MrSMW

Surprisingly modern sounding name for a Stone Age artist.
I was expecting something more like Og.

It would not surprise me in the least if Mattias packed it all in due to:
A. Having a YouTube channel can be very taxing, especially if trying to do it as a business rather than just for fun as it’s a beast that never stops increasing it’s appetite, plus,
B. It can get so toxic in the comments and most take it too personally and it only takes one or two toxic trolls and it can stress them out so much, it ruins it for them.
Based on a couple of pals and their own YouTube experience…

Not yet, but it won’t be long…
I’ve seen the documentary Terminator and seen where this shit is heading…
They will soon be demanding your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle.
He, She, They and AI.
 

I don't know Gerald outside of what he presented to us, which is to say that I don't know him much at all because we all present what we want people to see online. But with Gerald and other content creators, the algorithms and audience steers you towards what it wants from you. Gerald might naturally just have been someone interested in clinical tests of cameras and not had an interest in being more creative, but I always wondered if part of the reason he (and others in his position) never explored more artistic expression in his videos was the fear that it would be torn to shreds.
Sitting in the middle of four walls with a tripod, camera and teleprompter is safe. Creating something MORE and sharing it with folks makes you vulnerable, especially if you've already established yourself in a niche. "The nerdy long form camera review guy that you all put so much faith into fell on his face when trying to actually create something!" Just putting yourself out there at all you open yourself up to so much unkindness, let alone when you actually share something that is deeply personal and vulnerable. 

As I've gotten older, and experienced how shitty people can make you feel for just engaging in your passion, I've become more empathetic and understanding. I think it's important that while being critical we still remember these folks are human. 

I’m waiting for retired Gerald’s review before commenting.

For anyone that is interested anyway…
The new Sigma AF cine lens pairing of 18-45mm T2 and the longer 28-105mm T3.
These could be and are indeed of great interest to a run & gun hybrid shooter like me.
The wider lens is internal zoom but the longer lens is not but having said that, it doesn’t extend much at all.
Moderately chonky but nothing too outrageous.
Probably going to replace 4 primes with this duo in 2027 for my pair of S1RII’s.
Too much expense for me this year as I’m running a much tighter ship in ‘26 with my only purchases being a new drone (the old one flies too wonky after various err, ‘incidents’) and new wireless audio gear after a few issues with RODE WG2.
But anyway, these new Sigmas look the business and I’d like to see some real world AF as the principal example they gave in their promo video is of a woman slowly wobbling towards the camera…on a tripod…in a studio…and that is not ‘real world’!
Anyone else interested?

Perfectly legitimate reason to be honest.

Less with the YouTube spam dude.

Do I need to use a VPN and a private tab to Google ‘Hardcore Henry’?

Do I need to use a VPN and a private tab to Google ‘Hardcore Henry’?

That’s a lot of the (my) reason for sure and because you need to often be right up in people’s grills, and then there is the distortion and massive hands…
18mm on full-frame is the widest I have and go for all of these reasons plus, I just don’t like the look. Never have.
But when used for ‘artistic purposes’, ie, ‘intent’ that is a whole other thing.

Do I need to use a VPN and a private tab to Google ‘Hardcore Henry’?

It’s only a matter of time before some big movie is shot exclusively on a Go Pro or DJI…

That’s about the sum of it John.
Except I’d swap out the word ‘reassure’ for ‘excite’.
To quote a famous movie line, “build it and they will come”.
In the case of Panasonic Lumix, build it and they will come, but of as much importance, build it and they will stay. But if they already buggered off elsewhere because instead of telling them something they wanted to hear, you said nothing and 🤷‍♂️

Yes, I don’t get it either.
You are in the full-frame LUMIX ecosystem and are considering a new camera and on your interest list is the latest options from Nikon and from Sony. You are increasingly tempted to jump ship even though it’s a big move.
Which one of the below options do you wish to hear?
A: We are working on a new flagship camera that will be launched in the Summer.
B: Expanded horizons, creative direction, global market strategies, Operation Epic Bullshit, waffle waffle waffle, blah di blah di blah.
I didn’t watch it and haven’t read a single word of it but 100% sure it wasn’t A:
A perfect example of how not to retain customers.
There is a saying which applies to all business and that is no matter the size, small, medium or large/international, just because you are in business, doesn’t mean you are any good at business.
Some companies are more clueless than others…

Yes, I don’t get it either.
You are in the full-frame LUMIX ecosystem and are considering a new camera and on your interest list is the latest options from Nikon and from Sony. You are increasingly tempted to jump ship even though it’s a big move.
Which one of the below options do you wish to hear?
A: We are working on a new flagship camera that will be launched in the Summer.
B: Expanded horizons, creative direction, global market strategies, Operation Epic Bullshit, waffle waffle waffle, blah di blah di blah.
I didn’t watch it and haven’t read a single word of it but 100% sure it wasn’t A:
A perfect example of how not to retain customers.
There is a saying which applies to all business and that is no matter the size, small, medium or large/international, just because you are in business, doesn’t mean you are any good at business.
Some companies are more clueless than others…

Yes.
This to me is just a somewhat expensive, limited use, vloggers device that has zero serious use case for my needs.
I already have 2x Sennheisers that fill this role at €150 for the pair of them.
 

