Panasonic S1R arrived. Impressed! Some 5K tests

[MrSMW]

On 5/24/2023 at 12:57 PM, MrSMW said:

Otherwise back on with my S1R’s for the year.

And...they're gone. For the 3rd and final time. 😆

As part of my down-sizing exercise, I have settled on 2x S5ii's and a single S1H.

I say 'down-sizing' but the S1H now has a battery grip and the Lumix 70-200mm f4 welded to it. And a monopod because it's freaking heavy at 2959 grams or 6.5 lbs!!

However, the sole use of this combo is roaming hybrid during wedding ceremonies and speeches whilst the pair of S5ii's are on tripods doing the longer form static stuff.

Outside of C&S, the S1H disappears and it's back to roaming hybrid with the S5ii pair which can be easily handheld.

Well the S1H can be handheld, but try holding that lump one handed whilst trying to turn a VND!

I used the set up for the first time at a recent 4 day event and it was the FIRST time in 12+ years I felt I had a zero compromise hybrid set up where the tools got out of the way of the creativity.

A couple of niggles but they were on me or unavoidable such as the Sigma 16-28 decided to start taking out of focus (right 50% of the frame), stills and video, so I lost the ability to shoot anything wider than 28mm on Day 01. No real biggie.

I then dropped one of my S5ii's and bent the new flip out VND holder on Day 03 🤪

And a battery failed also Day 03 mid ceremony. Fortunately I shoot 2 angles on sticks plus my roaming unit so lost just one of the statics.

Still comfortably the best results (because or despite of?) of the year to date.

The combo was genuinely stellar and just needs a few final tweaks (settings) and then I can get some continuity going which I am looking forward to.

Finally. Because it was driving me fucking nuts having to make anything from micro to fundamental changes at or after each and every job for pretty much more than a decade.

So goodbye S1R's. I liked the quality of your output but found your controls compared with the S1H and S5's just a bit clunky and decided (finally) that 24mp is indeed the sweet spot. The S5ii's just do everything better except for the hi res stills. Which I'm not too bothered about losing.

No further changes until full frame 6k 50/60p and ideally internal VND is a thing without sacrificing IBIS and that will happen when it happens and I will look forward to it, but don't care when.