MrSMW

Speaking of weight, one of the principle reasons I am shifting some of my kit, - my main unit clocks in at just over 2.8kg 🤪
My targets now are 2 units 1-1.5kg each.
I don’t mind a bit of chunk and heft, but anything over 2.5kg…as just one of 3 units is a bit much on 12+ hour shoots!

I really like this pairing and whether one body and switching lenses, or a matched pair, if I was shooting 4/3rds video, stills or hybrid, those full frame focal lengths of 20-50 (indoors in my world) and 50-100 (out) are near perfect.
The only thing that bothers me is the size and weight that isn’t quite in keeping with the 4/3rds approach, but then compared with equivalent (that don’t exist!) full frame zooms, they are hardly tanks.
I prefer primes in principle but fast zooms are just more convenient more of the time.
 

I really like this pairing and whether one body and switching lenses, or a matched pair, if I was shooting 4/3rds video, stills or hybrid, those full frame focal lengths of 20-50 (indoors in my world) and 50-100 (out) are near perfect.
The only thing that bothers me is the size and weight that isn’t quite in keeping with the 4/3rds approach, but then compared with equivalent (that don’t exist!) full frame zooms, they are hardly tanks.
I prefer primes in principle but fast zooms are just more convenient more of the time.
 

Indeed. I work with 3-4 cameras, 2 of which can be static any time, 2 lights, 6 audio recording devices, shooting video and stills 100% (or as close to as makes no difference) all day long.
But only because of 3 essential ingredients.
1. Practice practice practice, starting simply and building up over time, adding and eliminating elements that work or do not.
2. Having a game plan in advance based on an understanding of what is going to happen and when etc. Advance knowledge is key.
3. Determination/hard work.
4. Bonus element, being organised and having a system.
My environment is weddings and at one level they are ‘all the same’ but at another, they are all different and people do random stuff. But it’s rare for there to be enough random stuff to make a difference.
It’s not rocket science and there are limits so it’s a case of knowing those limits and working up to what is possible but without it totally frying your brain.
It’s more weird for me if I am doing just video or just photo and the latter feels like I am doing just 20-25% compared with both and the kit level is tiny by comparison.
My brother by comparison gave up working in the video industry because he couldn’t work alone or make more than solo shooting viable. 
We must have different genes!

Indeed. I work with 3-4 cameras, 2 of which can be static any time, 2 lights, 6 audio recording devices, shooting video and stills 100% (or as close to as makes no difference) all day long.
But only because of 3 essential ingredients.
1. Practice practice practice, starting simply and building up over time, adding and eliminating elements that work or do not.
2. Having a game plan in advance based on an understanding of what is going to happen and when etc. Advance knowledge is key.
3. Determination/hard work.
4. Bonus element, being organised and having a system.
My environment is weddings and at one level they are ‘all the same’ but at another, they are all different and people do random stuff. But it’s rare for there to be enough random stuff to make a difference.
It’s not rocket science and there are limits so it’s a case of knowing those limits and working up to what is possible but without it totally frying your brain.
It’s more weird for me if I am doing just video or just photo and the latter feels like I am doing just 20-25% compared with both and the kit level is tiny by comparison.
My brother by comparison gave up working in the video industry because he couldn’t work alone or make more than solo shooting viable. 
We must have different genes!

Indeed. I work with 3-4 cameras, 2 of which can be static any time, 2 lights, 6 audio recording devices, shooting video and stills 100% (or as close to as makes no difference) all day long.
But only because of 3 essential ingredients.
1. Practice practice practice, starting simply and building up over time, adding and eliminating elements that work or do not.
2. Having a game plan in advance based on an understanding of what is going to happen and when etc. Advance knowledge is key.
3. Determination/hard work.
4. Bonus element, being organised and having a system.
My environment is weddings and at one level they are ‘all the same’ but at another, they are all different and people do random stuff. But it’s rare for there to be enough random stuff to make a difference.
It’s not rocket science and there are limits so it’s a case of knowing those limits and working up to what is possible but without it totally frying your brain.
It’s more weird for me if I am doing just video or just photo and the latter feels like I am doing just 20-25% compared with both and the kit level is tiny by comparison.
My brother by comparison gave up working in the video industry because he couldn’t work alone or make more than solo shooting viable. 
We must have different genes!

Well as I think it was Kye who mentioned above, it’s at least partially about before hitting the sensor so it makes sense that if the potentially offended subject is softened or diffused at the lens stage…
At least as I understand it but as above, I use a 1/8th mist and I think it helps in the is regard, but not the principal reason I use one which is more about taking off that digital edge and making both video and stills more ‘filmic’ at the point of capture.
That’s my theory anyway and I’m sticking with it!

It’s less obvious in B&W otherwise immediately began contemplating an alternative camera.
It is quite rare to be fair but this particularly shiny weave of fabric was just uber-prone to it.
I do prefer cameras with an OLPF if only for those scenarios but also use a 1/8th mist, partly to reduce the sharpness and the digital look, but also because it might help with any moiré in the first place?
I’ve never seen moiré on any S5ii footage using a 1/8th so coincidence or because of?

