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I had a friend who loved engineering and the possibility of things... he'd always be talking about the "potential" of things. I am the opposite, I want potential that is realised. Partly by design, and partly by coincidence, all my cameras have been bought through necessity - the necessity of getting the results I wanted in the conditions that I shoot in. My first camera was a disposable film camera I bought on a trip once, and when some friends asked for copies of several of the shots, I realised I wasn't completely terrible at it. My second camera was a $100 P&S digital camera I bought for my first overseas trip. I knew I would take a lot of photos and so bought that as it would be cheaper than disposable film cameras. ie, the upgrade was based on the situation and previous results. I took lots of great photos with that, and after taking about 30,000 stills all up before I switched to video, a few from it are still in my top 40. But it didn't go wide enough for WOW shots, and sucked in low light. I realised I needed to learn how to stitch images together for the wides, but for low-light I needed a fast lens. My third camera was the GF3, which shot RAW and came with the kit lens and the 14mm f2.5 which helped greatly in low light, and was *just* pocketable. I took it through Europe and the US and Dubai and on full-auto took some spectacular shots, but the colours just didn't pop the way that full-frame cameras do. My fourth camera was going to be a Nikon APSC camera, but ended up being the Canon 700D because my dad had a previous model and gifted me the two kit lenses which he no longer used. This camera was great to use and took wonderful pictures that had the nice canon colours and was much closer to the creaminess of the FF cameras I was chasing. Then came video. Video from the 700D was spectacularly soft, which I realised was not due to the sensor or lenses, and so I learned about scaling and compression and bitrates. Being a well-read stills photographer, I knew two things - you needed Canon colours, and you needed images to be SHARP. They had to CUT YOUR EYES. So, image stabilisation, 4K, Canon colours, and HIGH BITRATES were all requirements, So the XC10 became camera number 5. It was a dream to shoot with, but I realised I didn't love the images. At the time I found the deep DOF to not be to my liking, and I found the colours to be difficult to work with when you treat it like a video camera and put it on auto-everything. I also found the images to be very soft, this is because I was shooting with too little light and it was doing heaps of NR, or too much light and because it couldn't do fast shutter speeds like a hybrid, it would close the aperture down well into diffraction territory. I shortlisted the A73 and the GH5. The A73 had poor codecs and the GH5 had unreliable AF. So I challenged myself and I tried Magic Lantern and the Sigma 18-35, which had the shallow DoF I was chasing, but considering that the setup didn't have any image stabilisation and was terrible in low-light, I knew I needed buy something else. What I did learn though, was that I could manually focus ok. Camera #6 was the GH5. The 10-bit files were night and day nicer to grade than the XC10, and the footage reminded me of watching a professional colourist play with cinema camera footage, it felt the same. I shot bunch of trips on the GH5 and it's still my main camera. Camera #7 was the Sony X3000 - the 4K upgrade to my GoPro Hero 3, which was letting the side down. When travelling I wanted a second camera with a wide angle for POV shots and quick shooting when on the move. I found that I would arrive somewhere, often having driven, and in the process of getting out of the vehicle, wrangling kids if they were with us, getting tickets and getting into a venue, I wouldn't take out my camera until I was inside wherever we were going to see. This means no establishing shots. The X3000 is the shot-getter that I can quickly use to get the transition sequences that glue an edit together. The challenge with the GH5 trying to get great colour. It's good, but not great. But, with a good enough capture, which I believe the GH5 is, any look is a few adjustments away. So I bought the BMMCC for testing purposes (#8). It has spectacular colour, and was affordable. I started filming side-by-side tests with the BMMCC and GH5 and bought a colour checker. Learning to colour grade, and colour grade the GH5 in particular, is an upgrade in retrospective - it upgrades all your previous footage, not just the stuff you're yet to shoot. Around this time, COVID happened and the biggest year of travel yet was gradually cancelled. I started my Go Shoot project, which was about shooting trips around the place, just to keep shooting, and to learn more. It resulted in me butchering my GoPro Hero 3 trying to fit a D-mount lens to it for a vintage look, and then buying the SJ4000 and fitting it with M12 lenses (camera #9). I shot videos on the GF3 again. I loved the look of the BMMCC, but it was too big. Camera #10 was the OG BMPCC, which was meant to be my Go Shoot camera. The form factor was great and I shot a few outings, but it was too slow to work with, and worse, the screen is black when I wear my sunglasses, which in Australia are not optional, so it's a PITA. Camera #11 is the GX85. It has IBIS, shoots 100Mbps 4K, is pocketable with the right lens, and can take vintage lenses. Plus, it's small and makes me look like a happy snapper and nothing more. Every purchase was earned, by studying what happened before, how it went, what I was shooting next, what situations that would be in, and then making my next move. I've shot dozens of trips, totalling hundreds of days, and maybe crossed over to four-figures in terms of locations. More if you count the tests I do, and shooting my kids sports events, which is the other main use for my setups. Lenses is a story for another day, but I could tell a similar story about using what I had 'in battle' before buying new things. My underlying principle is work out what is needed, try and bridge the gap with skill and by putting in the work, and only then, if nothing else works, buy the solution. It's not for everyone, but it works for me.

