MrSMW

And this is where it falls apart for me... As a 'one & done', a single body with longer of those two zooms is OK...to a point...the 100mm in MF point being not even half the reach I need. Could I compensate with cropping? Yes, that's why I prefer a high MP camera for stills, but even 100mp is pushing it a bit taking what is an approx 80mm lens in FF terms, to well over double that and f4 for anything low light, (which can be quite a bit of my work), is borderline too slow. I had and used the LUMIX f4 24-105 and it was not the best experience other than outdoor and day time. And this is the 'weakness' of MF for me, - the sheer physics over 100mm in FF terms, - it just gets too big, too heavy and too slow. For my specific needs. On the other hand, the 2 body approach could work, but is utterly dependant on each unit being much more compact and light over a single 'one & done', though the combined size & weight of 2 units might be more. For a 2 body approach to work, it HAS to be primes only and something no bigger ideally than Sigma's f2 range, so their 20/24/35/50/65 and jumping up to 90mm, f2.8. On a body ideally no bigger than A7RV or at a push, Z8, a set of 4 would work for me and of course these are native to Sony and almost native adapted to Nikon, but to Fuji GFX, I don't think so? And even if a workaround could be found, it comes back to the same thing and that is, "then what is the point?" as in you switched from one solution to another that doesn't benefit you in any way so why? Same as I love the idea of a Hasselblad X2D prime set up, - I would absolutely love it...but I think more with a rose tinted spectacle approach than a real world one. And that is without considering the cost! So right now, the SL3 for me still remains the single best option all factors except cost considered and that is where it does not and cannot work for me. A pair of those with a 4x prime Sigma set up would be nuts, but nuts beyond my means. My A7RV to me is my 'poor man's SL3'. And it is a very fabulous poor man's SL3 so until such time as something significant changes, it remains in it's role.

Don't get me thinking about that one! That's been in and out of my shopping basket numerous times and in some ways, is the ultimate option for stills. My stills needs anyway. The ONLY thing that has really stopped me has been lenses. Just how do I get a small/light/compact kit that can cover everything from 20-200mm providing nothing slower than f2.8 FF equivalent and no smaller than 24mp at the long end... With MF Fuji, the body can do it, but the lens/whole system, not quite, or rather the compromises are ones that I am not prepared to make. Having said that, a pair of the things with a set of 3-4 primes and... aaaaargh, nooooooo. Change for me at this point in time has to bring something quantifiably useful because my needs have already been met. It's interesting looking though and I think sensible to at least look at any and all options because that in itself can sometimes provide a creative aspect not previously considered. So I look and I consider.

I had the debate myself over SL2 vs S1R a few years back but in my case the need was primarily hi res stills and only a secondary need for video and at the time, not log. The S1R easily won that argument. It was, for stills at least, a better, but 1/2 price SL2, though the Leica beat it on design and badge. Obviously. But time marches on and though many of us consider the S1R and S1H well overdue and this latest launch is not quite what many hoped for, but cut out all the hysterics and simply ask yourself, "is this a good piece of kit for my needs?" and that is the only bit of info that is actually relevant. I have warmed to it and could make a case for it, but still wish it had been 60mp+ for my own selfish reasons!

Yes this is a definite thing. Maybe less so for the younger brigade but Nikon is a camera company. Canon is a camera company. Olympus, Pentax, Leica, Fuji are or were camera companies. OK they made other stuff but folks know or knew them as camera companies. Sony and Panasonic = giant electronics companies. Who just happen to make cameras more recently. Sony has arguably become a camera brand but Panasonic LUMIX has a bit of an identity crisis and I do think it’s because it says exactly that on the box, Panasonic LUMIX. It should have been LUMIX and just LUMIX from the start. It keeps circling back to the same broad topic; branding and marketing.

I don’t think there is any ‘perfect’ solution on-line, but a forum is easily the best IMO. Everything else is shit. All social media whether it be Fakebook, YouTool, Instagratification, DickTok, all have a place in modern society, but as I think you can probably tell, I personally despise them. They are all just soapboxes for anonymous persons to either spew venom or fabricate a false image of a lifestyle that is not their actual reality. I’m not really a fan of folks even here being anonymous but that is just my opinion and not my call to make. I think there is only 2 things missing here right now and they are connected and those are: A. More active members and B. A small mod team. I think A is probably affected by not having B in that some threads can descend into the old Wild West at times. I’m not talking about having a team of Off Topic Nazis patrolling the place as some if not most of the off topic banter is a large part of what makes the place and community, but folks who know where the line is and can steer things and if necessary, do a little bit of tidying up here and there. One final thing that folks always say they want is less gear talk and more talk about actual work, but the reality is a new camera is going to get 10+ pages of chatter and a piece of posted work will be lucky to have 10 people comment. It’s just how it is ie, IMO, gear talk WILL just out-balance everything else at least 10:1.

