John Matthews

That was super-cool! Yes. the grade was too green and would have been way better with "sunny look" to it, but the shots themselves were very nice; clearly filmed by someone with a decent eye. I saw one for about 250 euros. Detail is close to 4k and seemingly shoots above its weight.

The Panasonic HC-VX980 shoots decent 4k in the right hands too:

Yes, that would be great to have H.265, prores, or even raw. In the end, I like the deep focus. Shallow focus is really starting to look cliché at this point. My other cameras do it but framing and POV seem more important to me now. Also, I'm not seeing any issues with moiré at this point either unlike many larger cameras that I have.

I inherited my grandfather's 16mm Bell & Howell last summer. It was a great piece of equipment back in the day. I filmed my daughter on a miniDV camcorder and this week I picked up a Panasonic VX980. It made me suddenly consider ditching everything else as it's so much fun to shoot on with its glorious 400g body, auto features, and 31-626mm equiv. (1800mm digital is usable in 1080p) lens. I might find myself wanting more later, but for now I'm loving it. Amazing, for an "old" Panasonic, it has great AF. There's no real fussing about with Picture Profiles either. You just open the screen and record 1080p 50fps at 50mbps. Shooting inside? Sure it's noisy but cleans up nicely with Topaz. I just throw Film Convert on it and it looks great, with a clear, sharp, rather detailed image with nice color. Anyone else shooting these?

@MrSMW, Why wouldn't you target some of the French speaking crowd? Given what I've seen in rural France, some of the photographers and videographers are fairly old-school. Bringing in different eye would be unique. I imagine your French is fairly good now.

Here's my Panasonic 2024 travel setup: Generic bag Panasonic HC-VX980 (integrated 31-626mm lens), 2 batteries, USB power cord Panasonic GX800, 3 batteries, lenses (Panasonic 12-32mm, 17mm f/1.8, and 45mm f/1.8), USB charging cord Variable ND + CPL that fit both cameras Olympus LS-P4 audio recorder with wind muff 3 x SD cards The total weight: about 1650g. This setup is significantly less than my FF setup (especially considering I'd need a bigger bag, NDs, lenses, etc.). With the release of the new Panasonic 28-200mm, I thought I might get away with that but have since reconsidered. I like the idea of having two devices, one for video, one for photos and b-roll video. At $900, the 28-200mm's a decent deal IMO, given the size, but I'd probably need to sell the remainder of my M43 stuff. Also, I'd probably end up wanting more lenses for lower light with a FF setup.

I've had both for at least 2 years each. If your priority is size, I'd go with the GX85. If your priority is features, the E-m1 ii blows away the GX85 in almost every regard.

Exactly! It's just lazy. I guess it's better to have a lens than to not have a lens, but this lens doesn't inspire, regardless the results. The L-mount version of the lens is $1500 and the difference between a high MP L-mount camera and the OM-1 will be insignificant mounted with that lens... probably better with the L-mount anything.

Can we say the OM-1 ii is the first OM System camera? All the other releases seemed very much Olympus developed products. Really, they put a new processor, improved the AF to extend to humans, and added photo ND features. All of those look good, but maybe this camera should have been the OM-1. I'm still not 100% convinced, more like 50%. It's a strange thing because I feel like all the manufacturers are giving us great options for the same category of camera (big, fully-featured) rather than going for smaller cameras with the standard features of the past 2-3 years.

Now the GX880 is discontinued without replacement, the OMDS/Olympus E-P7 is the lightest/smallest DSLM capable of recording 4K you can currently buy on the new market. Is that correct? Over the GX880 and payment for the extra 67g, you get: proper downsampled 4k image using the full width of the M43 sensor proper IBIS much more capable shutter hotshoe and high flash sync 1/250 24fps, 25fps, and 30fps in 4k 30 minute time recording time limit better dials and handling far more color options proper sd card better battery You lose: flip up screen vs. flip down screen Panasonic menus and other Panasonic video-related features better build quality (E-P7 is VERY hollow feeling and doesn't give much confidence) better quality 60fps footage way less expensive Am I missing something?

Well, it sounds like the GX880 has been discontinued, according digixo.com, the "smallest 4k DSLM camera with a proper shutter". I'm hoping for a non EVF replacement, but I know no one thinks it'll ever happen. If M43 has only become G9ii-sized cameras, Panasonic will have problems IMO.

I know some are excited about 150-600mm rebranded Sigma FF lens. The OM-1ii sounds more like a Sony update than anything else.

