MrSMW

I currently have a pair of S1R’s for 90% stills/10% video use and an S5/S1H for 100% video use. I’m going to trade the S5 and S1H for a pair of S5ii’s. Not the X models as I don’t need that spec. Anything to beat an S1R has a tough act to follow… I picked both of mine up as mint used examples and together they cost me about 3400 euros (less than a single new one). I don’t need any more capability in either. Nope, not a thing. In fact, I’d rather see an S5iiR because I’d prefer an S5 size body with battery grip over an S1R with (a bit too big) or without (a bit too small). I’m also interested to see what Leica do as I might go there for my next stills bodied cameras. Partly for that tiny bit of extra mojo they do seem to bring and partly yes, as a pro photographer of over 20 years, to scratch that itch!

Re. menus, barely consider them with these things… I set things up how I want and then rarely, if ever go back into them other than for stuff like formatting cards, checking time sync on multiple bodies etc. Never had any issues with any of them really…

In ALL of the direct heads to heads it looked better as did the SOOC colour science and as for the IBIS…

AF for stills was already great so for me it was really just reliable AF for video and 30 minute 4k 50p 10 bit record limit that was ‘missing’ from the S5. Rolling shutter a non-issue for me as my use case is either static on tripod, handheld static or gimbal, ie panning is not a thing in my world. I’m not watching all the reviews out there but seen 3 from folks I know and trust and if it’s what they say it is, it’s what they say it is. Ticks my boxes other than having a flippy screen and I would rather have had at least one CF Express card slot but neither are deal-breakers. Time to get some trade-in prices I think. Just had all 4 of my current units refurbed and serviced so good to go…

Me also. With compact Sigma 28-70mm f2.8

Trying to find a flaw in trading my: S1H, S5 and pair of S1R’s for 3x S5ii’s… A. Would have preferred a tilt screen but it’s not a dealbreaker. B. Will I miss not having 47mp stills? Probably not… C. Other than the stealthy black aesthetic, does the X model (not available until May and too late for me for this year anyway) have anything over the standard model that I would want or need? Doesn’t appear so as I thought it might have a CF Express slot but the internal ProRes is limited to 1080. ‘Only’ 200 mbps (or is that mbs…but who cares) which is fine for me. I’m away at the moment but I think 3x bodies plus 2x battery grips is going to suit me… Already have: Sigma 16-28 and 28-70 f2.8 compact zooms for video plus; 20, 35 and 85 f1.4’s for stills. I also have the f4 24-105 if I do need longer. I think it’s looking healthy for L Mount 👍

Looks like pro res with the X and it’s a blacked out stealth finish plus probably at least one CF Express B slot. Anything else/everything we’ll find out in a couple of days I guess…

Sigma 16-28mm f2.8 = 450g Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 = 470g These are my two video workhorses on FF now. Hoping the rumored but expected 70-200mm f2.8 makes an appearance soon and my triumvirate will be complete.

AF/MF...either way, if it ain't in focus video-wise, it won't be in focus as a still. From experience, ie, I have deliberately shot video (4k 50p APSC crop S5 flat profile) with a view to also pulling the stills of the same footage and the results were mostly 'good' on average. Some instances, they were great. Tried the 6k 25p mode and the quality was mostly higher still and I think if someone was more 'results focused' than 'craft focused', with something like a Z9, the results would be superb. And by 'craft focused', I mean that I am not sure whether I would be happy no longer being a photographer... Can it be done? Yes and I'm surprised more are not doing it. Should it be done? Personal choice more than anything.

If it’s stabilised or even faster shutter speeds needed!