It’s called ‘timing’ and ‘progress’ respectively isn’t it as in just a few months back, some of those older cameras might have made sense, but with march of time, increasingly less until such a point as they do not. I don’t think we are quite at the ‘do not’ stage yet with those models, but launches like the S1Rii start to compete and once the prices drop and firmware upgrades happen, should make even more sense. The SL2 with zero tilt screen option for one thing would just kill it for me. But as it does 8k it gets all the chatter. I said it somewhere else above, but IMO they should have launched it as a 6k beast and locked all 8k function for say 3 months and opened that up with firmware. But then there would probably have been as much furore over that choice! I suspect so. Especially once prices dip below 3k. I’m still not sure I would buy it for my needs because of the way I work and as my principal video unit, the S9 works better (minimal size & weight on a free-standing monopod) despite the S1Rii being a MUCH better camera in hand and full stop. For stills, Z8 vs A7RV vs S1Rii, I could make a case for any but still favour the Sony, and not just because I have one. For video, as things stand, I would pick the Panny with the Z8 a very close second and the day it gets full LUT support is the day I would give the nod to the Nikon.

It’s called ‘timing’ and ‘progress’ respectively isn’t it as in just a few months back, some of those older cameras might have made sense, but with march of time, increasingly less until such a point as they do not. I don’t think we are quite at the ‘do not’ stage yet with those models, but launches like the S1Rii start to compete and once the prices drop and firmware upgrades happen, should make even more sense. The SL2 with zero tilt screen option for one thing would just kill it for me. But as it does 8k it gets all the chatter. I said it somewhere else above, but IMO they should have launched it as a 6k beast and locked all 8k function for say 3 months and opened that up with firmware. But then there would probably have been as much furore over that choice! I suspect so. Especially once prices dip below 3k. I’m still not sure I would buy it for my needs because of the way I work and as my principal video unit, the S9 works better (minimal size & weight on a free-standing monopod) despite the S1Rii being a MUCH better camera in hand and full stop. For stills, Z8 vs A7RV vs S1Rii, I could make a case for any but still favour the Sony, and not just because I have one. For video, as things stand, I would pick the Panny with the Z8 a very close second and the day it gets full LUT support is the day I would give the nod to the Nikon.

The only thing really missing for me with Nikon is they still lack the ability to burn in a LUT? Plus do they have open gate in at least 6k? I'm not sure and haven't checked. Realistically, I don't think I can do anything this year and am happy and set with what I have all things considered, but after this season, a switch to Nikon could be on that cards and the LUT thing could swing it for sure as that is a HUGE part of my workflow these days.

Right now, based on what is available and for my needs, Nikon probably does have the sweetest 3 camera option with the Z8, Z6iii and Zf. I have come so close to flipping to that set up and the only thing that stopped me was the cost to change, but what with used prices as they are now, slightly more possible than it once was. The Z8 is a near perfect pro stills camera for me, the Z6iii a video workhorse and the Zf an excellent ‘fun’ hybrid option that straddles the other two. I already have the Zf, a pair of MAGA hat adapters, 3x Tamron lenses and the 40mm f2 SE, so for me to flip, cost aside, it’s not actually that big a step. I hate you @Andrew Reid 🤬

I like where it's going. I have a need to have my phone with me 100% of the time. I have the need for a camera maybe less than 10% and on certain specific occasions, so would not object to carrying a small man bag or simply putting on a grip and lens for those times and not carrying a small man bag.

Mine is more like this: But came with less vegetables.

Worst case scenario, you could always offer your services as a budget funeral director.

Yes. I got my fold up off Amazon for under €70 and it has been one of the best purchases of my career for sure. Instead of 3-4 trips from vehicle to venue, it’s been a single one each way.

For outright static use image quality in video, the S5 probably has the edge over the S5 but as Andrew says, pretty much everywhere else, the A7iv does dump all over it. S5ii however, now we are talking overall parity. The Sony probably edges it for stills, the Panny for video & IBIS and everywhere else, much of a muchness. You can't get an S5ii though in normal circumstances sub 1k yet, though it won't be long.

It's like large country house owners in the UK who have to open up their houses to the paying public so they can keep up at least some semblance of their 19th century lifestyle. And I am all for that as it would be a poorer world if we did not have access to such things. Or like a medieval marriage of convenience in order to ally 2 countries so one did not go to war with the other. Leica I suspect simply do not have the capability to stand alone as few companies can these days. You need to be a Sony to do that.

