DBounce

Not everyone needs AF. Just as not everyone needs IBIS... what you really need is a camera that captures gyroscopic metadata and stores it with the movie file so that you can use software such as Reel Steady to stabilize your footage in post. I'm often using motion controllers. I like to use the motors to drive zoom instead of focus. With a reliable AF this works amazingly well. It's great for effortlessly creating parallax shots. I guess my point is, reliable AF gives you options... and can make getting the shot a little easier.

Please try to limit the amount of answers to this poll. This should help in prioritizing features.

It would be great to see a larger rear LCD. I feel sometimes it's difficult to judge critical focus on these tiny screens. Also on larger screens noise can be shown. I doubt they'll do it, but it would be wonderful to see. I don't think Panasonic... or any of the manufactures for that matter should pigeon hole themselves to these older design ideologies.

Some thoughts regarding the new body: 1. Cannot be weathersealed with the vent holes. 2. It's looking like there is a fan in there. 3. No IBIS One wonders why they kept this form factor? It dosen't really seem to lend itself to hybrid work.

There one point I concede is there is a substantial crop in 4K. But there are work arounds for that. The rest of the criticism is largely unwarranted. And at the end of the day you have a lens investment that will live on as you upgrade to newer and better bodies. I’m not sure the same can be said for the Panasonic? If they omitted PDAF, many will find the price a tough pill to swallow.

That goes for you too.

Erh, I’m not sure which EOS R you have, but mine captures 4K UHD in ALL-i MP4 H.264 @ 480 Mb/s (as shown on Canon’s website) That’s a pretty beefy codec where I come from. Your “Facts” are broken! And as for the rolling shutters? Only a worry for the PanPan crowd. And about that ND adapter with built in lens mount... that you state is available for “any camera”... could you please post a link to the S-series version?

I see this a lot? But somehow it never seems to stop me from shooting 4K with my EOS R. I guess Canon gave me the “upgraded” 4K enabled model. I know this, when the “Pro” body is released... with Quad Pixel Auto Focus (which Canon are working on) all of that excellent glass is going to shine even more. Buying into a new body is really buying into a system. We can be quite certain that Canon’s full frame mirrorless system isn’t going away anytime soon. But Panasonic, being the priciest of the lot... and so far as we know, the worst AF; well, their longevity is in doubt. Still, I won’t count Panasonic out just yet. Clearly important information was stupidly omitted from the official press release. Who knows? Maybe PDAF is now present? Maybe built in electronic ND? That would actually position this camera into awesome territory. We just don’t know... which isn’t supposed to be the case at this point.

I thought I found a different angle... but it was of the S1, not the H.

Wrong image

And some real low-light creds. URSA tops out at 1600 ISO vs 12800. That’s like cutting off their nose to spite their face.

I never said there was anything wrong with the iq of the S-series. In fact I said it quite good. Is it better than the Canon? Sure it’s more detailed. It’s technically superior for sure regarding sensor dr, detail etc... But it has serious flaws with AF.

BEHOLD, YE FLIPPY SCREEN!!! Why the heck would they leave out this tidbit of information?... With this single morsel we have a full frame successor to the GH5/S. I wonder what else they “forgot” to mention? Let’s hope PDAF. That would make this camera the full package in many people’s eye. I think with those two boxes checked it’s a quick sale.

Then who are they targeting? I'll tell you what, they had better start targeting a real market because if they don't their L-Mount is destined to fail. Once we get into the $4k mark, I start to consider dedicated cinema cameras... not so much hybrids. For that money I want build in XLRs, NDs etc... For hybrids unless they are bringing something very unique... like the GFX 100 or purpose build sports cameras such as the 1DXMk2, I prefer a smaller more manageable size/weight. I really think Panasonic blew it on this one. I think many will praise it... but those praise will not translate into actual sales. It's not that I'm opposed to new cameras. I will probably pickup the GFX 100 when it comes out. I just need to see some more footage. Granted, I want it mainly for stills. In the end, I think this new Panasonic is an answer to a question that no one was asking.

