MrSMW

And he/she/they/it are back

If digital didn’t exist or ceased to exist overnight, there would be just a fraction of the people in my industry that there are.

Tell me about it! I wasn't going to buy one for definite but have been punting the idea around for a few weeks either purely for stills, purely for video, or for hybrid. I had decided on a mix of Lumix for video and Nikon for stills but then Canon curve balled this lens which made a compelling alternative matched with an R3 as above; 2 Nikon bodies + 3 lenses vs 1 of each with Canon, albeit a single bigger and heavier unit, but not outrageously so. But then I had a word with myself (around 7k to buy a used R3 and this lens) and like the Nikon approach very much for photo, so I looked at the Canon 'one & done' approach for video instead of 2 Lumix bodies and 2 lenses and that had a lot of appeal. A lot of appeal until I saw that MBP had hiked the used market up on these bodies by over 1k in a matter of weeks which makes it an 8k+ kind of price which is a bit nuts. Next time I spot a bargain, I think I'll just go grab it even if it means selling it on at a profit to someone else because I've seen a few of these things now. Happened with Z9's that were mid 4.5k, but they are all well above 5 to 5.5k now.

And...they put up used prices of R3's 😒 A couple of weeks ago on MBP, excellent condition R3, about 3750 euros which was about 1500 less than a Z9 and I thought, 'bargain'. Today a newsletter from MBP pops into my mailbox highlighting an article on the R3, so looked at that and then used prices and...5k+ for one in excellent condition now. Just a few days after Canon announced some new lenses... Cynical, moi?

Indeed and pair it with it’s even tinier 10-18mm sibling and you would have a 15-27 and 27-75 combo

Love it. Not interested at all in the power zoom thingy but straight to the top of my list as a lens. It replaces the Tamron 35-150 for me for one single reason above all else. Two reasons actually; constant aperture and internal zoom. But of course it’s about the entire system and as things stand, none of it matches up for me… Until now. R3 + this lens is a near dream combo for me for photo and stills. Only two issues for me. Well not issues as such but ‘wishes that cannot be granted at this time’ and these are: A. I wish the combo was lighter than 2.3kg, but as someone who has been running all year with a 2.8kg set up, a saving of .5kg is actually quite considerable and not in itself a dealbreaker. B. 24mp. I wish it was more in order to crop much harder than the 105mm. The R5 has the sensor, but less so the body. OK, there is a grip but it’s never the same as a designed built in grip. It’s a curveball alright because I had already decided some time ago not to continue with L Mount for stills, based on what is currently available re. bodies and lenses and was all set to go Nikon, but now I am questioning that… 2x Nikon bodies + 3 lenses vs R3 + 24-105 ‘one and done’. Dammit, it’s tempting…

My thoughts exactly as in who buys or is likely to buy something like the FX3 in the first place?! ’Us’. Folks that would know about or be interested. And some of us may even believe that because we bought ‘Tool X’, we could also create something similar because if they used X and I use X, then…

Yep and BTS filming glasses rather than sticking a Go Pro on your chest or hot shoe is now a thing. Progress.

Cleve a path in that direction you Arragon SOB, I mean, Howard can it be?

Ah, the Anne Boleyn counting system.

Yep, as do a few others here. Considering it's size and weight, it's performance is nuts on FF cameras such as the S5ii and S1H. Having said that, I prefer it's bigger, but still compact brother, the 28-70mm f2.8 OK, it's an equivalent DOF of f4 on a FF camera (but still f2.8 for light gathering) and 27-75mm focal range. I don't think any lens on the G9ii can compete with that and stick this lens on a body such as the XS20 and you have a superb compact set up for photo and video. Compared with those f2.8 4/3rds zooms, they have an equivalent DOF of f5.6 with sensors less good in low light. Take my preferred option of the FF Sigma 28-70 and stick that on the Fuji XS20 and that makes for an exceedingly interesting combo as you now have a focal range of 42-105mm which for me, is 90%+ of where I live. It depends on your use case of course, but I personally would use...and did use, the Olympus 12-40mm f2.8 for certain day light tasks, but really only liked the f1.7 and f1.2 lenses. Because I like me a bit of shallow DOF. Not ridiculous razor thin, but around the f2.8 mark using less than 75mm FF equiv lenses and OK with f4 above. Distance to subject and all that... There's always some kind of trade off somewhere...

This is what happened and they asked for the Nisi ND’s because they’d seen a video on YouTube, but the guy in the store (shoots weddings on Saturday’s) reckoned the Urth’s were just as good and anyway, in Adobe Premiere, you can easily remove the color cast. Pretty sure that’s how they rolled on this. It was also the camera store guys tip re. saving money and spending that on donuts.

Before I looked, I guessed ball park 3k so no surprise for me. The best bit about it for me is other than the constant aperture f2.8, no barrel extension when zooming. Unless it’s really short, I despise barrel extending lenses. For Sony and Nikon, there is stuff like the 24-120 and 35-150 and whilst great focal lengths for me, I’m not a fan of the extended barrels when zoomed out. It’s still for me the weak spot in L Mount. The closest we have is the Lumix F4 24-105, but a bit slow for me and the Leica 24-90 f2.8-4…which I have and though lighter than this new Canon RF, Pound for Pound capability, cost removed from the equation, not in the same league. A 40-120 f2.8 non/extending internal zoom please Sigma or Lumix 🙏 Fat chance methinks…

Nah, he’s more ‘above average’ than I am.

