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Crap, I knew I forgot something! Thanks for the reminder!

His family.

I think the missing part that no-one seems to mention is how they're used. Pros will choose which filter, at which strength, if any, is used for each camera angle and each shot. It will be tailored to the exact contents of that composition, including the actor/actress who is in the shot. It was common back in the day for big-name actresses to include a clause in their contract that all shots that they appear in must have a particular filter used. Amateurs buy one, slap it on their lens, and never take it off. There's a reason that amateur footage looks amateurish. Probably the biggest giveaway is razor sharp footage with diffusion on it.

its almost as if everything other than the camera is more important than the camera itself… (which makes this 90% of this forum’s topics basically entirely pointless)

Just to be clear, as long as you hold the button pushed in, the footage will be in slow motion, when you release it, it goes back to regular motion. Such a cool feature that no other camera has. Here's a video I shot with the camera many moons ago. This video just demonstrates the camera in slow motion, not while using the push to slow function. Looking back, I'd probably make the grade a touch less brown, but it was kind of a cold, brown day...

So, I've been racking my brain trying to choose between taking my Panasonic S5ii and a couple of lenses or a combination kit of my trusty camcorder (Panasonic VX-981) and M43 camera (Panasonic GX800). I'll be going to the Seattle, WA area. I've decided to take the latter due to these primary reasons: Weight If I take just the Panasonic S5ii with the kit 20-60 lens and nothing else, it comes to 1090g. However, I'll need my ND filters, a strap, an extra battery, and cables, bringing the total to about 1500g. The GX800 with the kit lens is 450g (including an extra battery), and the VX-981 is roughly 500g (including an extra battery and accessories). This leaves room for an audio recorder and my Olympus 17mm f/1.8 for low-light photos. Concerns about theft Seattle is usually a very safe place. Still, the unexpected can happen. I spent roughly $2000 on the S5ii, whereas the GX800, VX981, and lenses were only $1000 (and used). Convenience for photos Hand anyone a camcorder, and they'll know what to do with it. The flip-up screen on the GX800 is perfect for selfies with family. Greater depth of field I want to see the environment much more than familiar sights from home. Not having a big-sensor camera means I need to be more careful about framing, but I get to see everything there. Versatility with more equivalent focal lengths The kit lens on the GX800 is a 12-32mm (24-64mm equivalent), and I also have a 0.79x wide-angle adapter for video that works well. The VX-981 has a 30-630mm integrated lens. The S5ii, even at pixel-to-pixel, won't reach anywhere near that. Enough said. It's for fun, not work (who cares so much about quality, yeah, "only" 4K) Without a doubt, the S5ii blows away the other combo in every way in terms of image quality from 20-60mm. I even reckon the proxy files are better than the 4K files on the VX-981, but somehow, I have more fun shooting with the VX-981 and the GX800. Maybe it's the challenge of it; I'm not sure, and I don't even understand it myself. Any thoughts? Is this a huge mistake?

I´ve been using my BMPCC again the last couple days. Yesterday I could hardly see anything when I was filming outside under the bright summer sun. But I still managed to grab some beautiful shots. It would be my dream pocket camera with good battery life and screen. That and with 2.5K 60p plus full Hdmi and it would be my dream cinema camera perse. The image quality is just so much fun to work with and so is the challenge of non nonsense no ibis operation. Make it a 3K camera. 3K sounds cool and makes it great to be distinguished from the ordinary 4K crowd. From my experience the camera does not only shut off because off an empty battery but also due to overheating under even mild conditions. A Fairchild Pocket 3K with 60p, good battery life and screen, how cool would that be! What a cool name, Fairchild 3K! 🙂 In my bag this weekend are my Bmpcc with a 25mm and my Panny LX15. I would add the 14mm plus Vari ND.

And in most cases, most of the time, that’s a fact. Unless you absolutely must have 120fps in 8k full frame, then yup, ‘everything else’.

