MrSMW

Well this is a good and one of my own questions as there is limited info out there. I guess the only real way to answer it is have one of our Nikon users report back just how well such a set up works back to back with something native. Ie, someone with nothing to sell. I have a list of 3 categories and a leading contender in each: Video bodies = Lumix Photo bodies = Nikon Zoom lenses = Tamron And therein lies my problem, - 3 corners of a triangle and none of it works natively or at all… The solution is Sony and it may turn out to be the only viable option within a time constraint, but so close to my perfect set up…yet still so far. Something I have mentioned several times recently is a desire to get back to the ethos I had when I left chunky Nikon DSLR for dinky Fuji in 2011/12 and actually up until just now, it was Fuji who could still best fulfill that. But now the wheel has turned full circle and it’s Nikon who arguably who have ‘done a Fuji’ and produced a cute but highly sophisticated bit of kit that ticks every box except natively, the lenses. There’s options though natively with Nikon so a 3 camera set up based around the Zf is doable and has a lot of appeal… It has probably become the strongest contender now for my 2024 set up if Lumix do not pop out a replacement for the S1R/H available to purchase by March ‘24 absolute latest. So we shall see, but didn’t see it coming, but the Zf is a 👍 for me.

But then surely that eats the G9ii’s lunch as to most people’s eyes, it will be ‘the same camera’ but just with a slightly different body. I’m not really sure what Panasonic is thinking here… The GH line is supposed to be the more video one and the G9 the more photo one, but really, what difference is there? The line’s have got blurred I think and maybe it’s because everyone is trying to be ‘hybrid’ now but the market for all types of cameras is shrinking? Meanwhile, everyone under the sun is bringing out their own set of compact cine lenses.

I ran a pair of those for a season for my video needs alongside my stills work. Great little cameras but suffered a bit in low light and that is my biggest issue with 4/3...

Yep. It's a photo camera with a decent ability to flip to hybrid, but certainly no 'cinema' camera. Ditto. I never take my back up card out of the camera anyway so the micro would be just that. Certainly the Sony and probably the Lumix for me also. I am not enjoying the S5ii for stills. Not at all so very much will be switching to something else for 2024 that is at a level above my S1H which is my primary stills camera. I don't think the new Fz would be enough to take over that role as a 'step up' in any way, but I will consider the Fz as part of, if not totally as, a new system as video-wise, pretty comparable with the S5ii which is where this Lumix does shine. As a stills camera, meh. (S5ii). The Zf could be a great all round hybrid system but I'd want to try one first to see if I gelled with it.

As someone who lives half his life at weddings, I can assure 'you' (ie, folks in general) it is extremely rare to see a guest toting anything resembling a camera at a wedding and it's been that way for quite some years now. I might see the odd 60+ year old guest fumbling with an old DSLR or the occasional hipster with something Fuji flavoured, but otherwise nada, it's wall to wall phones and if they are not taking snaps with them, they are gazing at them for whatever enlightenment they individually receive from these devices.

Ditto. At first look, I like it. I’ll need to take a deeper dive but as a pure stills machine, VERY interesting. As a hybrid, on a par with the S5ii for me being around the same size and spec. Much better rear LCD so my real only question at this time is what is the shutter feel and sound like… Nikon are on a bit of a role right now with first the Z9, then the Z8 and now the Zf. Bodes well for any next gen Z6 and 7. I’m liking the skin jobs also. Plus, both Meike and Megadap do e-z Mount adapters meaning Tamron glass can be used and Tamron right now make my 3 favourite zoom lenses; the 20-40mm f2.8, 28-75mm f2.8 and the 35-150mm f2-2.8 Very interesting indeed. We shall dive deeper and consider…

Yes it’s quite ‘hilarious’ how so many view both wedding photography and videography as not being any kind of high brow art form. Yes, there’s a bunch of shit out there and the entry level is near zero, but we have to wear more hats on a job than any other genre of photo/video that exists. In real time with no second chance. And there are some folks doing some extraordinary stuff. Same as it’s ever been.