Helped keep the budget down by around $50. More money for donuts.

More interesting to me was the announcement of the 24-105mm f2.8 OK it weighs 1.3kg, but on an R3 that weighs 1kg, a combined total of 2.3kg I could just about live with for events. As someone who has been running a 2.8kg set up all year, I would rather go sub 2kg, but even .5kg is considerable in the hand.

…and with the 61mp A7CR? Ditto the Sigma FP-L which also has 60mp and a prime lens ‘zoom’ option. If I remember correctly, I think it is with the A7RV (so same sensor size) that even in APSC/S35 crop mode, you end up with a more detailed 26mp duke better than the equivalent 24mp sensor file from another camera. I like this concept. Cameras and lenses that are not massive but we can use sensor size and tech instead of size and weight. Pity the FP-L has banding issues. And no IBIS. And no tilt screen. And less than great battery life and…or I’d have been all over it. The size is perfect with the Smallrig cage and wooden grip. The build is exceptional. I loved the concept but could not live the reality of it when I had one for testing.

Came out in late ‘23 or (still) using in late ‘23? Mix of both for me… S1H for pure video, but the best stills camera I have owned to date. On the stills side and an actual late ‘23 release, the Nikon Zf. Early days, but expecting to love it even more as a stills camera than the S1H. An earlier ‘23 release, the S5ii which is probably…almost certainly, OK for stills, but I have just not been able to gel with it in that regard, mainly over what I consider to be a clunky shutter feel and sound. For video however, highly regarded all factors considered. I favour the S1H over it, probably due to it’s sensor and the OLPF…and it’s rear screen, but the S5ii form factor and AF just works slightly better for my needs. Based on the kit I actually own. Money no object, Hassie X2D for stills, Nikon Z9 for hybrid and would struggle to see past the S1H for video. Because I love it so.

I struggle to see these digital medium format cameras as anything but pure stills cameras with occasional video use. Hasselblad didn’t even bother with the video side with the X2D. Or forgot. Money no object, still my dream stills camera.

Ricoh GR3x would be my pick of today’s crop. Not too tiny but still pretty small, 40mm equivalent fast enough lens.

The only other problem I have with these smaller cameras and Sony is a prime example, is low quality rear screens. I think you need to get to A7RV before you get a half decent screen with a Sony?! My eyesight is not what it once was and when I got my S5ii which is 1.84 million dot, I was disappointed, mainly because I had been spoiled by my S1H rear screen which is 2.1 I think. Doesn't sound much, but in reality, it's pretty huge. Another reason why I have switched from S5ii to Zf for stills is the larger and far better clarity of the 3.2 inch, 2.1 that the Nikon has. Pity it's not a tilt and is a flippy, but it is what it is... I can put the two side by side right now (keeping one of my S5ii's for video) and the difference is appreciable. I had the ZV1 and didn't really get on with it, nor the RX100V I had prior to that, - just too small and light. I guess I just prefer a bit of chunk in my hands which is probably why I prefer bodies of around the OM-1/XH2/Zf/X Pro2/S5ii/FX30 size & weight, albeit, not with large zooms which for me, anything above about 900g, ideally needs a battery grip. Pretty much nailed it down going forward now to: S1H with Lumix 70-200mm f4 on sticks but waiting to see what the next Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 is going to be. If they can get it in under 1kg, I'll go for it. If it's over 1kg, I can't see any point in trading. It only has 2 jobs to do; record full length ceremonies and full length speeches and in between/after, goes to sleep in a corner. S5ii with the Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 lens. The 'Art' lenses are supposed to be a little sharper and if this was a photo unit, then maybe I'd be looking elsewhere but for video work, IMO, it is superb. Relatively compact, barely extends much when zoomed out and if shooting in S35 mode, is like having a 40-105mm. I have always liked my S5ii's for video work but just nit got on with them for stills/hybrid work so for now, separated my kit into 2 systems; stills and video. I could easily flip both of the above two around in their roles of static and roaming units and though the S1H has a nicer output, it makes more sense to use the S5ii in the run & gun role, plus the S1H has the bigger battery AND the battery pack, so something like 4 times the duration whereas anything over about 40 mins gets tricky with the S5ii... For stills, we don't care what I am using do we? 😉 A pair of Nikons and 3 prime lenses, enough said other than I will be and already am using them like slightly larger fixed lens compacts which is my preferred method of shooting stills. Glad to be rid of the zoom approach I was using all this year! No more 2.8kg unit! 1.4kg is my heaviest new friend!

1.5x APSC crops and then there is the clear zoom crop? Turns any prime into a zoom.

Not much in it… X100v vs LX100ii vs Sony A7CR with full frame 61mp sensor and massive ability to crop in camera or post. Plus the ability to switch out that pancake walkabout lens for anything that takes your fancy. Pound for Pound performance, I’d take the 61mp full frame sensor every single time.

Yup, I’d love a FF P&S around 40mm f2 please. The thing is you can get a small body Sony A7RCii and stick a small fastish lens on it and have basically the same thing but with options…and I think that is part of the problem. The market probably is not big enough.

I remember it as ‘small sensor cameras full stop’ which was everything sub 4/3rds. But could be wrong!