Man, you really don't like the shutter in the S5ii! It doesn't bug me that much, but I have heard better.

APS-C on L-Mount is going to compete well against M43 if Panasonic continues with currently sized cameras. What would you you choose? Sure, M43 has more features and better resolution, but the FF offers more possibilities when you're not trying to go small.

Just saw another deal on the GX880 +12-32 kit for 449 euros new. Given the prices on the used market for point and shoots and small DSLM, it's super-hard to get a deal on any smallish camera theses days. According to some, no impressively small cameras will ever be made again. That would be sad and in that case, it makes sense to grab what you can.

Needs to be a DSLM. Also, we don't talk about action cams anymore on this forum. 🙂

I've owned both cameras (GX80 and E-M5 iii) for 2 years each. If you compare the image and audio only, I feel the GX80 has a slightly better image more often than the E-M5iii, but the audio is no comparison. The GX80 has usable audio until you film the same thing with the E-M5iii as you cannot hear the ibis working in it. On the GX80, you hear the ibis and focus motors if you have them going. Still, both have better audio than the GX850. Also, the continuous AF performance is night and day with the GX80 with the E-M5iii outperforming it in every aspect. The EVFs are also light years apart- way better on the E-M5iii. The GX80 does feel chunkier though, but no weather sealing.

It's close with that 27mm lens, but still bigger and priced outrageously, even used. Quality is probably in a different league to the GX850 though.

The cheapest choice with the biggest feature set is going to be a used Olympus E-M5 iii or E-M1 ii in my opinion. Both of those offer fantastic value unrivaled for their size (especially the E-M5 iii. The gotchas on both of them on the used market is the questionable usage of glues on their outer shell. The E-M1 ii often has the rubber coming. The thumb rest on the E-M5 iii often comes off and you need to be careful with not putting too heavy of a lens on it as it has a fragile tripod mount.

Read the news recently? Lived in France recently? Recently engaged politically in France? The "direction of" doesn't mean they do everything like in Hong Kong as described in the video. Have you got any knowledge the power of the president in France? No need to be rude. I assume you're talking to me but don't have the guts to quote me or respond so that I can clearly see you're talking to me.

I spend lots of time debating in my head which lens to take on a family outing. It's ridiculous. Inevitably, I think I have the wrong one. Then there's: "Do I use the EVF or the screen?" situations or "Do I take my big camera or my small camera?" Now, I have fewer lenses; so, it's better and "only" two camera possibilities. Sometimes, there's something to be said for camcorders or super zooms.

Look at The Tiger King. There was tons of old MiniDV, interlaced footage they definitely profited from. It couldn't be further from Netflix specs. Content is king. 😉 I've also seen stuff. Usually, great ideas originate from junior or female managers. Almost always, their ideas are poo-pooed by a senior manager, only to be taken up later with a different "wording" by said senior manager. Classic. Personally, I think this is better new than Panasonic shutting down one or the other division. Who knows? They might find a way to rid themselves of some unneeded employees. I find it amusing they'll start on April first 2024. I'm fairly sure the GH2 was the camera that started all of this. Once hacked, it was getting comparable results to DVX series of cameras. The shit must have hit the fan at that point. I'm fairly sure, starting from the GH4, they had reps from the pro video division having their say about what becomes "consumer" and what doesn't.

This is what Cined said: Personally, I never noticed it that much.

Is this H.264 or H.265 footage? On Panasonic, H.265 messes more with the image IMO. I remember the GH6 having crushed blacks in H.265.

Look how great 8bit is! ...10bit is better ...12bit is even better than 10bit ...I think I know where this conversation is going. According to ChatGPT, to get the most out of 8bit: Use a Flat Picture Profile: Any suggestions on Panasonic (without adjusting highlights and shadows)? Expose Carefully: I use roughly -.3 to -.7 EV comp. Anyone else? Control Contrast: that's part of the Picture Profile (on Panasonic) Use a Lens Hood: good point in general, but it makes my setup bigger. With modern lenses, does it really matter so much? White Balance: seems obvious... for those don't have multi-camera setups, do you just use auto WB? Avoid Aggressive Color Grading: of course, it's 8bit, but how far can you go? Shoot in the Best Quality: what's the minimum? 4k 100mbps -ish? What about on a tripod? Use a Tripod or Stabilization: less movement = better image? Control Lighting: obviously, but does 10bit even matter in such controlled situations?