PrometheusDM

Panasonic S1/R manual has been available for 1 month now. https://***URL removed***/forums/post/62426156 Here is a direct link to the manual if you are interested. https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/dscoi/DC-S1/P_PP/DC-S1_DVQP1869ZA_eng.pdf

EOS RP do not have DPAF 4K and no 4K 24fps. EOS R do have it

What can Sony do that's beyond S1/Z6? Great AF, 4K60 10 bit internal and/or global shutter along with 5.76 million dot EVF is the only way they can beat S1. I doubt it will be $2500 when it's debut. By then Panasonic S1 might be closer to $2000 with better ergonomic and built quality. I think they are caught off card by Panasonic. I don't think Sony can do 4K60 w/o crop and 10 bit internal without heat issues unless they design bigger body like S1. They might severely limit the recording time as well. I agree with you that quality wise is where A7SIII has to land, but people are more concern about specs than compromises Sony made to reach a price point with the A7III (2.4 million dot EVF, 900K lcd, poor build quality). I suspect A7SIII is the same - 4K60 10 bit for 10-15 minutes

I contacted B&H and Sigma, they both mentioned US release date to be end of April/May 1st.

Samsung A9 has 4 camera in it - wide angle f2.4, telephoto f2.4, 24 mpx 1.7 primary sensor, and depth camera. I think eventually we would get something like DJI Osmo Pocket Pro/2 with 1" sensor that's affordable and good enough even in low light and most circumstances.

I'm in the same age bracket. Great mind think alike ha! Years ago you can make a career just by taking decent SOOC exposure from film. With the invention of DSLR, taking decent SOOC isn't enough. Recent tech even make things even more easier now with eyeAF tracking, and EVF allowing WYSIYG. Now we have animal tracking. Alot of niche of photography are very difficult to make money now as a career that was once a viable career (journalist, magazine photographer). Technology won't replace cream of the crop photographer/videographer with good marketing, but it does enough damage to low and midtier market where most of the clients are. None of the stuff I've seen are that impressive for me to be so naive it can't be imitate or duplicate by sophicate AI software, basic human operator, readily available quality education, and affordable gears.

I think you are too fixated on having an ACTUAL robot to the filming. We aren't going to need to have robot filming/photography to be disruptive. The disruption will come from both hardware and software. Imagine AI software that allow you to import all the video and images and it will analyze all the scenes, generated multiple draft of final edited video with music, transitions, title. It will be able to copy another videographer's editing style and apply to your videos. This combined with affordable camera and useful features such as DPAF & affordable gimbal will allow any weekend warriors to do videography as a side hustle and undercharge the full timers. If I spend 10 hours shooting and the software will take care the rest, I have no problem charging less. I have work with alot of wedding videographers and have seen alot of the final edit. The videos are very generic and formulaic. I would have no problem doing it myself as a weekend warrior let alone a sophisticated AI software. I would definitely raised the bar even though I mostly shoot stills. I think you are underestimating the combination of human operator and sophisticated AI software able to produce quality works and undercut the competitions. I can definitely see the perfect storm happening when the recession hit and even people with 4 years degree unable to find a job (there alot!), people sick of working for min wage, job loss from automation (automated car, factory worker, job taken away from robot) and so many affordable quality gears (imagine DJI Osmo Pocket Pro version with bigger sensor sub $1000, mic, LED light ), sophisticated AI software that cut significant editing time and plenty of free and premium education out there. The quality will rise significantly while the pricing goes down.

wha the f*** I read your review and thinking it's me that write that review! I have never used Panasonic camera or switch to any brand before. Always Canon for 10 years. I thought about switching to Sony for the eye AF and better sensor, but there are always flaws I found it annoying such as the ergonomic, EVF, screen resolution unless I get the A9. The more I use this camera, the more I realized how much thought Panasonic put into this camera. It make my job incredibly convenience. This camera is not perfect but definitely show Panasonic listened and execute unlike Canon and Nikon. For everyone that say this camera is expensive, I say it's well justify. I think it provide excellent value especially if you get free battery, free grip, and extended warranty. If this is their first camera, I'm excited to see the refinement for future camera. Whatever they do, you can expect them to push boundaries and raising the bar higher As a big Sigma Art fan, I'm looking forward to their version of 24-70, 70-200 and whatever they can come up for the L mount.

