MrSMW

"The file appears to be an unsupported raw..." (can't read the rest of it). It doesn't look like there is Adobe support yet whether it's Photoshop, Lightroom or DNG Converter.

Well I'm probably going to be getting a pair. Loving my Panny S5 but the autofocus is still troubling me... However, it is superb in so many ways so most likely it's going to end up as my sole Panasonic body, with the 20-60mm lens and be my personal/travel/landscape camera for which it is very well suited. Plus, for static, manual focus only, video duty at weddings, it should also be excellent. Two out of two boxes ticked and justifies it's keep. But for faster paced true hybrid stills/AF video, 4k 60p, IBIS, good if not quite class leading AF, compact, f1.8 primes, rugged build...well I think a pair of Z6ii's have my name on them unless there is anything after launch that suggests they won't be the most suited on the market for my needs. I've looked at Canon and Sony and nah, not for me for various reasons. NP Alliance it is!

One of the bonuses coming from the XT3, - it's the exact opposite and the grip is superb!

Couldn’t really say on 2 counts... First, I have never owned a GH series camera, though I have had an Olympus 5ii four years ago, but used it on a monopod for video. Second, depends how and what you use IBIS for. For me it would be for ‘tripod’ mode, ie, no movement. Not even a gentle pan. From what I have seen, 99% of IBIS tests seem to be vloggers walking and talking to camera or trying to replicate gimbal moves whilst stating that IBIS is not a replacement for a gimbal. But I can say that compared to a tripod, for my needs (elements within my framing move and I do not), it’s pretty bloody good!

I am pretty sure if I had not gone for the Panny S5, I would have gone for the Z6s/Z6ii or whatever they are going to call it. The S1’s were/are too big for me and the Sony’s might be competent and the continual Canon shenanigans don’t endear me to their brand. Bottom line is the quality of both stills and video does it for me with Panny and any other issues are a workaround. I agree though, the lenses are not there yet. At least not from Panny alone plus they are a bit big. The Leica options are beyond my pay grade though there are some interesting Sigma options. In November, there will be the first of the new f1.8’s in 85mm flavour and a target for me, followed by I think 24, 35 and a 50? But I digress and wanted to say I like Nikon’s 1.8 line up for Z Mount. The 20mm, 35mm and 85mm would have been all I ever needed or wanted. What was missing for me with the original Z was twin card slots and 4K 60p internal, 10 bit, preferably 422, but 420 would have been OK. Otherwise I’d have gone back to Nikon in 2019. I really hope they don’t cock this up as we don’t really need another fiasco, - too much drama in and out of the industry!

Ah OK. That’s alright, I shoot 4k 50p so it’s already cropped 🤪

Right, tried it and like it. Fine detail is another league to Lightroom. Another league. In order to get the most out of Fuji X files, I have been batch editing the raws through Iridient X Transformer which then demosaics them in some 'special' way and then spits out a set of DNG's. It's slightly laborious as it takes around 2 hours for say a 500 image wedding. I then work these in LR which then chucks them out as finished Jpegs. Well I just tried a few images in Rawtherapee and did nothing but import the raw files and told it to export them as large Jpegs at the default settings. I then imported this Jpeg alongside the original large Panny Jpeg and holy moly, night and day. I thought LR was allegedly not doing so well with the fine detail with Fuji, but it looks like with at least Panny as well. The only downside to this is I'd need to batch approx 500 raws through Rawtherapee and then into LR as I have a special sauce preset for my 'look'. Lot's of playing to do over the Winter and I'm not going to jump wholesale into anything else right now, partly because I don't have another wedding until April '21 soonest and partly because it will be interesting to see how Panny raw files do in LR directly when Adobe gets it's finger out. But thanks indeed for the heads up on Rawtherapee! Apologies for the non-video (but S5) talk folks!

On it. Thanks. What does that mean/how does it work?

