Manufacturers wouldn't send out products to be obsolete as soon as the newer models are released. These cameras are meant to be put through hell and back.
Here is the most outrageous thing off all. Global shutter. Here it is on smartphone from early 2016 th-cam.com/video/0_izgriBm8o/w-d-xo.html Camera companies can't do that or they squeeze every cent that in the future they will squeeze us more for a global shutter camera.@@jrt2792
Does this include for lenses as well? Luc always mentions camera bodies, but I’m looking for pro advice on if I should buy lenses used. If so, where is the best place to buy?
@@thekevinfoster Those lenses are more expensive than the actual camera body, as long as the lens has been taken care of, it's perfectly fine to get a used lenses. I usually go to eBay for my lenses.
I completely agree and I am painfully aware of this as a TH-camr reviewer who is constantly recommending new products lol. My goal for 2024 is to go minimal and stick with what I have and just teach people how to use what they already have... right after I upgrade to the A9III lol
I’m 70 and just retired after a couple decades as a ranch/farm broker. For all of that time I shot my own photos and video. Started with a Nikon D90 and then moved to Lumix GH3, GH4, GH5 and a DJI Mavic 2 pro drone. I just purchased a Lumix G9II and kitted it out with cage, external monitor, SSD drive….and I’m wondering why I didn’t just kit-out my GH5. Anyway - I’m really excited to learn more/better ways to use the equipment I have and not spend money on upgrades. Thanks for this great content. New subscriber.
About the resolution topic: I saw an article years ago where a DP (or maybe an engineer) did a resolution test in an IMAX theater. They filled half the screen with white and half with black, then kept doubling it so they had alternating white and black stripes across the screen. By the time they got to around 2.5k anyone in the theater farther back than 5 rows could only see a gray screen. They couldn't see the difference in white and black lines anymore.
Long ago I worked in a brand new building covered with black-and-white speckled granite. That is, if you were standing right outside of it. From a distance, it looked dark gray. It's the same with TV sets. If you have a 4K screen way across the room, can you really tell?
Hi luc, you always working in different scenario of weather from freezing winter to dusty summer. have you consider to make video about how you keep your gear when you travelling or your maintenance routine ? Like how to keep your lens and sensor clean and away from fungus, or safety gear to make sure your gear is safe in case you slipped and drop those expensive gear...
I like this channel more and more. 3 times Luc mentioned online influencers and camera gear sales...FINALLY SOMEONE IS CALLING OUT THE LYING. Of course many online influences are getting significant financial perks for hawking various vendors gear despite their protestations otherwise. Just hearing the seasoned, sensible advice from someone who has years of experience under his belt is very helpful. Thank you for making this video.
Lol yes. I love hearing youtubers say... Sony just sent me this camera, but they aren't sponsoring so I'll be completely honest. When we know, they will never be honest as their $ is determined by the views and interactions on their videos, and having the camera pre release guarantees them the views... so of course they will praise it so they get the next one pre release. Some of those channels need disclaimers
Autofocus is for "niche" and "most of us should be using manual focus"? That may be true for commercial films and even wedding videos, but they surely represent a tiny fraction of camera sales.
I think this is meant in the context of filmmaking. Because autofocus can so abrupt and distracting, manual focus is preferred. If you’re behind the camera, you can operate the focus in the way that you think makes the impact you’re looking for, and autofocus becomes a real problem whenever it doesn’t work perfectly. While there are times you might wish you had autofocus, like filming yourself while you move in frame, there are ways to work around it.
This is simply not true. 4k is definetely today's standard. Even for watching in 1080p screens the difference is notable 1080p always looks like nothing is ever truly in focus Plus even if you are delivering in 1080p most videos fo a bit of reframing in post, 4k allows you to now loose a lot of res while doing that 4k is definetely overkill, it's expected
Professional will definitely pay extra for the 10% usage beyond phones, especially the price difference is not huge, considering the money you can make, probably just with 1 or 2 projects. My clients sometimes want both horizontal and vertical HD versions for the same video, so 4K became mandatory. And I would love to have 6K so I can crop when editing.