Equipment: GX85 14-140mm F3.5-5.6 12-35mm F2.8 primes: 14/2.5 and 7.5/2 and 17/1.4 and ~50mm F1.4 iPhone <unknown second camera> Setups: Daytime tourist mode GX85 with 14-140mm, and iPhone wide Night tourist mode GX85 with 12-35mm, and 7.5mm F2 Compact / pocket mode GX85 with 14mm Night low-light mode GX85 with 7.5/2 and 17/1.4 and ~50mm F1.4 The unknown second camera is still something I'm thinking about. Options: GH5 Great AF-S and modes. EVF. It's better than the GX85 at lots of things, but not by a great deal. OG BMMCC Much better DR than GX85, which is super-useful for sunsets. Larger. No AF. Slowest to shoot with. OG BMPCC Much better DR than GX85. Compact. Has slow AF. Slow to shoot with. Screen difficult to use in daylight. Now that the kids are grown and moved out it'll be me and the wife travelling, so I'm contemplating adopting a dual-purpose for equipment, shooting for myself but also shooting 'street cinema' videos for public release. The BM cameras would make a much better option for that.

I just like one camera, one lens, no bag, no choices or indecision. I love a fixed lens P&S for this very purpose but they have limitations such as “is that Mt Fuji in the background or an anthill?”

Blasphemy! Don't you want the FF cinematic look? Here's me in NY: Here's me in Seattle: Here's me in LA: Here's me in Texas: (appols for the DOF, I'm saving for the F0.95 version of my lens)

There's something about a camera that doesn't "look serious". People tend not to notice them as much. I figure that the camcorder allows me to look like the old guy who couldn't afford a phone or something.

Very nice shots and great selection! Did you get to edit these into a video? @BTM_Pix Would love to see some motion, but I am also happy with the sneak peak and stills, of course.:) I have been satisfied with the color science and texture rendering of the G6 and G7 in HD. It was a bit tricky to find the secret sauce for grading the G6, which lied in taming the oversaturated tones and a bit of shifting some hues. I imagine the FZ to be a great performer in the color department with some beautiful HD due to its readout mode, downsampling and high bitrates. The LX15 has the same sensor and some beautiful color after grading but only low bit rates in HD. Here is another piece by Harrison Kraft who inspired me to honour my LX15 and made me to really appreciate this camera and to realize what it is capable of.

I was using the 200 mbps HD intra for these which gives the added bonus of extra at the wide end and a lot more reach at the tele end. And the stabilisation is easily good enough to hand hold even at 500-600mm equivalents. The amount of different shot size coverage you can get out of this camera as a consequence is ridiculous.

Like with your GH5 post the other day, almost all cameras made in the last 10 years are capable tools that can produce nice images. It doesn't mean though that you should go out and buy a GH4 in 2024. There are plenty of "quality of life" improvements that have occured since the GH4's release that make it a lot less desirable camera compared to something like the GH5 or S1. We're blessed to be at a point where we could use a 10 year old camera and still get good results if we HAD to, but let's not pretend that the cameras that have come out since aren't significantly better in every way. IBIS alone radically changed the way I film and work.

I read the title and thought your S5ii had been naughty. On my next holiday, I’m taking the camera and buying the lens when I get there. So, I’ll be taking the Sigma Fp and buying the Panasonic 28-200mm lens for the typical used price in Tokyo of around £400. The big draw for the Fp is that this lens is optically stabilised and is an appropriate size for it. It’s not the fastest but that keeps the size down and it’s a great range for travel. The beauty of the Fp is the modular nature so I can take off the EVF to strip it down to go with a couple of the fast compact M mounts I’ve got that I’ll take as well. Incidentally, for anyone interested in this lens and the S9 then Panasonic are bundling them together and the lens then works out at around £400. Like with the Fp, that’s a good package for a full frame roll your own cinecorder.

I would not want to get filmed by a phone and fed into a data munching cloud or phone os. I wouldn´t mind to get filmed by some GH2 afficiandos though. If with a Voigt 17/25mm, anytime, handsdown. And after that some nice nerdy lens talk with my peer.:)

Makes a lot of sense to me! Being out of the house and wanting to be present while taking what we deem as optimal photo and video is tricky. I’ve actually settled upon getting the new iPhone for raw and log, and will pair with my Ricoh Griiix. I’ve seen really wonderful finished products for both. The only other camera would be the Pocket 3. Anything that can’t be easily put in my pocket or a small fanny pack is too much. Interchangeable lenses when traveling or trying to be present or having drinks and not wanting bulk or a chance to misplace or forget something - won’t be considered.

