MrSMW

Gerald didn’t mention any of this in his recent video? He’s clearly well out of the loop. I reckon they all also got those secret flying cars but just can’t talk about it under NDA and don’t get to ‘keep them’, but can use them for the duration of their life to fly backwards and forwards to Japan for every new camera launch. I’m seriously considering switching my status from working photographer to industry shill…

It boggles my mind that from a population of 333 million, those 2 are the ‘best’ options. I know, I know, there is more to it than that and ultimately it all comes down to how much you got and who’s backing you etc, combined with just how many skeletons you have in that back closet, but faaaaaark, to the rest of the World (and a massive chunk of the US), as above, boggles the mind!

Agree that the f8 manual lens is something of an abomination and did the launch no favours…but, this thing is being marketed as the content creators/bloggers camera so needs a wide angle. Personally, I think any tool is defined by how you use it and the S9 could be used in any number of roles except perhaps, ultimate photo camera and long take video camera. But why they didn’t develop a faster, AF lens at the same time is a bit shortsighted if not bizarre? Other brands have had for years some pancake(ish) budget options…

That’s 2 words combined and 3 if you class ‘A’ as a word 🤓

I’m on the fence on this one… On one hand, I’m a fan of fast zooms. I don’t own any, but the likes of Canon’s 28-70 f2, their 24-105 f2.8 (technically fast for that focal range), the Tamron 35-150 f2/2.8, but not the Samyang which is bigger, heavier and uglier. This one though for me is very much a case of ‘if it was available in a pair’ with a 45-90, also internal zoom and also f1.8, then it would be good night, Vienna, give me a LUMIX S1Rii and I’m done. Ideally, the lighter and more compact the better, but when it comes to these bigger zooms, I can compromise because of what they can do, which is genuinely replace at least 2 primes. There’s not that much between 28 and 35 so arguably this one just replaces a 28 and a ‘wider 50’ for me but that’s a winning combo in my book, especially as an indoor lens. For outdoor, I do need longer and could max out with 90mm on a 60mp body, 105mm on a 45mp but really need 150mm on 24mp. So on balance, just 1 of 3 parts of a puzzle for me…but having said that, Sigmas tiny 90mm f2.8 on a second 60mp S1Rii would work for me. But as things stand, doesn’t work for me. I like it though.

Yep. Well natural and constant light anyway, just no flash, on or off camera as it is just one step too many for the one man band hybrid shooter. Been there done that, the resulting t shirt did not fit! No EVF does not bother me as I shoot rear screen 100% of the time. Bouncing between stills and video over an average 12 hour shoot is easier just off the screen. This however is one of my criticisms of the S5ii and not checked, but probably S9 and that is a rear LCD that is well under 2000 wotsit brightness things, whereas my Nikons are well over 2k. Makes a difference on bright days… Bit of a weird one isn’t it? Could they have gaffed or done a last minute turnaround, or did these folks also attend this other launch and have all been under clause not to release yet? Maybe and if the latter, we shall find out soon enough because at least a couple of dozen of them would almost certainly have been at any M4/3 or FF LUMIX launch. It’s all the other Sony or Canon or Fuji boys and girls that are/were a bit of an odd one on this…

Ah, that will be why she refuses to respond to any of the dozens of communications I send to her every day. Thinks she’s too good for me 😏

Internal ND will be a genuine game changer when it comes to hybrid capture. It’s the single biggest thing IMO that has prevented this form of capture from really taking off as everything else is a workaround.

Yeah. Back in the early 80’s, Ridley Scott promised me those flying cars by 2019. Where da fuck is my flying car? I’m going to be disappointed in 2049 also if Ana De Armas doesn’t appear on demand as a hologram in my living room…

Well it was a close call for me John because despite initially dismissing this camera at launch, other than the lack of a mech shutter (not itself an issue, just in the instance of this camera) and despite my wish to move from 4 cameras to 3… But what it has going for it is that as someone already using an S1H and an S5ii for video, actually using two more dinky full frame S cameras with primes, would be a pretty good set up! Same batteries (as the S5ii anyway), ability to swap lenses and whole units around throughout the day etc… Yes, a huge draw…but upon further reflection, I prefer my current LUMIX video + Nikon stills approach. I think if I had not moved to Nikon for stills this year, then a pair of S9’s and some primes would have been on the cards. Several viable ways to skin this particular cat. Multiple options with multiple systems and has been for a few years now.

If I was considering using an S9, it would be a pair of and one with the 45 and the other with the 90, both of which I have had and particularly impressed with the 90 which is pretty tiny really. I’d flip the 17 and 24 for the 20mm f2 which whilst a little bigger and heavier, kind of does both but can do it in low light which for me would seal the deal! But I am not going to so… The lack of a mech shutter was the swing vote for me in this one. Would have been great for my video needs, but I already have that covered so it was the photo side I looked at, but again, better served by my Niks. Personal camera, and for hybrid use, right now, I think yes I would go S9. If LUMIX ever bring out a purple one, I reckon that would sell out just because, you know, Gerald.

But what is Gerald’s opinion?