There's only one thing bothering me right now (apart from the weather that is preventing me from getting out and shooting) and that is the raw files not opening in LR. I've tried a Windows 10 compatible exif data changer but my test file is still reading DC-S5 even though I keep changing it to DC-S1 or DC-S1H. I have never tried changing Exif data before so don't really know what I'm doing but if anyone knows, until Adobe get on it, should I be trying to change the Exif data or trying to convert it to a .DNG file? Hey @ntblowz your S5 looks just like my S5!

Revisiting this topic because it’s pretty much what I have done which is move to Panasonic as my A cam, but S5 rather than S1. The smaller size and ‘improved’ AF were just enough to trigger the move. XT3 which I still rate very highly, had moved into more of a B cam role, specifically longer form static stuff which I can lock off in manual focus and leave for up to 30 minutes plus as my handheld or monopod AF camera. Still testing and fine-tuning the S5 and it may still do the AF role also, but as things stand, it’s MF only right now as it’s not quite reliable enough. Maybe some further tweaking and even a firmware update will make it possible but unless the firmware update that is coming to S1 cameras later this year as a small leapfrog update they also bring to the S5...well it would be next year or not at all. Is there anything much more they could do with a contrast based AF though? I don’t know much about that kind of thing...

So here’s a quick iPhone snap of my new stills and manual focus video unit (the S5) and my old but repurposed XT3 with battery grip plus Fringer plus Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 which is my ‘new’ static manual focus video camera and occasional autofocus (because I do not yet trust the S5 and may never do so). Battery grip with the XT3 because it needs so it has some power and can record for more than 20 mins (albeit 30 max) and for the ergos those very rare times it will be handheld. 500g which is nearly a lb in old money difference in weight and obviously the XT3 combo is a lot bigger in the hand.

24-70 f2 that is smaller, lighter and that bit wider than Canon’s 28-70. Actually, I’d be happy with something like a 25-50 f2 in L Mount as long as it didn’t have so much mass it had it’s own gravity to suck in small planets and other space debris. Basically like a full frame version of the APSC 18-35mm f1.8. I really like Panny’s 20-60...so far, but it’s a bit sloooow in low light being 5.6 at the long end. The reality is probably not much that is ‘interesting’ but we can live in hope...

Sigma FP2 with...tilt screen, 4k 60p 10 bit 422 internal, hotshoe with clip on viewfinder. And IBIS. I will let you keep the electronic only shutter. This time. Thanks.

‘Working’ is a very loose term in 2020 as most of us are on a gap year. For me, as things stand, it will be a staggering 1 single days paid shoot in 18 months from the end of last season to the start of next. I think when it comes to spending money on anything you have to do the best research you can, consider YOUR needs and not others and at some point, take a punt. I don’t use a gimbal myself and can’t see a scenario where I would but if I did, I probably wouldn’t choose the S5 but something Canon or Sony flavoured for more reliable AF. My needs are much more static and to that end, unless I uncover another fundamental flaw, the S5 will suit me very well. I wonder if they will come out with R and H versions like the S1 model...? Oh and in regard to that weird background pulsing, I still have some more testing to do but it seems like turning down tracking speed and sensitivity to minus values resolves it...

Check but you should be as long as preordered and paid for a unit from your country of residence. Because I am a Brit living in France but purchased from the UK, they have stated, “ha we have you on a technicality there according to the small print so get lost”. It’s a really shitty thing for a large corporation to be doing to an individual but in this case it’s Panasonic UK or some grumpy-arsed individual working for them who probably takes delight in being petty. Anyway, it’s also another topic so I’ll shut up about it. Doesn’t endear need to Panasonic as a company or brand though...

Less than 5% of my weddings in France are legal Steve as in they are ‘destination weddings’ so all bar a few locals, already done the legal bit in their home country. The result of this is instead of the typical 1/2 to full day wedding (500+ of which I did previously in the UK over 16 years so know exactly what you are talking about!) here tend to be more relaxed 2-3 day affairs. They all still go through some form of ceremony, either with an official celebrant, or a priest or a friend more often than not, but these things tend to be more like 15-20 mins. Unless it’s a local and then it’s 60+ mins of Catholic mass, but that’s a rarity. Speeches same as everywhere though so principally 3. Unless they are Canadian and it’s more like 13. Or Scandi and it’s open mic time, singing and taking another shot. None of which I know has anything to do with the S5!

