MrSMW

I use 150mb/s 64GB, but will be switching to 256GB next year as I can fill a set of 2 quite easily so the next size up (128GB) makes no sense to me. But making do this year as the spec of the XH2 is as yet unknown and may not even be the camera(s) I go for to replace these XT3's. If I even replace my XT3's... The 16mm f1.4 and 35mm f1.4 lenses are both superb bits of glass. The 35 was not a focal length I really used so only had it briefly when it first came out and I have no real need for a fast prime preferring to use a FF equivalent focal length of around 30-80mm (which my Sigma & Tamron cover when all the maths has been done for APSC 4k crop). Never had the GH5 and sure it's a fine beast for video though some will argue that the output of the XT3/4 is superior. I couldn't use one for my stills work or any 4/3rds sensor. It's not sensor snobbery, - I tried previously with a pair of Olympus and nah, it's a step behind APSC which itself is arguably a step behind full frame, but for me is the sweet spot (APSC) for both video and stills in one system. At this time. Had the Ninja V. Sent it back. 2 reasons: Reason 01: Couldn't get 4k to record to it due to cable issues. Gave up on that front but had I worked that one out... Reason 02: It would make me look like a videographer as would a shotgun mic on the hotshoe. Not a single person has clocked to date I'm shooting hybrid, - they all think it's just stills. Even the clients forget at times. Guests never know, even on the monopod. Even Uncle Bob's think the silver XT3 on the monopod is a film camera. It all depends on your own needs. I would like to ideally shoot a 2 camera, 2 lens system, one unit set up for video and one for stills, freehand. I am doing that now except for the freehand bit. I can actually shoot the Tamron handheld as it has VC, Tamron's version of OIS, but not the Sigma. XT4 would fix that, but no money this year, new batteries, hate the screen, yada yada yada, - there is always a compromise!

I honestly have no idea what your machine will handle, - I'm a PC guy and not very techy! I use Premiere and can tell you straight away that if I even try importing h.265, it just says, "err, no, I don't think so sunshine", so the evening before I am going to start a video edit, I batch convert the whole lot to Pro Res overnight. I don't think you have to link up 4+gb files anymore? I think an early firmware fixed that? Re. the Fringer, mine is a first edition model and it's a funny one, - I think it works BETTER for video AF than anything native that I have used, but is not as good as native glass for stills. Go figure that one, but I'm not complaining as I like my f1.8 glass for video! Alternatives might be...and it's not cheap, but I'd really like to give it a whirl, is the new Metabones ef to X mount 0.71x focal reducer. I'd like to give that a go with something like the Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 and 35-150mm f2.8-4, because if the AF works well for stills and video, I'd use that pair on a pair of XH2's. If that body actually does appear and they don't screw it up... Actually, both of those lenses being OIS, they could work pretty well on an XT3 which has the far superior screen to the XT4 and with a grip, about the same battery power. Nikon Z6 would be my second choice if I was happy with 1080 internally or using an external monitor/recorder for 4k. Beyond that, nothing else that interests me right now in this kind of price bracket (with the Z6 being not that much more than the Fuji). Yes, there are various Sony offerings, but anything pre-new boy doesn't interest me. Canon EOS R if you don't mind the crop? Panasonic G9 not to be overlooked! I buy most of my kit used these days and paid £900 a few weeks ago for a dealer XT3. Codec/colour science: That's a moot question... As a Sony user you will be more familiar with it but I'll stick my neck out and say that the XT3 video output is nicer/better, based on no other opinion than my own 🙂

I have not had any of that model range Sony's but do use (I can say do, as I had a wedding last week) the XT3 as my principal workhorse in 2020 and did throughout 2019. I am more than happy with it and use it as follows: On a free-standing (Sirui) monopod with Anker powerbank, Fringer Pro adapter, autofocus, Sigma 18-35mm f1.8 and Tamron 45mm f1.8, 4k 60p internal, Eterna last year, Classic Chrome this year. Re. lenses, I don't much care for any of Fuji's lenses for video but would rank them roughly as follows: 16-55mm f2.8 the best followed by 18-55mm f2.8-4, (though this latter lens is a bit slow for me) and 16-80mm f4 (ditto, but outdoors and at the longer end, pretty good). The f2's, but they can pulse a bit using AF, especially the 35mm f2. The fast 1.4's and 1.2 are awful for AF. I should add that I use my XT3's for 'hybrid', but have one set up purely for video and one for stills and rate them as excellent for both. I tend to shoot up to 6400 iso max. Criticisms? Of the actual XT3, nothing really other than I prefer the XH1 form factor and would like the IBIS and bigger battery from the XT4 (all of which might be an XH2 in 2021) because I could then ditch the monopod and Anker battery pack for all but 2-3 minutes of a typical 15 hour shoot day. I also might switch to flog on an XH2 but working in super-bright sunlight as I do in SW France without an external monitor etc it currently is not an option for me. Gimbal? Tried a Ronin S and then a Weebill lab. Sent both back, - gimbal stylee just isn't for me. I hope that helps.

