Dustin

Thanks man! I’ve decided I’m going to cool it a bit and start saving some money. When the time comes I’ll sell my a6500 kit to help! Not a bad camera but it certainly has its limits. Andrew’s pro color though really has a nice look to it!

Hey all! After taking many of the good suggestions into considerations- I believe I will be selling my a6500 kit. It meets many of my needs but not all of them! With that money I am eyeing reinvesting into a (used) g85, GH5 or G9. Unless anyone else has similar suggestions! G85, is currently making the most sense as the profit I would net from my a6500 kit would allow me to reinvest in lenses (even though I love my Nikon primes they aren’t always the best fit!). Curious to hear your thoughts! For me, decent 4K codec, ibis, tolerable rolling shutter, slow mo options (60p or 120) and good color science with a flat profile, are my chief concerns.

@IronFilm I appreciate your thoughts man! This would indeed allow me to pick up a kit well under budget. Seems like I could pick up a body really cheap then have money left over to buy a nice lens and rig. One option for sure!

Thanks @mercer @IronFilm and @Mark Romero 2! I know I can’t defeat the laws of my camera and appreciate your advice! I’m not really in a rush to swap so I’m taking my time but I’m thinking maybe a GH5 in 2020 might be the route. I THOUGHT I needed Auto focus but to be honest, I think I value IBIS or good rolling shutter over it. I THOUGHT I would use slog2/3 but my best results so far have been using @Andrew Reid EOSHD pro color and pro log (the modified Cine4 profile). I suppose I could by a gimbal for $3-400 used but that wouldn’t solve all my needs. In 2020 I’m wanting a camera that with a cage can give me a good codec for grading, good IBIS, and a nice cinematic image. I think my a6500 is perfectly capable and I’ve gotten some nice results but it’s flaws are sticking out more and more since purchasing it two years ago. I also have a soft spot for the BMPCC4k with some of the images I’ve seen but I’m well aware that the $1200 entry point is just that, an entry point. Rigging it up as I want it would put me out of budget. I think I’m going to be scouring eBay for a cheap GH5 Kit or maybe a G9 once the update. I’ve been monitoring sold prices of a6500 packages. I’d have to sell my whole kit to get into anything new. Looks like around $500-800 is the going rate for a camera with a lens and a few batteries (I have 5 or 6 including the original Sony). Unless you guys have other gear ideas for around the same price points. Maybe it’s time to ditch the Sony?

Shot a lot around the house during the holidays with my family. Got a lot of nice shots out of the Sony a6500 with the 35mm1.8. (Also enjoyed getting a few shots on the viltrox f to e mount speedbooster using a Nikon 28mm and 100mm 2.8 (series e) lenses.) I cut the video for personal family viewing this week and while overall I was satisfied with the edit- I’m sick and tired of the horrible rolling shutter in 4K! Background: I’ve owned this camera setup for 2 years. I mainly shoot hand held, on the go style videos. I’m a hobbyist and I’ll occasionally take a paid gig or two. This is mainly for fun, not my 9-5. I do take it the craft seriously though. I’ve seen guys like Matteo Bertoli argue that for handheld you really need to make the camera heavier. I’ve mainly used a manfrotto mini tripod as a ghetto shoulder rig with one leg on my shoulder and my fist holding the other two. This works in a pinch if I’m really steady. It’s not ideal for me personally. Results are mixed. Here is my question...would rigging up the a6500 to make it heavier, give me better handheld results - ie better rolling shutter control?? Something like a small rig cage/top handle? Any further stabilization ideas that don’t involve buying a gimbal?? (I own a monopod but rarely use it for quick style shooting). I’ve watched tons of videos about shooting better handheld, but no I won’t shoot 120fps (still can look shaky in slow mo), or rely on a camera strap!

Ok stupid question- on the 100mm 2.8 shots, I’m noticing some dirt in the bokeh. I didn’t see this on the 28mm 2.8. Do I need to take a dust blower to the 100mm? Im assuming since I don’t see dirt on the 28 it must be the lens not the speedbooster right?

