mercer

EDIT: To clarify my previous statement... none of the footage I have seen from the P4K looks bad, in fact it all looks pretty good, but it also looks very generic and lacks a lot of the cinematic qualities of its predecessor.

The problem is that this camera was a unicorn for months and months and then finally some footage was released and it looked like a dirty horse with a paper horn stapled to its head. I don’t know if I can honestly say that I have seen one video that doesn’t look like it could have been shot with a GH5 and probably much easier. The cultist attitude about this camera is expected on an insertnameuser site but this forum has never been that kind of place. If a camera has an issue, people speak up about it. The OG Pocket had plenty of issues but the IQ made up for it as those issues were addressed. This camera just seems wrong from the outset. What a shame. I was hoping for a Pocket 2. Maybe IF they add BRaw, it will acquire something special but as of now, if I was in the market, and had to choose... I think I’d buy a GH5.

Interesting topic. I guess if I was forced to use only one lens, the pragmatic answer would be the Canon 24-70mm f/4. With the IS, it’s just so damn versatile. Currently I love my 28mm 1.8, it just oozes character. I usually prefer a little longer of a lens, but in a pinch you can get some decent shallow depth and good separation. I’ve decided to invest in EF lenses. I don’t own many but I’ll also only buy lenses now that I can have the mount changed to EF. If I were to buy a camera with a different mount, I would probably go M4/3 so I could use c-mounts and some inexpensive native glass. I love what I am seeing from 7artisans, so one or two of those could be an option. I guess I could also see myself getting another Nikon camera in the future, so maybe a 35mm 1.8 would be a fun little lens... I do love my Minolta 35mm 1.8. I also will only buy lenses that I can afford to replace. If I buy smart and hold out for good deals, then if I need extra cash or if I lose or break one, I won’t be too disappointed. I also don’t think I’ll waste any money on fly by wire lenses anymore, unless they can be bought for really cheap. When you compare the fly by wire lenses to crafted mechanical lenses like the Contax Zeiss or Minolta MDs or Leica Rs or Voigts... I just don’t think the plastic crap is worth it.

@kye I don’t know if I’ve ever seen any video from the GF3, but I’ve always liked the size and shape of it. Go for it, think like an artist and have fun with it. A lot of this crap is nonsense, I can show you some GH1 video before the hacks that are beautiful. It isn’t news that I have an affinity for older cameras and lesser resolutions. I will shoot 48fps slow motion on my 5D3 in 2:35 which is actually less than 720p... To this day, I still miss my D5500. Speaking of, here is a very long and boring test I did a while ago with the D5500 and Nikkor 28mm f/2. I used a Benro Monopod collapsed with the feet pressed against my shoulder. It provided enough stabilization for a run and gun set up, and I also had the option to use the Monopod in a traditional fashion... Anyway, the point is... don’t worry about this crap, you probably already own a camera that is good enough. Or if you want something different, don’t sweat the details. The creativity you put into it will make more of a difference than any new fangled spec... well except for IBIS... that’s just magic.

Are there any 1080p ProRes tests floating around? I’m searching for a reason to buy the P4K over another Pocket or even a GH5 in a few months, but I haven’t really seen anything that makes it a must have. I’m really hoping the 1080p ProRes will sell me on it.

Idk, do a Vimeo search of Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 and BMPCC and you may find some magic... I found one for you...

I love 35mm, the Canon 35mm f/2, Nikkor ai-s 35mm f/1.4 and Minolta 35mm f/1.8 are my favorite lenses on my 5D3. The other positive with the Olympus is that you can get a BMPCC for less than a $500 used if you feel like dipping your toes into Raw video and the 17mm Olympus looks great on the Pocket cam. It would be around a 50mm on the Pocket camera, but still a good lightweight option.

Yeah a 35mm equivalent FOV is a great one lens prime option for narrative filmmaking... get a little wide and with a fast lens, you get a little shallow depth... zoom in and out with your feet.

Meh... wide angle lenses ruined digital video. We never had the chance for great 1080p because all of the ultra wide angle fanatics couldn’t figure out how to focus their 50mm lenses. Just kidding... kinda.

You can probably find a used one pretty cheap in Japan.

If I did go that route, I may spend the extra and get the G9 for the updated IBIS and 4K 60p. I saw an open box G9 for $1100 the other week on eBay. For $400 more, it might be worth it.