It means someone or something is unrecognised or unsuccessful to the extent that, for example, they could run stark bollock naked down the high street without garnering any attention or interest. So, all about irrelevance rather than immunity for US Presidents.

Last time I went on the same trip, I took my E-M5 iii and a GX880. I also had the kit lenses with a couple of primes. They worked great. My only "problem" was indecision- I would go out not knowing what to take, first world problem for sure. Some are right in saying I could just leave the camcorder at home. I'm going to take it, but I don't use it much, I'll sell it when I get back. I don't think that'll be the case though.

That’s me, but actually it’s considered. For video, because my cameras do not have an OLPF (except the S1H which is being replaced) I find that a 1/8th mist is quite subtle and takes off that digital edge whilst helping reduce or eliminate any moiré. For stills, the 1/8th Bloom Golds just reduce the overall contrast a little and again take off that digital edge and make the resulting files that little bit more ‘filmic’ SOOC. For me, it’s about doing more in camera in order that I have the best/a better and consistent starting point when it comes to editing. Could you spot it? Probably in lower light shots when there are visible light sources such as lamps or strings of lights etc, because there is some inevitable (and wanted) diffusion going on. But only nerds like us would spot it and my clients would simply ‘like the images’ but not be able to technically break down as to why.

It’s easily done when packing for such things.

Nah, you take whatever you want as we all do. Me, P&S at most…but it depends on the trip I guess. I’d like to go to Japan and as I am fairly sure Lumix won’t be inviting me to any camera launches, I’ll have to go at my own expense and won’t get a free camera. For such a trip, I would take something with an interchangeable lens and my perfect combo for that would be an OM-1 with the 12-40mm f2.8 so real world FF equivalent of 24-80. That’s my ideal ‘proper’ travel camera set up.

What are you going to take on holiday this year, Kye?

Sounds sensible to me - small, light, unobtrusive and take 'good enough' video and stills. The same basic reasons I'm about to go out for the day with a pocket-sized ZV-1 instead of my OM-1 (despite the terrible battery life and the annoying user interface).

Glimmer Glass is my personal favorite. I also use the Tiffen Smoque for some interview setups when I have a practical source in the frame

The XA50 I've been messing around with for the past few weeks has brought a new joy to filming that I haven't experienced since I first started shooting with my 5D and an IS lens. The top handle and the hood with its flip switch lens cap makes carrying and shooting a pleasure. With other cams, in between locations, I'd take off my VND filter and then put the camera back into my bag. With the camcorder, it just sits in my lap until I'm ready to shoot again... which is such a quick process... flip open the lcd, flip the lens cap switch, check exposure, record... I can grab shots from standby mode to record in about 3 seconds or so.

Freewell VND 1/8th mist at all times for video. Bloom Gold 1/8th stills.

huge fan, i own a set of formatt hitechs black supermists. shot a whole short on the 1 strength filter.

The FZ also offers downsampled HD besides its cropped 4K. HD resolution is perfect like on the GH5, also offering high bitrates of 100 mbps inter and 200 mbps intra codecs for HD up to 60p. @BTM_Pix Also, no dubious software "helpers", unlike the ipohne. But unlike me and most of us, you know that by first hand.:)

And yet the FZ2000/2500 that is the camera for ticking every single one of these boxes can’t get arrested. Same sensor size as the Super 16 film format that was used in classic BBC travel docs such as Palin’s Around The World In 80 Days but with an optically stabilised zoom with a huge range, internal ND and without the flightcases. Cheaper than the iPhone as well.

Another type of filter that gets used frequently in cinema is ultracon filters. The name suggests that they increase contrast, but in fact it's the reverse. They don't cause halation or soften the image in any way, they just distribute more of the ambient lighting toward the shadows, reducing contrast. They come in a variety of strengths; 1 is subtle; 2 is more noticeable, but they go all the way up to 6 I believe. I have #2 and got it specifically to tame the high contrast of the Sigma 18-35 when shot outdoors, where it can produce very ugly footage. I have an OLPF on my cameras that softens the image a bit already, so I'd rather not soften it further. I found a brief demo of this filter at #1 strength on the Sigma 18-35 here: The only drawback to these filters is that a very bright light source, such as sunlight reflected off water, can wash out the image and make it milky.

Talk about Freudian slips! But it's ok.. we all secretly want the software look.