MrSMW

I quite like it, but would I buy it? Nope. I'd rather have the OM5 or the original (digital) OM1 that was the last one to have OLYMPUS on the front. I do wish my Nikon Zf was more this size though as that's my only real niggle with it, - it's a bit large for what it is.

Oh and Leica also have a range of APSC lenses don’t they and until recently had a range of bodies to suit… OK, I must have been having some kind of brain fade when I commented the other day. However/so, the S9 makes for a brilliant APSC lens platform/camera system then! I even have mine right now and since it arrived with the Sigma 18-50mm on it 🤦🏻‍♂️

I forgot that Sigma has APSC lenses and I own one of them! Duh! Well OK, a body is not such a bad thing then and maybe they could do a collab with Sigma for something to replace the FP, just APSC?

They are not going to make an APSC because they would piss their FF market off big time when we are literally screaming for successors to the S line. It’s not just the bodies but an entire lens line is required. ”Just use the existing FF lenses?” In that case, your FF camera is also APSC. It’s called cropping. And M4/3 users would flip out also and feel they were being neglected. I doubt very much the market is there anyway and they are hardly the biggest player who can take a punt. Nah, can’t see it. At all.

A. Because I already have it and can’t really sell it due to some ‘cosmetic issues’ and B. Because free is ‘better’ than spending €2k on the alternative! The reality is, it’s almost certainly going to be the set of 3 primes though because I don’t think I can now actually give up 6k 30p open gate 🤪 My money is on an S2R, new body, pretty much Leica SL3 spec, but we’ll see…

A power tool and a camera had a baby!

Actually... 🤔 I'm on the fence over something... I am not a procrastinator by nature but instead quite decisive, but finances... I know what I'd prefer to do, but cost has to come into it, even for a business. As things stand, I have my video bodies nailed down; 2x S5II's plus an S9. I can't see me ever 'needing' anything beyond these 3 bodies. For lenses, 2 of them are nailed; the Lumix 70-200mm f4 and the Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 I'm still flip-flopping on the lens or lenses for the S9 however; the APSC 18-50mm f2.8 or 3x primes... I'd go for the primes finances aside, but they are a €2k option, which on it's own is doable. But, on the photo side, although I have the A7RV plus 3 lenses which are near perfect for my needs, I would still prefer a single one and done video + lens option. I could do that with the A7RV, but it would require the Tamron 35-150...but then it's not really one and done because 35mm is not wide enough for all my needs, plus the lens is too big, too heavy and extends too far. So it's a no. Also, I would ideally all have it within one system so lens are compatible and possibly batteries which is why I am particularly interested in any potential S2R. And that I'd pair with the Sigma 28-105mm f2.8 because with cropping, it can do my longer stuff. One & done. But if this thing appears any time soon and there are strong rumours it may be announced this month, how much is it going to retail for? I'm thinking no change from €4k and that lens is €1.5k so an investment of €5.5k. If I buy the 3x primes also, it's €7.5k. On the other hand, if I do buy the S2R and 28-105, I will be able to offset some of that cost because I will be selling the A7RV and 3x Tamron lenses, so maybe €3-3.5k which would bring the 'cost-to-trade' to more like €2k. So from a financial perspective the decision I have made is it will either be the S2R + 28-105, or 3x primes and the determining factor will be what the S2R will be when announced and when (if) it is announced, because later than April and it's too late for this year. Unless I also sell my Nikon Zf and then I could do both options...

Thanks but I don’t need to cover that many focal lengths with a single unit as I have three for the purpose. The unit with the 70-200 is purely for the longer stuff but I’d prefer it to be faster if possible, but with any kind of range, f2.8 is the limit. Sigma do their fantastic 70-200 f2.8 but it’s a bit big, a bit heavy and more than a bit over budget! Pretty sure I will just stick with the 70-200 f4…

Good to know. I might just get one as a back up more than anything such as one of those days when it is going to be well over 30c...

@ntblowz what’s the fan you have on there?

Except they went more for the ‘content creator’ market than the photography one where the X100 is aimed. As photo cameras, take away the mech leaf shutter, the viewfinder, the internal ND, the hotshoe… and send it out into battle with an f8 lens, people are going to point and laugh. And they did. I still bought one. Sold it. Recently rebought, but would I consider or use it as an alternative to an X100? Nah. For me although it can be used as a stills camera, it’s exactly what it’s meant to be, - a compact filmmakers or content creators tool.

Light rain a few times, but as my other 3 cameras and lenses are all weather-sealed… And nope, only ever had one card failure and that was about 15 years ago immediately after it came out of someone else’s camera. Coincidence? I don’t know but binned it and nothing since in 15 hard years use. But there is always the possibility…

I hear you. I have actually decided, for the moment at least, to not buy any new (used) Lumix primes but instead actually drop shooting 6k 30p and go back to 4k 50p and in APSC crop mode so I can use my 'tiny' Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 (FF 27-75 equivalent). It will save me spending around €2k on 3 primes which would give me a greater focal range, but only when swapping out lenses and in the end I decided having the flexibility of '27-75' at all times would beat having 18 or 50 or 100 at any single time. Also I am going to have to give up the lower light capability of 6k 30p vs 4k 50p and f1.8 vs f2.8, but it's like all things, a compromise somewhere. I have my 2x bigger units for static stuff and this particular unit has a more general role and flexibility, portability, speed of use and size + weight are the most important factors. I just weighed the full rig and it's just under 2kg. It's 1.91kg to be precise. That is: S9 + grip + lens + mic + freestanding monopod and does everything from low level, to eye height static to in hand to 'gimbal-like' in one uber-portable package. The only thing it really lacks is all-weather capability as neither the body nor the lens are properly weather sealed, but then my work doesn't really require it.