Poozon wrote: Regarding IBIS: I am grateful that Blackmagic does not add this feature. I have not heard of anybody using IBIS for video. I would not buy a video camera with IBIS. Poozon needs to get out more…but it’s his choice to not buy a camera with IBIS.

Yes please. It’s just some tech improvements I’d like, but the body is 👌 Can’t disagree with that! But then it is with so many Japanese companies! I’m all for 4/3 re-adopting the ‘micro’ tag…and maybe, just maybe, it will happen with OM System, but I think it would take a small miracle now with old Panny Boy. I think they have probably gone too far down the road now in 2 areas. 1. More focused on FF, ie, less focused on 4/3. 2. The market has to be shrinking for the format (4/3) surely so why would you invest? GH6 took sooooo long to arrive, it was not quite DOA, but the camera marketplace had moved along quite a bit. The G9ii has been largely praised by The Usual Suspects, but unless you needed a smaller system, honestly, next to an S5ii, would you? Maybe for someone with the lenses, but most I am pretty sure would pick up the full frame system for basically the same money. My favourite filming combo right now is the S5ii with Smallrig cage, side handle, Rode Micro or WG, Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 As someone who shoots mostly 4K 50p, it’s a relatively lightweight *cinematic* 42-105mm FF equivalent beast shooting log for the kind of run & gun event work I do. Right now, nothing I’d rather be using. Stills, now that is another matter. I don’t quite hate it for stills, just quietly despise it to the point I use my S1H for photography instead.

Well since we are talking about it then…😉 Yep, anything that isn’t 3:2 or even 4:3, wouldn’t cut it for me other than perhaps 8k 16:9, because of cropping for portrait format. I don’t use flash, instead using only available or constant so not such an issue for me and quite happy to shoot faster shutter speeds. But is it photography? IMO, no. Or at least not my definition of it and that’s what I am wrestling with… Not the definition, but whether I could trade a better on the day capture process ONLY doing video, but with the trade off being a somewhat tedious process of pulling 500+ stills per job. I’m thinking maybe I would not be happy with that as one of my favourite parts of my photography work is editing images. As of today at least, I’m now thinking of the 2 options open to me, A. being, invest in 6k 50p tech to pull stills or B. stay as is, shooting both and invest in a better stills camera than the one I have now. On balance, I am more interested in B. I think it’s more me and with a future career in it’s final 1/3rd, maybe I’ll just see my time out with what already works..

I agree with most of your thoughts Andrew except possibly two… The ‘chonky’ S5ii is fractionally smaller and lighter than the GH6, thought a tiny bit more than the old G9. Leading on from that, maybe…just maybe, they went with the S5 architecture because by doing so, it allowed them to develop the G9ii at a lower cost than with its own unique body? And they may even have not developed a G9ii otherwise and the GH6 might have been their last ever 4/3 body? But otherwise yes, totally agree. I would also liked to have seen 4/3 be a ‘micro’ sized camera, especially when some of the larger sensor stuff is getting smaller. Lenses aside, just look at a GFX 100S or Hassie X2D next to a GH6. The Fuji is only marginally bigger and heavier but the Hass is smaller and lighter! OK, different beasts I know, but anything bigger than the OM-1 is too big IMO for a 4/3 sensor camera.

Agreed. I am not that techy but would have thought…if it’s even possible, that it would need sending in to be done physically. But as I said, not that techy! Folks waited years for the GH6 but I guess you knew what you were buying so can’t be that affronted something else came along with PDAF because that was inevitable if Lumix were going to continue to exist as a camera brand. I have zero evidence to support that, but outside of some diehard Lumix users, their image was ‘great video specs but utter trash AF so it’s a pass’. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again but I am surprised a company does not exist who will retro-mod older bodies with newer tech. The body is just a shell and providing it is large enough, why not? They take older cars and put modern bits in them. We take old buildings and modernise them. Why not older camera bodies with new tech? Veering slightly off topic I know…

@Kino appreciate it 👍🙏👊

I read a report somewhere recently I think direct from Lumix saying it would not be going the 8k route. So I guess ‘developing’ 6k. Maybe a bit like Fuji not competing with ‘mainstream’ full-frame, but fighting on the sides with APSC and medium format, Lumix is going to buck the norm and do it’s own thing? Which could be great?

