MrSMW

Personally, shooting Fuji APSC for around 9 years, I did find ‘magic’ in the system…but it varied between sensors (first there was the Bayer 12mp and then I think 4 versions of Xtrans going through 16, 24 and 26mp) dépendant in the lens choice, focal length, Jpeg or raw, how the images were processed and how/where they were viewed. Basically a gazillion variables and certain combos would shine just as some wouldn’t. For photo. For video, difficult to call… I liked the output mostly, but prefer the results I am getting these days from Panny FF. I guess the only way to really test anything side by side would be with the most comparable and basic set up possible, but unless we are ‘scientifically’ testing anything, we aim for the best combo of everything. Could I go back to cropped sensor now? For stills or video, easily. I think it’s relatively easy to take a step in a single direction without noticing a huge difference but it’s when moving 2 steps we really notice such as an APSC user moving to MF or a FF user moving to 4/3. Back in the day, I did shoot plenty of MF film photography and it definitely had a quality over 35mm but I haven’t shot MF digital so can’t comment but would expect it to be pretty special. I think my ultimate combo would be digital MF for stills and APSC for video. Maybe Fuji next year with a GFX100s (stills) and an XH2 (video) combo…

But then I do shoot weddings where loads of slo mo and shallow DOF are compulsory 🤪

FF f2 is my thing 😜

Well the two never crossed paths for me because I sold the RX100 5.5 years ago and picked up the ZV1 about this time last year. But without consulting spec sheets, I’d say yes.

I like the Lumix 100ii and considered it myself but if I remember correctly, the ZV1 had it beat for video work. I loved that fiddly little bastard, the RX100v and filmed entire weddings on it. Mostly on a free-standing monopod and only 5-20 second clips without any dedicated audio. More to make little highlight freebie video pieces to help sell my destination wedding photography. Drove me mad as a photography camera however as did the ZV1 when I tried it on vacation last year!

Sorry yes, I realised you quoted me on the bones adaptor link but not the ZV1. Just assumed you weren't interested in my opinion or experience in regard to the ZV1 but my error. But just to recap, - I think it's a brilliant little bit of kit... Bigger than a GoPro or your alternative action cams but not as big as anything interchangeable which get disproportionally larger when you add 'faster' lenses. IMO, the ZV1 is The Pick of the pocketable cameras for video. Great quality output, great stability, great reliable AF. OK, a fastest prime 4/3rds camera is going to beat it in lower light conditions, but good luck with the AF... It's all use case in the end... It's main purpose for me is actually as a static long form video backup for me and can either sit on it's own dedicated tripod, or on another cameras hot shoe. Great bit of kit and it's only downside is it has Sony written on it 😉

To be fair, I do quite like Kotaro &...I mean Chris & Jordan. But as long as you understand they are not the be all and end all of reviewers and it's just a bit of fun. I like crazy Kai as well...and a lot of others. But as above, pinch of salt with most of them and have a very short list of specific folks who I do trust for a proper review and they tend to be specialists for: stills photography/cameras, video gear specific to weddings/events, a couple of drone guys. The one's I have the least time for are those that are constantly 'switching'. I can't take them seriously. And the one's I can't stand are the one's where it's more about them than the review. Summary is that there is a ton of incorrect info out there, a load of mediocre/spec reading info and only a relatively small amount of good info/reviews and it's just a case of identifying who is who.

So it seems did the OP who appears to have ghosted my efforts... Hey ho.

I have the same access as any/everyone... It used to be (6 years ago), I lived in the UK and travelled to Europe or beyond. These days I live in France and mostly get booked for France, but do still get jobs outside of such as this year, I have clients for weddings in Germany and Switzerland. I only have enough gear to do the job, nothing surplus. Actually, having said that, I do have a Sigma 45mm f2.8 I received for free when I bought the S5. I have used it a couple of times but it just does not fit in with anything now I have finalised my 2022 kit. I also have Panny's own 85mm f1.8 and again, have used it, but it doesn't fit it in anywhere. Currently, I am keeping it for the few times I get stuck at the back of a church and need something longer than the 65mm f2. I may switch this out for the Sigma 90mm f2 at some point just to keep the consistency of an all Sigma lens lineup. I just need this season to get going in early April so I can actually crack on with everything I had planned back in 2019! 2018 was the first year I felt I had really cracked hybrid coverage, but still had a huge amount of refinement and polishing to do. I thought I'd cracked that in the 2019 season, but ended up somewhat frustrated when I realised I was still well short in so many areas. 2020 was going to be 'The Year', but it turned out to be 'The Year That Wasn't' apart from one solitary, compromised wedding. 2021... Nah, really limited and just could not get any momentum. 2022 is going to be the year 😉

I presume no benefit for af users? I have the: 35 f2, 65 f2 (my filming workhorses on the S1H), the new tiny 18-50 f2.8 (for static tripod and gimbal video work on the S5) and the still relatively small, 28-70 f2.8 (paired with the S1R) for stills. Might pick up the 90 and the coming soon 20 this year depending on need… Big fan of recent Sigma glass with L Mount!