Only one question remaining for me really and that is recording limit? I would hope the X model at least does not have the current S5 30 minute 10 bit as that doesn’t work for me…which is the main reason I also have an S1H. Unlimited and we possibly have a deal…

I am biased as an L Mount user, but S5 for me also. As a former XT3 user, I was going to go XT4 for 2020...until Covid changed my plans and trashed my year so my pre-orders were cancelled. At the end of that year, I went S5 over the XT4 or Z6. Why? Combination of factors but the components that were a priority to me added up to S5 over anything else. Not exactly 'dirt' cheap right now, but can be had below 1000 'Your Currency' used and only going to get cheaper still now that the S5ii is arriving in Feb 2023. I looked at the XH2s recently and considered the Z6ii and the Canon R6ii and out of these it would be a tough call but having seen the spec of the new S5ii, for me that would be my choice. For a new/latest piece of kit, otherwise used, an S5. As things stand, pretty sure I'm going to be trading my S5 and S1H for a pair of S5ii-x's in the new year because it makes sense for my needs. Maybe even my S1R's also for another, but ideally going to wait and see whether a replacement for the S1R is going to appear because for my stills needs, they tick all the boxes and it's just the video side of the hybrid equation where they don't. Fabulous 5k footage, but not 50p without going to 8 bit 4k.

1. 8k 2. 6k 3. 4k No ND but crank the shutter speed into the hundreds if not thousands as needed. I have considered it myself and it works but the question is, could I be bothered for my needs and the answer was and still is, I think I’d lose some of my photography soul personally by doing this… Right now, my first choice if I was going to do this would be the Z9.

There are so many variables with lenses it’s hard to say and I have found at times some lenses have been better or worse than others for no seemingly explicable reason. My own Panny f4 24-105 for instance has been reliable on some jobs and then every now and again, is not. All day long, ie not just in some particular lighting scenario. The Sigma 85mm f1.4 is more reliable for stills but less so video compared with the Panasonic 85mm f1.8 which is the opposite. I don’t worry about it. The quality and reliability is more than good enough for me.

Nothing. Except if you are a hybrid shooter like me with a prime and flipping between stills and video all day long! That 28mm…well the framing was great for those stills, but then I flipped to video and it’s more like 42mm and I can’t back up to match as I was already backed up to the wall! ”So just shoot FF or APSC!” Well I could but I like what I get from my Lumix cameras so I work around it by having cameras and lenses dedicated to certain things at certain times. It is a workaround but one I can live with if I have to and for most of the video side, I actually use a 28-70mm f2.8 to which I have just added a 16-28 giving me options more like 24-42mm and 42-105mm and I tend to use the wider angle as my indoor lens and switch to the longer zoom as my outdoor. I then only use the extreme ends (as if they were twin primes) so indoor I shoot 24 and 42 and outdoor 42 and 105 which as with any focal lengths you become used to, gives you a ‘look’ that you just know how to work with. I have the above set up with the S5 dedicated to indoor (and gimbal outdoor) and the S1H outdoor. This is possibly where I might just trade both cams for one single S5ii and keep my S1R’s…

Looks matter I think, to a degree, in regard to overall ownership and enjoyment, but to me are one of the lowest considerations. If a camera was say round pink plastic and had the word BARBIE on it, yes, I might deduct points, but the difference between one black box and another is marginal. There are some very sleek designs out though such as Hassie X2D and I love the film Contax G2. By comparison, the Panasonics are arguably 'a bit dull' as are many of the Sony's but I actually love the look and form factor of their FX3/30.

Not the reason I sent it back, but I didn't like the video coming out of it so was happy I had returned it just for that aspect alone. I'm not sure though whether it was just not great or simply because I have been spoiled with Panny full frame, but suspect it's more a case of the latter. 4/3rds is officially dead to me now 😜

Crossed posts while I was typing... Yep, doesn't make sense...unless it does for some reason?