Well just looked at image quality and I’m honestly impressed. I’m not doing anything scientific to compare but I’m liking the image. You get more of that full frame like fov. I’m not pixel peeping but I think for anyone looking for an affordable way to adapt vintage Nikon manual primes, you won’t be disappointed at only $80.

Alright viltrox cheapo speedbooster is in my hands! Came in a nice case. Hard plastic but feels sturdy. I’m assuming I have to set the f ring to whatever lowest f stop my lens is? Put on my favorite 28mm lens and holy crap it’s like shooting full frame on my Nikon fe2 film body! FOV is similar! Still have my tree up so I plan to do some tests with nice Christmas bokeh this weekend. Curious to see image quality...

Personally, I like Potato Jet. I think he has a funny personality, I like the way he puts his content together. I also like that he runs the gamut of everything from covering a 360 camera to buying a used ARRI. It personally makes for entertaining content on a subject I like. Is he making his living in part by getting brand deals, partnerships? Absolutely! But I do think on the surface level looking in, as others have stated- he seems to be fairly transparent. That said, if someone offers you a sneak peak at a big product to make a video review or let’s you keep it, even if no money is involved and you transparently state that, you are being used as a marketing arm for that company. Companies have taken to all the big youtubers so that on launch week, everyone suddenly has a review up. I think this goes both ways. It’s cool that we as consumers can get a look at said product, but it is consumerism. It is shoving paid promotion content at us. It also feeds a mentality that we need product xyz or everything we have is inferior. When it comes down to it- I like his stuff. If you’re asking about affordability- his vlog channel stated he has at least another roommate (besides his gf) at his house. I don’t think he’s living that glamorously. He probably is in debt (topic for another convo) unless he’s just a brand/product mastermind negotiator. But hey, makes for an entertaining watch every now and again.

I think he got some nice shots with that sigma setup. I also liked the colors.

I agree with you Andrew just crazy! My post was perhaps a bit too cheery. Mainly just meant to say cool specs, but not for me.

I think this camera simply echos that it is a TOOL for the job. I think the statement about it appealing to the YouTube crowd is fairly accurate. Your Peter McKinnon and wannabes will love this. For many this may be a great tool! For the artistic, cinema driven, I don’t think this is where we’ll want to spend our money. $6500k is in cinema territory. Great that we have so many “tools” to choose from these days!

Went with this one; the cheapest one I can find new that’s not coming directly from China on eBay. https://www.adorama.com/vtrnfe.html Im assuming it will work with my e series primes. I think it’s the same one I posted earlier.

Thanks for the suggestions all! I just fired up my a6500 for some test shots using just a simple dumb adapter and the Nikon 100 e series 2.8. Bokeh is really nice at 2.8 and something about it gives a character my Sony 35mm 1.8 can’t get! Def going to invest in a speed booster after some test shots! Next step will be to rig up the a6500. I’ll admit the ibis does help more than I thought but still way too wobbly. Gonna pick up a small rig cage/top handle.

Thanks all! @heart0less I have also seen that adapter but I don’t really like the idea of two adapters especially when I have no interest in canon or EF mount. I understand the idea behind it though! Is the Lens Turbo II ($150) really that much better than this Viltrox? @EthanAlexander Most people seem to prefer canon FD glass so I seem to find a lot of reviews on the canon adapter, less the Nikon. I’ll check the comparable reviews and make a decision I guess! My goal with this adapter is that I’m trying to use what I have to help adapt to my filmmaking needs. I currently own Nikon series e 28 f2.8, 50mm 1.8 and 100mm f2.8 lenses (mainly use to shoot film on a Nikon fe2). My only native Sony lens is the 35mm 1.8. Love the af but to be honest I miss the manual control. I have a dumb adapter already but 28/35 is too close. I also need a wide lens so I thought hey, why not adapt all the Nikon lenses you have and then boom wider lens collection. I’ve been following Matteo Bertoli and a few others who are still using manual vintage film lenses so I want to give this a more fair shot in my a6500 with what I have. Not exclusively tied to this adapter but was liking the affordability of it. Wouldn’t be opposed to spending $150 if it was THAT much better of a quality jump...

