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Since this forum has taken a strong liking to cinema this past couple of years, I'd think it be useful to point out the gear used in this very popular series. As you probably know, they used a DJI Ronin 4D and a Cooke SP3 32mm to shoot the entire series. That's about US$12,000 in total (not counting storage media). Either way, it's a breakthrough in the film industry that wishes to distance itself from the Arri/Sony duopoly. For the independent film industry this is even more important. Yes, for a mere mortal that's quite a bit of money. But for a film project -- any film project that wishes to be taken seriously -- it's basically peanuts. Arguably, it's a pretty decent looking media product. Only the most ardent film aficionados will notice any difference, if any, from an Arri or Sony film cam. For 99.9% of the rest of the world, it's great quality. I can see the American film-industry boycotting the Chinese DJI to protect their American gear. The wave of new pro and amateur projects filmed with the setup seen in Adolescence will be huge. We are "there".

That is some stability Kye! Various Netflix and other productions should take note; I hate all this super handheld jittery stuff.

I just worked with a "director" on a mil+ budget doc that completely failed at this fundamental. God, what a waste of time. Got paid, but it was soul crushing trying to make an edit out of a pile of crap. Bleh.

First day out shooting in Seoul. Here are some images. These are all frame-grabs, were ETTR, had a look put over them with Resolve FLC plugin, and I adjusted exposure on each (and contrast on the odd one or two) and that's it. I'm sure I will finesse them once I start editing for real, but this is essentially just looking at my dailies. Setup is incredibly easy to use thanks to the huge DR, AF is super-snappy, the 14-140mm zoom gives so much flexibility and I'm finding I'm using the long end a lot more than I thought I would. I'll post some video footage of it later, but I'm also finding that I can hand-hold at 140mm (280mm FF equivalent) and with the OIS + IBIS working together get almost no movement in the frame at all, and with a slight crop in post I'd get locked-off images. At anything below 80mm or 100mm the frame is locked and won't need any stabilisation in post. Incredible results.

Just waiting for the price of this AF 14-24mm f/2.8 beauty... https://www.lksamyang.com/en/product/product-view.php Who else?

It is more a 4.1 version than a 5, but some good refinements: - Mics with integrated wind shields, on my X4 I use the velcro wind muffle but they are quite bad and I lose them often. From the reviews audio in windy conditions seems much improved but who trust reviewers nowadays... - Replaceable lens, I never scratched mine but I got very close a few times. - Finally a quick release mount! - Pure view + larger sensor, curious to test this with MTB as the X4 needs really good light to work, already in daylight in the forest the X4 breaks a part. They now have also an external mic but nobody is speaking about.... unfortunately it does not seems like the DJI Mic 2 and Osmo Pocket 3 that can do 32 float internal in the transmitter while sending good quality to the Pocket 3. Insta360 X4 Bluetooth mic just sucks, not sure something has changed in the X5 and if the new Insta360 Mic Air is a normal Bluetooth Mic then is a big miss.

Yes, the conspiracy theorist in me says they increased the prices for the rest of the world in order to sell cheap to the US market taking into account any tariffs. Based on current pricing including tariffs, stuff still seems to be cheaper in the US? That has been the other option I was considering, but decided it was neither long enough nor fast enough (the Sigma f2.8) and whilst I could live with one or the other, both didn't make sense compared with what I have which is the Tamron 28-75 and 70-180 f2.8's. I don't think I have any option but to wait until these are sub 4k euros either new or used from somewhere like MPB. Paired with the Sigma 28-45mm f1.8 for indoor/low-light scenarios and paired with my Nikon Zf with 40mm f2, I think I will have my perfect set up for stills. Perfect as in I can't realistically expect that 50-150 to be any smaller or lighter because...well, physics.

I think personally that while I can make the 24-70 & 70-200 combination to work for me, a lot of the time something in-between would be useful, as I mentioned before, in portraiture. In the 1980s and 1990s, there were still a lot of lenses with intermediate ranges such as 50-135/3.5, 75-150/3.5, 35-135/3.5-4.5, 35-105/2.8 etc. but somehow these disappeared and standard zooms started at 24 mm and telezooms at 70 mm, 80 mm, or 100 mm. In portraiture a range that is between the two (24-70 and 70-200) would be ideal. I think the reason why 24-70 became the standard "pro" zoom is that when the first digital SLRs came with 1.3x, 1.5x, and 1.6x sensors they needed the standard zoom to have shorter focal lengths, so instead of a 28-105 or 28-80 they would make a 24-70 and 24-105. Of course, then came lenses like the 17-55/2.8 specifically for 1.5x / 1.6x sensors. But anyway the 24-70 range stuck and now some photographers would consider a zoom that starts at 28 mm too limiting even "useless". This I don't agree with, and I'd be happy to have an in-between range zoom such as 50-150 or similar. To me this sounds a very practical lens and not at all weird. However, the f/2.0 maximum aperture does make it a bit big and heavy and I can see the objective is to replace primes for some users. If it becomes popular, perhaps they can make an f/2.8 zoom with a similar range. The f/2.0 makes the lens expensive as well. I notice a 4600 EUR initial price in Finland (incl. 25.5% VAT) vs. $3900 (not including VAT) at B&H. This seems absurd considering the tariff situation, it's like they slapped on the price increase from the tariffs on both regions instead of just where it is actually applied. I think it's completely unrealistic to expect most European customers to even consider this lens at a 4600 EUR price point. I would expect the price to fall rather quickly if Sony wants to sell these lenses.

