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Hey guys, wanted to share with my short Video. It was recorded with GFX 100ii with lovely fujinon 110mm f2 at dunes of Maspalomas. I uploaded stilgars voice to voice cloner and let him narrate my favorite quotes from Dune series. Edited with Dehancer plugin. Film emulation was Ambrotype (by Anatolee Green). Music is ofcourse hans zimmer from the original first Dune. GFX100ii settings: 5.8k mode 24fps 720mbps 422 FLOG2. (5.8k mode has the wide aspect ratio but uses the full width of the sensor) Unfortunately no open gate 4:3 that would have been awesome. What do you think? did I match the color from Dune? voice cloning gives me creeps.

S9 needs to be priced at 999 or LUMIX might need to call 999. (UK emergency number for non-Brits)

I think the significance of this camera extends far beyond whether you actually want it because it doesn’t tick every box for you. That significance is being able to say to other manufacturers “OK, now why can’t YOU do this for $799?”

Hey Everyone, Please don't forget about my Ogg music packs. These packs enable you to bulk-download all of my music tracks at once. You can download them by genre here: https://soundimage.org/ogg-music-packs-2/ ...Or all of my game music (over 1100 tracks) here: https://soundimage.org/ogg-game-music-mega-pack/ Why Ogg tracks are better than Mp3: -Ogg tracks loop better in game engines. -Ogg tracks use better compression which makes them sound more rich and full than Mp3. As always, these game tracks (and all of my other ones) can also be freely downloaded individually in Mp3 format. Links to those pages are on the right side of the screen on my website. Speaking of which... You'll find this week's brand new Mp3 track on my Puzzle Music 7 page: "CANDY SMASH" https://soundimage.org/puzzle-music-7/ If you have any questions, need help finding anything, or just want to say hi, feel free to reach out anytime. Have a good week! 🙂

They did not ‘force’ me as such, but without any sign of the next/current gen body that I would like for the stills side of my work, ie, a replacement for ideally the S1R or at least the S1H (an underrated stills machine) and at the time, a decent mid zoom that is not a tank, I did go briefly Nikon and then Sony for the lens options, native or adapted. The adapted route did not quite work out for me as I hoped with Nikon as in AF etc worked just fine, but some quirks I could not ultimately tolerate in post for pro work. Hence Sony which was always waiting in the wings with the A7RV. But yes, not a fan of operating 2 systems really as it’s all non-compatible with the lenses and batteries etc. By the end of April, if an S1R or H replacement appears, as would be my preferred choice, I will be back all in with L Mount and regardless of any future moves they make, pretty sure I’d be set until I take early retirement on an already fixed date. If they don’t pop something out in that flavour then it’s a choice of either going all in on Sony or carrying on with 2 systems. Pros and cons for each with the main con being going all in on Sony will cost me approx 3k, but I would have a more compact and single brand system. The bottom line though is I don’t want to change anything unless I either have to or it’s quantifiably worth it in whatever terms I choose to measure such things. There is merit to each of my 3 options. There are other options but the cost would be something I could not justify so as much as I hanker after a Hassie X2D and some tasty XCD primes, without a Lotto win, won’t be happening!

Stunning!

If I'm honest, this Fuji announcement has pissed me off a bit with Panasonic. Frankly, the price and value tread deeply into the core of M43. Having Panasonic basically refuse to make anything and allowing Fuji to own the market says volumes about the current state of Panasonic. Let’s be clear: they’ve come out with ONE value proposition in the past year, and it was for pros (S5II/X). We’ve been begging for a newer M43 camera like the GM5 or GX9, and Panasonic continues to ignore us, despite having an ecosystem for those cameras. To add insult to injury, they come out with an overpriced S9, effectively moving the amateur price point to $1500. Oh, and by the way, we have a new BS 'lens' for you—a manual focus 26mm fixed f/8! What the hell? Now we have Fuji putting the amateur price point back to where it should be—$800. It’s time to lower the price of the S9, announce a new GX9-type camera, or say goodbye to that market.

