MrSMW

I’ve been so tempted with a used OG GFX100 except for one thing and that is no AF zoom option outside of the native lenses which for me are either too big or too slow. Or both. Now if Fuji X was just full-frame instead of APSC… Nah, I’ll stick with my A7RV. S1R is a VERY good option for the price though 👍

I really wish they would bring that to Sony cameras. I have just bought a screen protector that I am going to tape up in that aspect ratio however as a ‘fix’.

^ Dirty Sony Talk ^ But as it’s Andrew’s site… 🫡

I should add that compared to the SL3, would I consider or go that route? At 7k for the body alone? Nope. For the same money, ie, if the SL3 was the same price as the A7RV used? Possibly/probably if only to scratch that Leica itch. But then for travel purposes, bigger camera and bigger lenses, so maybe not. It will be interesting to see if A. there is any kind of S2R and then B. what it is, but struggling to see past the A7RV right now for anything hi res and compact(ish).

I considered both for my needs and in the end went for something ‘in the middle’, the A7RV. And I can’t really fault it. It’s a much better piece of kit than the A7CR (better lens platform, vastly better rear screen, 2 card slots…) and not far off the 100mp sensor of the Fuji whilst being more compact and offering far more lens options, never mind the far superior AF. For travel, I’d say its case goes up even further based on the size and weight of the body and the lenses. I know one thing based on my most recent trip to Paris and that is I would not go out on any serious urban or landscape shoot without my 70-180 again. I have mine with the Tamron f2.8 trio of; 20-40, 28-75, 70-180 and when you also factor in one click switch to 26mp crop mode, the focal range and sheer quality of output from such a compact small bag set up, is bonkers. And cost-wise, all available on the used market at pretty decent prices. I think you could score the lot for around 5k not including anything you might sell to help fund it. Japan is No.1 on my bucket list. I would even need to think about what I’d take because it would be this body and 3 lens set up with one small bag.

Nope. I bought it as a pure stills machine and I will stop there so as not to pollute this thread with dirty Sony talk.

Agreed. Sold the S1H to find the A7RV. That is what I would also rather see; a 60mp and a 24mp model. Pretty much an instant sale for (to) me.

All of that is pretty much the S1H with the sensor from the SL3. Job done!

S1H level of build quality as a minimum including damped shutter button. Rear screen a la S1H. High res rear screen, unlike the S5ii which is ‘average’. Better AF than the S5ii which is ‘decent’ but no more than that. Full 6k 50/60p. 60mp for stills for both detail and ability to crop. Available March 2025 latest. S2H and S2R or one single camera, I don’t mind but they would have my money instantly. Rather than Nikon or Sony who almost certainly otherwise will. Bonuses, but not deal-breakers for me would be: Internal raw Some kind of ‘colour by Arri’ match up like Nikon/RED. That would really put LUMIX on the filmmakers map at least. Options that aren’t just fucking black! I mean I probably would go with black when it came to it, but a series of classy colours would give the thing more appeal to a wider demographic simply by having the option. But keep the colours the same as other models such as the S9 etc so folks can match their kit.

Well I’m not one to throw the baby out with the bath water as they say, but it’s certainly looking that my time with L Mount peaked and will stop at some point with the S5ii. That point will probably be when the ability to burn a lut into N-log happens. Prior to that happening…and assuming it will, then it doesn’t stop my S5ii working. Pretty sad if it’s the end of the road for full-frame. If…

I'm going to wait for the G97.5

😚

I would happily go back to shooting film for weddings...except I worked out I would lose money on every job and my accountant says this would be a bad thing? 🤔 But seriously, tech has to progress or sales tank. That is just how shit works. 1080 becomes 4k becomes 8k becomes one day not so far away, 12k etc because it has to. It does not stop individuals buying a €50 off eBay and buying a roll of 36, but they are a tiny minority of consumers. Personally, I don't much care about the future of Camera Land as I am already at peak camera for my needs. Yes, I would like it all within one brand/system and am hoping that happens sometime soon, but do need it and am not chasing it as such. The biggest shame for me with tech is that it can overshadow craft. And that is pretty sad.

