John Matthews

Could you be more specific? Adapted lenses?

The Em-1x is one hell of a camera if you don't mind its size. It's an utter beast in all senses of the term. I've heard it has much better face detection even than the OM1 i in video. KEH has them for 700-800 euros, which is also a steal IMO for that beast.

If price were the main concern (and it probably shouldn't, value and needs are better to consider), I think the very best for the price are the GH5 and E-M1 ii, the later better for AF. I personally don't think 10bit vs. 8bit is really that big of a deal (depending on the usage).

Sorry, I didn't mean the E-m10 iii is better than the OM anything. I only meant it might be better than older non-PDAF bodies from Panasonic (GX850, GX85, etc.) because of the full sensor readout. Still, there are reasons to have the Panasonic bodies (better colors, handling, audio).

"People" complain about the bitrate because although the specs say it's 237mbps in C4K, it's a variable bitrate (but the UHD mode is a constant bitrate). On certain frames, it'll drop all the way down to 40mbps because it's "enough". Often you can't really see any impact of this. However, I've had issues with it. If you shoot a deep focus shot, handheld, high shutter with lots of super fine details, it'll look strange to my eye, but it's probably the shutter that screwed it up. You'll hit the limits of the 237mbps. Lock down the shot and throw on a ND, it'll look great and the bitrate won't go so high. In contrast, Panasonic's constant bitrate might break and there's nothing you can do, but in general it does look better when there's little movement in the seen (40mbps vs 100mbps). IMO, both the GH6 and GH7 are better for video because of their feature set and especially their in-camera tools (if you use them). If you're a simple histogram shooter with variable ND's and you you don't push grades, Olympus anything works fine. In many respects, the lower-end Olympus cameras(going back to E-m10 iii and E-pl9) are better. They have full-sensor readout and better continuous AF in video. The rest of the video specs are practically the same, including bitrate (both are constant).

Since you're a newbie, have you considered iMovie?

When you get it, I'd like to know what you think of the S9 when you get in hand.

What the flip is going on here? BTW, I have a question about lens caps. Which way do I turn them? I tried turning left but I accidentally hit myself in the face and chipped a tooth.

To really make the best of those old camcorders, I think there needs to be real AI solutions for moiré and aliasing. Topaz does a good job with aliasing, but there are still no solutions for moiré. Maybe someone knows of one? With my current favorite small camcorder (VX-981), I have yet to any real problems other than the usual too low of bitrate with a lot of movement and lack of detail due to noise (for a 4k image but passable for 1080p). As long as the sensor is saturated, it makes a nice, deep DOF image with its 7.5x crop (in 4k), even at f/1.8. I imagine that Panasonic had all kinds of defraction compensation going on though. Most importantly for me, anyone in the family can pick up the camera and shoot because it's just so easy.

Speaking of older cameras... I might have already posted this before, but it's still interesting IMO. On another note: I think part of the problem with shallow DOF is that you want to saturate the sensor- you often do that with shallow DOF. The trick is to saturate the sensor and still get the deep DOF to show more. So, you start adding lights and it's tricky as you also want it to appear somewhat natural. Lighting is always key (pun not intended).

This is a subject I've long wanted to discuss. Sure, it's great to have shallow DOF sometimes, but what are you really doing? Hiding? Why hide something if your subject and story great, the framing and deep focus could enhance that as long as the quality is there.

Yes, I'm sure you would. I was only referring to the MSRP. It's the natural cycle of things. Again, I'm sure they have their reasons, but it still feel like Europeans are getting screwed due to the US prices. Don't worry, I feel the same about Apple. It just feels a little like highway robbery, especially when you know other manufacturers don't do it. In Apple's case, no one else makes them. The worst part is when you realize you can fly to NYC, buy the camera, and fly back for the same cost. Something is off.

Nice shots. Colors look nice too. The whole time I was watching scared that she'd fall. I genuinely surprised she never wore a helmet. She wiped out pretty good a couple of times (of the times that made it into the final edit).

My question to ChatGPT: For some camera companies there are large differences in price between the USA and Europe. For others, there's almost no difference; sometime even less. Why? ChatGPT response: The price differences for cameras between the USA and Europe can be attributed to several factors: Taxes and Duties: European countries generally have higher VAT (Value-Added Tax) rates compared to sales taxes in the USA. Additionally, import duties can increase the cost of goods in Europe. Currency Exchange Rates: Fluctuations in exchange rates can affect the pricing of cameras. Companies may adjust prices based on current and anticipated exchange rates to protect their margins. Market Demand and Competition: Demand for certain brands and models may vary between the USA and Europe, leading companies to price their products differently. High competition in one region can drive prices down. Distribution and Logistics Costs: The cost of shipping, warehousing, and distributing cameras can differ significantly between regions. Europe, with its multiple countries and languages, might incur higher logistical costs. Manufacturer Pricing Strategies: Companies may adopt different pricing strategies based on their market presence and brand positioning in each region. They might price products higher in regions where they have a stronger brand reputation or lower competition. Warranty and Service Costs: The cost of providing after-sales services and warranties can vary. Some regions may have stricter consumer protection laws, leading to higher service costs, which are then reflected in the retail prices. Economic Conditions: Local economic conditions, including purchasing power and average income levels, can influence pricing strategies. Companies might price their products based on what they believe the local market can bear. Promotional Activities and Discounts: The frequency and extent of promotions and discounts offered can differ between the USA and Europe. For instance, the USA has significant sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday that might not be as prominent in Europe. Retail Markups: The retail landscape can differ, with different levels of markup added by retailers in each region. Retailers in one region might add higher markups compared to another, affecting the final price consumers see. Overall, these factors combine in various ways to create the observed price differences for cameras between the USA and Europe. ------- I can accept that. It still sucks though.