Looking to finally purchase a speed booster for some vintage Nikon series e (basically AIS) primes I have on hand to adapt to my a6500 body. Will this work? https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F273856669616

I’d love to know! I have a Magic Mouse 2 as well. Can’t figure it out. Cmd + /- to zoom is getting old!

It’s so easy for me to get caught up in software and not actually edit anything! The last two years have been split for me between premiere pro and resolve. If I had no prior experience I would’ve just started on resolve. One thing I can’t get used to in resolve is not being able to zoom into the timeline with the trackpad like you can on PP. (I’m on a 2019 16” MBP). Just cut together a Christmas vlog though snd the more I learn resolve the less I feel the need to use Premiere. I just think since it’s what I’ve learned it’s what I’m faster in.

I think it this is it for me. Might just need to rig it a little heavier. Going to rig it out and see if some of my woes don’t go away

I had no idea! I’ll check it out

I’m a hobbyist and use it for a wide variety of things. These days mainly just for personal projects such as travel/vacation videos, nice looking family videos etc. I don’t have any pressing needs but like to make films for fun. I have used it for documentary/short videos professionally. I might invest in a cage/top handle/usb battery bank soon to give it a final stand but the rolling shutter just kills my unsteady hands. I don’t like the idea of using a gimbal. The gh5 appeals to me over the a6500 for the unlimited record time, good battery life, log profile, and really good ibis. However I’m also thinking about maybe sticking with the Sony and upgrading my lens lineup instead. We shall see

Debating on selling my A6500 system. Love the image, Auto Focus - hate the ibis, handling of the camera, battery life, expensive Sony lenses etc. I’ve seen a lot of good content produced with a GH5. Sony IBIS on this camera just doesn’t do a whole lot for me. I have shaky hands. I have tried using a manfrotto mini tripod stick as a cheap shoulder rig and it does help. But for the minimal amount I have invested in this system, I’m thinking about trying something new. Currently have only a Sony 35mm1.8. If you could recommend one lens zoom or prime what would you recommend for the GH5? Affordability is a factor as I’d have to go all in selling all my Sony gear.

First off, great topic! I echo all sentiments stated earlier. I also think it’s amazing how far camera quality has come with regards to our phones. I first got an iPhone 4 in 2010. It amazes me that in just a decade video quality is just insanely good and it fits in our pockets. I once shot a film in college using a mini tripod and ghetto rig for stabilization on my iPhone (iPhone holders hadn’t been made popular yet and the lens didn’t have IS). Now all the cell phones have cameras with IS and no ghetto rig needed! Amazing! My last .02 love it or hate it and technically not gear, would be YouTube. It has certainly made the idea of being a “filmmaker”, mainstream. Can we argue that “content creation” (cringe) is at an all time high and overly saturated with teal/orange (replace with lut of choice), 120fps 8bit “cinematic” content? Yes...but in that same regard, I feel like I am able to connect with way more people that are interested in this thing we call filmmaking, than when I stated getting into the hobby. Cheers to the next decade everyone! ((For the record I stated in 2014 with a d5200 and am currently on an a6500. ))

Purchased the base 16” model this weekend and coming from a mid 2012 retina as expected, I’m blown away! I purchased a Sony a6500 about 18 months ago and the 2012 even with transcoding, was not a smooth editing experience. The computer was simply too out of date. This new base 16” I’m happy to report is awesome. To be clear I shoot as a hobby and for my own creative projects. I uploaded about 5 minutes worth of slog2 h.264 4K footage to a 4K premiere pro timeline and I was able to breeze through the timeline with NO dropped frames. This included an adjustment layer with a lut. Performance is just a massive upgrade and I am happy!

Not sure what the deal was but I exported in prores hq- massive difference! Quality was also much better!!