C and thanks, I hope so! 33 couples booked in with an average 2 days coverage each mostly and away 60+ nights during the Summer. So as long as there are no new super-variants, Russia doesn’t invade Ukraine or aliens invade, it should be a good creative year. That’s been the worst part for me, the near stagnation of creativity for 2 years. Yes I could go shoot other things, but the reality is I have little to no interest in shooting ‘other things’ so that would just be forced and doing something for the sake of it. No, I need to be back in my proper saddle again, have a good, (if stupidly busy) year and then next year settle back into my normal routine of max 24 jobs per annum.

I use an Anker 10k job which I’ve had for a couple of years now. They cost around 100 Pounds/Dollars/Euros and just work. In my experience anyway.

Hi! 👋

There are rumors that Kotaro & Hannah are going to replace Chris & Jordan over at DipshitReview...

I got about 1.5 minutes into this one earlier today…and then said “nah” and flipped over to watch the latest day in the life adventure of Kotaro the otter.

Found it: https://www.back-bone.ca/product/h10pro/ I would really love to try one of these things…

I chose ZV1 over the latest GoPro having had a predecessor in each flavour, plus various other small compacts and action cameras. It’s probably not surprising but for my needs, I have found the ZV1 to be the best compromise of quality of output vs size. I’m not so keen on the stills it puts out, but then I am kind of spoiled with my full frame 24 and 47 mp cameras, so no real surprise there. But the video quality is really good. Not APSC or FF good because a 1” sensor isn’t going to match something from Fuji or Panasonic, but in isolation it’s ‘good enough’ and I do use it for client productions, namely full length wedding ceremonies and speeches. I also prefer it because for my tastes, action cameras FOV is just too wide. I used to shoot my GoPro in the linear (is it called?) mode. I do quite fancy the latest model GoPro fitted out from that company whose name I can’t remember but something to do with bones, who produce this miniature lens options…

And for those that are interested, total handheld weight = 1809 grams (basically a smidge under 4lbs) including; gimbal, S5 body including battery & card, Sigma 18-50mm f2.8, VND. My tripod for it weighs just under 1kg so the whole lot combined is well under 3kg. Crazy light for the capability... But I digress 😜

Sort of the same...but slightly different... I went from tripod (various predecessors) to freestanding monopod (XT3) to handheld (S5 and S1H) because for my needs, the speed/flexibility of IBIS is key. I have however just treated my S5 to a Crane 3 gimbal to give it a bit more flexibility. It's now going to be living on a tripod (with the gimbal and everything locked), but I've mounted it on a QR plate so it can go into gimbal mode whenever required and takes around 10 seconds to unlock, switch on etc. I am opposed (for my needs) to: Monopods/tripods if and where possible. Gimbals. (I've tried twice before and hated it, but this new Crane 3 for the first time is small and light enough I can justify it for the 5% of the day I will actually use it and for under 400 euros, brings something of value to the table). External rigging of monitors/recorders. External battery packs. OK, I have one welded to my tripod for such times any camera is on a tripod, but otherwise... Surely, ALL Canon had to do here was add a fan to the back of the R5, maybe charge 500 extra and job done? Otherwise I don't understand. Any of it... Please please please Panasonic bring PDAF to your next line of S1/S5/Swhatever cameras and/or Fuji, just get the XH2 right and one of you will get my money next time round/possibly 2023. But the R5C, - it WILL and DOES have appeal to some people, but they are very few people which means Canon either really are stupid, or they really are playing a very stupid game. Either way, I can't give them any of my money, so that is a fail on their part.

I hope both of the customers for this camera each buy one. #salestargetgoals

Love the background silent thumbnail commentary to the vid 😂 I like the idea of vintage lenses but my camera reality is I can’t use them because I need AF half the time.

It’s not just the weight, but the sheer physical size of the thing…and I work with 2 bodies at all times, one primarily stills and one primarily video (but with the ability to flip between the two if needs be). The spec/capability for me is perfect…but the size…and never mind the cost, is not. Brilliant brilliant piece of kit…for someone else. I only use my S1H with either the Sigma 35mm f2 indoors, or 65mm f2 outdoors and this combo is basically 1.5kg. Just under I think and although I’d prefer smaller and lighter, the reality is that for handheld video, this combo is near perfect for ergos/handling/stabilisation as in that bit of heft and weight helps. GH6? At this time, it’s just a myth isn’t it despite them saying it’s coming?! Two questions I have asked myself are: 1: What would any GH6 do for me compared with the S1H and 2: What would any GH6 do for me compared with the S5? In regard to the S1H, unless the GH6 does have PDAF, nothing that I’d want or need. In regard to the S5, my static tripod and gimbal camera, as above. Oh and BTW, for those that shoot APSC crop 4K 50 or 60p, the S5 with Sigmas new tiny 18-50mm f2.8, is a sub 1kg monster of a unit! For me, that combo is a no-brainer and I have even considered the use of this lens as the sole lens with my S1H, but the reality is that I do prefer the longer reach of the 65mm f2 outdoors (100mm equiv rather than 75mm) plus that extra stop of lighting gathering, but for some others, it makes for a package only 100g heavier than an XT4 with the 16-55mm f2.8!! OK, the latter would have an equivalent zoom length of ‘24-83’mm vs 28-75, but the S1H kicks the XT4’s arse in most departments. Anyway, enough of my Sunday morning coffee ramblings… 🤪