Being serious, it was quite a big issue with the S5 for me, especially with stills because if the camera captured it, then it was game over.
I had one wedding where the groom and all his men, their jackets…all day long… 🙈
Not really tested it with the S5ii as I moved the S1H into the photo role and now with the Nikon Zf, that very rare thing these days, an OLPF as standard. Yay.

Being serious, it was quite a big issue with the S5 for me, especially with stills because if the camera captured it, then it was game over.
I had one wedding where the groom and all his men, their jackets…all day long… 🙈
Not really tested it with the S5ii as I moved the S1H into the photo role and now with the Nikon Zf, that very rare thing these days, an OLPF as standard. Yay.

The solution re. moiré is to go back in time and eradicate The French as they invented it.
You can tell by the é.

The solution re. moiré is to go back in time and eradicate The French as they invented it.
You can tell by the é.

What about a used OM-1?
I had one in for test and loved the size, weight, handling, build…everything really other than that it was 4/3rds.
Nothing against 4/3rds per se but for my work, I think it would have niggled at the back of my mind continually.
If I did not have the needs I have, hands down easily I’d pick the OM-1 over anything else. Even the G9ii. 

I really have no plans for 2024, this year has been a steady stream of a wide variety of jobs, possibly one of my busiest yet as repeat customers keep repeating and new customers keep showing up. 
As far as gear goes, I never thought I would like a crop sensor so much but every camera that I own other than the R7 is gathering dust right now. I would say 80% of the jobs this year were hybrid photo video jobs and nothing in my kit is better at that than the R7. Social media is really prioritizing video these days and my setup is perfect for social media content as well as editorial and some light commercial work.
I still love the C70 but its useless for hybrid jobs and so is the R5. I did pick up two Tascam DR-10L Pros for 32 bit float audio recording and a new tripod with a Sachtler head because I shot a lot of dual camera projects and needed a better video head for tracking the talent but that's it.
So for next year I plan on no new kit whatsoever and really just keep focusing on keeping my current customers happy while occasionally taking on new work where it makes sense. 

Many small cheap LED lights have built in options like this.
I use it all the time shooting dancing pictures and video at weddings.
There are single colour flashing options, multi colour, lightning effects, emergency services, fire…
I’d buy 2 and have one set to lightning flashing one angle and the other set to a colour of your choice flashing from another angle.
The randomness of the pair should achieve what you are looking for?

I’d ignore the 300 euro difference (pretend it does not exist or they were the same price) and then decide which suited my needs best.
If I had any of the f1.2 or 1.7 lenses, probably the G9.
If I shot an equal amount of stills and both stills and video in low light, the S5.

Hello 👋 

Hello 👋 

In a study by Me et al, earlier this evening, my conclusion is that some folks over-analyse some things and as a result, spout BS.
I on the other hand, had an enjoyable walk/photoshoot this afternoon that neither made me feel ‘warm’ or ‘cold’ or ‘fuzzy nostalgic’, with the side benefit of some exercise, fresh air and Vitamin D.
Which is probably more than some sad fcuker got bashing his keyboard in his parents spare bedroom.
I did however have Pet Shop Boys greatest hits on Spotify earlier and wallowed in a bit of late 80’s / early 90’s musical nostalgia 😉

Full circle achieved...

Starting 36 years ago, I spent 5 years shooting and in the dark room with the camera on the left and then after a 10 year break from the industry, returned to it shooting weddings with one camera loaded with colour and the other, B&W.
How far have we come now that it can do both, without ever having to load or change a roll of film and the cost of doing the equivalent, absolutely nothing. And at a flick of a switch, 4k video with up to 8 stops of IBIS.
Other than a quick set up and play, not had a chance to properly put it through it's paces yet but it's got some mojo...

It's literally all the same, the only reason the software looks different is that in video there are things you want to do across multiple images, e.g. stabilisation.
You can colour grade video in Photoshop (I've done it, it literally exports a video file) and you can edit still images in Resolve.  
Every operation to an image that is done between the RAW file and the final deliverable is just math.

Full circle achieved...

Starting 36 years ago, I spent 5 years shooting and in the dark room with the camera on the left and then after a 10 year break from the industry, returned to it shooting weddings with one camera loaded with colour and the other, B&W.
How far have we come now that it can do both, without ever having to load or change a roll of film and the cost of doing the equivalent, absolutely nothing. And at a flick of a switch, 4k video with up to 8 stops of IBIS.
Other than a quick set up and play, not had a chance to properly put it through it's paces yet but it's got some mojo...

If was able to nail exposure and white balance in every shot I wouldn't need any tweaking other than contrast.
But I don't think anyone expects there to be a magic transform that doesn't require some small bit of work. We also want to leave ourselves a bit of flexibility in deferring some decisions until post.

@OleB I've just started watching your series on the Sigma FP and it's really great what you have done and shared so big thumbs up from me.
I'm almost tempted with the FP (or L) but just one or two, 'too many' little quirks and issues that I can't quite get around for my needs.
Love the form factor with the Smallrig cage with wooden grip...which is as much as I'd want to rig it out and I know there is an aftermarket tilt option, but then I compare it to the S5ii and for my needs, sadly the Lumix 'wins'.
Sadly, because I'd switch to...or rather, would already be using the FP (or L).
Your series is still interesting however so thanks for that.

Which reminds me... 😘