MrSMW

Not even the slightest chance. Too big, too heavy, too awkward and I definitely do not ever wish to ‘rig’ anything out beyond a cage or a battery grip, a small mic or light. I do like the idea of something modular however, but we’re talking Sigma FP size and weight, not starting at 2kg bare bones. But I know it was not a serious question!

Well hello there. That is my middle name, just without the EVA in the mix ie, I find the combo of S1H + S5ii to be the dogs biscuits.

I’m going to politely disagree with you there. For video, the S1H is not the greatest for tracking forward motion. Depends on the lens, depends on the aperture, depends on the settings. For everything else AF, I’d class it as good/good enough. Again, with the caveats above. For stills/photo, zero complaints or issues. Shooting sports, well yes, there are better options but I shoot events, hybrid, 2 years with the S1H and it’s my favourite body for this that I have ever used. At no time have I ever considered the AF or said, “I wish it was better”. My only gripe is lenses. Or at least lack of what I ideally need. Yes there are lot’s of lens options for L Mount which if they fit someone’s needs is great. But sadly they don’t provide for mine. EVA1, no experience and not my kind of camera for my needs so cannot comment.

A bit weird to be announcing a firmware upgrade that is coming in 9 months, but there you go. Maybe to entice some users who might at any point recently or for what will be another 8 or so months, from wavering... It's also a sign of no new FX3 or FX30 replacement in 2024 I guess? The fact they didn't have it previously (and still do not for a while obviously), was never quite a dealbreaker for me, but had they had it from launch, it might just have tipped me in that direction with an FX3 as my principle video unit, an FX30 as a secondary stills and video unit and something else, probably an A7Rv as my principal stills. But they didn't and I didn't, so...

Far from it, - that is just a bonus. Read @PannySVHS post which pretty much sums it up. The S1H is better than the sum of its own parts which are exceptional in their own right and better than any other S camera. So far...

I'd just go with a used S1H which are fantastic value now. Unless you absolutely must have exceptional forward tracking AF and/or full frame 50/60p, it's an exceptional piece of kit that is a joy to use with stellar output.

Veering ever so slightly off topic but…and I don’t think it is possible…but I wish it was possible, to adapt E Mount lenses to L Mount bodies. I have wrestled for far too long with body based systems which did not support the focal lengths I really needed which are all available primarily in E Mount plus a few in Canon RF. Actually that statement is not entirely fair or true, rather within the last say 3-4 years, the lenses with the focal lengths ideal to me have come into existence but I have not been able to use them being an L Mount user since 2021. Within M4/3, they kind of have (the lenses) but the size & weight you end up with vs the outright capability, especially in low light has meant (to me), I’d rather use Fuji APSC which for me just makes more sense. But then FF even more so…so here I am, partially moved over to Nikon Z, less for the cameras and more for the E Mount lenses which asks the question why not just go Sony then…and that is a good one, especially now that shutter angle has come to the FX30 and FX3…and for my needs, the A7Rv exists… Money. Cost to change is the stumbling block. We are at the point now where quite a few bodies have all the spec I need and all the focal lengths I could ever want also (except my ideal 50-150mm f2.8) and within the same system or at least cross compatible, but making changes are expensive and in certain cases (Canon), cost prohibitive. I’m rambling, I’ll shut up now.

Nope, but you can adapt just about anything to Nikon Z map including adding AF to manual Leica lenses! Easily there most versatile lens platform out there. Can't adapt Canon RF or L Mount, but most other stuff...so err, Sony E, yup, but only found out about Leica myself fairly recently.

I think you need to report yourself to our great dictator leader. But otherwise, really? Rolleiflex were such an iconic brand for their era. Well company really, - 'branding' as such I think is later 20th C concept I think though of course by having a recognisable logo etc, these were of course brands, even if not referred to as such. Anyway, you need to report yourself for the above breach of forum etiquette. Tsk 😏

Actually, multitasking is probably the wrong term as I can only focus on one thing at a time, so more a case of making the capture using photo and video, a single thing. I guess that is what I did. Amalgamated what for most, has traditionally been two different processes.

Mmmm, peanuts and chocolate. Yup, of that era. And don’t ask me what has a hazelnut in every bite…

Not necessarily... If the brand is out of date or has negative connotations, then it makes sense to either modify it, or kill it and start again. In the case of killing the OLYMPUS brand, IMO, that one is not brave but just stupid. It may have not been the most cutting edge (but still was in some regards, IBIS springs to mind for one thing) but in no way was it a 'negative', but instead had something that money cannot buy. Heritage. A brand that 'deserved' to die was the MG car company. Nothing against the Chinese company that bought it, but if they imagine for even one second there is the slightest connection between their current offerings and the sports cars of the '30-80's, err, nah, there is zero heritage carry over. But seriously, could you imagine Nikon or Canon becoming NKS or CNS? Unless there is some legal ownership brand thing going on, seems an utterly stoopid move to me.