To me this is the only advantage I see with the introduction of the 2025 model and is not little, even though the room to improve in future versions with a larger sensor size when will come... Brandon Li's entry: And this is the other reviewer I'd rather recommend for everything 360º related (which brings some other 10-bit contender to the equation and is a 2024 model instead) -- apples to oranges but not exactly a minor upgrade which each year devices actually are, driving your pocket just lighter. Buy wise/informed.

It’s unfortunate that AI has such a weird issue generating hands as it would be ideal for the camera to also create something that looked more natural when it is doing the selfie stick removal. Aa it stands everyone is walking round in these videos looking like a 1970s Action Man with the gripping hands. Its an impressive camera though all the same.

Well I am one of those, but not the other...

Chinese competition is getting serious so Japanese are trying to take advantage of their only weakness: fast, unconventional and complicated zooms. Its more about showing six pack muscles of expertise. The results are expensive niche lenses that you have to be rich rat in recession economy to buy, and gym rat to hold for more than 30 minutes. Of course "competition is good", but I'm afraid they run out of weird ideas in the not too distant future.

Apparently one of those people on the fence was me? So far, I like it. Views from the 8K mode might be enough to use as quick inserts on a 4K timeline without being overly jarring. The 71 megapixel photo mode is really pretty good too. I shot the thing below into the sunset. The tree branches near the setting sun don't look awful and there's some detail on my face. I just need to remember to hold the selfie stick more casually so the hand is less noticeably funky after their software subtracts it out. The image SOOC (as below) isn't too bad. It'd probably only be a few minor tweaks in curves to get the look as I'd like it. Pureview HDR seems to introduce artifacts on things that are moving more than a little bit. Like holding the selfie stick at a 45 degree angle in front of myself, my feet looked a little weird as I walked. I'm still not sure about using the camera for more than inserts for anything serious, but if I can get over my shame at holding a selfie stick with a little UFO on the end, it could be a pretty great tourist camera.

Hope this week 🙂 I'm thrill to try the Alexa lut.

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Thanks for chiming in. I'll probably grab one in the next two weeks. Got some video and a Bunch of photos today, so i watched some youtube tutorials on resolve and made a slideshow. I used the e-m1 iii with the 24mm sirui anamorphic. Not entirely convinced i did the carpet snake justice with the focus peaking but i reckon i got better as i progressed through the day. There's probably a million things i done wrong. i did watch a youtube on desqueezing and i'm not convinced that going though the clip attributes and changing the ratio from square to anamorphic is the best way to desqueeze footage, something seems a little off to me. I didn't use log just the standard video setting. i didnt do much to the colour apart from clicking on the @ symbol in the colour page. If you have 2.30 or so to waste...

Exactly. I have a second smaller/lighter camera for wider stuff but it's always a choice I have to make otherwise, ie, do I go short (up to 75mm) or go longer but accept I can't go wider than 70mm, which is almost always far too tight. The Tamron 35-150 exists but extends too long when zoomed out and is just a bit too 'geeky' as is it's Samyang sister, so a pretty hard no for me. There's a compromise, there always is and if it's to be a bit of size and weight, so be it. I mean I was looking at the Sigma 105mm f1.4 fairly recently and the Nikon 135mm f1.8 Plena and whilst the latter is a little smaller and lighter but barely faster and FAR less flexible, the former is 300g heavier. And has zero flexibility. OK, it's faster, but that (beyond a point) is not the primary factor for me. A relatively fast: 50/70/85/105/135/150 all in one single lens? I just need to find the funds! I'd have been happy with a 50-150/2.8 had it maxed out at no more than 1kg, but if it was over, I'd suck up that extra weight and have that extra stop.

