MrSMW

I posted 'Soul of Tokyo' more as an example of a filmmakers 'review' as in he actually went out and shot a shit ton of material and made a film with it. And not just shot it, but scripted it first so there was intent with most if not all of it. Compared with 99 other YouTube reviews which are basically; un-box in purple/blue back-lit room wearing a baseball cap backwards because that's what someone with the initials P.M. does. Or used to do. Quote specs. Go outside and wave it about without even trying to fine-tune any settings. Say the AF is shit (because you have to by international law), then put it back in the box and return to sender before making your next bit of 'content'. Just had a look at Russell's (above) stuff and it's OK. The only 'issue' I have with it is the same issue I have with so many others work is that they take a profile, destroy it and then add a heavy-handed LUT back on top that takes the colours too far when IMO, a subtle tweak of the profile SOOC seems so much nicer to me. I think it's because some people just feel they need to fiddle just because. Not knocking the guy, I looked at some of his work and longer stuff on his website and liked a lot of it.

I think they are all decent. In fact, more than that, they are all exceptional as in capable of delivering exceptional results. But no single camera (yet) at everything and that is the part I struggle with. Some are so close, but... Unless of course the 'perfect' camera does now exist for anyone and probably in a lot of cases, especially non-professional, many are probably being too picky. Some of what is perceived as camera companies 'holding back' is in some ways understandable. Take Canon for instance, - the R5 deliberately has overheating issue in order to protect the C70 which does not have IBIS so it steals less sales of the R5. Sony have presumably kept the A7Siii at 12mp because when the A7iv comes out... But why Nikon haven't gone 10 bit internal and Panny have not gone phase AF are mysteries to me. And then there are all these little niggles such as why can't the Canon's write to two card slots when others can and similar small but fundamental things. The bottom line is I could make any of them work but it's somewhat frustrating that there seems to be 1 thing each fail at for no reason that makes sense to us, the purchasers. Anyway, I have made my Panasonic bed. I'm going to go and lie in it 😬

Everything is a matter of opinion, but on one hand you have dozens of 'reviewers/content creators' unboxing a product before (sometimes) going outside and waving it about...and then you have filmmakers: Entirely shot on the S5 with the 20-60mm f3.5-5.6 and the 85mm f1.8 YouTube won't do it justice...

I considered it. Seriously considered it... It had 2 flaws for me vs 1 for the Panny S5. Stellar AF but 12mp stills vs less able AF but 24mp stills. I can buy 2.5 x S5 bodies for the price of 1 single A7Siii’s and I need 3 bodies for my work. Best video-centric DSLR like mirrorless? The Sony probably is, but hybrid? Probably not. I don’t think there is a ‘best’ hybrid right now, just some options that have less compromises or may suit you better than others. I suspect though, that when the A7iv trots along, there will be a near-zero compromise hybrid. Unless they push the price up compared with the current model.

Respectfully, it’s not. The lens is just one part of the equation. You can put great glass on a shit camera and it’s still a shit camera just as a shit lens on a great camera is still a shit lens. A great photographer with an average camera will always out-shoot a complete muppet with uber-expensive kit. I will put skills before kit every time. But phones, some of them are looking a bit good and I’m one of those people that went to just using my phone over a camera...but gone back to camera despite the ‘inconvenience’. Can’t deny the capability of some phones these days in the right hands however. There’s some great stuff in another thread on this forum.

S5 has APSC and pixel:pixel

Ah. Maybe if a more mainstream manufacturer tried the outcome might be different. I have always quite fancied a high end phone with lens attachment and grip etc, but then the cost wasn't that different from am equally capable compact which in itself, is more convenient. But it's an inevitable fact that tech in phones is closing the gap on 'large glass' camera/lenses so the 'answer' for the industry is on the skills side, - being able to offer something that tech cannot compensate for.

The camera industry should respond by having phone tech built into the camera. I have always thought that we are heading towards one multipurpose device so the above comment is not that ridiculous.

Taking it even further... A: one body + one lens to practice with until you get close to your first job and then...and only then... B: buy another identical body (so there is no learning curve) and a second lens so you can do the work. Then there is the rest of it; audio, lighting, tripod, mono, gimbal if that’s your thing, etc. But right now, not wishing to discourage anyone, it’s not the best time to be trying to start out in this industry for sure.

