MrSMW

I am actually in the camp of ‘gear is great’ and love a chat about kit, but just saying that too many focus on the camera and only the camera above all else as in, “if only I had Camera X, I would make it in this industry”. I’m all for filmmakers large and small to break away from the norms and don’t think kit should be restricted to just the most expensive stuff when some very very ‘low’ end gear has been proven to work just as well and in some cases, has made certain shots possible on the first place. As already referenced, The Creator being shot on FX3’s and The Batman (for certain scenes) using a lens that can be purchased of eBay for under 100. I think the Ronin is such an example but could this show have been made without it? Yes. Will the way this show was shot influence others to emulate? Probably. Will some of them buy or rent a Ronin as a result? Probably, but the result was not solely down to a single piece of kit.

A7iv IMO might be a better hybrid unless prioritising low light video over stills? Tamron 20-40 + 28-75 + 70-180 would make a pretty sweet 3x compact zoom set up. I know this because it was my set up last year for stills and is again for this year. Next year, pretty sure I will trade the 28-75 and 70-180 for the new boy 50-150 f2, both for the convenience and extra stop, albeit sacrificing a bit of reach. But then with my A7Rv I can crop quite hard if required. Personally, I’d go for an A7Rv over an A7iv as it’s a better camera pretty much every department, but A7iv’s are cheaper. All this stuff is available used of course.

I’m intrigued… Does it begin with S?

Jon Snow lives his life on YouTube.

It's so easy to focus on the camera as the single most important element and if some folks wish to believe that's what it's all about, best of luck to them `and their lives within the comments section on YouTube. It's not the camera. It's not the lens. It's not the grade. It's not the lighting. It's not the budget. It's not the creative talent. It's all of these elements and that is what a camera body is, just one single element, but alone it is nothing.

Cam Mackey hears your call to action and is now working on it.

If just one of these ^ happens, it would be ossum 🫡

It's like a wedding where the fella wears a dark suit and the bride, a white frock. In bright sunlight. And insist on doing everything outdoors, early to mid-afternoon. Welcome to my world 😏 😉

I am going to predict not. I reckon it will be S5ii spec in a Sony FX3 style body and that's about it. Possibly a better built and beefier S9... Interested? 'Mildly curious'. I have literally just finished packing up my van after updating software, resetting all the settings and clocks etc on all my kit ahead of this seasons opening event. I have ZERO interest in changing anything until this season is done and in the bag. Mid-season changes just cause problems!

Nah, they will pass, but then these are night shots rather than day so would expect them to be darker 😝 I re-watched The Batman yesterday. Last time was big screen with French subtitles 🥸 but at home on this occasion and that movie I think is a great example of ‘dark’ for reference.

Pretty stable and even with the post stab, not a huge amount of cropping going on 👍 I'd say FF Lumix is about the same level with S5ii.

I'm finding this last set a little too dark Kye...but that might just be my personal taste. I often do the old 'Squint Test' when it comes to images and these are just a tad too dark for me. Hope you don't mind me saying...

+ Currently = 5 bodies: 2 stills + 4 lenses (within the Sony e Mount/Nikon ecosystem) & 3 video + 5 lenses (within L Mount), so considering a switch to: 4 bodies (1x Sony + 3x Nikon) & 5 lenses, ie, 5 bodies + 9 lenses currently across 2 incompatible systems for 4 bodies + 5 lenses within 1 compatible system, ie, with the Megadap adapter, Nikon Z has access to anything E Mount with near native autofocus. Ie, 1 less body and 4 less lenses and within ONE single compatible (lens) system. And yes, it is my full-time business so everything I buy (or sell) is a business decision and expense. Well maybe, but anything I say I always qualify with 'for my specific needs' any time I talk about gear. Sorry, all FF Lumix or Sigma glass...and as above, if it happens, won't be until October soonest with any kit for sale UK or EU only! It's more likely I will do it than not because as I am always saying to my missus, no more 'sideways' steps when it comes to business expenses, - any major changes have to be because the thing is quantifiably better. Or I broke something. But hardly like I could break an entire system so, the former.

1. First I need to work out how to make the financials work and then… 2. Whether to get a can of black spray paint or spend a little more and get an Alphagvrd wrap. The longer I have the better because I still have the option next year to flip from Lumix for my video needs to Nikon… Sony e Mount has all the lenses and L Mount only some of them. My preference for bodies for video is Lumix, but e Mount has better glass for my needs. This lens actually would allow me to lose an entire unit from my line up and move from 5 current units to 4, so a strong business case does exist. It would also make ALL lenses cross-compatible between Sony stills body/ies and Nikon video. It also stacks up financially because all 3 of my Tamron zoom lenses that I currently use for stills, will adapt perfectly for video use on Nikon bodies. Actually, I should go and do some actual maths because it’s not that great an expense… Not this year, - too late for that at this point in time, but this 50-150 really is a game changer for my specific needs. A7RV + 50-150 stills 1x Zf + 20-40 hybrid 2x Z6iii + 28-75, 70-180 video Sell 3x Lumix cameras + 5x lenses in order to buy 2x Nikon cameras and 1x lens. Probably a good financial equation…

That is some stability Kye! Various Netflix and other productions should take note; I hate all this super handheld jittery stuff.

