newfoundmass

It certainly can't hurt! Even learning just the basics is a good skill to have. It will help get the most out of the tools and resources that are available to you, especially if you use something like the TAKSTAR so it sounds nicer. It's something I've personally been working on, and have spent the most time learning.

It's not enough anymore to say the C300 "creates great images" because, at this point, you can use a $500 G7 to create great images. Are there things about the C300's image that are better? Of course, but when it comes to the standard of image quality, virtually every camera maker has gotten to the level where you can get results only dreamed about 10 years ago AND on a budget! We truly are fortunate / spoiled, given we're even able to have this conversation!

While this is true, you're fighting an uphill battle using it with most Canon cameras because of the lousy preamps. Using it for dual audio is an option, but for many, especially those doing personal / non-commercial work, that just adds an unnecessary extra step. The TAKSTAR might be a viable option for you @Snowbro, if you're on a budget. There are a lot of videos out there on YouTube showing how decent it is for such a cheap mic. You're not going to get out of this world build quality, but you can get usable sound from it and it has a gain switch so you can lower your preamps. I have one that I use as a 3rd mic/backup and I feel it's well worth the money, though I've become quite the Azden convert

The VideoMic Pro + is great, especially with the auto off and on function, but it's so expensive and I don't notice much, if any, sound difference between the new Azden mics and the Rode mics, certainly not $100 worth of difference!

I only watched on my phone without headphones, but it doesn't sound... Terrible... But it doesn't sound great either, ha ha. The micro is really great for Sony and Panasonic cameras, but not so much for Canon. You're going to want to get a mic that can add +20 dB so that you can turn your camera audio levels down as far as possible. I've been using my friend's Azden SMX-15 and I really, really like it.

Honestly any camera that produces a good picture and is at least 1080p is relevant in 2018. We're so spoiled these days!

Correct, it uses a smaller portion of the sensor. I haven't done the math but it gives ya that little extra reach without quality loss. I'd test it out, you can assign it to a button to turn it on and off when you need it. It's also useful when using vintage lenses that don't completely cover the sensor.

B&H is running a sale on the Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 Canon lens today for $599, the lowest I've seen it for new. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/967344-REG

So ETC isn't an option?

The really nice thing about the AF100 is that it outputs 10 bit 4:2:2 via HDMI. Hook it up to one of the HD Atomos recorders that you can get for little money used these days and you can get great quality footage that you can work with in post.

Might be helpful

Have you tried activating Extra Tele Conversion on the GH5? It adds reach without quality loss. You can create a custom button to turn it on and off, I believe, and it'll give you a bit of extra reach.

Quite a few people edit 4K on laptops pretty easily. I have a year old gaming laptop that plays and edits 4K pretty well, even without using proxies. Obviously a desktop will handle it better but it's doable.

Apparently even the slightest bit of dust could cause keys to stop working.

I feel like it depends on what your editing preferences are. I'm not familiar with the Surface Books, outside of the commercials. I can't help but imagine though that you'd get better performance with FCP on the MacBook Pro than with Resolve on the Surface, simply because FCP is so fine tuned to work on Mac systems. With that said, I might hold off on getting a MacBook Pro until the next update, given the issues people have had with the keyboard and stuff. Is there a reason you're specifically looking at a Surface?

Vimeo users have gradually declined in the last 3 years, even among professionals.

I believe EposVox on YouTube said Z Cam was going to be sending him a copy to review.

I can definitely see better cameras coming out in the next year for under $1000, though none that do 120fps in 4K. But I'd consider it too at that price.

Anyone here taking a chance on this?

Pre orders are open. It'll be interesting to see this possibly in capable hands, given how meh the footage Z Cam has released. I don't have high hopes, but we'll see.

I know Caleb Pike is in the process of working on a video that covers this.

I think, for the money, SLR Magic anamorphic lenses look fine. You get what you pay for, really, which in this case is acceptable. Renting nicer lenses for the cost of what you'd pay to own the SLR Magic ones, unless you're on a larger budget film, doesn't really make sense to me. If you're going to get enough use out of them, then buy them and then sell them in a couple years when you're (hopefully) in a better position. For real indie films, music videos, etc. it makes a ton of more sense vs. renting.

These days IS is so good that it doesn't matter for a lot of cameras. I've left it on accidentally and it was fine. HOWEVER it's good practice, and worth playing it safe, to turn it off.

Thanks for the review @KnightsFan!

Doesn't h.265 require even more processing power than h.264?