By 'pro work', I mean more full-time content creator or wedding vid etc, ie gigs where the camera/kit is either unseen or no one cares. But yes, turn up to shoot an ad or something when the norm is an Arri or a Venice etc, yup, might be a tough sell! You also have hit on one of the beauties of small cheap cameras and that is you can have a set of them, each with a prime or different function rather than lens swapping. I did it myself for a few months after shooting an entire season of weddings on the OG X100 with the following year having a pair and shooting one with the wide convertor and the other with the tele so approx 28 and 50 in FF terms as opposed to just 35 the year prior. Actually, it was a year or so later as I did that thinking about it with the S or T model which were quite a bit snappier. For stills work, I would comfortably do the same today with this new Fuji. I choose not to, but I could and that tiny camera approach does have a lot of appeal...just not more than my current Goldilocks approach of 61mp 28-75 and 26mp 42-112 at a turn of a dial. The Sigma 16mm and 56mm f1.4 spring to mind... These lenses are available under 300 used and a pairing such as this at 24 and 85mm f2.1 DOF equivalent, would be excellent and paired with something like the XE4 or X-S20, would easily be my pick over the X100VI. The only thing they don't really have is the leaf shutter and ND, but IMO, swap that for range. There's so many options these days, we're spoiled really!

Indeed, ultimately ending up in my case with the Hassie X2D for stills plus something like the Burano for video 😱 Like so many, I am always looking for that ‘Goldilocks’ camera (and system) that ticks the highest number of my boxes within the range of the 2 most important factors; requirement and cost. So I think you can make direct comparisons between different cameras to a point such as XM5 vs X100 or S9, but my X2D example is probably a bit of a stretch! That’s how I settled in the A7RV. For me it is the ultimate Goldy in that it’s relatively compact and can be used like an X100 on steroids with any number of native or adapted tiny primes, or with some high end glass, against the likes of the 100mp medium format monsters. With something like this new Fuji, it’s highly capable in it’s own right, and can be upgraded with a gimbal, cage and external recorder etc…but then it gets equaled or beaten by others. Unless you want that ability to rig it out for say jobs and then return it to its basic state for personal use. I like kit you can do that with and at this price point, it’s ridiculously good. IBIS would have made it bonkers great!

Last week I tested my nikon ai 50mm from the 70s against a modern Irix 45mm, which is not a particularly cheap lens. At f1.4, the irix is clearly sharper and optically better in every way. But by f4 the only difference is that the irix is warmer, no appreciable difference in sharpness, CA, distortion, etc. A decently made nifty fifty from the 80s can be pretty damn good, if it doesn't need to be super fast!

I feel the release of that as well was just a coincidence in the timing, they should have perhaps more fully separated the release timing? https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-viltrox-28mm-4-5-af-pancake/ oh wow! "Full frame" too Only is available for Sony E Mount, but I guess they'll eventually release an X Mount version? With it being FF on APS-C it should have good corner performance too. Won't have the slight color cast in the corners that this lens has on Sony a7 series cameras.

Or OIS, such as the kit lens that comes with the X-M5 for only an extra $100: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1855426-REG/fujifilm_16900771_x_m5_mirrorless_camera_with.html Very handy wide angle too, starting at 15mm! Yes, that will be Fujifilm's biggest problem. Trying to keep the X-M5 in stock and on the shelves! Everyone who can't get their hands on the out of stock (or too expensive) Fujifilm X100VI is going to get the X-M5 instead.

Yeah man, GX9 was their greatest compact cam... and they abandoned it completey. They definitely have the tech to do a XM5 that is for sure If I hadn't got x100vi I will be really considering this cam, perfect for social

This is so good, I m pretty sure any camera in his hand will turn cinematic.

Pinned topic, keep it going 🙂 The internet how it should be.

