MrSMW

Not that bothered with the former but I’ll give you the latter, - internal ND would indeed earn that title of ‘game changer’ for hybrid shooters who want to quickly and easily flip back and forth between stills and video with a single unit and minimum faffing around.

As someone who has owned the OG S5 and uses an S5ii and an S1H, I can confirm. The S5ii has the best stabilisation (by far) and the best AF, (S5ii, then S1H, then OG S5) but actual picture quality, I'd rank them: S1H, OG S5 and last S5ii. But for anyone that doesn't need the stab or the absolute best AF, the OG S5 I think is a steal. In fact, the S5, S5ii, Z6, Z6ii and maybe some others, all share the same sensor, but perhaps with some individual brand tweaks. The S1H has an OLPF so is a slightly different beast but I prefer the still image results I get out of the Z6ii over the S5ii. There is not that much in it, but there's a subtle difference I cannot put my finger on except there is 'something'...

It is what it is; instant access to so much information and answers (though not always factually correct) and we have to take the good with the bad. Or rather filter as much as we can which is easier said than done. I look on with mostly mild amusement at each of these latest 'the world will now end' and 'this broke the internet' reports that the hysterical masses love so much. One such Youtube video is entitled as just this and I can't remember whether it was the Gerald thing or the S9, but apparently it has broken the internet. Not mine, - I'm managing to type this, read other posts and browse as normal. Maybe another post somewhere 'fixed the internet'...

Well I'll know by around the end of July because with my workload, travel and production time etc, that's going to be about the soonest I'll find out how successful or not this project is. I am hoping the 6k 30p will be 'enough' and if so, will ditch my 2x stills cameras and 3x lenses in favour of another Lumix plus an appropriate lens. I'll still shoot stills, but limit that to; details, landscapes/architecture and family groups, none of which I currently shoot with video other than some drone stuff. If it's 'borderline' and 'needs' 8k, then I think I'll need to get hold of an XH2 and give that a whirl. If that in turn is not going to work, then I will most like trade my 2x stills + 1 lens for a single stills camera because I feel I have one too many cameras to juggle right now as in I can manage 4, but 3 would be my preferred max. And I can't see less than 3 because for ceremonies, I like to shoot 2x static angles and roam with my third video unit plus shoot stills. As I said above, limited info out there, no handbook and a lot of hands on trial & error required because it's more than about just on paper specs and opinions, but getting your hands dirty. Without cocking up a job you are being paid to do.

Yep, how I started out 24 years ago. If I only shot video or stills, it’s probably how I’d still go today. Or maybe a pair of wider primes such as a 24 + 50 indoor and a 35 + 90 outdoors, with a 70-200 in the bag for anything else such as ceremonies & speeches. Yep. I can get away with an f4 outdoors and decent light but beyond that… F2.8 in FF is my slowest I will own and use. Even f2.8 is pushing it in my lower light environments. Compared to the US or UK, France is a second world country when it comes to anything like this. Or delivery. Or customer service. Or…many things 😏 I would settle for an internal ND. Using VND’s is a pain in the ass if switching between stills and video rapidly with the same unit. I do have some screw in flip up, flip down filter holders however and they do work, but I went back to dedicated units for stills and video. I might look at that again though… Otherwise, I have 4 weddings next month and I’m going to shoot all 4 at 6k 30p instead of my usual mix of 4k 25 and 50p and then pull frame grabs from each and do a direct comparison with my stills shot at the same time. The only real way to find out if I can make this work with 6k, or if I need 8k, or I just stick to video and stills.

I considered it about the same time as I was looking at changing from the Fuji XH1 to the XT3 but dismissed it upon handling in a camera shop and firing off a few frames. I found it plasticky and clunky...but actually... Ha, I am a Z6ii user these days. For stills anyway. For around 1250, I got an 'as new' one with battery grip as a lens platform for larger zooms and as you point out Andrew, the only major brand you can use E Mount glass on. Adapted of course. As I have mentioned several times, I am still looking for that 'one and done' body & lens combo that ticks all my boxes and the Z6ii is surprisingly close. In terms of size & weight, without a grip, its the 'perfect' size for me as far as cameras go, not too small or light and not too big and/or heavy. Add the optional battery grip and it becomes even better ergonomically and as a lens platform. An equal option in that regard is the Z9, but actually that's still a considerably heavier option and so if you don't need it's spec, the Z6ii serves very well. The only camera for me that beats it as a 24mp lens platform, is Canon's R3. Ergonomically fantastic and ridiculously light for a built in grip camera. But without glass, 4000+ so... My only real issue with the Z6ii though is the AF is a bit slow. I have the Zf also and it's on another level. They just need to combine the two, ie, the guts of the Zf in the Z6ii body and that should be the Z6iii. But the OG Z6 I can't really comment other than I almost went that route but glad I did not as at that time, it probably would have been limited, especially lens-wise. But 650 is a bit of a bargain and the same goes for many older cameras now such as the XH1 and XT3 which are still highly capable.

