MrSMW

Actually I will elaborate on just how long it has taken me, but as briefly as possible…

I was shooting Fuji hybrid up to 2019, but that system did not quite have the set up it offers today.

I had big (creative) plans for 2020, but Covid reduced my booked weddings from 30 to just 1.

I then took the opportunity to switch to Lumix and the S5.

With hindsight, that was a sideways step.

It was all supposed to then happen with the 2021 season but again, Covid did for it with what ended up as 5/30 and another frustrating year.

2022? So swamped with work it was an exercise to simply keep my head above water. No complaints about having work but there’s having work and bouncing off burn out and that is no good for creativity.

2023? OK start but the first few jobs I found I was still wrestling with the gear, despite thinking I had cracked it over the Winter. Paper plans and all that…

I then cracked my own personal formula needs and again, with hindsight, it seemed so obvious but that’s how it goes sometimes.

I’m currently waiting on one tiny piece of kit I can easily live without but otherwise I have finally been able to flip that creativity switch I wanted to turn on 3+ years ago.

We get there in the end…

The S5ii has been a large part of the puzzle.

1 hour ago, Geoffrey said:

And MrSMW totally agree about less fumbling about - I have spent the last year trying to ensure my setup incurs the least fumbling as possible

It’s been my biggest source of frustration for some time now recognizing that the tools were getting in the way…but at the same time recognizing that unless I got that part of the puzzle sorted, I could not fully focus on other aspects.

It’s taken a while and far too much faffing about, but I have finally sorted it out to my satisfaction.

And that’s what we all need to do, ie, do what works for each of us as individuals because often what works for one, does not work for another!

8 hours ago, BTM_Pix said:

It has very much NOT gone as expected.

Does NOT = SONY ?

2 hours ago, kye said:

as a general rule I think you should only upgrade equipment when the upgrade will fix an issue that you routinely have when using your existing equipment, or it would increase the quality of your output in some way that matters to you (e.g. can you charge more, or get the same result in less time, etc).

This for me and this only. It has to be quantifiable.

I just traded 2x (used) S1R’s plus 65mm and 24-105mm lenses, for another (used) S5ii and a (used) 70-200 f4 because it will both make my actual shoot workflow better and improve my end output.

Ie, less kit to carry (2 bodies + 2 lenses swapped for 1 body + 1 lens) and fumble about with, but extends my focal range from what was capped at 105 up to 200.

Less fumbling about = both less fatigue and more focus which = greater creativity which = more/better material to then work with…which should lead to an elevated level of output that will increase my own job satisfaction plus attract an ever higher quality of client with ever higher budgets.

It all boils down to making decisions that either have a high probability of, or even better, a guarantee of making ‘everything’ work better for you.

But if it ain’t broke… and in your case @Geoffrey it sounds like it ain’t broke.

Fuji as a brand and their marketing is a bit of a weird one for me right now.

They used to be something of an underdog, industry whipping boy to many, but now they seem to have a similar user set to that of Sony.

I’m not criticising Sony (or Fuji) as such, but they do seem to have a more vocal and younger user demographic of brand hoppers…

The X100V phenomenon for one thing, whether Fuji have had a direct hand in that or not I don’t know, but it puts me off as although I think the camera is great, it’s become this over-priced cult worship piece of jewellery.

And they both had a cull and recently lost so many of their brand ambassadors who had done so much for the brand. But in the latter case, in some cases, because they refused to be shills. I know one of them personally…

But same as with Sony, just because their current ‘brand’ isn’t really to my liking, would not stop me using their product, but it’s not really my cuppa…

6 hours ago, Django said:

But that's when reality hits and you must realise its a vlog/travel C-cam intended for short takes.

That’s exactly how I saw it and actually considered it a few weeks back in looking at valid L Mount alternatives…

A7RV stills and B cam video

FX3 A cam video

ZVE1 C cam mainly gimbal 

At the same time, there is nothing wrong with folks using any piece of kit in ways it was not originally intended.

I often have in the past such as shooting weddings (stills) with just an original X100 or video with the Sony RX100v.

Yep, the latter overheated numerous times but there are workarounds and had I been serious about it, could have bounced between multiple units.

I had an idea once to use just GoPros and use that adapter whose name I cannot remember, to mount lenses and have this dinky fun little set up.

People can do what they like and why not?

OK building a pro set up around something like the ZVE1 would not be the greatest option, but otherwise if you fancy it, go for it.