That doesn't really make any sense as other companies like Sony, Panasonic, and Fuji are not having the same hikes. Are you saying ONLY some camera companies are subject to European regulatory costs? Maybe someone can look up the price in England as they are not in Europe. Let's not make this about socialism vs. capitalism please- there's going to be a brawl. Trump, Hitler, and Stalin will inevitably enter into our chat. I'm sure you'll be paying the additional customs when you go back to New Zealand, right? Because a double tax makes sense? Even though if you buy something from the B&H site, you don't need to pay New York tax AND your home country tax. That could be. Personally, I think Nikon just follows Canon because they do it too. Both are in the 1.35 times ball park. Both are horrendous IMO. Yeah, I don't buy Apple products unless they are on sale at the educational store where I live (I work in Education; so, it's legit :-) ).

This is what I keep finding in France: The pricing is also consistent with the Nikon ZF, which is also $700 more expensive (after conversion). There's no doubt about it- Nikon asks a lot more from Europeans and seems to be far more competitive in the USA. It's not unheard of though. You can get an iMac for $1200 at B&H or the same one for about $450 more in Europe. The Sony A7iv is $2500 at B&H but not much more in Europe (2500 euros). I think it's really about company policy. What confuses me about pricing is that the Z6ii was launched at 2200 euros and $2000 respectively. With the Z6iii, Nikon is really going out of the "low-end full frame" market by bumping up the MSRP to 3000 euros. I'd always thought Nikon was more of a value brand, bang for the buck over Canon. I don't know what to think. Maybe there will be another low-end FF camera from Nikon?

I was watching the Petapixel review. I was more worried about cadence, but I'm not so sure of the conditions it was shot. If you watch Chris on the swing, it looked strange. I warn you it's during their KEH ad at 1m30s.

It's unfair pricing policies like this that might push someone to do such a thing. Are you saying you should never take a Nikon camera to avoid suspicion of illegal activity? It's not as if cameras are meant for travel, right? Maybe Nikon cameras are on Customs' radar? You'd do better to have your receipts, I guess.

Maybe Nikon has higher failure rates after one year? Due to the 2 year warranty, they had to jack up the prices? It could also be that Nikon cameras are just that desirable in Europe? I don't I'm at a loss to understand. It seems like a flagrant "tax" on European customers. There might be an upside- buy it in the USA, sell it in Europe a year later- you might not lose any money on it after using it for a full year.

Yeah, I noticed the first time when I saw the pricing for the Nikon Zf, $2000 in USA, and $2500 in France. I thought at the time it was a one-off, but I guess not- this is apparently Nikon's pricing policy. Again, this is not the case with Panasonic. For that reason alone, I'd wait until I go to the USA, seriously. For the price of 3000 euros, you could two Panasonic S9s. Granted, the usage isn't the same, but I find that fact amazing.

You've got to be kidding. Who does that? Granted, if you buy ten of them, it's different. Why is Panasonic almost always less expensive then? You have the same warranty laws. Seriously, Nikon is screwing the Europeans. Why? I'm not trying to be difficult. I just want to know why.

My feeling is that the GH6 is prioritizing the midtones whereas the G9ii and S5ii are prioritizing dynamic range. Could that be the reason? As I'm 50 years old, I cannot honestly tell that much of a difference between the 4k and the 1080p that is oversampled. Also, I always turn off sharpening and NR. For me, the image looks acceptable. Is it 2024 awesome image quality? Maybe not, but I doubt anyone could tell the difference that much. It sounds like the GH7 is the one for you in that it really has that internal raw capability and you can add what you want in post. For me, I know way less than those Panasonic engineers and I'm just going to tweak the settings they gave me- good enough, job done, and Bob's your uncle. (I was looking for an opportunity to use that phrase- not British).

Yes, but you'll pay $2500 at the end of the day (including sales tax) with that Payboo B&H card scheme. In Europe, you're going to pay about $715 dollars more. No joke. We're back to 1990's price differences where you can purchase a ticket to NYC and back, buy your camera, and have a good weekend of travel.

Why is it that Nikon hits Europeans so hard. USA price is roughly $2500 at B&H (with their credit card scheme) and in Europe it's 3000 euros ($3215) with tax. In Panasonic world, the prices are almost always lower in Europe than in the USA. That's a heavy hit.

Now I understand why they cost so much. Damn, I would not want to be the engineer to design and produce such a contraption. There would have to be a huge hidden cost with every minute change in chassis.