There is really only one lens that I would call a ‘super zoom’ and that is the Tamron 35-150. In my ideal scenario, I would glue on one lens and be done. Canon come close with their 24-105mm f2.8 and the R3 is for me, the best lens platform other than in one area and that is mp. I need to shoot up to 150-200mm with my ‘one and done’ lens and cropping 24mp is a bit too much of a stretch. Now if the R3 had even 45mp or better still 60mp, we would not be having this convo as with that f2.8 24-105 it would be that and a 35-150+ at the press of an assigned crop button. But it doesn’t and any new R1 might, but it will be stupid money for sure. Keep a 70-200 for those times I need something longer? Nope. The times I need something longer are when I also need something wide. The bottom line is I am not so much camera bound but focal length bound and governed by approx 35-150 in a single lens. So Sony or Nikon is the reality. Either/both need a battery grip and the Sony is the smaller and lighter option with the Tamron 35-150 and the Z9 the most ergonomic and balanced, but heaviest and the Z8 with a battery grip does not get a look on because it’s bigger still with the battery grip and why would you on that case when the Z9 exists? Summary = Z9 or A7RV with Tamron 35-150mm are currently the best options. Nikon Z6iii and any S2R might change that equation and in the case of the Nikon, will require a battery grip. The Lumix question though always comes back to lenses and requires the pairing of a 24-70 and a 70-200 to get in the ball park but with that MASSIVE compromise of 2x bulky lenses and lens swaps I can’t do. Unless Samyang pop out their 35-150 and then we have a chance. Which brings me back to MF and the GFX series. Cropping in camera or post is my other solution to having a ‘one and done’ lens but that shorter zoom is too short and the 45-100 even, in FF equivalent, a bit short and requires a significant crop to get up to around 150mm. And so whilst I could just about swing that, GFX 100S + 45-100, does it make more sense than the Z9 or gripped A7RV with 35-150? I would like to get on with things but at the same time am not in any particular rush as my current set up does work, it’s just not (still) ideal. Quite possibly/probably Kye and this is where the issue lies in that this is a pretty obscure topic and surprisingly so. Around 12+ years ago, I attended a 3 day international photo event in the US where the big topic was ‘fusion’. Today we call it hybrid capture. I think as already dabbling and I thought it would explode and become the norm and yet it has not. With the cameras it has, massively so, but out in the real world beyond the chat, very few are really actually doing full hybrid capture, especially as one man bands. Over a decade and the industry is still pretty much photo or video, with an extremely small number of equal amount hybrid shooters. I am not complaining as it means my pool of competitors is tiny to non-existent but I still find that baffling almost every day. My main point being to quoting you though that because it’s still barely out of it’s infancy, there is so little info, limited testing, no ‘handbook’ so a lot of trial and error needed. In my ideal world, I’d have a well stocked camera shop on my doorstep that allowed loaners or at least rentals and I could play. The reality is I have to rely mostly on on-line research, instinct, best guesses, testing what I have, gradual evolution etc… By the time I have it properly cracked, I’m going to be out of the game 🤪

And there is my other option… I wish to reduce the sheer amount of kit I have, use and need and am alternative solution is to trade 2 existing 24mp stills cameras and 3 lenses, for one single high MP stills camera and just two, or even one lens. The Hassie R2D2 or whatever it’s called is my ‘dream’ but way above my pay grade, the 45mp Nikon’s not much point, the Sony A7RV a good ‘budget’ option used (and I have the lenses) but after the Hassie, I’d most like the GFX 100S. The issue with medium format is there are no decent zoom lenses. Yes, there’s the 45-100mm f4 but it’s a bit slow in low light and is big, heavy and extends. I’m going down a rabbit hole now I know, but keeping my options open as follows: A. Exploring frame grabs from 6k 30p video. B. Waiting to see what the Nikon Z6iii turns out to be. C. Waiting to see what any S2H or S2R might be for either the frame grab approach, or the high MP stills. D. If none of the above have worked out, maybe just trade my 2 Nikons (using with) adapted E Mount Tamron glass) and just do the Sony A7RV ‘budget’ route, shut up and get on with my life…