I forgot about the ZV1 and used to own one of those also! Yes, the S9 is a bit chunkier than the LX100, but I quite like that. The pair of them are about the ball park for a ‘compact’ for me with the RX/ZV being a bit small personally. Not that I have big hands or anything but there is small and too small and I like a bit of chunk!

While I am at it, here is the Lumix LX100ii vs the Lumix S9 with the new 18-40mm lens. The FF camera is not that much bigger but IMO needs the Smallrig grip but the lens size is perfect, albeit a bit slow for indoor use...

Sony RX100 series on the left, jeans pocket easily enough and a decent wide to medium zoom, ND and relatively fast aperture for a 1 inch sensor. Lumix LX100ii will squeeze into non-tight trouser/pants pocket and has a bigger sensor. Leica Q3 isn't much bigger but we're talking jacket pocket now and has a fixed lens, but with a 61mp FF sensor, a lot of cropping power. As much cropping power as the same sensor Sony A7CR at less than 1/2 the price and with a constant aperture f2.8 zoom, albeit a bit bigger still. Finally, the A7RV with the same lens as the A7CR but a much better camera in almost every regard and barely bigger, but costs more. The latter 2 cameras are strap or small bag territory now though. I think for a compact, the Lumix is actually where it's at for size, so something like that please with a FF sensor like maybe the 33mp one from the Sony A7iv? It would almost certainly need a different lens, but a shorter zoom such as a 28-45 f2.8 should be no bigger than 28mm f1.7 on the Leica?

How compact does a compact need to be?

Indeed. My interest in a lot of these compacts evaporated when instead of faster, wide to moderate focal lengths, they went all superzoom. I honestly don't give a shit about zooming out to 400mm at f16 FF equivalent as it's totally unrelatable for my needs. I had the RX100V and they then went all long zoom. I had the RX100II prior to that and they did the same thing with subsequent models. Killed it for me. Give me a bigger sensor every single day, but one that allows for reduced file sizes and have crop zoom features etc. 60mp or even 100mp with these features is where it's at for me. Leica Q3 is fantastic in this regard, but obviously the price is stupid as we all know it's approx double the price for the 'privilege' of that red dot, but something like that at 100mp would be a stunner, especially if the fixed focal length was switched out for something like a 28-50mm fast lens. It would probably need to be an f2.8 because Sigma have shown what they can do with a 28-45mm f1.8 and whilst it's not insanely massive, it's absolutely nothing you could nail to a body and call compact. Sigma have also shown what they can do with their 18-50mm f2.8, but it's APSC crop. Panny with their 18-40mm FF lens is very compact, but a bit too slow at f4.5-6.3 which might be OK as a casual walkabout day time lens, but anything more than that, is not for me. Maybe a fixed focal length would have to be it right now and I'd choose a fast one of those with great crop potential over a slow(er) slow lens.

I still say that my A7RV is my compact camera. For its size and ergos with a small lens, OK it’s not exactly RX100V, but that thing was too small and fiddly for me. I will still trade it and the 3 compactish zoom lenses I have as soon as any S2R appears, and pair it with Sigma’s 28-105mm f2.8…which will in no way be compact, but it will continue my ethos of a compact kit. I think with any kit, it still comes down to how you use it, where & when you use and even if you will use it. Right now, out of all the cameras I have ever had and are available, I would still nominate the A7RV with a small lens as the best compact camera I have ever had. The A7CR should be my compact of choice, but nah, too many niggly things over the A7RV. So whether it be a family occasion to a city break to a safari, for primarily photo, I’m going to stick with my A7RV. Until any S2R appears and then it will be gone. Because I can’t keep them all.

I would like a compact actually and either an updated version of Sony's R1XR or something like a 60mp Lumix S9. With the latter, I think they might need to beef up the build a little and maybe swap out the SD card for CF and for a lens...oh, Lumix don't do any compact fast lenses do they... Fuji are supposed to be having their large sensor compact on it's way, but without IBIS so not so much interested.

Canon now has an Only Fans page.

I read the above as ‘only fans’ and couldn’t work out the connection. Then I reread it. What is it with teenage girls and compact cameras? My daughter, also at uni (though she is 20 and not a teenager anymore) was asking just the other day about a Canon Powershot SX2 and it turned out due to some social media hype. She has no interest in cameras or photography but their is some kind of hype thing going on it seems and as has been mentioned, as with IG filters, it will probably be a fad that will soon pass.

Which has now got me thinking again about doing this with one of my FF Lumix cameras which when shooting raw only, can do about 6 seconds I think at 30fps.

Different strokes for different folks as they say… Despite being a full-time pro photographer (not so much at this time of year though) or perhaps despite being, I prefer my phone. I like the idea of a compact but the simple reality is that old adage of the best camera you have is the one you carry with you. And 2 devices at all times is 1 too many for me. If I was going on a serious trip, I’d take some serious kit. Not the entire kit, but enough to do the job without taking over from the purpose of the trip. Unless it was specifically a photography thing. So send me out today with 1k burning a hole in my pocket for an every day compact and I’d come back with a phone. But I will take your Sony A7RV sensor based compact for work purposes please Andrew!

I suspect though, that because I use a 1/8th mist at all times (shoot me), my image is somewhat less digital anyway, hence why I have not really noticed any difference moving from S5 to S5II. Plus I changed from shooting log with the S5 and grading in post, to burning my LUT into my S5II in camera, so also no direct comparison.