Blacked out LUMIX logo a la Leica SL2. I like that. I used a black sharpie on mine just to make them more subtle 😁

I don't get the X model? Just pro res being the difference? Can't be surely? Just needs a paid firmware update for those that want it shortly but warranting another designated model...?? Apart from the flip screen 🤪 (would prefer an S1H style), I might be tempted to push the order button when that option becomes available... I bought into the L Mount system 2 years ago with a single S5 to start off with, replacing an XT3. That was because what I wanted at the time, was effectively a full frame XT3 with IBIS. OK, the video side of things was cropped for 4k 50p and it had a flip out screen, but otherwise, boxes ticked. I am currently running a pair of S1R's, an S1H and an S5. I just had all 4 serviced and in the case of 3 of them, repaired/refurbished. They now sit waiting either for next season (late March onward) or for sale/trade. I have sold off and replaced a lot of my lens lineup and bought a few new ones so have my 'perfect' lineup in that regard. Ideally, I would like to move to a 3 body based system. I love the S1R's for their stills capability and the 5k footage is great...except no 50p unless I drop to 4k and 8 bit. Can I go back from 47mp to 24mp is the question in my head (to myself)...?? I love the S1H in every regard except I would ideally prefer it to be about 10% smaller and lighter and have better AF. S5mkii is that camera? I love the S5 size and weight, but not the flip out screen which for me is really it's only major weakness. So the rhetorical questions have to myself are: 1. Is the S5 mkii going to be the camera I am looking for and will be happy with for the next 3 seasons/years? Other than the flip out screen, possibly... 2. Is there going to be a successor to the S1/R/H and if so, might that suit me better and if I went with an all S5 mkii line up, would I always being wishing I had waited? 3. If I wait/how soon should I flip my current 4 bodies because I'm probably never going to get a better price than today? Hmmm... I think if the S5ii just had the S1H style screen, I'd flip and have zero regrets and really, that is the single factor that is just holding me back right now. The official reveal in a week or so might confirm my mind one way or another...

Marginally…in some cases. Some of the Sigmas are in fact better! I do think L Mount has one of the strongest lens lineups available now with perhaps only Sony having stronger? Not including old(er) ef Mount. If the new rumored AF is good, then ladies and gentlemen, I would suggest we’re going to have an extremely strong system.

FX3 would be perfect for me with a rear tilt screen. Shutter angle a bonus as would be internal ND. That would do me. It’s really more the form factor and ergos than the capability now (rather than any kind of internal spec) for me with most cameras having the capability I need. XH2s/FX3/FX30/S5/R6ii/FP… it’s just the rear screen type that is my issue with them all.

I don’t know if this helps or not but I always use my gimbal these days with a QR plate and an uber lightweight tripod. This way I can use it for secondary static shots while I wander about but at any second can use it off the tripod in a split second. Or with the tripod attached as it’s so light and actually adds some further stability. I actually also have a Spider QR bolt on it to hang off a Spider holster belt clip which means I can carry the whole thing, gimbal and tripod hands free. Being a solo hybrid shooter, this way I can work with 4 cameras at ‘the same time’. S5 gimbal tripod combo S1H central shoulder harness and tripod S1R left harness S1R right harness Drone, batteries, audio, lightstand, lighting, all backpack (which I only wear from car to venue otherwise dump it somewhere handy). Use ability is more important to me over size or weight.

Always the Sigma FP or FP-L. The problem is I am a minimalist...or as much as I can be and like a streamlined workflow. At present, I am working with 4 camera bodies only 2 of which are identical, but next gen with L Mount will hopefully get me to my ideal 3. So where would an FP fit in? It doesn't, not into my work needs anyway, but maybe in '23 I can wrangle one for personal use...

If the XH2/S had kept the tilt screen a la XH1/XT3, I would have bought 3 of the things after using them professionally for 8 years from Pro1 to XT3. Moved to L Mount for ‘21 and ‘22 and WOULD without question have gone fully back to Fuji for ‘23 but for the straw that broke the camel’s back for me, - the flip out screen. XT5. Yep, perfect…except for the reduced video spec, no battery grip option and worst of all, no fan option. Loved the XH1 at the time. XT3 topped it in several ways except lack of IBIS and all Fuji had to do was put the XT3 spec in the XH1 body. 🤪