This is interesting… So right now, I only shoot raw stills and log video. Based on multiple tests, I can always get a quantifiably better image out of the raw file… as I’d expect to! But having said that, always liked playing with Fujis film profiles (or whatever they call them), especially Classic Chrome. For video, I moved over to log just as I did from Jpeg to raw for stills though that happened with video last year and Jpeg to raw about 12 years back. Raw video looks interesting, but the absolutely humungous file sizes and storage does not! And that might be a sticking point for me as in if the best I am going to get out of 6k or 8k log is something akin to a decent 24mp equivalent camera Jpeg, when I am used to raw quality, might not be enough…and would I really want to go the raw video route? For the sake of raw video alone, god no. For the sake of a more streamlined workflow of only shooting video and pulling stills, maybe… For now, I am going to have to content myself with trying out the 6k 30p mode in my S1H and S5ii and to see if I can ‘get away’ with shooting all footage at 1/250th of a second which is borderline freezing action in say a confetti walk for frame grabs and if the footage for video purposes looks ok at 80% speed ie, very mild slow mo and on a 25p timeline… If that works out OK…and it’s a big if as I don’t really know, then I can maybe consider whether: A. It’s good enough or, B. Almost but 8k would be better or, C. Only 8k raw is really going to cut it, or, D. Junk the whole thing and just stick to shooting stills and video at the same time as I already do and have done for the last 14 or so years… The Fuji XH2 does seem to be the cheapest way into this if it works…and requires 8k. Canon have 6k raw in the R3 and prices have dropped back again to nearer 4k euros when they could not be had for less than 5k from MPB just a few month back. It would be a BIG investment though to switch to Canon and roughly double that of Fuji. Nikon Z8 and Z9 also have 8k raw and I am already in that system for stills and have 3 lenses… I could buy a used Z8 or Z9 and then return it within 30 days. A bit cheeky but it’s near impossible to rent camera gear in rural France. Or stoopidly expensive…

Thinking about this even further, that really just adds fuel to this fire. It's pretty much a storm in a teacup though and this weeks media drama to be replaced next week by something equally as ephemeral (such as Gerald undoing himself), but they really are not doing themselves any favours with this launch are they. Except for one thing and that is for it's ACTUAL MARKET, it's actually quite a good thing. A little over-priced perhaps, but otherwise ticks a lot of boxes. It wouldn't stop me from buying it if it's the right tool for me, despite what a bunch of hysteria queens think, do or say...

Because it's 2024 and everyone is entitled, including to be upset about something that has no bearing on them whatsoever. Really? Someone's head is coming off at Lumix Towers! That's almost as bad as some wedding photographers using others images until such time as they can shoot their own. Another form of 'entitlement' that exists.

Also, anyone who has made stills quality frame grabs from any brand 6k or 8k 4k you can keep to yourself. Been there done that and it’s not quite good enough for my purposes 😛

Perhaps it's just me but the search function didn't throw up any topic that I could find so starting this one. The XH2. Not the S, model, but the 40mp 8k capable one. Anyone have one and been using it in this mode, ie, 8k? And specifically, in one of the film profiles such as Eterna? I am back to musing over pulling stills from video at either 6k 30p full frame (which I currently have) with Lumix and potential other options... Not interested in BM Cameras, - too many compromises for my needs. Canon has options as does Nikon, but at 8k only. I came from Fuji X cameras (2011-2020) and the XH1 was one of my favourites of all time for both video and stills, but things have moved on quite a bit since then... The XH2 intrigues me with specifically 8k 30p Eterna, the profile I used to shoot with the XH1 and then the XT3 as a 'one and done', minimal grading required, wedding video option and 8k would allow me to pull stills. As above, any experience appreciated! And nope, not bothered about anything external or rolling shutter, just the quality of the output 🙂

My eyesight is not as good as it once was but I see Batman. 💥KAPOW💥

Yes, the ‘as seen on X’ situation. As seen on TV As seen on the cover of As seen hanging out with All these things add a degree of legitimacy and status. I photographed Rockstar X’s wedding etc… For many starting out in this industry, it often starts with what I call ‘badge collecting’ as in if you have even a single image featured on an influencer account, you can add their badge to your own account as in, ‘as seen on’. I have done it myself previously with mixed results… I was one of only two (UK) official brand ambassadors for NZ’s top wedding album company and used that ‘status’ in my marketing material. Did it actually give me some status though? I think so… Did it help boost my profile and turnover? I think so… Did it also attract competitor trolls who used it against me behind the scenes in various underhand ways? I know so because I went after them like an attack dog. It was my one and only attempt at sticking my head above the parapet and from that experience, it simply confirmed that I do not want to be a badge collector, a brand ambassador or any kind of self-professed ‘leader in my field’. I’d rather be the tortoise than the hare.

