MrSMW

Helped keep the budget down by around $50. More money for donuts.

More interesting to me was the announcement of the 24-105mm f2.8 OK it weighs 1.3kg, but on an R3 that weighs 1kg, a combined total of 2.3kg I could just about live with for events. As someone who has been running a 2.8kg set up all year, I would rather go sub 2kg, but even .5kg is considerable in the hand.

…and with the 61mp A7CR? Ditto the Sigma FP-L which also has 60mp and a prime lens ‘zoom’ option. If I remember correctly, I think it is with the A7RV (so same sensor size) that even in APSC/S35 crop mode, you end up with a more detailed 26mp duke better than the equivalent 24mp sensor file from another camera. I like this concept. Cameras and lenses that are not massive but we can use sensor size and tech instead of size and weight. Pity the FP-L has banding issues. And no IBIS. And no tilt screen. And less than great battery life and…or I’d have been all over it. The size is perfect with the Smallrig cage and wooden grip. The build is exceptional. I loved the concept but could not live the reality of it when I had one for testing.

Came out in late ‘23 or (still) using in late ‘23? Mix of both for me… S1H for pure video, but the best stills camera I have owned to date. On the stills side and an actual late ‘23 release, the Nikon Zf. Early days, but expecting to love it even more as a stills camera than the S1H. An earlier ‘23 release, the S5ii which is probably…almost certainly, OK for stills, but I have just not been able to gel with it in that regard, mainly over what I consider to be a clunky shutter feel and sound. For video however, highly regarded all factors considered. I favour the S1H over it, probably due to it’s sensor and the OLPF…and it’s rear screen, but the S5ii form factor and AF just works slightly better for my needs. Based on the kit I actually own. Money no object, Hassie X2D for stills, Nikon Z9 for hybrid and would struggle to see past the S1H for video. Because I love it so.

I struggle to see these digital medium format cameras as anything but pure stills cameras with occasional video use. Hasselblad didn’t even bother with the video side with the X2D. Or forgot. Money no object, still my dream stills camera.

Ricoh GR3x would be my pick of today’s crop. Not too tiny but still pretty small, 40mm equivalent fast enough lens.

The only other problem I have with these smaller cameras and Sony is a prime example, is low quality rear screens. I think you need to get to A7RV before you get a half decent screen with a Sony?! My eyesight is not what it once was and when I got my S5ii which is 1.84 million dot, I was disappointed, mainly because I had been spoiled by my S1H rear screen which is 2.1 I think. Doesn't sound much, but in reality, it's pretty huge. Another reason why I have switched from S5ii to Zf for stills is the larger and far better clarity of the 3.2 inch, 2.1 that the Nikon has. Pity it's not a tilt and is a flippy, but it is what it is... I can put the two side by side right now (keeping one of my S5ii's for video) and the difference is appreciable. I had the ZV1 and didn't really get on with it, nor the RX100V I had prior to that, - just too small and light. I guess I just prefer a bit of chunk in my hands which is probably why I prefer bodies of around the OM-1/XH2/Zf/X Pro2/S5ii/FX30 size & weight, albeit, not with large zooms which for me, anything above about 900g, ideally needs a battery grip. Pretty much nailed it down going forward now to: S1H with Lumix 70-200mm f4 on sticks but waiting to see what the next Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 is going to be. If they can get it in under 1kg, I'll go for it. If it's over 1kg, I can't see any point in trading. It only has 2 jobs to do; record full length ceremonies and full length speeches and in between/after, goes to sleep in a corner. S5ii with the Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 lens. The 'Art' lenses are supposed to be a little sharper and if this was a photo unit, then maybe I'd be looking elsewhere but for video work, IMO, it is superb. Relatively compact, barely extends much when zoomed out and if shooting in S35 mode, is like having a 40-105mm. I have always liked my S5ii's for video work but just nit got on with them for stills/hybrid work so for now, separated my kit into 2 systems; stills and video. I could easily flip both of the above two around in their roles of static and roaming units and though the S1H has a nicer output, it makes more sense to use the S5ii in the run & gun role, plus the S1H has the bigger battery AND the battery pack, so something like 4 times the duration whereas anything over about 40 mins gets tricky with the S5ii... For stills, we don't care what I am using do we? 😉 A pair of Nikons and 3 prime lenses, enough said other than I will be and already am using them like slightly larger fixed lens compacts which is my preferred method of shooting stills. Glad to be rid of the zoom approach I was using all this year! No more 2.8kg unit! 1.4kg is my heaviest new friend!

1.5x APSC crops and then there is the clear zoom crop? Turns any prime into a zoom.

Not much in it… X100v vs LX100ii vs Sony A7CR with full frame 61mp sensor and massive ability to crop in camera or post. Plus the ability to switch out that pancake walkabout lens for anything that takes your fancy. Pound for Pound performance, I’d take the 61mp full frame sensor every single time.

Yup, I’d love a FF P&S around 40mm f2 please. The thing is you can get a small body Sony A7RCii and stick a small fastish lens on it and have basically the same thing but with options…and I think that is part of the problem. The market probably is not big enough.

I remember it as ‘small sensor cameras full stop’ which was everything sub 4/3rds. But could be wrong!