Yes, the conspiracy theorist in me says they increased the prices for the rest of the world in order to sell cheap to the US market taking into account any tariffs. Based on current pricing including tariffs, stuff still seems to be cheaper in the US? That has been the other option I was considering, but decided it was neither long enough nor fast enough (the Sigma f2.8) and whilst I could live with one or the other, both didn't make sense compared with what I have which is the Tamron 28-75 and 70-180 f2.8's. I don't think I have any option but to wait until these are sub 4k euros either new or used from somewhere like MPB. Paired with the Sigma 28-45mm f1.8 for indoor/low-light scenarios and paired with my Nikon Zf with 40mm f2, I think I will have my perfect set up for stills. Perfect as in I can't realistically expect that 50-150 to be any smaller or lighter because...well, physics.

Well I am one of those, but not the other...

Exactly. I have a second smaller/lighter camera for wider stuff but it's always a choice I have to make otherwise, ie, do I go short (up to 75mm) or go longer but accept I can't go wider than 70mm, which is almost always far too tight. The Tamron 35-150 exists but extends too long when zoomed out and is just a bit too 'geeky' as is it's Samyang sister, so a pretty hard no for me. There's a compromise, there always is and if it's to be a bit of size and weight, so be it. I mean I was looking at the Sigma 105mm f1.4 fairly recently and the Nikon 135mm f1.8 Plena and whilst the latter is a little smaller and lighter but barely faster and FAR less flexible, the former is 300g heavier. And has zero flexibility. OK, it's faster, but that (beyond a point) is not the primary factor for me. A relatively fast: 50/70/85/105/135/150 all in one single lens? I just need to find the funds! I'd have been happy with a 50-150/2.8 had it maxed out at no more than 1kg, but if it was over, I'd suck up that extra weight and have that extra stop.

I think I ‘need’ it… More (exclusively actually for me) for stills than video. 2 years ago, I was running around with an S1R + battery grip + Leica 24-90 as my ‘one & done’ stills unit. It had 3 principal faults. 1. Weight; it was 2.8kg in the hands. 2. Using an APSC crop on the 47mp sensor, I could extend the focal length to 135mm with something like an 18mp file but that was not quite long enough for my needs ideally needing something within the 150-200mm range. 3. F4 at the longer ends which is a bit slow for a 90mm lens. Roll forward to 2024 and swapped that rig out for a trio of f2.8 zooms on the Sony A7R5 with the heaviest combo being approx 1.75kg with the 70-180mm, but that lens being a tad long for more general use. Sigma offer their 28-45mm f1.8 which primarily for indoor use would be PERFECT for my needs, but lacks a longer companion such as a 45-90mm f1.8, but even this would not give me the reach I need. Step forward Sony with this constant aperture f2 50-150mm. Does it cover all my focal range needs? No because it starts at 50mm, but covers everything beyond and then some because with the 61mp sensor on my A7R5 and APSC cropping, I can reach 225mm with a 26mp file. Is it big? Yes, but not ridiculously so and it is internal zoom and unless it’s a short extension, I can’t abide long zooming lenses. Is it heavy? Yes, kinda…and more than the 1kg self-imposed limit I would prefer but it covers 50-‘225’mm. At f2. Without extending. Or lens swaps. It would be approx 2.5kg in the hand as a combo with the baseplate I have on the A7R5. Three criticisms: 1. Why white only? Some of us would prefer to be more discrete and maybe they will follow up with a black one or someone like Alphgvard will have a skin soon? 2. No Arca Swiss built into the detachable tripod foot. That’s a bit of an oversight IMO. 3. Price. Despite US trade tarrifs, it’s still more in the UK and EU than the US… At least according to launch prices. So will I be getting one? I think yes, though it may have to wait until next year when they are beginning to appear on the used market, for financial reasons but I don’t think I am going to see a better option than this in my working lifetime. One & Done? Nope, but I have my Nikon Zf with 20-40mm f2.8 for the wider stuff and 40mm f2 for candid when I don’t want to be poking a white canon in peoples faces, plus if I ever decided to hop over fully to Nikon bodies, this new lens will work adapted on say a Z8 no problem.

Fortunately, I am a big Wes fan!

Same here. 16:9 is very device friendly for full screen use but isn’t as *cough* cinematic as 2.35:1, but I find that sometimes too extreme to be standard ‘style’ for all my work. I’m still debating whether to use 2:1 this year or stick with good old 16:9… The advantage of shooting open gate is we have options and with Lumix, multiple frame markers and conscious of my socials, one of those markers is 9:16. Being able to produce 2.35:1 and 9:16 from the same footage is a bit tricky, even with open gate and I will probably just stick with 16:9 + 9:16 as it’s the least extreme option. Well 1:1 is the least extreme, but no thanks as that’s for squares.

Yes but I mean rather than selling to buy, you have already bought so just sell, same as with shares etc, ie, buy when low and sell when high. The only thing in this situation is only a few knew and in the future, will know exactly when that time is.

Or the opposite which is if there was something you needed to buy, if the possibility existed, to have done that a couple of weeks back, but selling anything in the near future might actually be to your benefit because if used prices do increase?

Industry and customers alike just love this kind of 💩 It’s worse than waiting each time for the next Lumix camera announcement and whether they even will or not… It’s called ‘instability’ and when times are not stable, no one spends any 💰