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Everything posted by jonpais
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Things we'd like to see in a future GH5 firmware upgrade
jonpais replied to tomsemiterrific's topic in Cameras
That's definitely not cool. Have you actually compared the audio levels of the two cameras? What's your audio setup? May I ask why you'd want to change the function of the aperture and shutter speed dials on an ongoing basis? -
Would you be kind enough to share an example of someone walking directly toward the camera at wide aperture with only one operator?
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An example of AF-C in video mode, ASPC at 3m 20s. This would be difficult to achieve using MF with a single operator I would think.
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For what it's worth, a discussion usually means looking at the advantages and disadvantages of both points of view. It does not fruitfully begin with 'my way is right, yours is wrong'.
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Just out of curiosity, I would like to see footage of moving subjects or where there is camera movement by some of these manual focus zealots on paid jobs where there is no focus puller. This might be more convincing than twenty pages of comments. Also, I don't understand why these MF crusaders must be so condescending and resort to profanity to make their point.
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In an interview with Panasonic's Dir. of Imaging business, Yosuke Yamane tells DPReview ‘On-sensor phase detection doesn’t work any darker than F8, [which can be a problem in video]. It’s not necessarily true that phase detection is better than DFD plus contrast detection.’ I think they also used to claim that OIS was superior to IBIS for video. He also adds that the development cost of phase detect and putting it in all their sensors would be tremendous. I don't see why anyone would normally be shooting at f/11 or f/16 on a m43 sensor anyhow, so that's pretty lame if you ask me. So it all comes down to expenditure.
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This is the first time I've heard someone voice exactly how I feel about subjects being in focus all the time. I often prefer when a moving subject goes in or out of the range of depth of field without something like AF-C constantly tracking them.
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Blade Runner 2049 trailer and a first look at Roger Deakins' cinematography
jonpais replied to Andrew Reid's topic in Cameras
Too soon to view on front page? ? -
Sigma, Nikon and Canon use lots of plastic in their lenses and many are also fly by wire with no aperture ring, am I wrong? And while m43 lenses may be electronically corrected for aberrations, I don't see how that makes them inferior in any way. Barrel and pincushion distortion, vignetting and chromatic aberration have been corrected in Lightroom by stills photographers for ages, isn't that true? And isn't it a fact that m43 lenses, even if they are optically corrected in firmware, must still be of a higher quality than full-frame glass? For example, if an excellent full frame lens must achieve 50 lpmm resolution to be considered excellent, a m43 lens must achieve from 75-80 lpmm. And I think the Voigtlander Noktons can be found for as little as $800, at least here in VN they can, which is around average for any lens I'd think, cheaper than some full frame lenses, more expensive than others. As far as migrating goes, at the moment, I much prefer using native lenses to adapted lenses because of the weight savings. I happen to own a Fuji and half a dozen lenses of the highest quality, as good or better build quality than Zeiss in my opinion - all-metal construction, aperture rings, weather sealing - but they're also electronically corrected and are not at all adaptable to other systems (nor are there many other manufacturers making X-mount lenses), but I have no trouble paying $1,200 for one of their lenses either. Does the fact that I can't use an APS-C lens on full frame mean it's overpriced? Another point is that most OEM lenses are way overpriced to begin with, and Sigma's lenses are better in many regards than original Nikon or Canon mount lenses. Edit: but I've said it before, as lenstip points out, it's regrettable that Panasonic chose to team up with Leica rather than Sigma.
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There are some great bargain lenses in the m43 system as well as some outstanding premium lenses. One thing I fail to understand is why some people refuse to pay as much for a top of the line m43 lens as for a full frame equivalent. Carrying that logic even further, the flagship Panasonic GH5 should only cost half that of say, the Nikon D810. In fact, this would make more sense, as many of us replace camera bodies every few years, whereas we often hold onto our lenses indefinitely. I think a good case could be made for purchasing something like a G85 and a couple of premium lenses rather than a GH5 and compromising on glass, because in three years many will already be replacing their GH5 with the GH7 with built in ND filters and PDAF anyhow. ?
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Apparently, the Panasonic 30mm f/2.8 Macro is an excellent value at only $300 or so, is made of metal and built in Japan. But according to lenstip, stabilization is one of its weakest points, reaching a mere 2.5 EV, where the best OIS lenses are able to obtain 4.5 EV of extra stabilization. ePhotozine doesn't test this as far as I can tell. edit: ePhotozine does say, 'with care' you should be able to get roughly 3 stops of stabilization.
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One of these days, I'm going to have to learn to read an MTF chart. ?
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Things we'd like to see in a future GH5 firmware upgrade
jonpais replied to tomsemiterrific's topic in Cameras
The functions of the wheels aren't reversible in the menu? They were on my GH4 and G85... -
They might have organized the list into categories: kit lenses, wide zooms, tele zooms, wide, normal and tele primes and so forth.
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Their ratings are completely meaningless. You can't begin to compare a Panasonic 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 (#14) to the Leica 12mm f/1.4 (#19)! And no way is the Nocticron at #1, while the Olympus 75mm f/1.8 is at #18. Mixing up pancakes, kit lenses, professional telephotos, premium primes, variable aperture universal zooms and macro lenses and assigning a number is just absurd.