Depends on how you define "prosumer", but arguably when we're being given 6.2K @29.97fps in 10-bit (with 12raw output too, and anamorphic support!) then couldn't you say the release of the X-M5 is indeed supporting prosumer shooters? I kinda think it is. I had been thinking if I buy a new camera next year (highly unlikely, but always possible) it would probably be a cheap Sony FX30. But perhaps this Fujifilm X-M5 is worth a look? Especially as it would be priced substantially cheaper than a FX30. Heck, for only a hundred bucks more you even get a handy 15mm to 45mm zoom lens: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1855426-REG/fujifilm_16900771_x_m5_mirrorless_camera_with.html I guess the lack of IBIS and TC would be the biggest two negatives for me. And perhaps the overheating. But.... https://petapixel.com/2024/10/14/fujifilm-x-m5-first-impressions-a-surprisingly-powerful-little-hybrid/ "If you need to record for long periods of time, you can shoot a long-play mode which still has the 1.18x crop but should dramatically extend record limits and avoid overheating. There are two screw mount brackets to allow the attaching of the Fujifilm cooling-fan unit if overheating needs to be more acutely avoided with the intensive record modes." Handy! I feel Panasonic has abandoned a little the MFT market underneath their flagship GH7/G9mk2 We used to have the "Gx series" (G3/G5/G6/G7) that were solid budget options. But the G9 changed that, being a flagship camera. And the G90/G100 just don't cut it in comparison. We need a "Panasonic G7mk2"! Fujifilm's X100 series cameras have been massively popular. This new X-M5 with a pancake lens is the perfect camera for everyone who can't get their hands on an out of stock Fujifilm X100V or X100VI. Or heck, this X-M5 is also perfect for everyone who simply can't afford a X100 series camera! Because a Fujfilm X-M5 with a TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 autofocus lens is still a lot cheaper than a X100VI (heck, get a TTArtisan AF 56mm f/1.8 autofocus lens too! You're still a lot cheaper than a X100VI) https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1732752-REG/ttartisan_af2728_x_b_af_c27mm_f_2_8_lens.html https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1815332-REG/ttartisan_af5618_x_b_af_56mm_f_1_8_lens.html

What is MUCH more embarassing for Panasonic is that they launched it with a 26mm f/8 manual focus lens that costs $199. VIltrox just launched a 28mm F/4.5 lens WITH autofocus, with almost the same size. Much sharper, much brighter, and, as said, with AF. For $99.

Exactly. Most first time buyers are not pixel peeping reviews of lenses, they don't care, or even for those who do care they night not even fully grasp understanding the reviews to figure out just how much better one lens is vs another. Or they might just flat out not have the money for it yet, even though they do want those better lenses. The 50mm f2 lens for $159 with the image quality of a nifty fifty from the 1980's is always going to out sell the $399 50mm f1.8 I am saying "generally speaking", and it's not true for all users. Of course lots of exceptions exist who buck the trends, such as yourself. You're very happy to experiment outside the mainstream. Plus you work solo? Never with other shooters? (either under you, or you working for someone else) And you never / rarely rent in extra equipment such as extra lenses or cameras? The dynamics of investing in gear changes so much once you consider those factors.

There's this odd thing with the X-M5. It's either you just take it for what it is (great camera with no IBIS) or you go for the X-S20. But if you go for the X-S20, you might as well go for a lighter full-frame camera like the R8 (which also doesn't have IBIS). Now you're thinking I "need" full frame with IBIS and we're back at the S9 or S5ii. Round and round you go. It does seem IBIS is THE feature (but I contend the S9 is still lacking in other things).

It seems Panasonic stopped listening to their customers. A 10bit GX or a S9 with Evf, hotshoe and mechanical shutter would be a relevant decision to give customers what they want instead of wanting them to want something else.

