MrSMW

Correction, it weighs 855g compared with say Sigmas new 70-200 at 1335g, so around 1/2kg or 1lb heavier. OK, the latter is without question a more sophisticated and robust bit of kit, but I know which I’d rather lug around all day and that is the factor that swings it for me personally.

Yes, that’s fair enough and should there be a situation where there was some provenance or personal connection, I would also make an exception. ’My’ experience was monthly updates of a company swanning around the world, asking for evermore amounts of cash for increased swanning. Until they pulled the plug and refused to allow anything or anyone else to carry out the project 🤨

I’ve just had some ‘slippage’ myself and ordered the latest version of the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 to complete what will now be a triumvirate of E Mount lenses adapted to my Nikon Z cameras. That is: 20-40, 28-75 and 70-180. Several options available at the wider end but 20 and 40 are two ‘perfect’ focal lengths for me and with all my zooms, this is how I use them, - as a twin prime set up with a single turn rather than needing to change a lens. The 70-180 at a touch over 900g, is the only ‘70-200’ in full frame under 1kg with the other options being approx 1250-1500g, plus physically much larger, so for me, the best long lens available. The 28-75 is an easy pick for me over any of the more trad 24-70’s, all of which are larger and heavier, plus 24mm is a meh focal length to me and though it’s only 5mm, longer is better. The only other viable option is the Sigma 28-70mm which is slightly smaller and lighter still, but zooms in the other direction so doesn’t fit with those other bookend zooms. Finally, being E Mount, I can use them adapted on Z or should things ever change into a Sony body direction, I already have the glass. And then there is the 35-150mm f2-2.8 I have not got one and have zero intention of doing so but if I needed a ‘one and done’, this would be it, my point being that for my needs, Tamron is in a league of one when it comes to lenses so I have been building my next gen system around them. And yes, I am aware that it has just been announced that the Tamron 28-75mm G2 is shortly arriving in Z Mount, but as above, I have more options down the road with E Mount. Plus I’m not paying the Nikon lens tax!

I think this is about the sum of it, at least from the ‘quality’ side of things. I think raw only came to iPhone with the 12, but could be wrong and for me as someone who only shoots raw, probably part of my personal ‘disconnect’ from photography using my phone as in I have not been using it’s full potential. Also, whilst I don’t need to be in ‘full on pro mode’ all the time (when not actually working), I probably need to get out of ‘point & click phone mode’ when using my phone and use it more like a camera. If that makes sense? Something I probably need to explore…

Yup. Had my fingers (wallet) burned over a revolutionary tripod I backed. I can't remember how long the saga went on for, but it was at least 3 years and painful for all involved. Never again! But in regard to this product, maybe I am just not the market, but nah, I'd rather go with any number of alternative existing options or my phone. Surely this kind of thing these days is so niche it's near pointless? But what do I know...

I have flip flopped so many times over the last...well, 6-7 years at least, between the best camera I have on me, ie, my phone and any/everything else. I always feel a little disappointed not so much with the end result, but the quality of the end result using the phone but even more, a little guilty as a full-time pro photographer, I am using such a thing in the first place. At the same time, our annual photo books have suffered by not having an 'ECD' compact camera. I was thinking/hoping that my recently acquired Nikon ZF might fulfil this role, but the reality is, it's too big, even with a small lens. It really is a decision to 'take a camera' whereas there is that 'magic' size which if you do not go above, removes the question and you just stick it in your pocket as you walk out the door because it actually does fit in your pocket. I also appreciate the flexibility of a zoom, but prefer that purity of a fixed lens. The X100 series are all too big for this IMO. I love them, but not pocketable at all other than a jacket and my definition of pocket is a jeans trouser/pants pocket, so it's out. Had the Sony ZX1 and RX100v and both great, but just a little too 'fiddly'. I keep circling back to the GR3x as I have done since it came out as the 'sweet spot' in everything really, ie, 'big' sensor in a tiny body at my most used focal length and one for the purpose I have the requirement for. But not this year... Just bought the final piece of the puzzle (a lens) for my work needs and it's a pretty tight year financially with an extra large tax bill plus a re-roofing the house job which combined are sucking up every bit of excess cash. And then some. So maybe next year. Or by then, my iPhone 13 Pro might need replacing and some of the latest, never mind future, multi-lens phones could sway me...

Or ANY camera you will just either pick up more or even have with you at all times ie, ‘EDC’. Which is why something like the Fuji X100 series or Ricoh GR are just so popular, - big quality out of a small package, but perhaps more importantly, fun to have and use. On that note, the Ricoh GR3x is ticking the most boxes for me right now based on only really interested in stills only, pocket-ability and love the 40mm focal length.