I think an intermediate range like this would be good for portraits, where a 70-200 might not always be short enough and is a bit too head shot focused, while the 24-70 is a bit short for narrow head shots but otherwise is good. 50-150 mm sounds good, though because of the f/2 aperture, this lens is quite big and heavy. It has no in-lens stabilization so the stabilization is only in the body. I personally understand why manufacturers don't pre-fit their lens feet or cameras with quick-release dovetails as these can be uncomfortable to hold in the hand and there are so many different, incompatible systems. I would prefer something like a 40 mm to 135 mm range with f/2.8 aperture as the images from the f/2 zooms don't appeal to my sense of aesthetics and the focal range would be easier to get a full-body image if needed in a pinch. It would also be smaller and lighter than the 50-150/2.0.

I just borrowed the X4 from a friend and somehow it is so much fun to work with it. Especially the post process when you just tweak some settings and get a super different picture - add some keyframes and the whole thing becomes super dynamic. That being said its strange that you somehow get accustomed to the effect pretty fast. Size and battery life are nice too. For the X5 i am really wondering how it will perform as "normal" camera. 1,26" is bigger than Super 16mm isn't it?

I think I ‘need’ it… More (exclusively actually for me) for stills than video. 2 years ago, I was running around with an S1R + battery grip + Leica 24-90 as my ‘one & done’ stills unit. It had 3 principal faults. 1. Weight; it was 2.8kg in the hands. 2. Using an APSC crop on the 47mp sensor, I could extend the focal length to 135mm with something like an 18mp file but that was not quite long enough for my needs ideally needing something within the 150-200mm range. 3. F4 at the longer ends which is a bit slow for a 90mm lens. Roll forward to 2024 and swapped that rig out for a trio of f2.8 zooms on the Sony A7R5 with the heaviest combo being approx 1.75kg with the 70-180mm, but that lens being a tad long for more general use. Sigma offer their 28-45mm f1.8 which primarily for indoor use would be PERFECT for my needs, but lacks a longer companion such as a 45-90mm f1.8, but even this would not give me the reach I need. Step forward Sony with this constant aperture f2 50-150mm. Does it cover all my focal range needs? No because it starts at 50mm, but covers everything beyond and then some because with the 61mp sensor on my A7R5 and APSC cropping, I can reach 225mm with a 26mp file. Is it big? Yes, but not ridiculously so and it is internal zoom and unless it’s a short extension, I can’t abide long zooming lenses. Is it heavy? Yes, kinda…and more than the 1kg self-imposed limit I would prefer but it covers 50-‘225’mm. At f2. Without extending. Or lens swaps. It would be approx 2.5kg in the hand as a combo with the baseplate I have on the A7R5. Three criticisms: 1. Why white only? Some of us would prefer to be more discrete and maybe they will follow up with a black one or someone like Alphgvard will have a skin soon? 2. No Arca Swiss built into the detachable tripod foot. That’s a bit of an oversight IMO. 3. Price. Despite US trade tarrifs, it’s still more in the UK and EU than the US… At least according to launch prices. So will I be getting one? I think yes, though it may have to wait until next year when they are beginning to appear on the used market, for financial reasons but I don’t think I am going to see a better option than this in my working lifetime. One & Done? Nope, but I have my Nikon Zf with 20-40mm f2.8 for the wider stuff and 40mm f2 for candid when I don’t want to be poking a white canon in peoples faces, plus if I ever decided to hop over fully to Nikon bodies, this new lens will work adapted on say a Z8 no problem.

Picked up a Contax Zeiss 85mm 1.4, my first 85mm, and I cannot believe I have neglected this focal length for so long. Absolutely loving it so far.

Officially announced. If I had an X4, I'm not sure that the new features would convince me to upgrade, but maybe they're enough to convince people who were on the fence to go for it. The leaked info that Emanual added seems right overall. https://www.insta360.com/product/insta360-x5

I have the Ace L, two of them actually, am very happy with them for the price I paid used. Only change I would wish for is drop-in loading instead of having to slide in from the end. Not sure what the differences are with the mkII but the mkI's were one of the best choices for a "cheap" fluid head.

Question for the members. I'm looking at a Sachtler S2170-0001 Ace XL MK II Fluid Head. I know i know, i said no more buying in another thread. However my tripod and its head is proving to be better at photography and less good for panning and tilting in video. Reading some threads on here, Sachtler seem to be the bees knees and pretty much the same thing is said on youtube. Anyone one using the Ace XL MK II Fluid Head ? Kinda looking for some in house confirmation before i do anything rash... I can get the head at a reasonable price at the moment. How long that lasts is anyone's guess. It should fit my tripod which I'd like to continue using until i can save for a better tripod. Thats my thinking anyway. Visiting some waterfalls tomorrow, so that will be interesting.

«seems that Inst360 plans to install a larger 1/1.28-inch camera sensor with up to 133% better light performance» https://www.notebookcheck.net/Insta360-X5-New-leaks-reveal-pricing-specs-and-early-camera-performance-ahead-of-schedule.1002234.0.html