Looked at and decided very quickly it isn’t for me, but good to see LUMIX making stuff they at least think folks want.
What they really want however is an S1H mk II in an FX3 style body with the screen mech from the S1II and the screen from the ZR.
Then they will truly win the crowd and strut like gods of low-mid film-making.

I’m not ‘waiting’ for it as such, but based on my S9 experience, it could be something pretty special.
If they get it right.
If they even make one…
I have gone backwards and forwards over what to do with my S9 that has been at times both A cam and B cam but due to me picking up a pair of S1RII’s mid last year, plus certain limitations of the S9 (mainly build), I was going to let it go…
But then too many times I have let stuff go and regretted it so I have repurposed it giving it an XLCS cage, super-lightweight tripod and the dedicated 2 lenses to it, the 18mm or 85mm f1.8.
I am hoping they do an S9II with a bigger screen à la ZR but with the S1I/R/E tilt option. And make it a bit more robust but spec wise, it’s already peak camera for my needs.
So @gethin maybe look at an S9 because straight out of the box, it’s very high spec and really it’s only the body that is a bit weak, but beef it up with a cage and it’s 💪
And used, pretty cheap!

I saw this one the other day and it didn't tell me anything I did not already believe which was/is: Nikon wins on body & screen (albeit, I wish it tilted!) but the LUMIX on real world use. 
For my specific needs anyway.
Based on his footage, the LUMIX footage looked better than the Nikon which looked a bit yellow/green (like older Sony stuff from a few gens back!) and side by side, a magenta tint was (only) then noticeable with the LUMIX, but the Nikon turned horrendous.
YouTube compression and all that...
Nikon wins (easily) on lenses taking into consideration adapted E Mount glass, but there is just enough in L Mount for my needs in 2026...which was not the case in 2024.
The Nikon is very competitively priced.
Bottom line for me is I would not trade my S1RII/S5II/S9 combo for any other currently available option as things stand.

I saw this one the other day and it didn't tell me anything I did not already believe which was/is: Nikon wins on body & screen (albeit, I wish it tilted!) but the LUMIX on real world use. 
For my specific needs anyway.
Based on his footage, the LUMIX footage looked better than the Nikon which looked a bit yellow/green (like older Sony stuff from a few gens back!) and side by side, a magenta tint was (only) then noticeable with the LUMIX, but the Nikon turned horrendous.
YouTube compression and all that...
Nikon wins (easily) on lenses taking into consideration adapted E Mount glass, but there is just enough in L Mount for my needs in 2026...which was not the case in 2024.
The Nikon is very competitively priced.
Bottom line for me is I would not trade my S1RII/S5II/S9 combo for any other currently available option as things stand.

I would have loved to have stuck either the S1H for both my video and stills work but re. the former, if only they had upgraded it with firmware to the new in camera LUT options, otherwise it was 'peak camera' for me.
OK, maybe PDAF also, but obvs not available as a firmware option...which is why for me, the S1RII is my 'S1H'!!
Please though can we have an FX3 style body with fully articulated Nikon ZR sized screen. I have no actual 'need' for this but do 'want' it and would buy it.

The rumour mill suggests both of these might indeed be coming this April. There have been smoke signals over the Dolomite mountains…
 

There is indeed a wealth of super high quality material, instantly accessible and either for free or with very reasonably priced subscriptions.
And every subject whether it be something historical, classic cars, wood turning, whatever floats your boat, is available.
But it is probably less than 5% of the material and channels out there which are just dross and soapboxes for talentless hustlers.
And now, increasing AI slop.
We just have to be more selective as consumers.

There is indeed a wealth of super high quality material, instantly accessible and either for free or with very reasonably priced subscriptions.
And every subject whether it be something historical, classic cars, wood turning, whatever floats your boat, is available.
But it is probably less than 5% of the material and channels out there which are just dross and soapboxes for talentless hustlers.
And now, increasing AI slop.
We just have to be more selective as consumers.