MrSMW

"Quality wise, Sony is the McDonald's of the camera industry". Who is KFC then?

Always ask, always receive permission (in writing) and always credit. Not so much video, but it doesn't just piss me off, it actually hurts my business and benefits others when my work is posted without credit. The typical scenario is Wedding Planner X wants certain images from me. Despite having a contract with T&C's, WPX passes the pics on to Venue A. Venue A splatters them all over their website and social media and whilst usually not directly crediting anyone else (or anyone at all), has a list of recommended associates of which I am not one. I've also had many of my image posted without credit and then sneaky photographers spot that and post a comment that does not directly claim credit, but could be interpreted as such. I once had a venue request images from me for their brochure. I provided and they sent me a proof of the brochure before it went to print. They ended up using my pics for 42% of the brochure including every full page image. On the rear cover, they had a list of the NINE photographers credited. And I was not one of them. When I tackled them on this, they stated, "oh, you are not one of our recommended photographers so we can't credit you". My immediate response was an instruction to remove all my pics. They added me in response in 10th place. The reality was I should have been credited in bold at the top and in a larger font and then the other 9 listed below as a block in something smaller. Just one of many incidents in my 20+ years of dealing with such fuckwittery... 🤨

With the larger of the grips available, or the cage inc. grip from Smallrig, plus the EVF, pretty much...which is why you then have to ask yourself the question, "what does it do, that something else does not?" Maybe it's the colour science or some other aspect? Maybe because you are just one of those people that say "damn convention!" and just make it work. I've just looked at the work of twice voted best wedding videographer in Europe and he's moved to shooting the FP handheld from Black Magic. Some will want to rig it out, but for me, the appeal of it is pretty much straight out of the box, other than the smallest hand grip attachment which barely adds any size. Bare bones simplicity.

I was looking for one camera to do it all. Well 3x identical bodies anyway as I like to use the same in that regard if I can, or at least very similar. The S5 and S1H are similar, especially as I have the battery grip on the S5 now which makes it actually slightly bigger and heavier than the S1H. I never intended to mix the Sony footage in with the Panasonic because to me, that is like crossing the streams, especially 1" sensor stuff with full frame. It's bad enough when it's the Mavic Air footage but at least it's a completely different type of footage and viewpoint. And no, I don't want any 'better' drone as I don't much like using it (the capture) but it plays a part in the package and clients like & want it, so... But at least keeping it all FF has appeal and within the L Mount family, even more so. Plus in my use case it is essentially just 2 long static pieces which is easier to match than 50 clips from X and 50 clips from Y. It just makes sense and I like things that make sense. It was always an outside bet it was going to be the FP as a 'one and done' body. Certainly not with the original. Could I have made it work? Of course/probably...but there would have been major compromises. Now it's simply going to be 1 of 3 principle parts of the jigsaw.

I think my problem with this camera is that although I really liked the concept of the original FP, it did not cut it for me as a hybrid. I had high(er) hopes for the FP-L but was still thinking hybrid. I am no longer thinking hybrid. Well I am, but not in the same sense as I previously was as it can’t replace the combo of my S5 (approx 75% documentary photography where 24mp is enough and 25% video use, ie is my B cam in that regard). It can’t replace the S1H as my video workhorse. It could for someone else, but with the current available spec, nope. But I do have the Sony ZV1 for static full length ceremony & speeches at weddings and having a 1” sensor, has low light limitations. The Sony is also supposed to be my personal and travel camera but it doesn’t inspire me. In fact, it’s boring as fuck. It’s perfectly decent but that’s about it. So as I was cutting my grass this afternoon, I made the firm decision to sell it along with the 24-105, chuck a couple of hundred into the pot and go for an FP-L with the little grip and nothing else. I will use it in the static role at weddings for full length ceremony & speeches and then simply have fun with it as a personal and travel camera as it will inspire me to shoot whereas the little Sony does not.

This is where I was most...and still am, interested in it, ie, not as a pure video tool, but a photography one with a hybrid element. The fact that the new model is 60mp makes it more appealing to me than the original because one of the elements to my overall kit requirements, is for something 50mp or above for hi res stills. The static/tripod 96mp files from the S5 cover that off in some regards, but then there is this middle ground between the standard 24mp and the hi res 96mp for handheld hi res pics which none of my current kit offers. Toying with the idea of this L model in that regard... Not the viewfinder though whilst clever, defeats the size of the thing for me. The 24-105mm f4 despite being relatively compact and light for what it is, I have decided is too big and too slow for my needs so being sold. I can add the Sony ZV1 into the sales pot also and cover off most of the costs of the body alone FP-L. I have my Sigma 45mm f2.8 I was thinking of selling but would make an ideal partner for an FP. I don't 'need' as such, but would like a compact, light, 50mp+ stills camera and if it can cover off static video, even better and better still, if it's L Mount so it can share lenses with my S5 and S1H. Still thinking about it but I reckon it's actually a good option for my needs.