Ha, you jest but actually, since 2010 when I first started making tentative moves into 'hybrid' coverage, I have probably considered it if not actually tried it. Every time someone says, "have you considered...", yep, let me stop you there, that was yet another dead end 🤪 As I have mentioned elsewhere before, there is more than one way to skin a cat (other animals also), but actually very few that are 'The Best' way to do something and with no handbook available, trials, error (a lot) and expense, have been involved. But I can say that other than my own need to move from 4 units to 3, I have finally nailed it. Nailed it as far as I am concerned for what I set out to achieve. Could it be improved? Margins... 2x stills units down to a single unit (for stills) is the last significant 'final change' for me but beyond that, at some point, the video units as in bodies + lenses, could be reduced in size as the S1H with battery grip plus f4 70-200 on a Manfrotto tripod is something of a beast! My future ideal, whilst not a necessity, but rather a wish, would be that all 3 units as far as bodies go, become identical for ergonomic and logistical reasons, one set of the same battery etc. That could happen with swapping the 2x LUMIX units for 2 further Z6iii's as I already have the lenses so would be a relatively low cost scenario. But not a 2024 one. I can make small(er) changes mid season, but wholesale change is too much. The only other thing I want to do this year is pick up another RODE WG2 so I can move on from having to sync audio to the main footage that is using the primary WG2 set up I already have, ie, be able to mic up 4 people speaking feeding into 2 camera units instead of the current 2 into 1 plus random recorders in pockets, clipped to dresses etc. Apart from that, as The Purple One says, I'm done.

Well that aged well 🤪 Latest is June 11th as a potential announcement date with availability some time after, but I’d hope within a month or so? Seems quite positive from some of the more reliable sources, but we shall see… I am going to preorder because I am pretty sure it will be what I am looking for… I am 4 jobs deep into the 2024 season and the combo of S1H and S5ii are doing the business on the video side and the Nikon bodies (Zf + Z6ii) with adapted Tamron glass, doing it for stills, but… …one too many bodies and I’d like the performance of the Zf in the Z6ii style body as a single body lens platform. I’ve gone back and forth over the Z8 or Z9 and I can make a case for either except I think the Z9 is just that bit too big and heavy, but I prefer it’s spec and capability over the Z8. We shall see, but I really can’t see there being a better option for my needs and all the Z6iii needs to be is, as a minimum, the Zf spec in a Z6ii style body and if it’s slightly bigger and heavier, great.

It’s comical all these ‘reaction’ pieces that are popping up all over the place. “Trust me/us, we’re good people honest”. Genuine concern for their livelihoods on YouTube because they already ditched their real world day job. To be fair, I don’t think Toneh and Chelseh have had ‘real’ jobs for a long time, but some of the other folks used to be real photographers or videographers.

He’s just a rumor site spinning it out. I just choose not to click on his channel if it pops up and I think it may be one I clicked on YouTube to not recommend already as not seen him for a while. He’s not doing any real harm, just a bit of a twat.

^ 🤷‍♂️^

Yep, can't stand that stupid channel, but at the same time, no problem with him earning a living.

Yep, can't stand that stupid channel, but at the same time, no problem with him earning a living.

Yep, can't stand that stupid channel, but at the same time, no problem with him earning a living.

<selfish mode on> Or get the F on with a proper camera such as an S2H and S2R. <selfish mode off>

Yup, that's where I'd put my money. D-LUX 8 is it? The LUMIX version of that. Ie, exactly the same but half the price. Can't see updated S1 line coming now until at least the second half of the year. Apparently, according to certain sources, Leica has a time-limited option on releasing the SL3 X number of months prior to LUMIX and the basically identical, but half the price, S2R/S1Rii. We shall see...

I should add though that any likely Nikon Z6iii will almost certainly trump the XH2 for my needs on 2 levels. 1 is it will almost certainly be more sophisticated in every department and 2 I am already 50% in the Nikon body system, or should I say the adapted Tamron E Mount system and I do already own my own personal ‘holy trinity’ of zoom lenses, those being the f2.8: 20-40, 28-75 and 70-180 which are probably the ‘best’ set of zooms all factors considered, but mainly based on highest quality performance from the lightest and most compact size. Latest rumour, but strong one, is Z6iii announcement in around 2 weeks…

I think it’s going to be the S35 Gerald1 tribute cam.

As the saying goes, there are many ways to skin a cat and whilst not an infinite number, no ‘right’ way when it comes to the tools. It can be done with any combo of bodies and lenses including 4/3, APSC, FF, MF, stills plus video, stills from video, FHD, 4k, 6k, 8k, primes, zooms, cine lenses, freehand, tripods, monopods, gimbals, with filters, without filters…and I know this because other than MF and 8k, I’ve tried it over the 13.5 years since I began this journey! Fuji is one of my strongest candidates for 2025, but XH2 only. It’s not top at this present time but has been under consideration several times. For my specific needs, I need as a minimum (and ideally a maximum) 3 bodies and 3 lenses. For ceremonies and speeches, I need 2x static units. A pair of XH2’s shooting 8k for video and frame grab stills would cover that with a 3rd unit roaming. The rest of the day, ie ‘everything else’, one unit stills shooting just 8k video clips and another, landscape, details and family groups as stills because those 3 areas I think will still be better served as actual stills. There are also lenses with focal lengths that meet my needs and everything is relatively compact, light (enough) and not too expensive, especially as all of it can be purchased used. Actually, I’ve just talked it up a notch to myself, but we’ll see how the 6k approach with the kit I have goes first because I’d rather not change anything physical unless I absolutely have to!