See, I'm the other way. I would prefer it had a 3 way tilt screen like the S1H, never mind the resolution of that kind of screen, or even would have preferred a simple tilt rather than the flip out, plus everyone knows I absolutely hate the shutter button feel and sound 😜 but the rest of it I love. The form factor and ergos...for me...are just about spot on. For this size and type of camera. Very similar to Fuji's XH2 which is just about 'perfect' to me as are the OM1 and Canon R3. Which just goes to show we are all different. Which is cool. Fix the shutter, I could live with the screen and have some Tamron medium/longer lens equivalents as options and I'd never look anywhere ever again. But then there is the reality of the current situation. Which is not the above.

This is the feeling I have re. the only real two brands in M4/3. Lumix seems more orientated towards video and has a fairly loyal (but skittish!) fan base and the company formally known as OLYMPUS, more towards stills and primarily wildlife and travel. What I think is kind of missing from Lumix is any form of real brand identity. Canon I think of of serious sports photography and Nikon also, but not quite at Canon's level. Sony is just...well Sony, the Yoof especially golden brand that does everything, but nothing quite as well as anything more specialised. Whether this is true or not, I don't know but folks seem to generally agree the ergos tend to not be as good, the rear LCD's always the lowest res, the colour science though better not the best, etc and maybe lacking in any kind of soul, ie, just functional? FUJI is the fun brand with soul and primarily based on it's Jpeg engine but respect for it's medium format system. Orchestral Manoeuvre's in the Dark, or whatever they call themselves, the artist formally known as OLYMPUS, clearly punching for the wildlife/travel market. But Lumix. Who and what are Lumix? For want of a better term, the enthusiast filmmakers love(d) the GH line, but for stills? To me they have zero brand identity. A loose collection of mostly 'Content Creator' ambassadors, some or all of whom were once photographers or videographers but now create 'content' based almost solely around the brand. I don't wish to piss on them from high because I am a user of the brand, but there is something distinctly lacking IMO in their brand identity and who their market are and in this day and age, is that enough? I don't know and could be talking utter bollocks. About everything.

Looks like a firmware upgrade and the final removal of the OLYMPUS brand name. The latter doesn’t make any real difference, it’s just white lettering at the end of day, but the internal changes are not very impressive. However, I do love this camera. I wish I could have kept it and made it work for me but the simple reality was my full frame Lumix was better for both video and stills. But the size, build, ergos etc were spot on and paired with some of their fast PRO primes and lenses such as the 75mm f1.8, a really great compact system. If I wasn’t shooting professionally, it would easily be my first pick. And of course it could (and is by some) used professionally, but I think for event work in lower light or after dark, it would be very hard to go to 4/3 after using FF for several years from an output POV. Probably the most perfect camera physically I have had in my hands. Along with Canon’s R3.

Being serious, it's mostly 'simply' a case of starting out as a 100% stills photographer who through a process of trial & error technique-wise plus balance of tools used, added X% of video per annum at the approx following rate: Year 1 = + 10% (just static single camcorder on tripod ceremony & speeches) Year 2 = + 20% (as above plus a tiny amount of handheld or other bits and bobs on a tripod) Year 3 = + 35% (adding more elements and volume) Year 4 = + 50% Year 5 = + 75% Year 6 = + 100% Since that time, more refinement/evolution than revolution. The principle skills are probably determination combined with the ability to multitask whilst being prepared for quite a few setbacks, especially financial ones as there is no official guide or handbook, just self-education/experimentation. If anyone really wants to know the specifics, they can book and pay for a workshop. But it ain't cheap. Various competitors have been trying to weasel info for years, but I protect my niche like a cornered weasel myself 🤑😈

Whoever there are chainsaws and balls involved, I'm extra careful 😉

Yup. To the he point where for work for stills it’s a dealbreaker for me. Sadly. I wish it were otherwise.

I only shoot Vlog in good light and Flat profile after dark and IMO no difference really other than against the S1H which produces a slightly nicer result probably due to the OLPF? Same way as how in the hell does someone juggle 10 balls or 3 chainsaws… 😉

I could go either way with these bodies… It would be easy to say that for stills the S5ii full frame sensor is better and it almost certainly is in my opinion, but there is a strong counter with the G9ii despite having the same body, smaller and lighter lenses at equivalent focal lengths. For event work, it’s a lot easier for me to say FF, but for most other stuff, I could be tempted with the 4/3 option. Video and stills. I presume the G9ii has the same shutter button feel and sound as the S5ii though and that for me has been the biggest and only real issue with the S5ii. G9ii vs OM-1, I know where my money would go.