Something that is quite interesting and I missed previously is the ‘pinch to zoom’ capability with no loss of quality giving a fixed focal length prime a 2.5x range. That is pretty neat. I think you have to come at this camera from another angle and that is what can it do instead of direct comparisons with anything else.

I think ^this^ is the key to this camera. You need 2 things: A: To think out of the box a bit and not try and compare it with anything else and B: Have a bit of a willful, left field spirit about you. I like to think I am, more so than most, but at the same time, do play a little safe. Just a few too many quirks and workarounds with this one for me.

Well my new (used but like new) S1H arrived today. Pleasantly surprised because it is neither as big nor as heavy as I was expecting. In fact, I'd say in the hands, in terms of size, weight and ergos, it's just about perfect. I look forward to testing it this weekend ahead of next week's small commercial/marketing job.

OK, anybody know when the FP3 announcement is going to be made? That's the one with the tilt screen, IBIS and 4k 60p 😉 It's a decent upgrade, but still too many compromises for my specific needs. I reckon I could probably excuse the lack of tilt screen and get used to crawling about on the floor once again and I LOVE the size/format/concept, but it's still too flawed for my specific needs. Love the tilty plugin viewfinder and with an accessory grip or cage, would be good, but it's not enough.

Sony A7Siii with the Fotodiox drop in ND filter adapter that also adapts EF lenses? I think that exists and if so, ticks all of your boxes no?

I’m not going to recommend you any specific brand or model of camera but say only this, - I think we have already reached ‘peak camera’ from an image point of view. Yes, above 4k, we can go 6k and now 8k. Yes, we are getting ever higher mega-pixel counts. Unless it’s Sony where you can have high or ‘low’. Yes, we are getting ever better lower light capability, dual ISO etc, (but you can always pop on a faster lens). But for me anyway, there’s a ton of kit out there that does 99.9% of anyone’s needs. I recently bought a new camera. It is a current model and though there are even more recent, smaller, faster, better AF models out there, I primarily made my decision based on 2 factors. A: Is it enough for my needs? Answer = more than enough. I could have gone back a generation...possibly even two (though not with this brand/model) which leads me to... B: Is it ‘future proof’, ie, does it only have a limited lifespan before it’s superceded with an updated even ‘better’ model? The answer to the latter is pretty much yes as in I think it will be a very long time before it would need replacing other than technology changes in such a way it becomes like say a film camera today compared with a digital. Or it breaks/wears out. In a nutshell, what I am trying to say is find a set up that meets as many of your needs as possible (because there is always some form of compromise!) and then use use use it and ignore the noise. ‘The Noise’ being GAS. That’s my take on it anyway and the bottom line has to be what you produce from it and continue to produce from it, not what anyone else thinks or says. Or tries to sell you. The (other) bottom line is I could have gone a step or two backwards with kit but decided to draw my line in the sand at approx 12 month ago kit and work with that for at least the next 3 years and 9 months.

PDAF you say? Could be interesting...

Ah crap, I have one. I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens next... The downside to being an early adopter.

Never tried them myself, but echo the Vitrox’s are supposed to be quite good. Another option is the Fringer Pro adapter and when I used that for 2 years with the Sigma 18-35mm f1.8 and Canon 50mm f1.8 ef, I found the AF actually better than with native Fuji f2 lenses. I still have it and can sell it to you for a reasonable price if interested and in the EU? Just PM me if so.

I ain’t ‘fraid of no ghost. But I will check my serial number later though...

I'm not expecting one and quite frankly, I'm not bothered even if there is another or not. If anything, I wouldn't kick a further video AF update, but otherwise is what it is.

Too late for me now, I just pushed the button on a used S1H. Makes more sense in regard to pairing up with an S5, - both hybrid use, but about 90% video with the S1H and about 90% stills with the S5 with the lenses being interchangeable. I think even if Panny comes out with a GH6 later this year, for me specific requirements, it wouldn't make as much sense to use two different formats. I'd still like to see what it could be if it ever appears though...