Other than investment, I'm not really sure why anyone has brand loyalty. I am well aware that some people just buy another BMW every time because, "it's the best", but every time I wished to upgrade my 'whatever', I'd at least take a look around and see what else is out there as established benchmarks do change. Now I can understand if you have a ton of glass etc and are invested in a system and/or because you are super-familiar with it, but blindly sticking with something just because of a sticker it has on it, that's where I personally draw the line. I started out 20 years ago with Nikon because we'd used Nikon at college and university and because it was not Canon. I was prejudiced against Canon in those days and until fairly recent years actually, just because it was Canon. I then moved to Fuji 8-9 years ago and looking back, it was a premature move and I got the results I did despite, not because of the tools. But in this last couple of years, my mindset has become, 'best tool for the job' or rather, 'least compromised' because my ideal does not yet exist and I do not give two shits who makes it. Right now, if I was investing in a system today, it would be S1H for video in one body and S1 the other for stills. Except for that damned AF issue. How big an issue it is, I'd have to test and living in rural South West France, that is not such and easy thing to do. So I can't invest in this system after all to Panasonic's loss. The size and cost also puts me off a bit but those 2 compromises are not deal-breakers for me. Canon just dropped the ball and there are currently too many questions. Come Spring 2021, things may be different. Had the thing got some kind of cooling like the S1H, it would probably be my investment for 2021 and going forward. The Sony A7Siii for video is growing on me and paired for stills with possibly the next A74, could be a contender. I've been a guilty of being a bit prejudiced against Sony for a while and that is partly based on some use because I found them a bit soulless. But the new boy is growing on me for my needs. I would have invested in the Nikon Z6 system in the Spring of this year but for 2 factors; no 4k 60p 10 bit internal and Covid-2020. Fuji excites me the most for what an XH2 could be...but that is the big question, - what it could be because if it isn't right and I suspect the next Z6s will be, I shall almost certainly go there. But back to that original question which was did Canon market the R5 as a pro camera? For sure and the price only backed that up. There is absolutely no question in my mind that this was intended as a pro hybrid machine and in it's current state, it 100% is not. Unless you are prepared to make excuses for it. Is it useable? Of course, under certain circumstances using only a limited part of it's spec but like the guy that buys the Ferrari and never takes it to a track day, - what's the point?

Well I only shoot 4k so I can punch in, level etc in post, but otherwise export at 1080 and NO ONE has ever asked for a 4k version. I once made a 4k version and put it on-line, but it was just a massive amount of gb's, so... But unprofessional to shoot a wedding on an R5 at this time? Maybe... I wouldn't, but it's good to have these beta testers out there 🤩

Exactly what Canon knew or intended, I have no idea, but pretty sure it wasn’t what has unfolded over the last couple of weeks. I have never owned a Canon before but a pairing of R5 or R6 with a couple of lenses ie, a serious investment was on the cards for 2021. In it’s current state, zero chance. They stand a good chance of going the same way as Olympus if they do not change the way they operate. It’s just a bizarre situation and unless they can find an in-house fix for the overheating, Sony’s A74 will put the Canon siblings to sleep, shut their coffin lid and bury them 6 feet under. And then there is still Nikon and Fuji waiting in the wings and even Panasonic if they had half a brain would rush out phase detect AF. But most of the known world is either broken or nuts right now so who knows what anyone will do, but somebody please get it right. And that’s the thing...I don’t think anyone expects utter perfection that can never be beaten, but instead we just want an uncompromised hybrid that doesn’t have at least one glaring issue.

I like my iPhone 8 Plus and it was a big upgrade from the 7. The stabilisation is really good. I never use it for anything but day to day holiday snaps or video though, but if everything got destroyed in a freak accident, I’d whip it out at a wedding for sure.

It's another reason why at this point in time, I could not justify either. I think the overheating issue in both would 'probably' be less of an issue for my use than for some others, but the jury is still out on that one. But over the last couple of days when I have been considering various future options, cost reared it's head again and I'm looking at 2 bodies with 2 lenses minimum and calculating 10k+ euros...and immediately coming to the conclusion, waaaaay more than I can comfortably spend early next year. And then I look at the price of the metabones speedbooster for ef lenses for my XT3's and do some maths and whilst $649 or whatever they cost seems high, actually when it's a pair plus a couple of decent f2.8 zoom lenses, I'm looking at more like 3k euros max. Coming round to the A7Siii though as a strong contender...but the cost of investing in a new system...

Well that’s not going to happen but the question why every one of them seems to have failed in one area or another is the 64 million dollar question. I have a feeling the Nikon Z6s will probably be that ‘one’ other than for folks prejudiced against Nikon. Or an XH2 if they don’t cock it up, though some will cry, “but it’s not full frame”. Neither have cinema lines to protect unlike the other 3 so can really pull out all the stops in the video department yet not neglect the stills side. If you have the time...as many of us currently do, then those are the two spaces to be watching with most interest.

