Trek of Joy

Your situation certainly sucks. I see the same comments about everything tech related and beyond. Mac vs. PC, Canon/Nikon/Sony service, Android/iOS, Ford vs Chevy and so on. The grass isn't greener, usually. Its just the world we live in. If its not working for you, by all means find a better solution. I'm certainly no Adobe apologist, as I happily ditched Premiere. Every piece of software has bugs, lots are not addressed, sadly it never ends. I don't think that will ever change either, there are just too many usage cases to cover everything and there's always a new version in the works so some things simply get ignored. I drive a Toyota, which isn't perfect by any means, but the shortcomings are more livable than what I didn't like about the Tacoma's competitors. Same goes for using a Mac/iPhone/iPad Pro, shooting Sony and using Resolve/LR/PS and so on. Good luck. Chris

I went all in on Resolve at the beginning of the year, just the free version, and haven't looked back. You already know its the best grading software around, and the Cut tab in v16 is really nice, everything is streamlined and very logically laid out. I have free access to Premiere and I have to use it to collaborate with another editor and an ad agency my company works with, I dread using it every single time. Its just so clunky. Until they do a full FCPx style refresh, I'll only use it when I have to. Everything else is 100% Resolve. I've never used anything other than the $10/mo photo plan since Adobe went subscription, and for the money Lightroom and Photoshop can't be beat - in my opinion. Capture One is the only alternative I've seriously considered, but the cost and not enough time between jobs to spend learning a new workflow makes it a no go for now. If I can get a week to really do a deep dive, I may download the trial version and do a bunch of tutorials to get a feel for it. But I can do most of my adjustments really quick in LR, tagging and keywords are simple, its super LUT friendly, panos and HDR merges are simple, and then fine tune in PS with a few adjustment layers, there's little to be gained by switching. Again my opinion. Snapseed is great, but limited in comparison, same for mobile versions of LR and PS. LR Mobile is included in the photo plan as well. I use it a lot when I travel - which is frequent - and I like it a lot. I'd like to have the ability to merge panos and HDR images. Though Adobe says a full version of PS is coming soon. I also use Lumafusion as a mobile video editor, and despite its limitations, it's brilliant and only a one time charge of $20. But I also don't get the hate toward the subscription model, its cheaper than buying new versions every couple years (again the photo plan) and you get regular feature updates and mobile versions. $120/year is made back within a day or two of renewing my subscription. Otherwise there are plenty of alternatives. The anger in the comments of every Dpreview story on Adobe are hilarious, its just consumer goods, but people treat their business model like some kind of personal attack on them. Chris

Great thread, may want to clean up the OP as its a little confusing with some confusion between BM cameras. The Micro is more appealing to me because of 60p, and the OG pocket LCD is junk anyway. Searching ebay for a Micro..... Chris

This is the way I've always felt. The patent claim seems to be overly broad. And the comparisons to Lance Armstrong are spot on. Though if Lance was French or Spanish (Indurain, cough, cough) I seriously doubt they would have gone after him in the same manner. chris

just in time to punch all the a7r4 and a6400 buyers in the dick. that's so Sony.

Don't get discouraged. I'm on the Social team at VISIT FLORIDA, marketing is a different skillset. And social is different from "traditional" marketing. Bums me out when people tell me they hate social media after finding out what I do, especially lawyers and politicians, haha. Chris

Seems like the Tokina 11-16, Sigma 17-50/18-35/12-24/30/1.4, Canon 17-55 and similar would be my first choices for AF lenses, plus some of them are stabilized which would serve my needs as I shoot handheld a lot. Adapted is wide open, but there are some good deals these days on Zeiss ZF lenses, the original ones without electronic contacts, which can easily be adapted. Chris I don't think that would be the case, the P4k has been pretty much constantly sold out since it started shipping. Its still an amazing value and the cost + adapter is still less than the new camera. If people start dumping P4k's and prices fall, it gets even better.

Wouldn't it be electronic shutter only? With rolling shutter the still capabilities are likely pretty limited. I would just carry another body for stills. Chris

Looks amazing, great to see them leverage the body into multiple cameras, but the EF mount ... ugh. If there was ever a camera that should be a part of the L-mount, this is one of them. The s35 sensor on the P6k is appealing, files should be cleaner than the P4k and DR improved. Hopefully BMD can deliver (literally). Like Z-cam, any bets on a FF Pocket 8k coming soon? Chris

A few quick thoughts -- on the topic of hashtags, you can use hashtag generators for ideas. As suggested look for dog/puppy related ones (there are a few that have lots of action like dogsofinstagram, puppylove, dogs and so on), indie films or documentary and gear tags like GoPro, Canon 5dmkIV or Sony a7III. Follow others that are doing similar things, even dog influencers, dog food companies, anything related. Your social feeds are just talking at people, there's no engagement, so your audience has no reason to stop scrolling. Create conversation, treat IG posts like a microblog. Make sure all of your channels are feeding each other. Facebook is pretty useless without putting any money behind a post, organic engagement rates are low. Putting $10 behind a post will increase its reach dramatically. Join Facebook groups related to everything in your film, dogs, rescue groups, the camera, the plane and so on, then post to those groups. I would put your trailer on IGTV and Youtube too, just because it'll get more exposure. Post any BTS stuff too, forum geeks love that kind of content. Good luck. Chris

Agreed. I'm in a holding pattern until the fall announcements are live and Z6 raw is vetted. The Z6 and S1 are both really interesting, each has shortcomings that won't pull me from the a7III... yet. The Fp is the wildcard. My next camera will be 10-bit and have great AF, 4k60p is almost a must for me to upgrade/switch as well. I'm fully expecting to be letdown by Sony's next cameras - like 10-bit external only or something like that, but a new sensor and AF that grabs headlines and wow's the shill-bloggers. Chris

Here's another piece (not mine) with 10-bit 4:2:2 Vlog and some 60p.