Zhiyun Crane-M 3S and FeiyuTech Scorp Mini 2 would be contenders. Both are reasonably compact and not outrageously expensive and offer camera control as well as having enough weight handling to cope with much bigger cameras too with expansion options for focus motors. The Scorp Mini 2 has additional useful functionality with its built in AI tracking.

Yes, i ordered one and will let you know. Question also is wether the 27mm pancake that is unavailable most of the time will be available as i believe everyone will want it for this camera...

Here’s the rub: imagine if the S9 and X-M5 were the same price. We’re essentially talking about ecosystem, mechanical shutter vs. none, and IBIS. For 'small and portable,' Fuji has the lenses, whereas Lumix is apparently struggling. I’d be okay without a mechanical shutter, but the problem is the X-M5 is significantly lighter and has one. Factor in the massive value proposition, and the X-M5 takes the cake. Panasonic has a serious problem, but its saving grace is the IBIS. You could argue that Panasonic is smaller because of the IBIS, whereas with Fuji, you either need to carry a tripod or a gimbal. Their EIS isn't cutting it for me. Still, I’d keep an eye out for Black Friday deals because Panasonic has traditionally been very competitive. The real question is: will there be any X-M5 cameras available by then, or will they all be sold out? My guess is they’ll all be gone. Looking at the two cameras, though, I prefer the Panasonic’s aesthetics. Since I already have the S5 II, I’d probably stick with Panasonic (if there’s a massive deal). Otherwise, the S5/S5D is still an option for a second camera.

I agree, but one thing I think should be noted is just how good those Lumix lenses are for the price. They're built very well and are optically excellent. I can't say enough good things about them. But they do need budget options. Most entry level users are looking at the price first and foremost. Is that $350 Lumix prime nicer than the cheaper Canon or Sony equivalent? Yes, but those just getting started don't quite understand that, the first thing they notice is price. And when you can get an RP with a 24-105 kit lens for under $1200, that's a lot more enticing than an S5 with the 20-60 kit lens for $1700 even if the camera and lens are superior in every way. Mom and Dad don't know that when they're buying their son or daughter a camera for Christmas after finding out they're interested in photography.

I agree that Lumix seems to be wasting an opportunity in the small "pocket" camera market. I think a GX80 successor with the G9's innards with PDAF, mic input and headphone jack would be a real winner, especially with the Realtime Luts. With the tiny lenses M4/3 has it could open a whole new market for Lumix. The GX80 is the only camera i have ever regretted selling. I'm mainly a video guy (professional) but I've just ordered a secondhand GX80 and a couple of tiny primes to try to improve my photography as for me it hits that sweet spot of small size and usability. I had looked at the GX850 but it lacked physical controls. The tiny primes and zooms really should be a strong selling point.

100% It can't be understated what a powerful factor having a massive user base is when it comes to choosing a camera. I'll happily take a 15% worse camera if it has 5x more users. Is why a Sony FX30 will probably be my next camera (if I even get another camera next year). As everyone and their dog has a Sony camera. You have to seriously beat Sony on price and/or features to make a person consider anything else. (although Canon gets an honorable mention when it comes to popularity, and Blackmagic does ok in their little indie niche) It's also why back when I first started with photography I went for a Nikon D50. Just didn't make sense to consider Pentax / Sony / Olympus / etc, as you can't just be better/cheap than Nikon/Canon. You need to be a lot better/cheaper. At the very least, Panasonic needs to be price competitive against the likes of the a7mk2 (which is still being sold brand new!) / Sony a7C / Canon EOS RP It's too much to think Panasonic will ever undercut them in price, but at least be within a couple of hundred dollars of them! Yup, it's not just camera bodies that need to be price competitive to grow the number of new photographers/videographers into the ecosystem, but the lenses too. Look at their prices for L Mount: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/products/Mirrorless-Camera-Lenses/ci/17912/N/4196380428?sort=PRICE_LOW_TO_HIGH&filters=fct_a_focus-type_5738%3Aautofocus%2Cfct_lens-format-coverage_3332%3Afull-frame-lenses%2Cfct_lens-mount_3442%3Aleica-l-mount%2Cfct_lenses-kits_7315%3Alenses-only Cheapest is a $350 prime. Next cheapest from Panasonic is their new compact kit zoom at $500! Compare that with Canon, who have four lenses which are cheaper than Panasonic's cheapest. Nikon has also four (well arguably "two") lenses cheaper than Panasonic's cheapest. And a zoom cheaper than Panasonic's cheapest zoom. (none of this is counting the various third party lenses either, of which there are for more for them than there are for L Mount) Ideally I'd like Panasonic to do something such as a 50mm f2 lens for $160-ish, and a 28mm f2.8 pancake lens for sub $300 And a medium range zoom (24-90mm ish that is f4 ish) that's cheaper than any of their current zooms. That will fill in some big gaps in the entry level starting out lens kit, to make Panasonic competitive again.