Would easily be my first choice for APSC with a real world 28-105mm focal length and constant f2.8 aperture.

I must not be human 😜

Probably also not recording to an internal card?

When that phone rings, I imagine one of those characters is a fella, wearing a blonde wig and calling himself Cindy.

Agreed as in a ‘one off’ a year or so down the line when such a thing was not available at launch rather than withheld. I am all for upgrading older tech and expanding both it’s capability and longevity. Another reason I’d like to see manufacturers move towards modular with plug n’ play tech.

No thank you. I have very few subs to anything and even for my Adobe suite, massive annual discount because of someone I know, (sorry, cannot pass you their details!) and if I did not have that discount, would be using something else. I recently cancelled my annual Musicbed sub and switched to Audio as it’s about 10x cheaper and for the types of tracks I use, a no-brainer. Otherwise Netflix and AppleTV but that’s it for monthly or annual subs. Re. some stuff, if I am not buying it outright, I expect to pay a sub such as Netflix, but having to pay for firmware often with stated or unstated bug fixes? More than a bit unethical and grasping IMO.

I have E Mount lenses and that is as a deliberate business decision on my part in that Sony bodies could be a future option for me. Big fan of the A7RV for stills/hybrid and FX3 for video…

[[FX] 8256×4644; 50p] Approx. 4810 Mbps Crikey, - I didn't realise it was that high. A bit more than the 200 I am used to. Might need to re-evaluate my raw ideas... 🤔

You can adapt pretty much adapt anything and everything to Z Mount except L Mount and even convert what are otherwise manual focus Leica lenses to become AF lenses. OK, regarding the latter, it's not amazing AF, but at least something...though not something that especially interests me and I prefer the native manual focus options for Z that were previously primarily L Mount only, from Voigtlander. E Mount lenses on Z bodies with an ultra thin adapter is great though! Nikon have a range of 'native' lenses that are essentially rebranded older gen Tamron E Mount lenses, but I prefer the newer gen myself.

I'm quite interested in raw myself, though have never used it. Not so much (or at all actually) for pure video capture and production, but rather for video capture with a view to using the material for both video production and extracting stills as if 'from a movie', ie, 100% matching other than perhaps crop. On that basis, having tested 4k, it's not quite good enough for stills, at least not at the level I would be happy with, so 6k for me is a minimum plus shot at 50/60p because I do have a requirement for up to 50% slow mo at certain times. Yes I know I can do the latter in post but it isn't quite the same. Instead, I am looking for a capture that is not too hard drive heavy so something up to about 600mbs maybe (but none of this 2000mbs stuff which is waaaaay too high for me) which I can then edit into a finished production, real time and slow mo and then extract 500+ 'movie' stills from it. And it HAS to be internal for me, or at least to a slim external SSD. Lumix currently does not offer me this and as someone who is currently shooting video with L Mount, but stills with Nikon Z plus adapted E Mount glass, there are several directions I could go in but Nikon for me has the current best options and probably future potential. Building up a modest set of E Mount glass means I can use this on a totally Nikon or Sony body system, but equally, I am not so heavily invested that if within L Mount, something 'internal raw 6k 50p not too heavy' comes out in the future, I could go fully back to using L for everything. I'd like to at least explore raw though as the biggest benefit to me other than having identical matching video and stills, would be because I can then down-size my kit. Down-size as not necessarily in terms of size of individual bodies and lenses, but number of units. Currently using 4 but could equally use 3 but there is a very good option for 2...except *cough*, it's Canon. I am currently most interested however with my more modest budget, in what the Nikon Z6iii is going to be, but I suspect it probably won't be 6 or 8k 50p full frame internal and if not, a single used Z9 still remains and option for 2025 with it's 8k 50p raw internal ability.

I can't see there be anything 'RED' in the Z6iii unless there was something going on behind the scenes, at least 6-12 months back. Certainly nothing 'innovative', but what do I know... I suspect the future of this is RED raw in certain future Nikon hybrid cameras and a Z Mount option for whatever future RED bodies there may be. I suspect that is about as 'exciting' as this gets...

Not sure about that… Most 4k, 6k and 8k sensors are not quite as wide as their designation so there is probably something that prevents 3.999999999 as being ‘4’ in the small print.

Same for a lot of us, ie, more idle chat and musing than anything. Some folks immediately think that because you have an interest in such things, you are unhappy with your current situation and simply believe ‘The Next Thing’ will fix all your issues. I don’t think that is so much the case here where a lot of our musings are more, “if I was not invested in X, I might be looking at Y or Z” and nothing wrong with that in my book! And ultimately it’s all harmless!