Damn, I am talking myself into a G85 and Olympus lenses... lol.

Well, it seems he is planning on using the camera for narratives, so how well these lenses AF with horrific Panasonic AF probably isn’t a big concern. The 17mm has the MF clutch as well.

It depends where you think you will end up. The only definitive way to future proof lenses is to buy full frame lenses. And if you’re going to do that, you may be better off buying a good prime lens in your favorite focal length to start off. If you definitely know which path you will take, then buy accordingly, if not then purchase for the system you already own. There are a lot of upgrade options in Micro4/3 so a Voigtländer isn’t necessarily an unwise decision if you like prime lenses. You also can sell the lens at a minimal loss if you need to. Honestly, if I was going to get a micro4/3 camera, I’d definitely look into the Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 and the Olympus 17mm 1.8. My friend has both of those lenses for E-M10iii and they are truly beautiful lenses.

So many great options out there. I am in love with the X-T3 image, if it had IBIS, it would be a no brainer for me, but since I shoot ML Raw with the 5D3, 10bit just isn’t enough for me to spend on a second system. I will say that the 25mm Voigtländer really is a work of art and if you can find one reasonably priced... then you should get one. I used it with the G7 and the BMMCC and I can only imagine how special it is with IBIS. I could see myself picking up a G85 or E-M10iii just to use that lens with IBIS. The problem with the Sigma 18-35mm for your current and future uses is that you will need to buy the Nikon version if you plan on upgrading to the Nikon Z6 in the future but you will only be able to use it in crop mode since that lens is made for aps-c sensors. Also with the G85 you will not have any electronic connections with that lens.

@kye you may want to check out the G85 for your India trip. With CineLikeD and IBIS, this could be a good way to get your feet wet with a mirrorless ILC. Add an f/2.8 zoom, a prime and a good strap and you’ll be all set. After that, maybe the GH5 could be a logical upgrade for you.

I had a G7 for a while and am very familiar with the camera. I sold it once I decided to go the Raw route. The G85 would be a great second camera for me and other than IBIS, it fixes one major flaw of the G7... its plastic build... I was often afraid I would break the thing when I opened and turned the LCD screen. If Panasonic would just include the all-i 1080p features from the FZ2500/GH4/GH5 in the G9, then that would be a great option for me as well. But even as-is, the G9 with 4K 60p is definitely a great upgrade if you tire of the G85.

WOW!!! Those look fantastic. Nice color too!!!

You would think so but ai/ai-s lenses will meter on the D7200 but not on the D5500... so who knows what goofy limitation Nikon will do.

Does anyone know if the Z6 and F mount adapter will meter ai/ai-s lenses?

Yup, you must’ve been... or there aren’t “wrong focal lengths.” Maybe he wasn’t looking for the same shots you were?

Idk, I have to agree with Mattias on this one. In FF, 35mm and 50mm are my favorite focal lengths... I could film an entire movie with either focal length if I was forced to use only one lens. And for aps-c, 24mm and 35mm FF lenses are fairly inexpensive and they both equate to 35mm and 50mm respectively. Logical choices IMO.

Sounds great, but don’t forget an ice maker. It’s unlikely you’ll see a cinema camera with IBIS. The closest you will get is the GH5. It’s getting an AF update, so you may be set. I’ve seen some amazing work done with the XC10, so you may have what you need already. Or you could grab a GX10 for 4K 60p at a more manageable data rate with DPAF. Add an M50 to your kit with the 22mm and you can have the best of both worlds. The M50 for close ups and the GX10 for everything else.

@BTM_Pix I didn’t want to clog up the P4K thread with Cinecorder talk... but @webrunner5 shared this C100 video with me and when I am ready to buy, if I ever do, I have to add the C100 to the mix... I’m really going to try and resist any temptation because I already own a camera I love, but the added features of cinema cameras and camcorders really does call out to my run and gun nature... for certain projects.

Yeah I remember that, and it would have been a smart move. BlackMagic operates in a market they have all to themselves. Of course, I don’t know if l’m sold on the P4K yet. I know everybody was impressed with the Wolfcrow comparison but all I learned from it was that Arri squashes all three cameras (no surprise) and that the P4K was only marginally better than the GH5. With the added features of the GH5, I don’t know if I would switch if I already owned one.