I bought the camera for $2250 with free battery, battery grip and 3 year warranty. I'm selling the grip so it's $2000 camera for me. I really think it's the best camera I've ever owned. I had Canon 6D, 5D IV, EOS R and tried various camera Sony A7III, A9, A7RIII. I primarily use it for still photography. Beautiful EVF, ergonomic, great IBIS, and no banding. The AF is really good for still and the inclusion of eyeAF is much better than Canon EOS R but still no match for Sony. It also track animals. It has alot of little things I like - quick toggle for AF-C/AF-S/Manual, quick lever for silent shutter, manual focus magnification, backlit buttons, focus bracketing, and custom modes. This might be the first camera where I can set the setting for each scenarios I commonly shoot with - timelapse, portrait, landscape, etc. This is so great to have! This does not have the best AF compare to Sony but it's more than usable as is for me. EyeAF is much better than Canon EOS R. I'm sure it will get further improvement. I considered all of Nikon, Sony, and Canon offering. I ended up with Panasonic S1 based on my priority and needs - dual card slot, great EVF, good sensor, IBIS, ergonomic. Here is a AF test done between Sony A7III vs Panasonic S1 Also, I just find out ISO 50 is a true ISO. https://www.l-rumors.com/diggloyd-panasonic-s1r-has-true-iso-50-not-a-faux-iso-kudos-to-panasonic/ This is pretty amazing for increase dynamic range.

I was debating between waiting for Sony A7RIV/A7SIII or Panasonic s1. I ended getting the Panasonic S1 for $2250 with free battery and battery grip after I came to the same realization you made. Sony will always make a tech gadget instead of a tool for creatives to use that I enjoy using. The A7III took many short cuts to get to the $2000 price point - poor EVF (2.36 million dot EVF), poor LCD that's not fully touch screen (900k dot). Panasonic S1 has great ergonomic, best EVF 5.76 million dot, best IBIS, 4K60, 2.1 million dot but of course their AF do not rival Sony. Whatever new sensor from Sony, I'm sure it will be share with Panasonic and Nikon.

I completely agree with you. I think AI will significantly change multiple industries including photography and videography. You may not have robot shooting weddings for a while, but it will impacts in other subtle ways from shooting to editing. Once you have AI able to analyze all the clips & images and edit multiple drafts for editor to fine tune to final draft, it will be disruptive. They might be able to analyze someone's else clip and edit your image/video clips similar to it. If there are more and more finding videography and photography easy, it will drive the price down while the production quality goes up. In photography, there is already eyeAF, animal AF, object recognition that's making it easier for general public to use. If you can take good exposure back in the day, it would mean you can make career out of it. Not so much now. In some field of photography, you can't make much doing much in that niche (wildlife, journalist, etc) than before. I already see some impact with AI & robot in other field. Automated driving car will disruptive such as taxi, truck drivers, etc. Robots from Boston Dynamic will replace alot of factory workers, fast food workers, kiosk, etc. Back to the topic, I think now with the proliferation of affordable high quality gears, availability of quality education and a job force that left many people to do photography/videography, it's going to drive down the market. I do creative as a side job and charge more than some of the pro in my area because I value my time and skills. I see more and more professionals and weekend warrior charge less because they can't compete on quality so they compete on price. I am continue to be impress by works of non professionals who aren't doing this for a living. Creative is a constant hustle and not everyone want that.

I've seen some amazing video done with Panasonic S1. I don't think the AF is an issue unless you track sport movement. It's more than enough for most people need. This camera has more features than my skills.