The S1R and the SL2 are the more stills focused units and perhaps the SL3 and any S2R will also be leaving the option for lower res more video focused versions? Full frame 6k 50/60p over 8k 25/30p internal all day for me.

Exactamundo. The f4 Lumix is borderline too slow for me in low light (and I already have this lens) plus I don't need anything over 200mm. 180/200mm with 24mp 150'ish with 45/47mp 120 with 60mp all work for me, ie, cropping works with the latter 2 focal lengths. I could even work with Canon's 24-105mm f2.8 even though it's a bit of a lump (but replaces 2 lenses) and the R3 is sublime, but 24mp so limited crop-ability. A 60mp 'R3' however... Another dream camera for me. Almost certainly another completely unaffordable. I am no Tamron evangelist but for 24mp, the pairing of 20-40mm f2.8 and 70-180mm f2.8, for me is bang on. Ultimately size is of less importance to me than weight and for me, that Tamron 70-180 is the lynchpin of the entire system. There is nothing else out their currently available, like it. But as I have said several times recently, VERY happy with my current set up and not actively seeking to change other than possibly after this season, and only if I can get my set up down from 4 bodies to 3, will I take this option. It won't be a Leica SL3 though, purely down to 🤑 But it could be with an S2R/H, but ONLY if within the L.M.A. they bring out something 70-180/200'ish f2.8 and significantly smaller and lighter then their current lightest at 1.35kg offering. Get it 1kg max and I'm in.

It's some dark web youth shit and you my friend are not allowed to that party. Nor am I 🤔🤪

I hope so and ideally max €3500. Still needs a 'light & compact' long lens for me, - the Achilles Heel of the entire L Mount system. Tamron 70-180mm f2.8 = 855g (not possible with L Mount) Lumix 70-400mm f4 = nearly 1kg Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 = 1.35kg Lumix 70-200mm f2.8 = >1.5kg When I was shooting purely stills and with just 2 bodies, 10+ years back, a 24-70 on one side and a 70-200 on the other, was the norm but took it's toll physically on longer days. I can't work like that today and especially as the bigger L Mount lenses really need a battery pack to balance them adding even more to their size and weight. My S1H with f4 70-200 inc. battery pack = 2.8kg My Z6ii with f2.8 70-180 inc. battery pack = 1.8kg The SL3 is barely heavier or larger than the Z6ii and far more capable...at a price obviously and the SL3 has now become my 'ideal/perfect' hybrid for my needs...but only on paper, because it's €7k+ in the EU so not a viable option for me. But Lumix or Sigma, bring out a sub 1kg, f2.8, 70-180 (I'd prefer 50-150 or even a 28-120) and pair that with an S2R at sub €4k and I'm all in on L Mount for the rest of my career.

...and photography, though most appreciate the latter. There's been quite a bit of negativity and still is out there in some quarters, re. Nikon as a brand. Fair enough, in the earlier days of mirrorless, they were not quite the co-leading player as they were with Canon in the former DSLR days. When I started shooting weddings 20+ years ago, it was Nikon or Canon with Canon taking around 2/3rds of the sales. Today it's; Nikon, Canon, Sony, Fuji and Panasonic with Sony being the biggest based on pure sales and probably also on image/marketing with the younger end of the market. Nikon along with Panasonic, seems to have developed a slightly fuddy duddy image which I think is a bit undeserved and I think it's because they haven't approached their marketing in quite the same way as say Sony or even Fuji. Fuji obviously went down the nostalgic route with some of their designs and film sim approach and Sony the 'YouTube Gen' and Canon seems to bob along based on legacy as does Leica. But not so old Panny Boy and Nikon have suffered I think by being less active than some others despite having some exceptional products. The S1H and S5ii, my own personal weapons of choice in the hybrid video arena are amongst the best available. Nikon produced the Z6ii which is right up there still in its class, the Z8, the Z9 and most recently the Zf, all exceptional top of their class acts. RED for me as a brand though, is a bit mixed... I think it is a bit of it's time... As someone said above, a few years back it was all RED MEGA GODZILLA XXX and had a certain appeal to a certain market, but that's not any kind of widespread appeal or dare I say, very mature. So I think a toned down, more youthful, more left field, side brand, could be good for Nikon on one side of this acquisition and on the other side, whatever the tech is that they can utilise. It should be interesting for sure. But if they are going to make any camera with a red body, they need to make sure it's a matte red, not a gloss one.