What (fav) cam manufacturer in late 2024?

[Emanuel]

Here's mine:

In my case, FF 6K, FX30, Osmo Pocket 3, Ace Pro 2 (also a weakness for Action 5 Pro).

[kye]

My favourite cams right now are either the OG BMMCC or GX85.  I would buy a GH7 to replace the BMMCC but it's $$$$$.

You could interpret that by saying:

• Blackmagic and Panasonic are my favourite manufacturers, but that's definitely not right
• Blackmagic in 2014 and Panasonic in 2016 are my favourite manufacturers
• Blackmagic and Panasonic suck because the best cameras they released are around a decade old
• Everyone sucks because the best cameras are around a decade old
• Camera users suck because they keep wanting things that make it so cameras are either rubbish or are absolutely huge

Your choice!

[Emanuel]

Yes, Panasonic also before but not today to me...

I concur I have found GH series out of a rational range nowadays, at least.

Just not about Blackmagic, they have produced the best cameras out there!

I have bought in the last year both 12K and 6K FF, I don't regret not even for a second! Great devices! Pieces of jewelry BTW ;- )

[Emanuel]

PS: Being FX30 the best workhorse and bang for the buck these days... Completely underrated IMHO.

 

[MrSMW]

I would have to split my choice into 4 categories and include lens options in the mix.

Group 01 = 'Real World Fantasy' as in if I had the money, but also had to actually use the things for work.

For stills, an easy one for me; a pair of Hasselblad X2D's each with a prime.

For video, until/unless an S2H appears, honestly, I can't see past the Lumix S5ii. Maybe the Burano paired with another smaller Sony, but I don't know enough about it really as it's so far beyond my pay grade and probably too big anyway.

Group 02 = my 'Real World' as in what I have/can afford/choose to use.

For stills, Sony A7RV with Tamron trio: 20-40 f2.8, 28-75 f2.8, 70-180 f2.8, for the range, size, weight, performance, price. I will be almost certainly replacing the 28-75 f2.8 with the new 28-70 f2 for next year as the only slight weakness this year has been lower light work within that focal length. I did briefly consider the even faster Sigma 50mm f1.2, but the focal length limited it.

For video, Lumix S5ii. As above with my 'fantasy' list, I just can't see beyond it at this time for my needs. I prefer the S1H body and its outright image quality, but it lacks certain features I need. Also as above, if a new 'S2H' comes out that is essentially the old S1H body updated and with equal or better than S5ii spec, it's a no-brainer as my primary, but as things stand, does not exist.

Lenses = all Sigma: 20 f2, 28-45 f1.8, 28-105 f2.8, 70-200 f4 which cover all my bases perfectly.

Group 03 = 'Honourable Mentions'.

Stills camera for primes under 500g, Nikon Zf. That thing is superb...until you add longer/bigger lenses on it.

Z6III looks a stellar hybrid unit and the fact that you can easily adapt e Mount lenses...

I love the form factor or the OM-1 and those chunky little M4/3 zooms and primes.

All things Fuji. Fuji are probably my favourite outright brand despite me having dropped them 3 years ago.

Sigma 1 for lenses, Tamron 2.

Group 04 = 'One & Done'.

If I had to choose just one single body and one single lens and it had to do everything; stills & video, work & personal, absolute no-brainer, my Sony A7RV with Tamron 28-75mm f2.8. The combo of; size, weight, capability/performance/cost, - as a 'one & done', I could do anything with this set up.

Summary, the 3 most important factors for me (beyond certain basic minimum specs such as decent IBIS, twin card slots, 6k 30p) are:

Lens ranges with minimal swaps when on a job.

Low light capability.

Realistic minimal size & weight.

[Emanuel]

1 hour ago, MrSMW said:

Summary, the 3 most important factors for me (...) are:

Lens ranges with minimal swaps when on a job.

Low light capability.

Realistic minimal size & weight.