Indeed. Blowing 10k on just a body for weddings is overkill. By a massive amount. 10k for all bodies and lenses max, but it can easily be done for under 5k. I’m in the process of new kit from scratch and total budget for video is under 5k and I shoot an average 25-30 of the things per annum with 25 already booked in for 2020. Especially with the uncertainty in the world right now of the entire industry, blowing 10k on a body with I presume no bookings, is nuts. Apologies OP if your scenario is anything different to that, but it’s how I read it. More like it!

You are not the only one @Danyyyel I had hoped the Z6ii was going to be the one for my hybrid needs (with S5 purely for video) and it would be purely for stills, but it turns out the S5 is better for all my needs; pure video, pure stills and hybrid, so happy days.

There’s a very nice review out by Richard Wong which confirms and exceeds even everything I hoped it would be. Pics look excellent and all the characteristics I look for in a stills lens and for video, as expected. Bodes very well for what is to come...but pity the world is as it is right now.

Just want to see some real world results now otherwise looks good. And they were a day early on the announcement!

Canon C70 + the 0.71x adapter and pairing of Tamron 17-28 and 28-75 f2.8 lenses ...leaves enough room for an R6 with lens for hybrid use 🙂 I ain't got 10k to spend however 😞

Re. the AF which is over-criticized and mainly by people re-reporting opinion not based on actual use or not maximizing it’s performance, well there are a few ‘tricks’. OK, no one should have to resort to ‘tricks’ to make something work and ‘tricks’ is probably the wrong term, but the following all help improve AF. 1: Use native glass, ie, Panasonic not Sigma or Leica. I am especially looking forward to the 35 and 85 primes in this regard. 2: Use 4K 50/60p if possible. I do as a default anyway. 3: Try and avoid using log if possible as more contrasty profiles work better. I am still deciding between tweaked Natural, Cine D and Like 709. For my first 3 jobs, I used Natural and never use log anyway. 4: Tweak the AF settings. I am currently using -3 speed and -1 sensitivity, though may try upping the speed slightly. 5: AF type such as tracking, face, single point etc might make a difference but too early for me to judge and for my first 3 jobs, I flipped between single and tracking and manual as all 3 jobs were people working but more hands than faces. For a wedding, I will definitely go face, but with none since July and nothing until April, I can’t test and know for sure as nothing compares to a real wedding. Nothing!

Yes, back to heel-kicking 🤪 I am currently flipping between strimming in my garden between rain showers, finishing the painting of my office finally after a year of just not looking at it and browsing rubbish on-line. And Winter is coming as Ned Bean once said...

Well so far, the Panasonic lenses have been pretty stellar in their performance and even though these are designed to be a more compact and cheaper option, I am pretty sure they are going to so much more than great value for money. I'm pretty happy at 600 euros and mid 300 grams considering the new Sigma f1.4 version is about double the price and weight (albeit f1.4 vs f1.8). And f1.4 anyway (never mind f1.0 etc), - increasing focus difficulties and there is not that much real world difference in DOF or light gathering between f1.4 and f1.8. I've been used to shooting Fuji f2's which have a DOF equivalent wide open of more like f3, so am looking forward to the full-frame combo of sensor and f1.8 for both lower light capability and shallower DOF. Hopefully some of these new 85's will have been out for review these last few weeks and the announcement on the 5th won't be just that, but some actual third party reviews etc. Pity I can't get out and shoot anything though right now as my next 3 jobs have been put on ice due to lockdown here in France. Just as I was getting going again. Can you just fuck off Covid 🤬

True they do not have a dedicated video camera, though they do offer dedicated video lenses, but based on the OP's original question and further responses, this is someone looking to get into photography/video on a relatively low budget rather than expecting to shoot even an indie movie. The Fuji XT3 produces excellent 4k, 10 bit internal video, full-frame quality matching stills and the XT4 ups the game further with IBIS and back up insurance of being able to write to both cards which few can do. As a starting out system or moving up from 4/3rds, it's excellent. Weak point is the lack of video-orientated lenses with AF though several of them are more than good enough in this department, particularly the; 18-55, 16-55, 50-140, 23 f2 and 50 f2. It's the system I have been used for 50+ jobs since the XT3 came out (and XH1 previously) but have just moved the Lumix S5 for a number of reasons that are not critical of the Fuji system. There really is not a bad system though, whether it be Nikon, Canon, Sony, Panny or Fuji as each have strengths and weaknesses and will suit certain users better than others.