Binned the S1R and pushed the button on a used S1H! It doesn't specify, but with this particular dealer it's usually 'open box' kit when it's sold 'like new'. It's not the best time for me to be buying kit ideally as my entire wedding season is still in question, but at the same time, I have a number of commercial projects and styled venue shoots to do over the next few months. I also would like to spend time getting familiar with using my entire kit as I intend to use it for at least the next >4 years. I could at a pinch, use just the S5, but after nearly 6 months of wrestling with my 'perfect' minimalist lineup of bodies and lens combos, I have settled on: S1H with the Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 as a my video-centric workhorse, principally because a lot of my long work days are in high temperatures and some ceremonies and some speeches can go on for a bit so the unlimited recording is a bonus. I hate flippy screens but the S1H is perfect in that it can just be used as a tilt. The Sig 28-70 keeps the overall size & weight down but still a flexible focal range that is perfect for my needs; approx 42-105mm as I shoot 4k 50p. The S5 is going to get a battery grip to add more continuous battery life, but mainly to balance out the 24-105mm f4. I'm not really a zoom kind of person, so anticipate using the Sig as a 42 or 105mm and with the Panny lens, FF as a 24 or 105mm to give me the same focal length for stills and video at the long end which I work a lot with. F4 is not my ideal, but then it's equivalent to the Fuji f2.8 that has been my previous workhorse so... The Panny 85mm f1.8 remains as an option lens for video, - purely back of church or low-light outdoor speeches, because in APSC mode, it's like a 130mm. The Panny 20-60mm kit lens remains also, purely as a 20mm wide angle for stills and it's my hiking lens on the S5. The Sigma 45mm f2.8 I'm not sure. I love this lens but have next to zero use for it. I think I'll probably sell it and replace it with another option lens which will be the Sigma 65mm f2 for church and low-light speeches, I have a 100mm equiv, still f2 light gathering instead of the F4 zoom. 2 bodies, 2 workhorse zooms, 1 option zoom, 2 option primes. Sony ZV1 as a backup ceremony & speeches video unit. That's as minimalist as I can go and still cover all my bases and within a certain budget! Ideally, Panny will pop out a 47mp version of the S5, ie, an S5R as there are times when the hi res mode doesn't work for me but I want more than 24mp. Otherwise, I'm sorted and look forward to shooting more than the last miserable 6 months!

Binned the S1R idea. It was a very good price and capable piece of kit but falls short in one area mainly and that is no 4K 50p 10 bit internal. I could go with 2 slightly different bodies and ergos etc, but I would like my clips to match for a better workflow. OK, I add in drone footage, but due to it’s nature it’s not going to match exactly and that’s to be expected. Ah well. FP-L gets a look next assuming they do announce it, but I think most likely it will be another S5.

The 85mm f1.8 is actually lighter than air. So is the 20-60mm. I prefer the new Sigmas however, particularly the f2 35mm and 65mm siblings, plus the 45mm f2.8...which I have no use for owning the new 28-70mm f2.8. Heavier yes, but that's because they are made out of a substance called metal and not recycled recycling receptacles. They look ace, they feel ace, they render ace.

Who would be interested in an S5R? Other than me?! I shoot roughly 60% stills and 40% video. For most of what I do, 24mp is enough and I have the 96mp tripod hi res mode for landscape etc when it’s not. There are times when I’d like something in the middle, such as the S1R. I have just been offered a mint 1 job unit with 2x extra batteries for 1600 euros and am tempted. My perfect stills camera is the Leica SL2 (only criticism, the lack of a tilt screen) but at closing on 6k euros with an extra battery, what does it have that the S1R doesn’t that I need? Nada. But my concern with the S1R is it’s a bit of a lump. The S5-SL2 is my perfect size...all of which has got me wondering whether Panasonic might follow the S1 line and do an H and an R model? An S5H paired with an S5R would become my new dream pairing. I might just buy this mint S1R and give it a try... I have some non-Covid shoots coming up where I really do need 2 cameras and have several suitable lenses including the 24-105mm f4. I can always sell it on if I don’t get on with it or an S5R appears on the horizon... Anyone else interested in an S5R or H?

Curious about this new Sigma... I loved the FP...but not enough to buy one, too many missing requirements for me. I’m really just waiting now for the announcement as the final piece in the jigsaw puzzle that is my foreseeable future. I like the new plug in viewfinder, but would much rather have a tilt screen. If it’s got both, then Monday, Tuesday Happy Days, but no tilt, no deal for me. It’s 100% essential. 4k 59/60p 10 bit. I don’t want less, I don’t need more. Internal or again, no dice. IBIS. Hmmm, IBIS... I think it’s probably a dealbreaker if it doesn’t have it, but then if it had something like the Catalyst Wotsit, maybe maybe. It is small and light enough to work quickly off a freestanding mono, so another possibility. 23rd March all being well, we shall know. But what is the ‘L’? L for lots, as in lots of pixels? L for lidar? L for ladies as in it’s either for them or will attract them? L for lovely? L for ...?

I don't know if you noticed @Lux Shots but there's banding in your picture? A big grey bar right through the centre. Or should that be gray and center? Anyway, I spotted it.

I don't know if I want, never mind need (or really even know what is) BRAW, but shooting to a hotshoe T5 wotsit is not something I have thought of before and has me thinking if there is any more general application to doing this that would work and is of any use to me? I hate monitors. No, hate is too strong a term, - I simply do not use monitors because I wish to continue to appear more like a guest photographer than a videographer. It's just not going to happen with me, but a teeny weeny hotshoe mounted SSD I could live with, but use it for what specifically?