MrSMW

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.

^ Agree ^ The only reason I switched (2 reasons actually) to S5II's was: A. I needed more reliable forward motion AF tracking. The AF of the first gen FF S line cameras was and is perfectly fine, except in this regard when it can be a bit hit and miss and just one miss with a critical unrepeatable scene and it's gone. I shoot weddings so I am thinking bride entrance, confetti walk etc. It happened. Several times. B. I shoot outdoors mainly and some days, over 35c / 100f, direct sunlight and without a fan is not good. I never had an overheating issue, but it could just have been a matter of time and was constantly on my mind. With the S5II's, they still get hot, but I am not concerned. _ I have personally never noticed any file quality difference between the S5 and S5II, but then never shot them side by side and 6 months apart. There may be a difference, but nothing I have noticed or concerns me especially. IMO, the S5 is the budget filmmakers bargain of this current decade.

They look like Matt Grangers to me.

6k 30p open gate actually… My S9 still has not turned up and yes, it is part an aesthetic thing for me but also having 2x S5II’s tripod based, having this third roaming unit on a free standing monopod or freehand, I do want it as small and light as possible. Hence also going with a set of the LUMIX primes. So despite me believing that the S5II is superior in almost every way, the S9 is arguably more ‘fun’ and is that little bit more ‘appropriate’ (for want of a better term) for me. I could easily have gone back to 3x S5II’s and in some ways it makes more sense…but then not everything has to make sense as long as it works!

I was aware of the Alphagvrd option but not the WrapCart and they have 170+ options and a lot more interesting than the Alpha jobs!

I might just pick up a black one to try. It looks like something that would prevent any knocks and dings for high usage when you don't want to baby your kit.

I wonder just how close we are to movie level now then... But I suppose the material still needs to exist to pull together to make this kind of thing and as a commercial and BTS, enough exists, but not for any kind of real movie that would require a unique script and acting. At least not without going CGI. It's crazy how good this stuff is becoming and if I was a youngster, I certainly would not be looking at the more traditional aspects of this industry such as cameras, lenses, lighting, sound etc, but what skills I could develop in my parents basement from my laptop. But for me personally, that would be a hard no as it would not interest me and I'd rather be a lumberjack or something.

Really? The ad and the BTS were both fully AI? Nothing real about any of it? If so, I am so out of touch with this world and the entire industry is fucked, - get out now 😵

But seriously, link?!

Nice, but I don't get the AI bit? I was expecting an entire ad created with just AI and was watching speechless...but the BTS revealed a 110 crew, what looked like a proper actors/filming/crew job and production to me? Unless the BTS was also AI? 😉

So what advantages does the S9 have over the S5II now? The S5II clearly has many over the S9. The S9 has: Size & weight, but add a cage and not much in it. Choice of colours if that is your thing. And...?? My S9 has not arrived yet, (later today I think) and I'm wondering if I am better served with a third S5II as I had previously. It was mostly 3 factors that tipped me towards the the S9. 1. The hybrid/crop zoom function, which I have discovered since does not work in any of my use cases. 2. Multiple frame markers, as of today, now on the S5II. 3. Err, because I wanted a red one and it would primarily be a monopod/in hand unit, but because mine would be caged, there is not much in it. Summary = + red leather (or whatever material it is) is possibly now the only thing I am getting over an S5II...and chucking away a whole load of pro features (weather sealing, twin card slots, fans etc) for a single cosmetic option?

This is exactly why I was asking for the need for AF, because if not really, then 3x these with a lens each.

Do you need AF at all?

To quote myself 🤗 this is exactly what I decided upon. I love the i series lenses from Sigma and if I was looking at a set for stills, I would go with those instead, but being 'sensible', the LUMIX primes just make more sense, so 18/50/100 it is!

If it happens, I hope they release an entire set of lenses and not drip drip drip lenses because I personally don’t like mix & match sets of lenses if I can at all avoid it.

Not a dealbreaker, but further research shows the hybrid/crop mode is not what I thought, ie, it does not work for photo or video in any 6k mode and neither does it in 4k 50/60p. Bum. Oh well, not a biggie as I think I have settled on a trio of lenses anyway instead of the Lumix 50. I think if I went with that, as much as I like the purity of one focal length, the reality is for certain scenarios on every job, I need something wider, between 20-28mm and for ceremonies & speeches at weddings, as my roaming unit, I'm always going to want longer than 50mm, so, probably these 3: 20 or 24mm f2 Sigma. Most likely the 20. You can't crop for more width. 65mm f2 Sigma. Had that lens before. Loved it. Just that slightly longer reach works for me over a 50. 105mm f2.8 Macro Sigma. About half the price of Lumix's more recent 100mm f2.8 Macro and will be very useful for roaming sniping duty during ceremonies and speeches whilst the 2x statics do their thing. The closest Lumix equivalents add up to more cost and I find them a bit boring even if they have slightly better AF for video...but I may still go with them 🤪 (18mm f1.8, 50mm f1.8, 100mm f2.8) I've looked at some of the zooms and nah, there just isn't anything that doesn't kind of defeat the purpose of this unit. The only zoom I like for roaming about video use is the Sigma 28-70mm f2.8, though I find it's not always long enough. Considered replacing it with the new 28-105mm f2.8 and had it been internal non-extending zoom, it would have been a no-brainer, but it isn't, so it's not happening. For video anyway... Might be perfect pairing for stills with any future S2R... I might trade the 70-200mm f4 against a Samyang 35-150mm f2/2.8 though as that might be a more useful lens, but €€€'s... Decisions decisions decisions...

Actually, that is not a bad idea, - having the M4/3 crop on the FF sensor and better still if M4/3 lenses could be mounted with an adapter. The G9II and S5II already share the same chassis and OK, some bemoan the size over some of the previous smaller bodies, but actually with some of the bigger M4/3 lenses, they would pair up very well. And if we started with something like a 61MP sensor, plenty of size to crop into for what would be what, something somewhere around 20MP I guess (based on knowing that APSC is 26MP). I body, many lenses, so many different use cases...