Same as buying a Leica. We all know that really, Panasonic is better and 1/2 the price 😉

1 hour ago, BTM_Pix said:

The recording to SSD and ProRes of the S5iiX (with a minor mention of the connect to phone for streaming) are big differences that might persuade me if I was looking to buy an S5ii.

Not that I am of course as I'm completely adamant that I'm not interested as I am dead set on a Z9/Z8/A1/X-H2S purchase next week.

Absolutely nailed on.

Not going to waver in the slightest.

Honestly.

Oh yes, forgot about the SSD... 🤪

And what it came down to in the end for me was I only wanted the S5iix over the standard 5ii for personal aesthetic reasons, otherwise it doesn't offer a me a single thing I want or need.

I'd add a Q3 into that numberbet soup. And surely, an X2D100C should be added into that mix? Not for it's video capabilities of course, because it has precisely zero, but just because it is an image making beast.

But I am honestly honestly honestly happy with my body and lens line up now.

It took some sorting out along with shooting modes and all manner of factors, but I have the whole kit and caboodle now nailed down from shooting through edit to delivery.

Until anything future L Mount appears in the wild whether it be Lumix, Leica or Sigma... 

But even then, it will need to be something pretty special as there is currently nada on my shopping list in terms of needs or requirements.

Well, except for I'd still like Sigma to make me a constant aperture f2.8 50-150mm or even just a Contemporary version of the 70-200mm f2.8.

Otherwise spent up and done for '23!

Exactly. The only real difference other than one being blacked up, is that one can record all-I and the other has a paid upgrade to record braw externally.

I personally think they missed a trick with the x but at the same time, suspect it was deliberate as their are S2 models coming some time ‘soon’…

It's really good. 

Despite being in a PAL region, I've switched over to shooting 6k 30p and 4k 60p and my second S5ii paired with the 16-28 is set to shoot exclusively 4k 60p so will be that 24-42mm equivalent. Which is great as the '24' for me, is for dancing stuff and the '42' is for everything else which = entrances, exits, gimbal couple stuff. So I only think of it as being a 24 or a 42.

The other two cameras and lenses are set up as 6k 30p exclusively, so their respective lenses to me, photo or video, are what they are supposed to be, ie, 28, 70 and 200. I don't shoot anything in between, just the extreme ends of any/all zooms, ie, single lens, but 'twin prime' set up.

15 minutes ago, Marcio Kabke Pinheiro said:

About lenses - just got the Sigma 18-50 f/2.8, beauty little thing. Compared to the 18-55 f/2.8-4, is not so much sharper in stills (don't know if it is my copy), but liked it a lot for video - better AF, MUCH less noisy, and, surprisingly, IBIS does a better job the the "Dual IS" of the older one.

It’s a great little lens.

I have just ‘retired’ mine from use on my S5ii due to a body and lens re-jig.

I’m still going to be using it, but shifting it over to my Leica TL2 which is my personal and back up (pro use) camera.

The only thing it lacks for Fuji use, is built in OIS compared with the 18-55, but counters with being constant f2.8 rather than f2.8-4 which I’m not a fan of, ie, variable apertures.

In other news, after cancelling my pair of S5iix preorders, I made a final (honest guv) decision re. final 2023 line up…and just ordered another (used) vanilla S5ii.

So cracked my 3 camera, no lens change matrix:

S5ii + Sigma 16-28 f2.8

S5ii + Sigma 28-70 f2.8

S1H + Lumix 70-200 f4 

Happy with that. And getting my black Sharpie out tomorrow 😬

Surely I will be crying “FNAC FNAC FNAC!” which is fluent French for “fuck fuck fuckedy fuck!” ?

When it comes to camera stuff in big city France anyway…

3 hours ago, BTM_Pix said:

and stayed at quite a nice site called Yelloh Village

Yes, already researching that place…

For this particular job, I could do it all with the contents of my backpack so the bit of kit not shown, is the missus’s electric fat bike.

It weighs about 35kg / 75lbs, but folds in half and fits nicely in the back of the van.

I could then either Uber in and out each day or ‘pedal’.

It’s mental how effortless it is to ride and even as a pretty fit guy, I have zero chance against her on either of my pedal only power bikes!

19 euros each way by Uber and the client is happy to pick up the tab. Rich Americans 😉

I think the only reason someone might choose the none X version is they could get a used one for 500 less than a brand spanking new X.

