MrSMW

Yep. It is not that the camera type does not matter, but there are literally dozens and dozens of options. I would simply A. set a budget and B. set out a list of 'must haves' and see what matches up. As a LUMIX user, I could just say go and get a used S5II off MPB and a couple of different focal length f1.8 primes and you are done, but other options exist. For between 2500-3000 you'd be golden. I don't shoot travel docs, 'just' weddings and for me it's just unbeatable all factors considered; cost, size, weight, performance, near gimbal like IBIS settings, higher end AF. Pretty much all some folks complain about is not having full-frame 4k 60p but how many really NEED that? I've considered Canon several times but would want to go down the RF lens route and it then falls apart for me. I've considered Sony and it just doesn't have some of the features I like that LUMIX does. I've considered Nikon and other than pushing the budget up to Z8 levels, doesn't work for me. M4/3? Could work but I've never really been able to go back to that after tasting full-frame. But as above, A + B and go from there.

I am equally as confident that my camera is capable of burning in my LUT saving me hours and hours of grading per job and no client ever has, or ever will ask for me to do anything further with the end result. But then I am the opposite end of making movies and just a hack wedding vidiot. It will not stop them asking me however if I have any footage of random Aunt Jane who flew in from Canada chatting with uni friend Sandeep with Uncle Herbert in the background chatting with my mum. Nor is there any more footage of your empty dance floor. I once had a bride list 3 things I had not captured: 1. Blossom on a particular tree outside. 2. A chandelier that was in the entrance hall. 3. A brown leather sofa. But I digress…

Just because you can doesn't mean you should and I understand why the big production houses do what they do, but if the camera type was undisclosed, no one other than the folks who worked on the production would ever know! 99.9999999999999% of the consumer population do not peak behind the curtain because they have zero interest what is behind the curtain. (It's a little old man in a green jacket playing an ARRI organ. Or could be an S5II/FX3/iPhone 17 organ).

Is about the sum of it. The camera is possibly…probably even the least most important part of the equation. So why is Hollywood not shooting all their features on the S5II? Because apart from the occasional ‘we did this with the FX3’, or, ‘shot on the iPhone X’, the entire industry is built around big & expensive cameras. Pretty rare I expect.

100% agree 100% hope not! But then as per my many previous ramblings, I am 100% covered for the rest of my career with what is available for now from LUMIX for video and for photo, if there does turn out to be nothing more, also already covered with Sony. There is not a single body or lens not currently made that I need or would ever wish for if it doesn’t happen. I’m good. Any future purchase now are just choice things to either make (work) life things a little easier or more fun. Need no longer exists.

Maybe, but... Is for me anyway, my gripes against the S5, the S1H and S1R. To be fair, they were and are OK in most situations, more photo than video, but it was the forward tracking on video where I struggled. And the size/weight was a bit more than most wanted but actually not a deal breaker for me. With the S5II, they solved all of that...except according to some, at the expense of outright image quality. I am not seeing that myself, but probably more because when I switched from OG S5 to S5II, I also switched lenses, filters, from editing with a LUT in post to shooting with a LUT baked in, in camera and from 4k 50p to 6k 30p. The S1H is still my favourite video camera of all time except for 2 factors: 1. The AF tracking. 2. Cannot bake in a LUT and so does not fit with my workflow so was replaced with another S5II. For stills, I switched from S1R to Sony A7RV and it's night and day better IMO. Marginal in IQ if we are talking web and social media, but when I am editing stills images, a positive difference. Could also be the lenses...and my heaviest combo in that regard is a whopping 1kg lighter in hand!! But principally, it's the entire experience from the size & weight, through speed and accuracy and then the actual editing and IQ. I'm still on the fence whether I will go for the S2R/S1RII or whatever it may be called but the rumour mills are adamant it is going to be announced in a few weeks and if we get wind of more than a few being in Norway around this time, that might have been the likely place for the influencers to have gathered as a couple I have noticed of LUMInati have just been there for 'something'... My fence sitting is purely down to the A7RV and the 3 lenses I have for it. Combined, they are the near perfect solution for my stills needs and the only thing missing from the lineup, is a dedicated fast aperture low light AF lens and I have held off on that until I know whether I am going all in on L Mount (subject to that S2R), or sticking with Sony. Head says Sony. Heart says LUMIX. Wallet says either.

The next one will be the RX100 VIII: FFS Gen A That series peaked for me with the V and then they went all super zoom which wasn't for me.

I always wanted the 'next gen' one, but of course it never appeared and the OG's were so over-priced until recently 😏

€1500 🙈

MUCH better value if you don't want or need the software which 100% turns every shot into a 50mm f1.0 Noct.

Ouch, but you get a free red dot with it so... Still, at 260 plus a years sub plus several more years of subs, still cheaper than a new compact. And the main point being, I would actually use it.