Actually, I have only changed kit fundamentally twice, in a 22 year career. Or brands anyway… I started out with Nikon film cameras and switched to Nikon digital sometime around 2004/5. When the X100 was announced, I knew it was something I was looking for, went to a trade show, handled it, preordered and received one of the first to land in the UK. Took it the very next day to my first wedding of the year and loved it to bits. OK the only battery I had died just prior to the ceremony, but the Fuji bug had bitten. The following year, 2011 (?) the X Pro1 arrived and I bought the entire system available at the time comprising 2 bodies plus 3 lenses and sold all my Nikon gear. Stuck with Fuji all the way through until the end of 2019 but at that point it was not quite cutting it anymore for my needs… The XT3 was near perfect, but the lack of IBIS was killing it for my needs. The XT4 was but a rumor, though a likely one. 2020 started and heading towards Spring and a new wedding season, I had zero kit as I’d sold it all off knowing the set up I had was not what I would be using in 2020. But, there was nothing else out there ticking enough boxes other than the about to be launched XT4, so I preordered a pair and a couple of lenses. Alas, it was not to be as enter Covid. 30 weddings became 1. I bought some used kit for that single job and then knowing there would be no further work for another 9 months, immediately sold it. Panny S5 is announced and although a very immature system at the time, to me was a slightly ‘better’ XT4 equivalent. Bought one, as my sole camera, with the kit lens. Liked it a lot, but needed more kit. Bought a used S1H at just over 2k. Loved it. Bought a used S1R from a colleague for 1.5k. Love it. Not as much as the S1H, but slightly more than the S5. I ended up shooting 5 last year from what should have been 30 weddings, growing this system as the short 6 week ‘season’ unfolded. I now have a near ‘perfect’ set up for me based on what is available today and within a certain budget. Could I do it with Leica? Nope, the cost and lack of a tilting screen kills it for me. Nikon? Nope. Not unless I wished to go backwards or rig up for video needs and I wish to do neither. Canon? R5 stills + R6 video could and would work but even selling all my current kit, I’d be looking at 10k+ to find. And after the last 2 years, I don’t have it. Ditto Sony. An A7iv system could work, but again, a 10k+ cost to change and for what advantage? I know I wouldn’t care for it so much as a system and enjoyment is part if my job. M4/3? No, briefly flirted with it for both video and stills and whilst for video it was OK, I shoot a lot of low light and it doesn’t cut it for my needs. Fuji? An XT4 system would work but again, nothing compelling enough to switch from the system I currently have. And if Covid had not come along? I’d still be with Fuji for sure and would not have cancelled that XT4 preorder… The bottom line for me is that these are just tools at the end of the day, but tools I wish to enjoy using. In a normal year, the total cost is approx 5% of my annual turnover so trading and switching bodies or lenses within a system from time to time is neither here nor there! But right now it’s: S1H for primarily handheld or monopod video. S1R for dedicated stills. S5 for gimbal and static tripod video. That’s my ‘defense’ anyway 😜

This new boy is probably my ‘perfect camera’ at this point in time… I doubt very much that I will switch to Canon as a system and get one though. My primary tools, camera body wise, are an S1R for stills and an S1H for video. I did consider a pair of R5’s for hybrid use but it has 2 issues for me. 1: Cost 2: Overheating/reliability/trust issues The new boy is surely going to be more than a ‘standard’ R5 so whilst Point 2: may be solved, Point 1 counters that even further. The camera that ticks the most boxes of all is probably Nikon’s new Z9…but it’s enormous. Some think and say the S1H is, but paired with the f2 Sigma primes that I use, it isn’t, but the Z9 is a beast and for me would be like returning to my old D3s days which is something I’d rather not do. It bodes well for the next gen Z6/7 though… Sony’s A7iv, loathe as I am to admit it, (I am not a fan of the brand despite having owned and still own and use, some of their products) is possibly the ‘best’ compromise right now for my needs and probably, if I was out shopping with a clean sheet start today, that’s where I’d go. But this year for me is all about using what I have, partly because: A: It’s bloody good kit with my only gripe being less than stellar AF for video (my compromise). B: I just bought a new MacBook Pro1 because I needed both a laptop and a machine full stop that was an editing beast. Plus the only drone I have ever had was an original Mavic Air and having crashed it over a dozen times, it flies wonky and needed replacing, so a new Air 2S arrived this last week. C. If I update my camera system in 2023, I am not going to do so until I know with certainty what Panasonic are doing, ie, maybe a new 2 series S1 line (but unless the AF is up to scratch it will be bye bye Panny) and also what Fuji do with the XH2. The only camera system I have ever really ‘loved’ is Fuji so if they hit it out of the park with the XH2, it’s my most likely destination at some point.

The biggest question is will Neo still know Kung Fu…??