Not asked of me I know, but if it was not for the overheating controversy (and whether that would even be an issue for my own hybrid needs I don’t know at this time), it would be my first choice right now. A pair of them matched to the RF 28-70 f2 and 85mm f2 and I’d be set and never need to change a lens or use a monopod as I do now. That 28-70 is a beast...but it’s a featherweight compared to my current combo of; Sigma 18-35, Fringer Pro, Anker powerbank and monopod (with XT3). Replace all 4 of those items with the 28-70 f2 would be a dream. And that is my consideration, - the sum of the whole kit and not just the camera body. The Sony looks good as a pure video tool, but has 3 strikes against it for me; colour, IBIS, 12mp. Could I live with it? Maybe, but only if it was the best option out there and for me it isn’t. My hope is they either sort the Canon or at the very least it turns out to be OK for my needs. The XH2 will need to have zero compromises to beat a sorted version of this Canon. And I’m a Fuji fan.

I will see your 2.5k and raise you by 500. I’d prefer 20mp though as I need a genuine hybrid and would prefer the latitude for cropping.

Always a bit of a weird one that!

Ha, Canon deliberately released a camera in order to garner negative publicity?? Yeah right. Only people that say, “bad publicity is better than no publicity” ever believe that sentiment to be true. There’s a saying, “mud sticks”, but there is an even more pertinent one, “there’s no smoke without fire”. Of course Canon didn’t intentionally release a camera they will probably have to recall. Only in a tin foil hat world would anyone do that.

@thebrothersthre3 yup, a lot of people seem to be confusing ‘disappointment’ with this very strong word, ‘hate’...

One thing is for sure, it’s a FUCKING SHITSHOW. What do Canon do? Are they actually even doing anything or is there more hype over this controversy on this particular forum bubble than there is in the rest of the inter-world? I would respect Canon enormously if they put up their hand and said, “yup, we fucked up here. Stick with us and it may not be until 2021, but both the R5 and R6 are going to get some heat management updates”. OK, the Sonyloverboys will be all over that as will a lot of others, but so what, sometimes you just have to hold your hand up, take the flak and come out the other side stronger because really it’s ‘just’ the heat issue here that is the only problem with these cameras otherwise you’d have at least one of them would’ve you?

When the talk has turned to drilling holes in a brand new state of the art camera, I suspect there may be a problem...

Here’s a thought, I could get the Sony for video and the Canon purely for stills... It would mean giving up the one brand approach for my hybrid wedding needs, but could be a ‘perfect’ set up...

Right, question for XT4 owners who previously had an XT3 and have been able to use it properly...and the question is how does the AF compare for you? I am at one of those rare things in 2020, an actual proper wedding with guests and everything. OK, the staff are wearing masks but otherwise you wouldn’t know some global pandemic has been going on. I’m still using my trusty XT3 as my workhorse and in all this recent new camera talk, I had almost...but not quite, forgotten how good it is since I shot my last wedding a staggering now near 10 months back. Actually, better than I remember and with Fringer Pro (first version) and Sigma 18-35, even eye focus works well up to about 10 metres. The only thing I am missing is IBIS. I had planned on replacing my 3’s with 4’s this year but Covid + the financials did not add up. So if the 4 can do everything my 3 can do, but off the monopod, or even a bit more, I will be a very happy bunny.

I suspect that in the entire history of cameras, there has never been as much hype, followed by pre-orders, followed by hysteria, followed by cancelled pre-orders...before a camera has actually gone on sale to the public as there has been with these two firebrands 😂

Based on what is currently known on these new boys and the existing Panny S1H, I’m still more interested in what the Nikon Z6s will be and what the Fuji XH2 could be... And fortunately do not need to make any decision until Spring 2021. Pros and cons to the lot of them and not a single one of them currently ticks my very reasonable needs, but XT4 would be closest.

But crippling it won’t make me buy anything from their cinema line because I and thousands of others want/need a hybrid and not a dedicated cinema camera...so Canon just force us to not to buy any of their products.

I think the R5 will melt the Tilta contraption before it’s fan starts spinning...

I find it pretty crazy... Panasonic seems to deliver it all except AF and though size used to be an issue for me, I’m less bothered than I ever have been right now. Sony just needs to bring their ergos into the 21st C and maybe inject a bit of soul into their product line. Fuji just need to iron out some kinks. Nikon just need to up their spec...and look like they are about to. And Canon... Canon just need to stop being complete knobs. The main hybrid contenders anyway...

With this photo news, it’s looking pretty bad isn’t it? Ah well. Never had a Canon and probably never will at this rate...

My use probably (the opposite of ‘serious’ video use) and right now a very strong contender. Hybrid photo/video wedding capture where I rarely shoot anything longer than 10 seconds, ie, typically around 150x 10 second clips over a 10 hour day (plus around 3000 still images) spread over 2 cameras. Camcorder for long stuff such as ceremony & speeches. A pair of either with 28-70 f2 and 85 f2 could be a perfect match. But it’s an expensive solution for me and currently ranked third behind Nikon & Fuji so will see where we are in Spring 2021.