Keys of same ring in late 2024, I guess or tend to believe ;- )

[Snowfun]

The obvious ones: Blackmagic (4k & 6k) and Sony (FX30). But I’m tempted now to add Apple. The 16 pro max is just so convenient and unobtrusive. Recording ProRes to an external SSD makes it a genuine video tool. Not to produce the highest quality cinematic image but as a tool to capture the world it is up there with the rest.

[Emanuel]

9 minutes ago, Snowfun said:

The obvious ones: Blackmagic (4k & 6k) and Sony (FX30). But I’m tempted now to add Apple. The 16 pro max is just so convenient and unobtrusive. Recording ProRes to an external SSD makes it a genuine video tool. Not to produce the highest quality cinematic image but as a tool to capture the world it is up there with the rest.

I obviously just left P4K out of my list because of that late 2024... LOL Even though I concur that even these days, it's a hell of a camera... Well, they have the Micro 4K G2, let's not forget it either... ; ) I also feel tempted myself to not let the 16 Pro Max outside but my beef is yet the overheating mantra : D especially @4K120fps... Hate limitations of this kind, not some others! ;- )

[newfoundmass]

I don't think there's a better value out there than the S5ii (and the X) except maybe the original S5, which is an absolute steal on the used market.

Having used the FX3 and the FX30, I just don't think either is a better camera than the S5II X. The only real benefit I can think of is Sony's larger user base and lenses. 

[MrSMW]

3 hours ago, newfoundmass said:

I don't think there's a better value out there than the S5ii (and the X) except maybe the original S5, which is an absolute steal on the used market.

Having used the FX3 and the FX30, I just don't think either is a better camera than the S5II X. The only real benefit I can think of is Sony's larger user base and lenses. 

I'd say S1H over S5 as it's SO much more camera and though not as cheap on the used market, an absolute steal now.

I have to give the nod to the S5ii as I said above however, due to AF, but that's about it.

Re. the FX3 and 30, thought about them several times and they look visually so much better than the generic Lumix black boxes, but then when I look at the spec etc, Lumix just beats them for me.

The lenses I think are now there and it came good in 2024.

This year brought at the very least:

Samyang 35-150 f2/2.8

Sigma 50 f1.2

Sigma 28-45 f1.8

Sigma 28-105 f2.8

A number of compact cine primes

I think Panasonic would be utterly mad to not replace the S1 line. But on that, we will have to wait and see...

[eatstoomuchjam]

I'm glad to see this has been more "favorite cameras" vs "favorite manufacturers" since there's almost no reason to have a favorite manufacturer.

My favorites that I have right now are the GFX 100 II for stills and the Komodo-X for motion pictures.  For a smaller, more portable setup, I like my EOS R5 with Canon RF consumer primes and the 70-200/4L - or with Leica M primes.  I also like the C70 a lot and look forward to the C80 hitting the used market (partly because it'll be a nicer match for the Leica M stuff than my APS-C gear).

[MrSMW]

46 minutes ago, eatstoomuchjam said:

I'm glad to see this has been more "favorite cameras" vs favorite manufacturers"

Because Lumix are far from being my favourite as a company. They have made some stuff, the timing of which suited me, but then continue to frustrate re. the future.

I don't much care for Sony as a brand either, but hey, guess what? I shoot Lumix and Sony 🤪

I've never really bought anything much simply because of the badge or because how popular something might be.

[Django]

Everybody's different and is going to cite their own camera choices. I'm brand agonistic even though I have my own subjective preferences. I love Canon for the simplicity, reliability, skin tones & lenses. R5ii, R3, R1, C70/C80 form a good eco system. The Vari-ND adapter paired with the extensive EF lens market is also a unique edge. What I don't like is the third-party RF blockade. Sony, although dominating the video market has ironically fallen behind imo. The Alpha and even FX line still don't have proper +4K resolution, open-gate or built-in RAW, ProRes etc. I also find the alpha bodies very consumerish and uninspiring. That being said the FX30 is definitely a great deal and now that it has shutter angle it makes for good compact solution. For S35 though I prefer Fuji. XH2S is very slept on with 6.2K, Open-gate, ProRes plus its a true hybrid.