Also, if you bought one a few months back and now fancied the upgrade, you might pay that 200.

Or you don’t like the all black look..and some do not. 

The X for me doesn’t have a single thing over the vanilla ii that I need so it would purely be for aesthetic reasons!

15 hours ago, Thpriest said:

I am going to invest in those flip up filter things. I have the Xuma magnetic things which work fine with one camera but now I have a harness with 2 cams the VND has been knocked off a couple of times as it hung by my side!

Yep, tried the magnetic ones a while back and just nope. They are too prone to getting knocked off unnoticed!

Adapted to Nikon Z8/9, hmmmm…

12 hours ago, BTM_Pix said:

Same logic regarding the savings and convenience particularly when I had to cover games late at night or be at pressers first thing in the morning.

For me, it beats any/all other options hands down, means total self autonomy and is fun.

It wouldn’t work if I shot city centre weddings as parking would be an absolute nightmare/impossible, so only works for me because I work at chateaux and places like golf clubs or private resorts, which all have wide open parking.

Having said that, I have a Bordeaux city centre wedding in a couple of weeks and still need to work that one out… 🤪

1 hour ago, BTM_Pix said:

Wow, the cart AND the camper van?

”And when Alexander saw the breadth of his domain, he wept, for there were no more worlds to conquer.”

Curious about the tripod mounted gimbal - do you use that as a remote control PT head during the ceremony or is just purely for mounting purposes when not wafting it about ?

 

The camper as an all round business proposition, costs me approx 3500 euros less per annum over car + hotels etc with the added bonuses of always on site plus for family/personal use for ‘free’.

That’s my 90 euro cart fully loaded except back pack and 3 cameras on my person, but otherwise every bit of kit I use or might use on a job including 40m extension and 500wh power bank (both of which were in the bottom of the cart).

All lighting is mains, power bank or battery.

The gimbal is indeed mounted on a tripod for ceremony, speeches, entrances, exits etc, but on a quick release plate so can go into floaty mode within 2-3 seconds or go onto it’s mini tripod base also with QR plate.

It’s all about having the most minimal kit I can get away with, but without too much compromise and being able to use anything as quickly as possible and as fuss free as poss.

That is why my next ‘job’ is getting the number of bodies down from 4 to 3 or ideally 2 and currently only adapted Tamron/Nikon can do 2…

The cart:

2 hours ago, D Verco said:

That's mental. I've never heard of anyone doing that before. 

Not many and still not come across anyone who does it to the extent that I do which is no different to having a photographer and a videographer, but others must exist…?

It took 6 years of trial and error as in kit and execution and since that time, it’s been more about refining the process (which will be an ever ongoing thing) than having to work out how to do it.

It’s not that complicated but like juggling, takes a lot of practice to get 7 or 8 balls up in the air and keeping them up in the air, but like anything; juggling, flying a helicopter or simply just being able to do something well, it’s about will, determination and practice. A lot of practice!

7 hours ago, Framed_By_Dan said:

Trouble is minimum ISO of 640 and I don't have time to use ND on run and gun shoots such as weddings.

How so? I shoot hybrid all day long as a one man band with VND’s.

You just need a flip out hinged filter adapter and separate in camera settings for stills and video.

There’s more to it and that, but using it not using a VND can be a 1 second process.

22 minutes ago, ac6000cw said:

...and I guess this is one of the Chinese knock-offs of it - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UURIG-R-77-77mm-Rapid-Filter-System-Lens-Filter-Metal-I2Z8/285223741334

Yup.

Anything like this is too easy to replicate!

I have a 24-105 f4 and it’s too slow.

f2.8 is my minimum on any lens otherwise I am getting into another layer of editing with noise reduction etc…

6 hours ago, D Verco said:

Are you doing stills and video at the same time?

Yes. Always. Mostly flipping between the two constantly but at times, need to do both at the same time which means video unit on sticks plus shooting stills with a second unit, or shooting 8k video with just one unit and pulling stills.

I do not have an 8k camera so have to do the at minimum, 2 camera approach.

6 hours ago, hojomo said:

I'd guess in the foreseeable future Nikon will allow more Sigma lenses for Z, and I think Sigma is likely to make something to compete with the Tamron 35-150, available on L & E as well of course.

The latter especially is something I am hoping for…

Alter or something they were called?