I can make a case for both such as say; single body with 24-70 vs two bodies, one on each hip, with say a 28 and an 85. It's certainly more convenient to zoom, but it does mean a larger and heavier unit in your hands which over a typical 12-15 hour day, adds up and just isn't as enjoyable at any point throughout the day. It's really when we get about 100mm that zooms tend to make more sense to me because we tend to have 85/90/105 and OK 135, but there isn't really much in prime land above 100'ish' compared with below. At this point in time, I am in the 'one & done' camp, but that does require 3 lens changes albeit, not regularly. Possibly, but right now I'd pick the S9 for video based on current spec and let's not forget the twist & tilt rear LCD. I doubt even that would work my friend 😘

I think certainly for stills, at least at ‘ordinary’ viewing levels which for 99.9999999999999% of all viewing these days is on a device and mainly a phone…and with compressed images at that! The artist/craftsman in me still and always will fight back against that even if I am the only one that sees or even knows about it. It’s one of the reasons I am chasing more megapixels. It’s not because I think it improves the image in any way as such, but because I can crop ever harder with a lower loss of quality which means I can use smaller and lighter kit which has so many benefits including enjoyment. Tech for tech sake no. If it’s just data on a spreadsheet, who gives a shit, but when that tech relates to real world quality of life…

They really need to do the 70-180 G2 because it has stab but is such a lightweight, compact, minimal extending lens that is tack sharp throughout it’s range. OK the build and finish of something like Sigma’s 70-200 is better, but it costs a lot more and is waaaaay bigger and heftier. It’s really only an issue if you are like me and hate curvature in what should be straight lines. As mentioned before, really only noticeable with interiors and possibly more a photo than video thing? Yes, I think if video had been my priority for this unit, I would have gone Z8 at the time and especially more recently since the Red luts became available as there is one that really tickles my fancy.

Zach Mayfield on his channel just did a piece comparing the BF with the S9. Approx conclusion = the Sigma is perhaps the better option for stills and the S9 for video, which is what I would expect and the primary uses I would have for them. If the S9 just had a mechanical shutter and all else with both remained the same, I think we’d be having a whole other conversation. It’s almost like it was in 4/3rds with Oly being your slightly better choice for stills and Panny having better video capability.

I have the 40mm f2 on my Zf and it’s a perfect match. Toyed with all kinds of options but nothing so far beats it for me. But re. the Z8, it was a VERY close call for me choosing the A7RV over it and what won it for Sony was: Cheaper ‘like new’ used Smaller & lighter Bigger sensor Mech shutter Best rear LCD on any camera Native relatively compact Tamron lenses…because there is some distortion adapted with the Megadap. But I do like the chunk and the build of the Z8 and am so glad I did not buy your Z9 in the end Andrew because I think the size & weight would have become an issue quite quickly. And I work out 🦾 Not a lot between the Z8, S1Rii, R5ii or A7RV and I’d be happy with any of them…except RF glass is still somewhat limited and pricey so the least fave option. A pair of Z8’s with adapted Sigma f2 primes could be a very nice option though…

Mr Sigma looks exactly like a Japanese version of my father in law. My father in law however does not make cameras but writes historic books. I’m still eyeing this BoyFriend camera but waiting to see what this next PB (Panny Boy) will be and if it will be a fixed lens. I know the BF is not a fixed lens but it’s kind of how I’d use it with strictly small primes only. Alternatively I might just trade my Zf for another A7RV and then flip all my zooms for primes. I’m very much favouring 2 small cameras right now with a set of small primes…

I would be very pleased if it was Tamron for their mid range compact & lightweight fast zooms, but I suspect Sigma would veto that.

Emanuel = part Confucious, part early AI bot. I literally have no idea what you are talking about...but at the same time, appreciate your efforts!

If my budget is just 1k the per body, I'm going to pair an S9 for my video needs with an S1R for photo. I don't think S1H's are sub 1k yet, not unless they are very high mileage, but S1R's definitely are. For stills, sub 1k, I don't think you can really beat it. For video, it's surprisingly good in 5k flat or HLG, but the S9 has 6k open gate so is a win for my needs. Sub 1k from any other brand, it would need top be Fuji for for me, but I could be tempted for stills with an OM-1 badged OLYMPUS.

28mm f2 with 44mp sensor min for me. If it’s anything like 24mp it’s an instant no for me. It HAS to have good crop ability. To be honest, I don’t think even 61mp works for me based on what the Q3 can do with it’s crop modes. Fujis imminent fixed lens might be 100mp and then we are talking. ’Walk with your feet” is the line folks trot out, but that is not always possible. As has been said various times, cameras will continue to leapfrog each other and LUMIX cannot afford to bring out something that is not going to beat the X100 and Q3 it would inevitably be compared to. And they need to get their naming strategy right this time. Ladies & gentlemen, I present to you the LUMIX S Warship 1