Good to hear back from you, and i kinda hate you 😉 Do you know what i have spent on lenses.... Its important to dabble, no matter what the interest is . I cant throw myself in at the deep end either anymore, i lack the enthusiasm. I like to chip away at the edges these days, learn one thing, cement that away, then proceed to the next. I dont envy you, trying to move that fd lens on. It will probably take time too find the right buyer.

I don´t know. I usually look for comparision charts of the models, comparing one to the other. 1070 outperforms the rx580 by a significant margin. I would go with a 1070 or 1660.

@kye Exactely, to the point! I love the image quality from the BMMCC the best. I enjoy the promise of the F3 which is still untested. I dont consider my kitchen window a test of image quality.:) I think I enjoy the thought of possibility of testing and using all this gear and the thrill to buy them for cheap. Maybe we could start a thread with the best cam deals we made the last couple years. BMMCC will be for my mini anamorphic set up and lushiest colors. F3 for the hunt for the magic underdog camera, the baby Alexa. FS700 for the ease of use and external Prores 4K60p with a speedbooster. In the end it is easy to gather gear over the years like i have in the last two and half years. So I asked the two questions in one topic. I think it makes sense to talk and write about the oddities and akward habbits of cinematography lovers and camera dreamers. I filmed two shorts this year, 7days all together, first one with the GH5 only, second one mixing a rented A-Cam C300II with a rented GH5 as B-Cam and my S1 as specialty Cam. With own equipment I always realize, I am missing rigging parts, reliable battery solutions, monitoring, etc. Why holding on to equpment which I am not using? Hard to tell. But that is why I imply in the title of the thread what I am, a dummie. The Varicam question stands in relation to that but also for itself in relation to image qualiity and all the other important attributes. In the end I hope to have shared some questions of interest. The answers from you guys already were very satisfying and profound. BMMCC and C300II grade the easiest from my experience. For the GH5 I have serveral Power grades in Resolve which work well for me. But S1 only really excells to me in lit sets or under low light conditions. I have not recognized any artefacts from the S1! GH5 though turns super mushy in super lowlight. I find the S1 harder to grade under natural lighting condtions than the GH5. So the prospect of a Varicam would be, dynamic range and color response like my BMMCC, lowlight exellence and all the goodies of ergos and rigging, if bougth in a complete set. To buy a Varicam has only become a vague option to me, because I found a rigged out package, which is ready to film, with viewfinder, handles, shoulder pad and so. The price was very low for what this camera is. But seller raised the price again. So it´s out of my reach.

This thread started with a question - buy a Varicam or use your BMMCC. @PannySVHS - that one is easy... just use your BMMCC. Then you elaborate about all the lovely equipment you have that sits unused, which (I think) negates the original question, and proposes a new one. By saying you own lots of gear, don't use it, and still want more, you're saying that you attribute some value to simply owning equipment, even if you don't use it. This means you are also a collector, rather than exclusively a cinematographer. This is a very different mindset, and it's a different kind of value. While one person thinks that owning every piece of tableware from some brand is a worthwhile goal, the next person thinks of it as tacky and a waste of time and money. The value is in the eye of the beholder and only you can answer the Varicam question for yourself. Your question mixes the two however. It seems you derive value from buying equipment that performs well, even if you don't use it, so that's also something for you to evaluate. In terms of my thoughts about camera stuff: Almost any camera can look great, but the better the camera and the better the cinematographer, the easier it is to get it looking great The worse the camera the less latitude it will give you in the grade... bad cameras won't have enough latitude in the image to even point them at anything difficult, good cameras will have enough latitude to point them at difficult scenes or to point them at normal scenes and have a bit of wiggle room, and great cameras give you lots of room to move even in difficult situations @TomTheDP was kind enough to share some S1 files with me and I felt like they had more latitude than the GH5 files, but ultimately they felt the same nearing their limits, and in shots that were quite underexposed I felt like I was arguing with strange colour casts and noise and compression problems in the footage in the same way as I would with underexposed GH5 footage, so the flavour is the same. The S1 and GH5 files I've graded feel awkward and deformed in comparison to grading RAW or Prores from the OG BMPCC or BMMCC, which respond exactly the way you'd expect them to. It's hard to explain but it feels like you've got some setting horribly wrong in Resolve when you work with GH5 or S1 files by comparison. I haven't dealt with BM footage shot as poorly as the GH5/S1 footage I've worked with, but even when both brands are shot well, the BM ones feel fundamentally better TLDR; understand what you're actually trying to achieve, then work out the best way to get there.