I think I'd go for that over any compact today. It's a 'one and done' solution isn't it. I might pick one up as the main thing that stops me having an 'edc' compact is I can't be bothered plus when it comes to actually using my phone, the ergos are shite. I would actually use this. The only down side is, I'd then convince myself I needed something more up to date than my iPhone 13...

I'm floating around the idea in my noggin of going for the 16 + 30 + 56 all f1.4 instead of the FF 18 + 50 f1.8s + 100 f2.8 Not as wide, not as much reach, but used, I can pick up the APSC trio for well under €1k. Having said that, for me, it's not all about lowest price but rather a consideration as part of the whole. And those FF primes from Lumix are not much bigger and heavier than those Sigma cropped lenses and I can keep on shooting 6k 30p open gate... The/any S2R is going to be my trigger on this, but then having said that, part of me doesn't want there to be one so I can keep my A7RV 😜

I quite like it, but would I buy it? Nope. I'd rather have the OM5 or the original (digital) OM1 that was the last one to have OLYMPUS on the front. I do wish my Nikon Zf was more this size though as that's my only real niggle with it, - it's a bit large for what it is.

Oh and Leica also have a range of APSC lenses don’t they and until recently had a range of bodies to suit… OK, I must have been having some kind of brain fade when I commented the other day. However/so, the S9 makes for a brilliant APSC lens platform/camera system then! I even have mine right now and since it arrived with the Sigma 18-50mm on it 🤦🏻‍♂️

I forgot that Sigma has APSC lenses and I own one of them! Duh! Well OK, a body is not such a bad thing then and maybe they could do a collab with Sigma for something to replace the FP, just APSC?

They are not going to make an APSC because they would piss their FF market off big time when we are literally screaming for successors to the S line. It’s not just the bodies but an entire lens line is required. ”Just use the existing FF lenses?” In that case, your FF camera is also APSC. It’s called cropping. And M4/3 users would flip out also and feel they were being neglected. I doubt very much the market is there anyway and they are hardly the biggest player who can take a punt. Nah, can’t see it. At all.

A. Because I already have it and can’t really sell it due to some ‘cosmetic issues’ and B. Because free is ‘better’ than spending €2k on the alternative! The reality is, it’s almost certainly going to be the set of 3 primes though because I don’t think I can now actually give up 6k 30p open gate 🤪 My money is on an S2R, new body, pretty much Leica SL3 spec, but we’ll see…

A power tool and a camera had a baby!

Actually... 🤔 I'm on the fence over something... I am not a procrastinator by nature but instead quite decisive, but finances... I know what I'd prefer to do, but cost has to come into it, even for a business. As things stand, I have my video bodies nailed down; 2x S5II's plus an S9. I can't see me ever 'needing' anything beyond these 3 bodies. For lenses, 2 of them are nailed; the Lumix 70-200mm f4 and the Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 I'm still flip-flopping on the lens or lenses for the S9 however; the APSC 18-50mm f2.8 or 3x primes... I'd go for the primes finances aside, but they are a €2k option, which on it's own is doable. But, on the photo side, although I have the A7RV plus 3 lenses which are near perfect for my needs, I would still prefer a single one and done video + lens option. I could do that with the A7RV, but it would require the Tamron 35-150...but then it's not really one and done because 35mm is not wide enough for all my needs, plus the lens is too big, too heavy and extends too far. So it's a no. Also, I would ideally all have it within one system so lens are compatible and possibly batteries which is why I am particularly interested in any potential S2R. And that I'd pair with the Sigma 28-105mm f2.8 because with cropping, it can do my longer stuff. One & done. But if this thing appears any time soon and there are strong rumours it may be announced this month, how much is it going to retail for? I'm thinking no change from €4k and that lens is €1.5k so an investment of €5.5k. If I buy the 3x primes also, it's €7.5k. On the other hand, if I do buy the S2R and 28-105, I will be able to offset some of that cost because I will be selling the A7RV and 3x Tamron lenses, so maybe €3-3.5k which would bring the 'cost-to-trade' to more like €2k. So from a financial perspective the decision I have made is it will either be the S2R + 28-105, or 3x primes and the determining factor will be what the S2R will be when announced and when (if) it is announced, because later than April and it's too late for this year. Unless I also sell my Nikon Zf and then I could do both options...

Thanks but I don’t need to cover that many focal lengths with a single unit as I have three for the purpose. The unit with the 70-200 is purely for the longer stuff but I’d prefer it to be faster if possible, but with any kind of range, f2.8 is the limit. Sigma do their fantastic 70-200 f2.8 but it’s a bit big, a bit heavy and more than a bit over budget! Pretty sure I will just stick with the 70-200 f4…

Good to know. I might just get one as a back up more than anything such as one of those days when it is going to be well over 30c...

@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…