The kit with a 32gb XQD and the FTZ is $600 more. A 64gb XQD is $130 and FTZ's are selling for less than $200 from people breaking up kits. I'm only looking B&H and used prices on Fred Miranda, not sure what anyone else is offering. There are other benefits to buying new if you want the full warranty and such, so I'm not ignoring that. Either way, what you get with the Z6 kits is a killer deal. Add $1000 for a Ninja V and a SSD and you have one hell of a photo/video combo that will be more of a use when the raw update is live. Chris

Do you have a Gfilm profile for the Z? I still use that from time to time. Chris

They already have smaller sensors with the Inspire cameras, it wouldn't be surprising if they essentially took those and housed them in more traditional camera bodies. They already have all the tech and the capability to produce a far better app than any current camera manufacturer. The more the merrier. Chris

Insane Z6/7 refurb deals at B&H... Z6 + 24-70/4, $1799 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1488631-REG/nikon_1598b_z_6_fx_camera_body.html Z6 Body only, $1349 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1488630-REG/nikon_1595b_z_6_fx_format_mirrorless.html Z7 Body only, $2299 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1488628-REG/nikon_1591b_z_7_fx_format_mirrorless.html Z7 + 24-70/4, $2699 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1488629-REG/nikon_1594b_z_7_fx_camera_body.html The first gen cams from Canon, Nikon and Panasonic are flatlining, prices are being pushed down fast. That Z6/lens combo is so tempting.... Chris

I don't carry anything in my pocket, its on a wrist strap or a backpack. For me there's no difference in the a6400 and the RX, the value proposition if a $1200 small sensor, fixed lens camera just isn't there for me. But ILC users aren't the target of a $1200 fixed lens camera either. These seem to be selling well, so Sony (and Canon) will keep cranking them out. Cheers Chris +1 Warmed over refreshes like the a7r3 and a6400 show they're squeezing everything out of each sensor before pushing any advancements. Fuji has been running the newer 26mp sensor for almost a year now and still nothing from Sony.

One other thought - RIP the Nikon DL 18-50 - the greatest compact zoom never made. I was really excited about that one and it would have been an immediate buy, as sometimes when walking around 24mm just isn't wide enough. My walk around lens is usually a UWA zoom like the 16-35 or 10-18 on crop. Focus tracking, HLG, 90fps and a mic jack isn't enough to make me want this camera at this price - if it were $750 it might be a different story. I'd get the a6400 with the kit lens before this - or a used XT3 with the 18-55. Hopefully others find this desirable and the used mkV drops in price, don't want the slower 200mm lens for a pocket camera. Chris

Looks nice, but $1200 for a compact. Ouch. chris

Amazing job. Again.

IMO with a “new” body on the R4, the S3 is going to get the same “update,” they aren’t going to do anything dramatically different like the S1H for a smaller volume body. Even the a9 differences were really just the top plate and hardware pieces that are interchangeable like the EVF and sensor (I know it’s a oversimplification, but...)

Sony’s market share in FF cameras is growing, until that slows what’s the incentive to push specs too far? Zero. I mean the R4 is essentially the R3 with a new sensor, better EVF and some small control refinements that allow them to milk customers for yet another grip. Panasonic is trying to launch a new system with AF that’s not particularly competitive compared to the market leaders - Canon and Sony. So they have to stuff the spec sheet elsewhere. I’m just not going to get psyched for S1 specs in an E-mount body. I’ll believe it when I see it. chris

I have the manfrotto with the foot and a cheap video head, it’s great for everything but panning as it’s pretty much impossible to keep a level horizon. But since buying it a few years back my big video tripod has gone almost completely unused. For any panning I use a gimbal these days as I can easily get a couple different looks with a straight pan, or a dolly or slider shot. I’m actually considering getting rid of my video tripod because I just never use it anymore. But I’ve always had one and in the back of my mind I keep thinking I may need to get something with a long zoom that would be impossible on a monopod or gimbal. Outside of shooting a few talking head pieces with an iPad teleprompter, I never take it into the field. Chris

The Osmo pocket got a new hyperlapse feature recently, so I’d say there’s a chance. Chris

So true. If Sony lays an egg with the a7s3 I’m picking up a S1. If the s3 really drops with a quad bayer sensor and competitive video specs that’s another story. But I don’t believe Sony will ever spec a hybrid body like the S1, that treads too far into FS5 territory. As long as people keep gobbling up 8-bit bodies, Sony will keep producing them. Look at how long it took them to drop AVCHD or unlock true uncompressed raw stills. IMO, like every Sony release, they will wow with a new sensor and show off the amazing AF because that’s what will get them tons of coverage and blogger love from the shills. But the crowd here will be disappointed by the gotchas. I’d love to be wrong, but I’m keeping expectations low. chris