I have never really cared for Sony as a brand personally though previously owned several of their cameras, primarily the RX100V and RX10ii…though neither of these were MILC’s obviously. My 30+ year career has principally been: Nikon F film cameras, followed by Nikon digital in the early 2000’s and then around 9 years with Fuji X Mount. 2021, I moved to L Mount with the S5 followed by S1H, S1R and S5ii. I have dabbled at times with M4/3 but never really got on with it due to low light needs for video and ultimate stills quality. For my needs, larger sensors simply are better. The only major brand I have never used is Canon. My needs are hybrid. Either within a single camera, or multiple cameras designated ‘video’ or ‘stills’. And then there are lenses… Over the years, I have often found it’s ’another brand’ that has the lens I would ideally prefer, but it’s not available or does not have an equivalent for whatever is my current system. That is not so much the case anymore but only happened within the last 1-2 years so now it’s very much a case of most…or at least more camera brands can meet my needs. Or can they…?? L Mount, my current choice for video. Has the lenses, good AF, 6k 30p (would prefer 50/60p but not a dealbreaker) excellent IBIS, multiple frame markers/cropping, ie, if I want to shoot CinemaScope, I don’t need to stick tape over my screen or simply try and imagine it. Plus I can burn my LUT into it. Who else has that? Nobody as far as I am aware? Nikon has their new RED luts and I think are just getting going and the Z6iii has some of the features I would like, but also missing some and these currently are dealbreakers, namely the in camera crop markers and cannot burn in a lut. Where L Mount currently fail for me is as stills cameras. The S1R is just a bit too old but could be made to work but it’s the SL3 I want but cannot afford. The S5ii, my current video workhorse has too clunky a shutter sound and feel for my tastes. I prefer the the S1H over the S5ii for stills but then 24mp is a bit low for my needs these days. Step forward Sony. That brand I have largely avoided. Mostly because they never seemed to care about the last 10% of build quality or features or actual ability. Stuff like right up to the A7Riv which had and has excellent image quality, but lacks a decent rear screen. The A7CR looked great to me except, crappy rear screen again and single card slot. Briefly, Fuji medium format. Love the bodies, less so the lenses. I kept circling around the A7RV but in the end came to the conclusion that for my needs as least, it was and still is unbeatable as a stills platform. Compact enough to stick a small prime on it and due to it’s 61mp sensor, so much range. With a baseplate smaller to mid-sized zooms and larger/longer primes become very viable. Stick a battery grip on it and the largest of zooms etc now all work. The closest for me is the Z8 and I could make that work but the only slight reservation is the lack of mechanical shutter. But where is it all going (including this ramble 🥱?) Sony might not have the heritage of a Leica or a Hasselblad or a Nikon, but arguably offer the most today. Nikon I reckon a close second because of the mount and ability to adapt E Mount lenses…but with a slight reservation in that regard and that is native on camera adjustments do not happen so you don’t always get quite the same result as you do with using a Sony body. Canon falls short with their lack of middle ground lenses and seem to me a bit over-priced compared with their peers. Fuji APSC almost does it for me except it’s APSC and their is a difference between that and full-frame and their has been AF issues. A good lens line up though. And then there is the curio that is L Mount… Leica, the aspirational brand where 50% of what you are paying for is a red dot 🔴 OK, supposedly a great interface and build and mythical/perhaps real, image quality, but so many niggles also… Sigma: Promising cameras with the FP and FP-L but no sign of anything to follow and these were and are so compromised as much as I want to love them. So close but just one generation away from being great. And LUMIX…full-frame LUMIX. IMO, one generation away from being great. The S5ii is arguably the greatest video tool of it’s type and price but lacks a bit in a few areas and I would class as: Video = great Hybrid = good Stills = OK The S1R flips the above in reverse. The S1H scores 3x good for me but trumps them all in build and feel etc. What LUMIX need, is a next gen S1H/S1R spec in an S5ii sized body with the polish of the S1H. In summary, for me right now, Sony and Nikon offer me the best stills options and potential hybrid options, but currently do not regarding the latter and so I remain with L Mount until either they do or LUMIX bring out a next gen S line. Whereas I once believed it inevitable that they would, ie, a LUMIX badged Leica SL3, I am now on the fence whether that will happen, or anything at all. Meanwhile, all Nikon really need to do (for me), is allow me to burn in a lut and add frame markers and happy days, I will end my career back with the brand I started it all with. Z8 for ‘pro’ stills (could flip to this right now) Zf for hybrid (have it already) Z6iii for video, but currently falls short based on the 2 factors above. The bottom line for me is all the tools are available, but it’s slightly frustrating I need to mix and not always match, a variety of brands to make things work for my needs.

To quantify, I mean ALL my needs within a single brand, ie, they cover my needs between them, but I’d rather have it all within one system.