Funnily enough, I traded from the Sony RX10ii to the Olympus OM5ii as 👆 Not sure about used prices and obviously a lens or lenses needed for the Oly, but really great cameras both as is the RX10ii’s little brother, the RX100v.

Well, actually yes, for most people, most of the time. It’s not quite what I’d do today but was an approach I took once. The phone is the most convenient but for me there is zero joy in that. I personally cannot be bothered to lug around a full sized mirrorless with a decent sized zoom, never mind a bag full of options. If I was going on safari, fair enough, but more general travel & trips, nah. The compact for me could work…but it’s a bit too close to the phone so I always ended up using the phone. This is based on a Sony RX100V and later the ZV1. The sweet spot for me therefore would be in no particular order, but selecting one set up from each sensor size: Olympus OM1 + 12-40mm f2.8 Fuji XS20 + Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 Sony A7CR + 20-70mm f4 I think the APSC Fuji/Sigma combo is the most compact and lightest and though has a shorter focal length than the M4/3 combo, but has more cropping potential, but there is just something special about the OM1 and that lens that makes it very satisfying. I had it briefly, loved it, but it did not have the outright pro capability compared with my FF stuff for my work, so sadly sent it back. I personally would go with the Sony because it’s basically as compact as the others, the lack of a decent rear LCD and only a single card slot would not bother me for non-pro work and neither would f4, because the big draw would be being able to crop the f*ck out of that 60mp full frame sensor and forgo the ‘need’ for a longer focal length. For me, a travel camera that is not pro work needs to be a ‘one and done’ set up. The only other contender for me would be the Sigma FP-L but it’s just (sadly) too damned quirky and flawed.

I would guestimate, not less than 2000 and not more than 2500 dollars. Everywhere else in the world, more. As per. The strong rumour is it’s going up in size & build to between the Z6ii and Z8 so both of those factors will command a premium. Obviously it has to go up in spec or folks will moan, if not have complete meltdowns. It won’t have all the Z8 spec because it can’t and the biggest question (for me anyway) is whether it will have the old 24mp sensor, the 33mp from the Sony A7iv, or something else. Personally I think they would sell more if it’s the 33, but… That could also help command more of a premium and push it towards $2500. I’m not paying above 2.5k for one regardless of what it is or has as the current model has all I need for my intended purpose. If it’s within the range above and in time, I’m going to give it a hard look at the very least in case there is something that either might cause me to rearrange my plans slightly or warrants spending what would then be an extra €1000+, but I doubt that will be the case. Never say never, but I could be tempted and it’s not a stupid amount to spend compared with say a Z8 (which I am not massively keen on) or a Z9 which is a bit overkill, but I really like.

No, not invested any time thinking about it, but cost aside, hands down the A7C II (for me) because of the ability to crop much more than the APSC camera based on both sensor size and mp, regardless of lens type or focal length. I did look at this camera a few months back and if my memory serves, in 2 areas it was a hard no for me: Relatively low res LCD. Single card slot. Actually I looked at the A7CR with even greater capacity to crop…but then decided I’d rather have (if I was hypothetically going to go on this direction) the A7VR which is actually my favourite ‘compact’ mirrorless of the moment. But budgets and sizes creeping up here…

Dual processor, better battery life, 2 card slots (one being CF Express) being the main and probably only real differences. I looked at the Z6 around the time it came out when I was still using Fuji XT3 but decided the XT4 would be better for me...but then Covid came along and the World changed...and I ended up going for the brand new for then, Lumix S5. This was before 3 of the 4 lenses listed above existed and had they done so back then, I would almost certainly have made a different choice. I would now if I had 20k to spend but there's reality to deal with! I'm not criticising Lumix. In many ways it's arguably one of the best all-rounders out there at it's price point (S5ii) but the entire system has not been quite right for me for hybrid or stills work. Video yes, - ticks all the boxes, but not quite for my needs which is hybrid. The Z6ii is no current 'in it's market champ'...if it ever was, but it's a damned fine stills camera. Also, because I mentioned 45mp before, why not the Z7ii? It's around +900 euros and do I want 45mp? Kind of yes, kind of no. I had S1R's for stills for a year and they were OK to use and the results stellar, but probably overkill for my needs which is event work. I keep saying to myself that for anything else, more MP would be great, but the reality is I don't do anything else and 24mp really is just a good sweet spot for my line of work.