It's more to do with the fact that most of the competition is pretty dam good atm. So to really make some noise manufactures need to go above and beyond to win $$$ in an ever shrinking market. Those that don't will loose out. I don't think this camera does much to lead the majority of users to leave Sony, Canon, Nikon or Fuji to adopt this new and pricey system. Oh my goodness it has a crop in 4k? Who cares?... so does the GH5 and it is a great camera. So does my C200, and the Alexa Mini. Honestly, I would have been more excited to see this camera have a S35 sensor, PDAF and built in electronic ND... That's a camera I would have purchased immediately. No need to think on that configuration at all. But this one? MEH.

Well then why worry about low-light performance? After-all, "cinema" folks light their scenes don't they? But it this camera is priced for indie, solo, run n gun type shooters, all of a sudden such features become important. Actually it doesn't flip 180 degrees.

Alexa and RED are made for professional productions with "real budgets" and "real crews". So needless to say a dedicated focus puller is generally part of the production's expense. But if you want to see some piss poor RED footage just do a search for "RED Raven footage". A lot of aspiring filmmaker bought that camera thinking they could do it alone... what a cluster Fuk of out of focus mess. It's not for selfies... it's so a solo operator can frame their shots etc... without needing the talent in the scene. This of course is yet another issue a major production does not have to worry about.

$1500 markup over the S1 ?.... ?

And you seemed to have left out a few important feature the S1 lacks... EOS R: 1. Higher resolution sensor. 2. The most cinematic AF system to date. With no micro-hunting as witnessed in other system. 3. Usable AF in low light conditions down to -6EV. 4. Seamless use of legacy glass. 5. ND adapter. 6. Robust codec. 7. Massive lens collection with included adapter. 8. Great color science. 9. More manageable size/weight... which means for many it’s more likely to be carried. 10. And most importantly... IT’S A CANON! OK, maybe that last one is more important to some people than others, but there it is.

Well Fuji are certainly showing up with great affordable cameras. I don't think the dream of affordable cinema creation is lost. Today, there are also much better computers and software to make animation and cgi much easier. The cost of lighting and availability of tools such as gimbals, motorized sliders etc..., are not only lower, but many of these tools did not even exist back then. Collaboration and distribution are easier and more accessible than ever before. I guess it come down to weather you view the glass as half empty, or half full.

I would hate to cage this beast. For me this camera would be mainly for stills. Even though from what I've seen it can produce a lovely image for video also. It would be great to see more footage from this camera. This is, imo, one of the most tempting cameras of late. It's more of a "nice to have" than a "must have" for me... though I am very tempted.

Panasonic is the most expensive of the bunch... by a reasonable margin, asking $500 more than Canon or Sony... and a whopping $700 more than Nikon! Needless to mention the new Panasonic S-series cameras are reportedly selling extremely poorly. If early speculation about price is correct, is a new even higher end model really the solution?

You are right. I am perhaps putting too much faith in the validity of this article. Honestly, I hope the new Panasonic is amazing. But if this article is genuine, and there is little beyond the 6k... then this camera would be very underwhelming. On the plus side, I’m sure Fuji will deliver on the XH2... whenever it comes out. And we still have the Nikon wild card. Sony will deliver on many fronts, but like Canon, they will omit just enough to fall short of total dominance. After all, they have their cinema line to think of.

Which at least differentiates it self much more than this full frame offering does. The official press release is tomorrow, so who knows? Maybe there will be something in there that is a "game changer" that we all want. But so far, I'm thinking this will be a dud. In fact I am thinking that despite pretty nice image quality, the S-series in general is a dud. Too expensive to attract new adopters. And as was pointed out earlier, in a shrinking market it is just poorly timed. I'm not sure why Panasonic thought they could price their bodies for more than Canon, Nikon, Sony and Fuji? But I am pretty certain that strategy will backfire.

It's looking like Panasonic blew it again. Was this thing not developed by the folks that designed the GH5? I guess not. Because it's clearly off the mark for many would be purchasers. I'll wait for the official release, but atm this camera is not looking like something I would buy into... that goes for the whole system. The Canon pro bodies should be interesting... depending on what they cripple? The XH2 may well be amazing. And if such a beast is ever released... the Sony A73 will likely be one to watch.