I just had a good look at the specs compared with the 6k Pro and I was interested in the new boy it being full frame, but more relevant to me, L Mount…but actually, the 6k Pro would suit me better. No IBIS in either doesn’t really work for me but there are some decent OIS EF Mount lenses so there’s that, but it’s a camera I would probably use on a monopod. The biggest issue for me is it lost it’s 6k 50p capability and as someone looking to be able to shoot minimum 6k 50p for slow motion (up to 50%) when required and also be able to pull stills (so shooting at a minimum of 1/100th ideally) the new camera doesn’t cut it. It does what, 36p but with 2 higher options but the 6k 50p one being 2.4:1 which is very ‘cinematic’ and all, but very restricted for pulling stills. Unless you want very ‘cinematic’ stills! The search continues… Canon R3 offers me 6k 50p on raw and the Nikon brothers Z8/9, 8k 50p also raw…and raw is not necessarily a deal breaker (just the file sizes are fooking massive!) so still on that Lumix fence waiting on whatever the next S1R/H might be. Shooting internally. I am well aware there are external options but rigging is not my thing.

What is the source of these if you would be so kind?

Yes. Kind of torn about it though as 50% of what I do is photography and is pulling stills from video still photography? Rhetorical, personal question really and one for another thread as it’s a complex topic, but yes, in 2024, whether it’s with L Mount or someone else, I want to at least explore the possibility beyond the 4K I have tried it at.

I can. My project for 2024.

That reminds me that this Winter I need to finish my Mosquito fighter-bomber. Started it with my daughter last Summer before she left home (and country) for uni and haven’t been able to look at it since…but enough time has now probably passed to get glue all over my fingers once again.

I feel far more affinity with my wedding clients than their parents but then the other day, realised I was born the year before the brides dad 🤪

After 23 years of wedding and event photography, even more so is whether the camera is held to the eye (serious) or held at chest height using the rear LCD (less serious). I adapted to this way of shooting, I don’t know exactly when, but some time between 5-10 years ago as I was transitioning from photographer to hybrid shooter. Partly because it was easier to work this way, partly due to eyesight and partly because it does cause fewer people to be camera aware. Dimensions play a part, but so does how we use these things. Remember steady cam rigs? OK, they are still a thing for some I know, but the amount of attraction they used to get, never mind the Robocop body armour set ups I used to see at weddings. What’s the saying, ‘tread softly but carry a big stick’. I’m very much heading back to that ethos with gear going forward. I know this is @BTM_Pix quote originally but it was easier to not scroll back a page and find that!

Boo hood no IBIS which is a dealbreaker for what would be my intended use. It could have slotted in nicely otherwise as an alternative to the S5ii and in many ways, would have been a nicer option, but no IBIS, no dice. Goes back to sit on S2H/S2R fence…

That one was easy for me. She said, “it’s your thing really so you choose”. So I did. Since March, 20,000km and more than 60 nights in it. Typing from it right now on Day 16/32 on a 7 wedding road trip 😉

As a user of the S5ii, I don’t mind the size & weight with a 4/3 sensor as I think bodies can sometimes be too small and less good as lens platforms. I think if I could build a business case for a pair of G9ii’s it would be one with the pairing of 10-25mm and the 25-50mm f1.7’s, bolted on. Keep the S1H for long static duty which with the battery grip, is a long time, and keep hold of the 70-200mm f4 for the longer stuff. Ticks all my boxes really though the G9 units would come in a tad over my 1.5kg self-imposed new max weight limit… But being able to shoot 20mm, 50mm and 100mm FF equivalent focal lengths would be pretty bang on for me. Got me thinking now… These things also shoot 6k 50p in 10 bit don’t they? Must go read the specs and watch some reviews…

Or leaked pictures of the Lumix GH7 prototype. They will insist on putting those tiny sensors in larger bodies 😏