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Good question. From the earliest days of photography, photographers tried to imitate the look of paintings, charcoal drawings and pastels. Maybe they were bent on proving that photography was an art, who knows? But a lot of those works look pretty awful today, not all of them, but quite a few. When I studied photography in college, I worked with a lot of historical printing processes myself - cyanotype, gum bichromate and gravure - and I'd scratch negatives, photosensitize expensive French watercolor paper, use different toners, draw with pastel over my prints: anything to make the pictures look like something other than a photograph. But to this day, I still prefer a 'straight' photograph by Irving Penn or any number of others to over-manipulated images. Digital filmmaking is still in its infancy, and I expect with time, there will be less of this trying to make digital resemble film, for better or for worse.
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Some 12 firmware updates Fstoppers wishes Panasonic would implement. It seems to me that some of his complaints are perfectly reasonable, like wanting to know what ISO the camera is at when on Auto ISO, or wishing that the camera would show the in-camera battery life when the battery grip is attached, but many readers mock him anyway. 1/3 million subscribers, but it appears that half the comments for every video he makes are negative. Another example is, he'd like to have sound recording while recording VFR, and some viewers will say something like, other manufacturers don't offer that. Well, other cameras in this price range don't offer half the features Panasonic stuffs into this marvel of a camera, is that any reason not to wish for more? For what it's worth, they purchased 5 GH5 bodies and he praises the camera no end, but haters will be haters.
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Wonderful lensing.
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Deleted my comment.
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So rather than spending $500 more (than the Sigma 24mm) for the Leica, you'd gladly spend $500 less for the Rokinon (or something like that). To be fair, for the most part, Sigma Art lenses are better optically than most OEM glass and cost much less. Tamron and Tokina also make some good lenses at bargain basement prices. For sure, there are many other factors to consider apart from mere focal length and aperture. For example, while several of Sigma's lenses have compared favorably with those of Zeiss Otus, the lack of breathing, all-metal construction, longer focus throw, greater edge sharpness and weather sealing of the Zeiss instruments may make them more appealing to some filmmakers. Sigma lenses are made in Japan, unlike many of their rivals, whose lenses come from Thailand, Vietnam or China. You'd expect that Panasonic, which manufactures many of its lenses in China, or Olympus, whose lenses are built in Vietnam or wherever, that those cost savings would be passed on to the consumer, but they aren't, so I would have to agree, there might be an element of greed at play here. Smaller lenses need to be manufactured to higher precision, and m43 lenses must have something like double the resolution of full-frame lenses, so that may account for the higher price, though it's common knowledge Panasonic applies electronic correction to their lenses, so don't quote me on that. Of course, I'd expect the build quality of the Leica to be superior to that of Tamron or Rokinon. Sample variation would probably be much less with a Leica lens than one emanating from the factories of Rokinon or Tokina. I'd also wager that the Leica would hold its value over time better than that of other third party manufacturers. But when comparing the prices of premium lenses across different formats and manufacturers, I'm not seeing a huge difference - whether it's Sony G Master, Olympus, Leica or Fuji - I'm finding their top-of-the-line lenses are all rather pricey. And I've watched dozens of videos shot with the Rokinon 12mm f/2 and it doesn't even begin to compare to the Leica 12mm f/1.4, not even close. Whether that quality is something you're willing to pay for is up to each person and their budget to decide.
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But this Leica happens to be worth every penny. Get the Leica 12mm for sure. The 42.5 is great for portraiture and when you want shallow depth of field, the 12mm will be a better all-purpose lens. Just buy it already. ? No love for the Leica 12mm or Oly 75mm? ?
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And really, the difference between some of these premium lenses and their less expensive counterparts is like comparing an Audi to a Honda Civic. Nevertheless, I've seen vloggers who've just posted their first clips with lenses as good as the Leica Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 or the DG Summilux 12mm f/1.4 that look no better than those shot with a kit zoom, so some viewers may be fooled into believing it's just a matter of aperture fastness and nothing else. Which may be one reason why I've posted so many videos shot with the Leicas. Then there's build quality - it wasn't until I'd actually held a Voigtlander Nokton in my own hands that I realized what a pleasure it is to handle glass made the old world way. And for many, I imagine the Leica 12-60mm may be the first MFT lens they own that doesn't feel cheap. Yet, I believe it was F Stoppers, when unboxing their GH5s and assorted lenses, that they remarked how plastic-y the G Vario 12-35mm f/2.8 felt, as if it were made of tin - the first time in the four years since purchasing mine that a reviewer corraborated my own impressions. Panasonic somehow manages the magic trick of making camera bodies and lenses that don't necessarily inspire confidence in the same way as say, Fuji, but somehow their products just perform great and seldom fail.
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Some of their descriptions kill me! re: the Leica Nocticron - It may cost a fair few pennies, but it will be money well spent, especially as the price isn't obnoxious in any way. ($1,397.00 USD) ? re: the Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO - Image quality is excellent, the lens handles well and it's not badly priced either. ($1,499.00 USD) ?
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The Olympus 75mm is the only m43 lens, aside from the Leica 12mm that I'm absolutely in awe of.
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I was having similar issues with YT when viewed in Google Chrome or Safari after reducing file sizes with MPEG Streamclip, but now that I just export directly from within FCP, the colors are okay again.