Yep, should have switched roles with Christopher Lambert in Highlander 😉 He will always be best known and remembered as Bond, but of course was in so many other movies.

Price though... I don't think it's going to be crazy... I think with the S5 at it's size and weight and price, plus the 20-60, - they have really started a push on a smaller & lighter and more affordable system. 500-600 £/$/euros? Maybe 700 absolute top end?

Well I saw on L Mount Rumors this morning that the first of the new f1.8's is due in just a couple of days, the 5th November to be precise and some of the specs have been leaked: Is that Polish, I don't know but weight of 355g is good. Very good. Filter size of 67mm is also good as it's the same as the 20-60 so crossover. Is that length of 82mm (without lens hood), because if so, also good! And if as it seems to be, the 24, 35 and 50 are all identical in size, even further good news because what this camera needs is some fast (enough IMO) compact glass!

If you have a paper trail of email correspondence etc, they can't really do anything but the right thing. You'd hope any company would regardless just because they cared, but sadly we do live in a world where sometimes you have to lean on people to get their attention. Just calmly stick with it...but next time, don't use those High Street Muppets, Jessops!

At 3k, I think you are going to struggle to get 2 cameras such as an A7iii and a Black Magic and lenses etc, so why not just consider one single hybrid and one decent zoom? At 3k, my pick right now would be Fuji XT4 with battery grip + 16-55mm f2.8 and you'd have some change left over. Right there you have got shoot all day capability due to the already good in body battery and with added grip power...which nicely balance out the 16-55mm f2.8...which has a FF focal range of 24-83mm...produces excellent stills and exceedingly high video quality straight out of the box. I honestly think it is the least compromised hybrid available right now, all factors considered including price. My other pick would be the Lumix S5 which is what I have chosen as my hybrid, but for me, I'd prefer to shoot this as a pair with some fast primes...which are coming shortly, but a pair of anything (except maybe XT3's) will bust your budget. My third and final option would be a pair of XT3's, with the 23mm f2, 50mm and 90mm f2 which would just sneak into your budget if you bought nearly new with the only real caveat being no IBIS or OIS with any of that so maybe less useable on the video side without mono or tripod.

This.

France isn’t the UK, never mind the US and just isn’t set up for rental. A website here for 90% of businesses is something to display a phone number for you to call. And then if it was even possible, what do you mean you want it delivered?! Otherwise, sounds like you have to cover a lot more bases than I do @herein2020 I have always at least tried to be something of a minimalist and build my kit on the bare minimum that I can get away with but without compromising the end result. Some might argue that you need X, Y and Z but I counter that with that by the time you have finished setting half of it up, the opportunity is gone. So whilst the S5 or any Panny, does not have blazingly fast AF, it doesn’t need it for my line of work. Fast enough and accuracy is more important as is my ability to work, act and react without the gear getting in the way. As above, my rule of thumb is simple and that is if I cannot walk from my car with everything I need for the job, I don’t need it. I haven’t used flash in over 5 years now and in the last few years, have reduced my LED lighting down to one single unit and one lightweight light stand, no modifiers, brollies or anything. Have not missed it even slightly in 100+ jobs since I did. I could go even more minimal with less bodies and zooms, but using 3 bodies means that if one went down on a job, I could get away with 2 for the rest of the day but if I only had 2 to start with, I couldn’t do the job with 1. But it’s individual needs though. It did make me laugh a few years back when I only shot photography and I used to watch videographers faffing about needlessly with kit that took an age (in comparison) for one single (of hundreds of clips) shot that no one would have missed. So many instances of kit overload to ‘get the shots’...except they were missing far more than they were getting.