I really got the impression at NAB that they are working on the successor to the S1H, and it’s even more video-specific than any of their current hybrids. I don’t know if that means a different shape, but Komodo, FX-line, and Pyxis probably have them thinking in that direction. They were grilling me on what an S1H successor should have. They’re working on it. I’d rather they go slow and really make a great camera. Keep in mind, LUMIX is gaining the Varicam people as that division closes up/merges with LUMIX. At NAB, they said any products from that “merger” will be about two years out. I know it seems like they’re recycling the IMX410, but honestly? EVERYONE is kinda doing that. I don’t think it’s any kind of “sign” that LUMIX is ending.

Fujifilm have had Panasonic’s pants off with the X-5M release today. It’s offering the upgrade from the compact MFT cameras that Panasonic refuse to do and cuts the price in half from the still sat on the launchpad S9 and has appropriately sized lenses to boot. It also leverages the kudos that the X100 has created in the market that they are trying to break into. Panasonic should’ve made this camera two or even three years ago - particularly when Leica vacated the APS-C area discontinuing the CL and TL - but instead they put an MFT sensor in a FF body and priced it even higher. They definitely need to do something along those sort of lines as the “me too” stuff is not moving anyone’s needle. The head start they had by being in mirrorless early has now disappeared.

Nothing wrong with this approach, it's what Sony has been doing very successfully for a number of years. Can't afford the latest a7Rmk3? That's fine, maybe we can tempt you with the latest and cheaper a7mk3? Oh, that's still not cheap enough for you? Well look, we have an older a7mk2 still available for sale! What, not even that is cheap enough for you? No problem, we've got you, here is an OG a7mk1! And Sony is still doing this strategy even today. Look at B&H, where both an a7mk2 and an a7mk3 and an a7mk4 is available for sale! I see nothing at all wrong with Panasonic keeping around the Panasonic S5mk1 at a cheaper price. (currently US$1.4K https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1581612-REG/panasonic_lumix_dc_s5_mirrorless_digital.html) Even better if they keep on bringing it down in price, brand new $1.2K S5mk1 by Christmas? Sub $1K S5mk1 in 2025?

If it has the C80's triple native ISO that could be interesting. Panasonic's lens mount and AF will always be its own worst enemy and they haven't updated the S1H since 2019 so anyone who was going to move on from Panasonic already has and has already had 5yrs to delve into a different camera maker's ecosystem so I don't see anything from Panasonic making anything from Canon or Sony DOA. BTW I am a big Panasonic fan....just being realistic.

Unless proven otherwise, it's safe to say that Panasonic had the S9 pegged to replace small M43 cameras. Everything GX is looking long old and massively out-speced. Sadly, Panasonic would have needed just 1 real pancake lens to make the transition to the S9 a reality, but apparently that was too much to ask. Now, Fuji, with the X-M5, is going to have small M43 cameras for lunch, spit them out and collect dust on the shelves of mpb. What a tremendous opportunity blown for Panasonic as they drive themselves and M43 into irrelevance.