60mp or even 100mp with these features is where it's at for me. Leica Q3 is fantastic in this regard, but obviously the price is stupid as we all know it's approx double the price for the 'privilege' of that red dot, but something like that at 100mp would be a stunner, especially if the fixed focal length was switched out for something like a 28-50mm fast lens. It would probably need to be an f2.8 because Sigma have shown what they can do with a 28-45mm f1.8 and whilst it's not insanely massive, it's absolutely nothing you could nail to a body and call compact. Sigma have also shown what they can do with their 18-50mm f2.8, but it's APSC crop. Panny with their 18-40mm FF lens is very compact, but a bit too slow at f4.5-6.3 which might be OK as a casual walkabout day time lens, but anything more than that, is not for me. Maybe a fixed focal length would have to be it right now and I'd choose a fast one of those with great crop potential over a slow(er) slow lens.

I still say that my A7RV is my compact camera. For its size and ergos with a small lens, OK it’s not exactly RX100V, but that thing was too small and fiddly for me. I will still trade it and the 3 compactish zoom lenses I have as soon as any S2R appears, and pair it with Sigma’s 28-105mm f2.8…which will in no way be compact, but it will continue my ethos of a compact kit. I think with any kit, it still comes down to how you use it, where & when you use and even if you will use it. Right now, out of all the cameras I have ever had and are available, I would still nominate the A7RV with a small lens as the best compact camera I have ever had. The A7CR should be my compact of choice, but nah, too many niggly things over the A7RV. So whether it be a family occasion to a city break to a safari, for primarily photo, I’m going to stick with my A7RV. Until any S2R appears and then it will be gone. Because I can’t keep them all.

I would like a compact actually and either an updated version of Sony's R1XR or something like a 60mp Lumix S9. With the latter, I think they might need to beef up the build a little and maybe swap out the SD card for CF and for a lens...oh, Lumix don't do any compact fast lenses do they... Fuji are supposed to be having their large sensor compact on it's way, but without IBIS so not so much interested.

Canon now has an Only Fans page.

I read the above as ‘only fans’ and couldn’t work out the connection. Then I reread it. What is it with teenage girls and compact cameras? My daughter, also at uni (though she is 20 and not a teenager anymore) was asking just the other day about a Canon Powershot SX2 and it turned out due to some social media hype. She has no interest in cameras or photography but their is some kind of hype thing going on it seems and as has been mentioned, as with IG filters, it will probably be a fad that will soon pass.

Which has now got me thinking again about doing this with one of my FF Lumix cameras which when shooting raw only, can do about 6 seconds I think at 30fps.

Different strokes for different folks as they say… Despite being a full-time pro photographer (not so much at this time of year though) or perhaps despite being, I prefer my phone. I like the idea of a compact but the simple reality is that old adage of the best camera you have is the one you carry with you. And 2 devices at all times is 1 too many for me. If I was going on a serious trip, I’d take some serious kit. Not the entire kit, but enough to do the job without taking over from the purpose of the trip. Unless it was specifically a photography thing. So send me out today with 1k burning a hole in my pocket for an every day compact and I’d come back with a phone. But I will take your Sony A7RV sensor based compact for work purposes please Andrew!

I suspect though, that because I use a 1/8th mist at all times (shoot me), my image is somewhat less digital anyway, hence why I have not really noticed any difference moving from S5 to S5II. Plus I changed from shooting log with the S5 and grading in post, to burning my LUT into my S5II in camera, so also no direct comparison.

^ Agree ^ The only reason I switched (2 reasons actually) to S5II's was: A. I needed more reliable forward motion AF tracking. The AF of the first gen FF S line cameras was and is perfectly fine, except in this regard when it can be a bit hit and miss and just one miss with a critical unrepeatable scene and it's gone. I shoot weddings so I am thinking bride entrance, confetti walk etc. It happened. Several times. B. I shoot outdoors mainly and some days, over 35c / 100f, direct sunlight and without a fan is not good. I never had an overheating issue, but it could just have been a matter of time and was constantly on my mind. With the S5II's, they still get hot, but I am not concerned. _ I have personally never noticed any file quality difference between the S5 and S5II, but then never shot them side by side and 6 months apart. There may be a difference, but nothing I have noticed or concerns me especially. IMO, the S5 is the budget filmmakers bargain of this current decade.

They look like Matt Grangers to me.

6k 30p open gate actually… My S9 still has not turned up and yes, it is part an aesthetic thing for me but also having 2x S5II’s tripod based, having this third roaming unit on a free standing monopod or freehand, I do want it as small and light as possible. Hence also going with a set of the LUMIX primes. So despite me believing that the S5II is superior in almost every way, the S9 is arguably more ‘fun’ and is that little bit more ‘appropriate’ (for want of a better term) for me. I could easily have gone back to 3x S5II’s and in some ways it makes more sense…but then not everything has to make sense as long as it works!

I was aware of the Alphagvrd option but not the WrapCart and they have 170+ options and a lot more interesting than the Alpha jobs!

I might just pick up a black one to try. It looks like something that would prevent any knocks and dings for high usage when you don't want to baby your kit.

I wonder just how close we are to movie level now then... But I suppose the material still needs to exist to pull together to make this kind of thing and as a commercial and BTS, enough exists, but not for any kind of real movie that would require a unique script and acting. At least not without going CGI. It's crazy how good this stuff is becoming and if I was a youngster, I certainly would not be looking at the more traditional aspects of this industry such as cameras, lenses, lighting, sound etc, but what skills I could develop in my parents basement from my laptop. But for me personally, that would be a hard no as it would not interest me and I'd rather be a lumberjack or something.

Really? The ad and the BTS were both fully AI? Nothing real about any of it? If so, I am so out of touch with this world and the entire industry is fucked, - get out now 😵

But seriously, link?!

Nice, but I don't get the AI bit? I was expecting an entire ad created with just AI and was watching speechless...but the BTS revealed a 110 crew, what looked like a proper actors/filming/crew job and production to me? Unless the BTS was also AI? 😉