Oh yes, so it does! Fixed. I can see again!

At present I only have the 20-60mm kit lens. It’s quite impressive actually and will principally be my wide angle for stills. Pretty dreadful in low light at the long end being just f5.6 however! Not that I will ever use it like that... I should have the Sigma 45mm f2.8 but Panasonic are so far refusing to honor the preorder offer. Also refusing to even correspond in regard to it which is totally bizarre as all my communications have been extremely polite... But that aside, my plan is the 35mm f1.8 and 85mm f1.8 next Spring. Pretty sure that for my needs they will be the sweet spot for size, weight, shallow enough DOF and price, plus being native, play the nicest with the AF!

It looks good but it’s a real struggle outdoors in even moderately bright light. Any option to set light or dark, users preference, like *cough* DPreview?

I might if I did not have an XT3, constant f2.8 zoom, 30 mins recording and an Anker power bank. 95% of my ceremonies are under 30 minutes and it’s very rare for anyone to speak for more than 30 mins speeches and if it’s getting close, I hover, wait for some laughter, hit stop, hit record and we’re good for another 30 mins. Mostly I used the camcorder last year but some super low light stuff, I just dedicated an XT3 and it was faultless.

No, not tried it myself but I do have the Sony AX100 with an equivalent 1" sensor and maybe even a faster aperture (not sure without checking) and in low light...which is around 50% of it's use for my work, it's horrendous quality. Most of my weddings are outdoors and couples think that tealights on tables and a few fairy lights is 'lighting'. Well there's only so much lighting I can bring to a job and set up and they ARE advised (strongly) in regard to lighting, but otherwise we're often talking 12800 ISO territory with a fast full-frame prime. So the camcorder looks like mush, but XT3 @ f2.8 is just about OK still, especially with a bit of spot LED assistance. In good light though, fine. It looks very digital of course as most camcorders do and doesn't match with any 'serious' footage and so I know it has no chance of being mixed in with APSC Fuji or cropped Panny footage. None! Oh and one thing to consider is that with these 'large' sensor camcorders, from bitter experience, I can assure you that you CANNOT rely on the AF because if it wanders off, it WILL lose focus. I had a guest get up in church a few years back on one of my first jobs with it and it locked on to them walking towards the camera and then locked onto the back of the head of a guest for the next 20 minutes with the B&G completely OOF. Oops. Backup camera at a different angle rescued that one...

...and a few days later, I'm keeping it after all. In fact, a pair of them are going to be my main workhorses as I intended. I have been trying to find a workaround and not just a 'kidding myself' fix, but something genuine. I looked at both the HC-X1500 camcorder and the bridge camera (for my static manual and occasional but important AF needs) but just know that based on my current 1" sensor Sony camcorder, the footage is going to be shite. And it's still contrast detect, so nah. Back on to the stage comes a used XT3 body and I already have a Fringer and 17-50mm f2.8 Sigma so for all my static manual focus needs, et voila and for the 1 minute or so on each job when I also need AF, et voila encore. As I may have said before, I love this camera (the S5) in every way except the weird pulsing in AF mode but otherwise there is something just 'right' about it. That combo of size, weight, ergos, dials, buttons, operation and of course quality of both video and stills files. Just need some projects to use the bugger on now...

I really only have one question and that is why did they name it after a Volvo? A used Volvo C70 is also cheaper and less good at video, but the Canon C70 is easier to park.

No mention of it at all...except the 11 page (so far) thread. Apart from that though...

Even as principally a photographer and a pro one at that for 20 years, I sometimes forget Pentax even exists. That may be my bad, but never had one, don't really know anything much about them and I guess because they are not much of a mirrorless player, the baseball cap backwards attired YouTubing world is not much interested in them? I'm all for more camera companies being around as competition is good and also because I tend to like the underdogs and more niche companies rather than the big corporate giants.