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After running a 4 camera system this year, 3 for video and 1 for stills, I am going back to a 2 for video and 1 for stills in 2025. My pair of static S5ii’s each had a 20-60 with a single 70-200 f4 option. I’m changing that to a single S5ii with the 28-70 from my run & gun unit which I have found too short this year shooting 6k 30p OG compared with 4k 60p cropped last year. That single S5ii unit will have the option of a 20-60 and the 70-200 as required. For my run & gun S5ii, I’m going to pick up the new Sigma 28-105 f2.8 because as above, 70 is often too short plus I don’t really want to ever be swapping lenses on this unit. It’s a slightly bigger lens than I’d ideally like, but still just within my self-imposed 1kg max weight limit and I wish it was internal zooming, but there is no better existing alternative for my needs. I say ‘existing’ because I am still hoping Sigma will pop out a longer version of their recent 28-45mm f1.8 such as a 45-90mm f1.8. If they do that, that is an end game pairing for me and I will immediately switch to that pairing for my run & gun video needs and also another pair in e Mount for my stills needs. Perfect…and I mean PERFECT focal lengths for my needs, internal zooming, size & weight OK. But as things stand, I cannot justify the 28-45 without that other lens 😏

20-60 is great. Pana have always been an innovator with the small zooms, going back to 14-42mm in GH1 days. Also underrated, on the Sony side is that 28-70 slow kit lens that has been around for ages. The rendering is actually really nice and it weighs literally nothing compared to the latest big buck F2.8 equivalents.

Thought it would be interesting to share the BTS videos we take on shoots. This is BTS from a car mount shoot, and what I did to capture the audio:

If every Ai work is stolen then every human experience is a stolen one as well, because that's how we learn about the world. This technology can't be trained on the arts or reality by putting it out there with a pair of eyes, ears and arms, it has to be spoon fed, but essentially the result is the same and very human. Info goes in. Processing happens. Self expression comes out the other end in the form of observation, both personal and subjective, and arising from that - art in various audio-visual formats. So good luck to the lawyers on that one, lol. When it comes to Musk, certainly a very complex character who has gone from being on the cutting edge of two very good businesses (SpaceX and Tesla) to being on the sidelines of both with no real decision making power, having a midlife crisis mental breakdown where he spends 44 billion on a website (still can't believe I typed BILLION not million) and proceeds to wreak the business model of it. That to me is the act of either a very sick person or a stupid person and as we know he's not your typical stupid, it must be the former! Musk is behind in Ai and desperate to catch OpenAi which of course he had early involvement in before throwing his toys out the pram with Sam. Musk in terms of his recent politics has further taken him down a destructive path / rabbit hole, and yes he clearly has fallen out with his elite corporate Dem supporting buddies and venture capitalists somewhere along the way. But then drugs will do that.

Heh, I haven't updated my YT channel in ages and ages, am posting about once per year it seems, anywhere, here is another quick update from last night's shoot about my setup with how I had it ready to go for a quick change over for how I'm doing this weekend's shoot:

For sure. It's unique for its focal range and the fact it's got weather sealing. I'm not sure there's another "kit" lens in any system with those 2 features. I don't care that it's a little big for the S9 because it's perfect for the other bodies. I also think it's a better lens than the new 18-40mm, although I've never tried it for myself. Both are great travel options, especially for outside work.

It really is. It's the first kit lens that I'll often use professionally and not even bat an eye at the thought of it. It's not just "good for a kit lens" it's a good lens period.

The 20-60 is a awesome lens. It's one that really "makes the system". Wide angle at 20mm was VERY difficult to find; now, it's commonplace. This lens basically means you don't have to get a wide angle because the kit lens will do it! I already have one. Sorry.

If anyone wishes to buy one for a very reasonable price, I have a spare 20-60. A battery grip also. About to offload some kit to MPB. EU only!

That is probably why my experience hasn't been too bad with the S5 AF, as I use the Lumix lenses. The S5II X is leagues better, for sure, but I've always found the S5's auto focus to be pretty decent once you realize the limitations. The only time I'd consider it unusable is in low light and when you shoot wide open with a faster lens and are trying to track a subject that is moving around a bit. With my event shooting though I'm not shooting wide open very often unless I really need the light, because I don't really need/want shallow depth of field.