They announced officially earlier this year they were moving out of the compact market, so unless they reverse what sounded like a very firm decision…

Gratuitous very tenuous link to post, but just for ‘proof’, my daughters little story on IG…

It will depend of course on the individual but for me, for stills, under 1kg is fine but for video, I prefer around 1.5kg as a sweet spot, as I find that is a nice stable platform and not too heavy. Over 2.5kg is for me getting a bit much. A bit much as in it’s not that heavy per se, but over the course of a long shoot, hanging off your hip (best IMO) or sling (going to feel that one very quickly!) not desirable. I am currently debating first of all Lumix vs Nikon for video…but that is another topic entirely and not relevant, but whether I go: A. Hybrid units; 1 static, 1 light (1kg) most of the day, 1 heavy (<2kg) various times but not all day, or, B. Video and photo units; 1 static video, 1 roaming video (1.5kg), 2x stills (1kg + 1.25kg). Pros and cons for each and for me to work out but bottom line is I am ‘happy’ to go up to 2.5kg for a single unit, but only if I will not be using it all the time. On me, either attached or in hand, 2kg max is about the max based on my experience that I would be comfortable with for video and 1.5kg for stills.

It is. Around a decade or so back, I was what is known as skinny fat, ie, very little muscle tone but a surplus of fat around my middle. I never exercised, had developed asthma, smoked and drank (but not heavily) and it was a gradual erosion/accumulation more than anything. I decided to do something about it around the time of my 40th birthday. I’m 53 in a few weeks and never been in better condition and actually have a fitness competition (Hyrox) that I have traveled to Ireland for from France, in a couple of hours. Why mention this? Fatigue, or reduction of from being in shape. And not just the physical, but the mental which is unseen but contributes. But I still have trouble getting to sleep after an intense 15+ hour day because despite downing tools, I’m still buzzing. The next day though…and I can never lie in and catch up no matter how late I went to bed or how tired I am, by lunchtime, wiped out and can easily grab another 1-2 hours early afternoon, but it’s not until the day after the day after I feel recovered, so never take back to back jobs anymore. No way I could be working the way I have been for the last few years one to two decades ago and I guess another factor why when other photographers or videographers ask me how I do what I do, part of that answer is level of fitness. But as with all these things, it is only a part of a greater whole. 2.8kg unsupported in and out of your hands all day though is a bit nuts which is why it has to go!

Speaking of weight, one of the principle reasons I am shifting some of my kit, - my main unit clocks in at just over 2.8kg 🤪 My targets now are 2 units 1-1.5kg each. I don’t mind a bit of chunk and heft, but anything over 2.5kg…as just one of 3 units is a bit much on 12+ hour shoots!

I really like this pairing and whether one body and switching lenses, or a matched pair, if I was shooting 4/3rds video, stills or hybrid, those full frame focal lengths of 20-50 (indoors in my world) and 50-100 (out) are near perfect. The only thing that bothers me is the size and weight that isn’t quite in keeping with the 4/3rds approach, but then compared with equivalent (that don’t exist!) full frame zooms, they are hardly tanks. I prefer primes in principle but fast zooms are just more convenient more of the time.

Indeed. I work with 3-4 cameras, 2 of which can be static any time, 2 lights, 6 audio recording devices, shooting video and stills 100% (or as close to as makes no difference) all day long. But only because of 3 essential ingredients. 1. Practice practice practice, starting simply and building up over time, adding and eliminating elements that work or do not. 2. Having a game plan in advance based on an understanding of what is going to happen and when etc. Advance knowledge is key. 3. Determination/hard work. 4. Bonus element, being organised and having a system. My environment is weddings and at one level they are ‘all the same’ but at another, they are all different and people do random stuff. But it’s rare for there to be enough random stuff to make a difference. It’s not rocket science and there are limits so it’s a case of knowing those limits and working up to what is possible but without it totally frying your brain. It’s more weird for me if I am doing just video or just photo and the latter feels like I am doing just 20-25% compared with both and the kit level is tiny by comparison. My brother by comparison gave up working in the video industry because he couldn’t work alone or make more than solo shooting viable. We must have different genes!

Sounds about right and I’d be surprised if it was as high as 20/70. I’ve been to uni twice and the greater majority of those people on any course, seemed to lack interest. I suspect it has a lot to do with age as the mature students were always the most focused as I was second time round.

Well as I think it was Kye who mentioned above, it’s at least partially about before hitting the sensor so it makes sense that if the potentially offended subject is softened or diffused at the lens stage… At least as I understand it but as above, I use a 1/8th mist and I think it helps in the is regard, but not the principal reason I use one which is more about taking off that digital edge and making both video and stills more ‘filmic’ at the point of capture. That’s my theory anyway and I’m sticking with it!

It’s less obvious in B&W otherwise immediately began contemplating an alternative camera. It is quite rare to be fair but this particularly shiny weave of fabric was just uber-prone to it. I do prefer cameras with an OLPF if only for those scenarios but also use a 1/8th mist, partly to reduce the sharpness and the digital look, but also because it might help with any moiré in the first place? I’ve never seen moiré on any S5ii footage using a 1/8th so coincidence or because of?

Being serious, it was quite a big issue with the S5 for me, especially with stills because if the camera captured it, then it was game over. I had one wedding where the groom and all his men, their jackets…all day long… 🙈 Not really tested it with the S5ii as I moved the S1H into the photo role and now with the Nikon Zf, that very rare thing these days, an OLPF as standard. Yay.

The solution re. moiré is to go back in time and eradicate The French as they invented it. You can tell by the é.

Assuming a certain ‘basic’ spec for my needs, this is why despite moving back to Nikon for stills, I am remaining (for the time being at least…) with Lumix for my video needs and probably S1H over S5ii as my principal video unit as the output is quantifiable better. My own personal jury is still out on Nikon for video as I have not explored it yet.

What about a used OM-1? I had one in for test and loved the size, weight, handling, build…everything really other than that it was 4/3rds. Nothing against 4/3rds per se but for my work, I think it would have niggled at the back of my mind continually. If I did not have the needs I have, hands down easily I’d pick the OM-1 over anything else. Even the G9ii.