I think it falls into the same category as ‘work for free’ as in the reward comes later via other means. Just like shoot a wedding for free to book 2 more at 500 to book 5 at 1k, then 10 at…and by this time next year Rodney, we’ll be millionaires. (UK sitcom reference). Attend these all-expenses covered gigs and treat it as a working holiday in order to build a relationship with Company X which you can then use to: A. Authenticate and market yourself further and gain more subs = more Yo’Tube €£$ B. Go on even more free shindigs to boost the above even further with same or other/more companies. I think as a business model it can work until either one of the components breaks (such as UTube ceases to be a thing) or in some cases, all the fame and fortune goes to their heads and they cook their golden goose…as happened to one wedding photographer I know and who now claims he likes shooting random shit on the beach out of choice because he burnt all his other bridges. Personally, I know my place and prefer to remain a working hack and in control of my own modest destiny.

Plus there is this thing that ‘no publicity is bad publicity’…and whilst I am not sure I entirely agree with that sentiment, in this case it has probably raised more awareness of the S9 than there might otherwise have been. I didn’t really care about the release initially but since the controversy, have looked a little deeper (more at the camera than the shenanigans BTS) and could make a case for it in my lineup. Not a strong enough case at this time, but that otherwise I would not have bothered with had their not been the controversy. Also, the CC’s can make ‘reaction’ videos 🤪

The funny thing about all of this for me is that until now, I always thought and said that Lumix didn’t do enough marketing of this nature. This time they seem to have invited every CC out there…and it’s all got a bit controversial. Upon reflection, the S9 although perhaps a little overpriced, looks a decent enough thing…for it’s market. Whether this current shitstorm will make any difference in regard to YouTube marketeers remains to be seen, but probably not so more storm in a teacup probably.

I’ve heard that MrSMW would have preferred the Tamron version because it’s a bit more compact, lighter, less ugly and doesn’t suffer so much from lens creep…but that ship has sailed anyway. What MrSMW would prefer to exist is something like a 40-120mm f2.8 that does not extend and weighs sub 1kg/2lbs. And an S1R mk II and then he would happily hop over back to L Mount for his stills needs, but at this point in time, Nikon bodies with flawless adapted Tamron E Mount lenses is doing a sterling job 👊

Sounds about right…also being a resident 🤪

There’s quite a few ‘R Us YT’ers Full of Shit’ videos already uploaded, I guess in response and there will be others. Gate opened.

Interesting… I think at least within our community here, if not the wider one, we have been anticipating for some time, a sequel to the S1 line. With the launch of the Leica SL3 a few months back, now would have been the time? But who was asking for this S9? Possibly there is a demand for this kind of thing, but not in the circles within which I move (which are admittedly very limited under this rock) but it something about this whole launch does seem a bit ‘off’? Or maybe I have been watching too many conspiracy shows…

Which real world for those that don’t get too hung up about spec sheets, is not really any kind of issue once there is; a grip or cage, lens, mic etc attached and ergos are FAR more important. For instance, my Nikon Zf vs my Z6ii. The Zf is a more capable camera, but the Z6ii kills it for ergos hence why I am very much looking forward to a Z6iii that will hopefully not only combine the best of both, but add to it and allow me to switch out 2 bodies for a single one. There’s a compromise with that (there generally is) but one I can live with and the benefit for my needs outweighs the slight negative. And then there is the price… I think the S9 is a tad ambitious. To me it’s more like a 1k camera and will be within a few months on the used market. That’s when I think it might be worth picking one up, back end of this year. But only if it’s going to serve a purpose. I don’t know what is going on with Sigma, but I would have thought they were perfect to fill this niche. An FP’3’ would tick a huge amount of boxes for filmmakers, photographers and Cuntent Creators…

I’m in the maybe not camp. If his piece had been about YouTube, then yes, possibly, but it was about Panasonic and a certain culture that exists within YouTube, bit is not YouTube itself.

Ha, like the opposite of what they did with the G9?! I was giving this camera a little further consideration and came to the conclusion that it actually does everything my S5ii does THAT I USE, but in a more compact and lighter body. I use my S5ii as a purely handheld, run & gun, 4k 50p, unit along with Smallrig cage, side handle, Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 and Rode Micro. I could see a use case of a more compact version of that using the S9 as a base. I would then ideally move the S5ii over to being a stills unit but have already established I don’t much care for it in this role, so I’d need to sell it. So used trade in price vs new S9 price. What would I gain and what would I lose? Gain = smaller & lighter Lose = stuff such as; recording length, potential overheating, twin card slots…stuff you might call ‘pro’ needs. So on balance, would the S9 make a great small run & gun video unit? I think without question yes, but I’d need to test it in worst case real world scenarios to know I could fully trust it whereas my S5ii has seen and passed a full year of that and sailed through. I could also see it as a compact stills unit with a set of small Sigma f2.8 primes such as the 24, 35, 45, 90, but for my kind of work/needs, despite being a prime guy at heart, zooms are what I need.