I don't use Panasonic and they seem to be asleep this year so I won't comment.

This brings me to my favourite cam manufacturer this year: Nikon. Z8, Z9, Z6iii. Fantastic cameras at aggressive pricing. Z-mount is also the most adaptable mount. Z9 is still my number one camera with pro build, long battery life, grip, stacked sensor, 8K60p, ProRes etc. Z8 is right behind it. And now with the RED acquisition it's only going to get better for cine users. In fact the first collaboration was done a couple weeks ago with the free release of RED technical and creative LUTs for the system. I've seen a test where they match very closely to RED cameras. Exciting stuff!

 

[Emanuel]

4 hours ago, eatstoomuchjam said:

I'm glad to see this has been more "favorite cameras" vs "favorite manufacturers" since there's almost no reason to have a favorite manufacturer.

You are right! : )

As much brand agnostic (actually quoted by @Danilo Del Tufo with that slogan a couple of decades ago : D) as @Django!

Another reason more to mention manufacturers instead since it is a way to celebrate a manufacturer cares about building it up ; ) The idea came from someone else @IronFilm mention both of them I also praise ATM.

A manufacturer is much distinct from a brand BTW ;- )

[BTM_Pix]

Next Monday I will be buying my final camera* and it will be from the same brand that I have bought in every one of the last five decades.

Nikon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*insert your own rolling eyes gif here

[MrSMW]

🙄

[Ninpo33]

11 hours ago, Django said:

For S35 though I prefer Fuji. XH2S is very slept on with 6.2K, Open-gate, ProRes plus it’s a true hybrid.

Yeah, I’m always surprised more people aren’t as excited about the X-H2s as I am. I know there’s a bias against Super 35 still but the huge popularity of the FX30 shows me it’s not all Full Frame these days. 
 

For anamorphic shooting the 6.2k open gate is awesome. And ProRes? Amazing deal for $1,500 used right now. 

I’m looking at the specs of the new Fuji X-m5 and thinking it will make a great B or C camera to the X-H2s. My ideal traveling doc setup is going to be

GFX 100ii - Stills and static video shots 

X-H2s - Action and gimbal, handheld. 

X-M5 - C cam third angle, street cam. 
 

I picked up a number of older Minolta AF lenses this year for really cheap and metabones makes a MAF to Fuji X speedbooster for them. Having the full set of lenses for peanuts including a lot of fast f/1.4 lenses is going to be fun to play with. 

 

[BTM_Pix]

7 hours ago, MrSMW said:

🙄

I’ve already changed my mind so fair play.

[MrSMW]

3 hours ago, Ninpo33 said:

Yeah, I’m always surprised more people aren’t as excited about the X-H2s as I am. I know there’s a bias against Super 35 still but the huge popularity of the FX30 shows me it’s not all Full Frame these days

Possibly the less than stellar IBIS and AF, but even back in my Fuji days ending with XT3 for stills and XH1 with adapted Canon lens, I found both to be OK.

Not great, but OK and it’s come a long way since with more recent models.

I could EASILY shoot a GFX stills unit plus a pair of XH2’s for video.

But just as easily an all Nikon set up based around a Z8 for stills and pair of Z6iii’s for video.

Or an all Canon set up of R5ii stills plus a pair of R6ii’s for video.

So many great options these days. For my needs anyway, but just 2 years ago, I did struggle to suit my specific needs, but knowing it was so close…

[Tim Sewell]

On 11/5/2024 at 4:53 AM, Emanuel said:

PS: Being FX30 the best workhorse and bang for the buck these days... Completely underrated IMHO.

 

I'm certainly loving my FX30. So easy to use and get good results from.