Not much for me to say really. Just an old amateur still shooter who rarely dabbles in video now. More interested in what i can get cheap from the charity shop I work at now as a bit of fun. A Canon FD 50 1.8 is a surprisingly sharp little lens. Helios 44-M 6 is a fun little thing too. (along with a Tokina 28 2.8 they all cost me $40 total Australian in the last few weeks....The Helios came with a camera I donated back). Still trying to sell my Canon FD 24 1.4 L (very frustrating because I see them selling now for sometimes over $21000 (Australian) for mint copies while lesser ones go for $6000 and up. Mine is ratty on the outside but good on the inner but because I will not sell world wide, I will probably not get anywhere near that). I am in no hurry to sell it though but would love to get a new AF portrait lens, a mid range zoom and a Laptop PC for it soonish Seasons greeting to all and stay safe!

Speaking of holding colour better at mixed lighting, I found that is true with c300iii than r5. In a recent music video shoot full of rgb light, my r5 looks like purplish while c300 iii look really blue on a blue lighted wall with a top panel light on tungsten colour. I think the r5 sensor got polluted by that top panel light but c300 iii holds on.

Great. That is a great advise! So I remembered right. Awesome!:) I got my second Iscomorphot 8 1.5 coming. I want to couple them with C-mounts taking lenses, that way having a super light RAW camera anamorphic setup with two anamorphic lenses! I am very exited. I think the Iscomorphot is perfect for the S16 sensor size. Coupling the setup with a Tilta Nano, Raw anamorphic with wireless focus- a dream come true.:)

Thanks you, great points! Ergo would be top on my list. Still not using my F3 beause I am shying away from spending money for an EVF. Akward, and the epitome of camera GAS. Buying the camera and not being willing to build and rig a system. I find my S1 harder to grade than GH5 material. I considered myself a person with decent color grading skills. But it took me a few hours to get the hang out of the S1. I had bad experience with IR poluted BM Mini Pro footage. It felt like grading 420 bit from a 5D2 to me! Hard to imagine but true. I don´t see many comparisons with the Lumix cams and EVA. From what I saw, the Varicam holds onto colours better under a variety of shooting conditions than the EVA. EVA coming close ore even equalling the image from the Varicam under normal lighting conditions, Lumix cameras having a different signature still. S1 potentially coming close with adequate grading. Varicam should trump with its thick codec for heavy grading. @kye Though the 150mbit codec of the S1 is not easy to break, just like the one from the GH5. Kye couldnt break the GH5 10bit Intercodec, which is a good thing of course:) But I imagine color response and tonality would offer more to the eye with the Varicam.

Thank you both for your insightful writings. I am shy of introspective at the moment. So thank you for letting me relate to the important points and thoughts you mentioned, you both! What I can state is that I want to contribute some of my last years findings to this forum and to engage more into discussions and exchange with you guys.

@Beritar Then you might like the 200mbit hack for HD on the G9. You can find it in this thread and let us know about your findings.:) I like the 4k on my GX85. I imagine the GX9 to be about the same. It crops in more than the GX85 does because of having 4MP more in resolution. But it also is the newer sensor from the GX8 and GH5. I imagine the GX9 to be the perfect compact HD camera with its new 100 and 200mbit modes, coming from the hack.

not really, no, its kinda depressing really. I'd rather 2022 hurry up and get here. Lots of things i could do better. Of that there is no doubt. New years resolutions and all, i shall endeavor to do more with what i have. Next year will be more about caring for family and friends, where i can help. Cant save the world, but i can probably help some people who deserve it, in my books anyway. I haven't seen any input from @noone for a while, i hope he's ok. I think i may have, even seen webrunner about again. I wish the rest of this community good health and prosperity, although i'd rather you don't confuse prosperity with wealth. I think 2022 will be a tough year, i hope for the best however i fear for the worst. whether your vacinated or unvaxed does not bother me. Its a deeply personal decision, and for me a religious decision. I worked three days leading up to xmas which left me with some spending money, sadly i couldn't get into cinema as i'm unvaxed and new "laws" took effect that pay day. Its rather ironic that i can work, ern money, yet be unable to spend it. Which incidentally doesn't really bother me. It certainly hurts small business owners as that money stays in my pocket. So in a round about way im richer for their efforts. Now that i have an iphone i have been binge watching stuff on my new amazon prime account. I ummed and arrrd about getting netflix, prime, or one of the others. the deciding factor for me, was i have read the wheel of time novels and i wanted to see the amazon prime adaptions, so far im enjoying them. It certainly beats tv in some regards, not having to endure 6 advertisements every 5 minutes is breathtakingly refreshing. summing up, i hope santa was good to you, happy new year and stay safe as you can.

S35 still gets a lot of use but all the high end stuff in my area gets shot on the LF or maybe a full frame RED. Most high end cinema is the LF as well. The lower end market seems to be obsessed with full frame. I guess BM is targeting the middle of the two ends. Yeah I know they said a full frame camera is too expensive to do. Every other company is doing them though. I guess BM is a smaller company. Of course I can see why the in house design would be too pricey with full frame.