For stills, DPAF, Sony, Nikon all use phase detection that cause banding issues under certain lighting environment or raise the shadow. This may or may not matter for video, but it's a concern for me since I primarily shoot stills. I've seen in various group and forum that show those artifacts make it unusable. This happens in EOS R, Sony A7/R, Nikon Z series camera. Sony A9 is the only one that doesn't exhibit this with the fast read out. It's rare occurrence but it does happens. The easy way is to follow the pack and adopt PDAF at the expense of image quality. They won't ridicule on the net anymore. I actually think it's bold of them to adopt a non compromise approach to image quality and go against standard practice. They are constantly attack for their choice in sticking with DFD. Despite all these ridicule, I found the latest version 1 FW AF to be usable. There is no pulsating and it's fast. It focus really fast in low light and track well enough for non sport activity. If you are using it for photo, it's a non issue while have no banding issues. Sure the AF may not be the best, but it's more than usable since it's combination of features is the closest to being a perfect camera for me. It's also one camera I've been the most excited for. I've been a Canon users only for 10 years that was interested in Sony A7III, A7RIII, A9 etc. All those camera has compromises in some way that goes beyond features. Panasonic S1: Class leading EVF 5.76 million dot 120 hz Dual IS (class leading IBIS FF 6 stops) Dual card slot (first dual XQD/CFE & SD card slot combo) 4K 60 30 cropped (1st FF to offer it) | unlimited 4K 30p EyeAF and animal tracking Ergonomic and weather sealing with button logically lay out Fully touch screen LCD Back lit buttons Focus bracketing High resolution mode 96 mpx and 187 mpx for 47 mpx sensor. Timelapse Fully touch screen LCD Dynamic range beat Fuji medium format, Z6, A7III, A7RIII at low ISO with clean ISO 12,800. For a $2500 S1 camera with free battery and grip, Panasonic offer a lot of class leading features. I can forgive it for not having the best AF. I'm sure they are working on FW to get it even better. This is their first FF mirrror less camera and it shows they really tried. I have no problem supporting a camera company that gave me such a bang for my money. There is no perfect camera, but what you are willing to compromise on. This come the closest perfect camera for me.

https://www.l-rumors.com/new-leica-sl-and-cl-firmware-adds-compatibility-with-the-sigma-and-panasonic-l-mount-lenses-and-adapter/ Problem solved.

That's why I'm Panasonic S1. If something revolutionary, I'll buy it. If not, I have a very capable machine for $2500 that accept EF lenses

You misunderstood me. I am brand agnostic. I use Canon for 10 years because everyone has it and my lens library and now switching to Panasonic. I buy various glass from all manufacturers not just Canon. I couldn't care less if Canon, Nikon, Sony kicking whose butt. To me, it's only a tool. I don't own their stock or have any victory when one company do well. If Canon goes out of business, I can see why. They are very complacent, but they also business savvy enough to focus things that will sell well - M50, EOS RP, glasses etc. They just aren't catering to the pro yet. I really want Sony and everyone else to do well. They are so close to making the perfect camera. Intangibles that everyone else got it right (Panasonic, Canon, Nikon) Sony couldn't. It should be easy to make a better ergonomic, fully touch screen LCD and redesign menu. I would be totally switch over to Sony. If the A7RIV/A9 offer a bigger body with all these features, I would switch over to them. I'm sick of Canon. In regard of Sony fanboyism: I see alot of people bashing on Panasonic S1 paid FW article on DPreview, and most of them has Sony gears. I remembered Sony PS3 vs Xbox debate. It seems they grow up and bought camera. It's really petty

I am tire of seeing Sony fan boy: always interjecting them self in non Sony related gears post. Bashing other companies always show open box Sony toys proclaiming their eyeAF to be the best. How did we manage to shoot before eyeAF? dismiss ergonomic and menu issues At the end of the day, no one care what camera you use just the results.

Alot of Canon users still think Canon L lenses are king but I think the mystique is gone when it was just Canon vs Nikon. I think all current lenses manufacturers are very capable including third party lenses such as Sigma & Tamron. My last 4 lenses purchases has been third party lenses. I had only Canon 24-70 2.8 II that is still Canon. I would be happy with any trinity lenses from any company. Given how much Tamron and Sigma has progress and my shooting preference now compared 10 years ago, I realized Canon doesn't serve me anymore. I am more excited about Panasonic S1 than any camera that came out in the past 5 years. MC-21 adapter is coming out 4/19. Perfect timing.

I am interested in it as a still only Canon shooter. This will accept EF lenses via MC-21 adapter. Sigma EF will have native support via FW update. For $200 more than EOS R, this offer dual card slot (XQD/CFE), newer sensor than 5D IV/EOSR with better ISO and hopefully DR, IBIS, better 4K, better EVF, better video options. While Canon lenses are very nice, I don't shoot 50 1.2 or care too much about their $3000 28-70 F2. ALL FF mirror-less lenses are expensive but I expect Sigma mirrorless lenses to be affordable.