Thank you Luc. You are a breath of fresh air my friend. I watch many of the channels that hype up new gear, especially DJI gear because I like the content they create. With that said, I can always tell when they are pushing some sort of product, even if they try to do it discreetly. This doesn't make me like their channels any less and I understand why they do it (I'm for anyone making money from their work), but when you take a step back you realize that all these photography/videography youtube channels feel the same.
I couldn't agreed more Luc with this video and topic. I started my creative career that is now my profession with a Sony 6300 that I kept for 3 years shooting my first paid gigs with it. I upgraded to my A7IV once my APSC died completely and clearly FF is a topic many people been caught up in order to start with a camera full frame. Same things applied for musis companies royalty free bombarding us all the time is a bit too much. Keep up the good stuff coming!!!!Greatings from London😄
Today is a different story. If you were to start your photography journey way back when I did in 2009, our options were limited. You go APS-C because it was far cheaper than Full-frame. But today, an a7iii is $2,000 usd. Used market a7iii is $1,200 usd. If you wait, you can get a brand new a7iii on sale for as low as $1,500 usd. An a6600 is $1,000 usd while you can get a used one for $700 usd. Which would you prefer to go with right now? I would go for the a7iii because of the huge price drop and that's one of the biggest factor. Today, you guys are lucky that there are so many camera options to choose from. Back then, Canon and Nikon only release a limited amount and waited 4 to 5 years to release a new model.
Amen! I couldn’t agree more. The use of “game changer”, “built like a tank” and “an absolute beast” usually cause me to turn the video off immediately. 😂
Great Luc! Still using my Blackmagic 4k and I love it. You get to a point where quality is enough for what you want to achieve. When to get there stop striving for more. Create more…
Excellent, thank you! I use Canon 5dii for cinematography, was tepmted to go to R6, But, went for another 5dii. Made sense to have 2 of the same and dual set ups! I also use Nikon manual lenses with them
very correct thoughts, this is what is needed among the modern stream of new advertising. Besides, your words about autofocus echo the fact that I want to switch to manual focus, to shoot on cinema rig, instead of steadicam.
1. Resolution: For years, people have been watching 2K in movie theaters. Most theaters still use 2K projectors. Color depth matters way more than resolution. In fact, most people can't even tell the difference between 2K and 4K after they weren't pixel peeping two feet away from the screen. I've run a projector at a documentary film festival, and everything we showed was at 2K. 2. Autofocus: For most applications, it is awful. There is nothing worse than trying to stay focused on something, only to have the camera suddenly decide to track something else in the frame. Personally, I only have manual focus lenses. Because of the aesthetics of them, I typically use late 60s/early 70s photography lenses, and modify them for follow focus and de-click the aperture ring. On that note, learning how to disassemble, clean, repair, and modify your lenses is an important skill to have.
Most of the best quality lenses that you’d want to use especially the ones with cinematic character are manual focus only unless you buy a lidar system that is a pain to set up and use.
Back in October, I switched to manual lenses only and sold my old lenses (sort of trading them so I am "buying new" but in return, selling something. Manual has changed my perspective of filmmaking and made me more intentional. I also don't feel I need any new equipment and working with what I have matters more. Love all your points on here, especially that Autofocus really isn't mandatory!
Luc, I have to say your videos are so good. I've legit learned so much from you in the short time that I found your channel, and this video especially calmed a lot of fears that I had concerning my camera gear. Thanks for keeping it real and for making yourself as a youtuber/expert look human by showing us that self reflection. It is very much appreciated :)
Great episode as always from Luc! No unboxing- 5 star! I turned off all monetization from my channel myself and sometimes not make money but create what you like- it’s fills much better.
I have just found your channel from this video. Great to see someone as influential as you to push this narrative. I found myself identifying with so much of this as I love gear but I am trying to resist urge to buy more until I level up significantly to justify it. Looking forward to going through your back catalog of videos.
Amazing video, finally someone speaking truthfully about the gear industry. And the palstic! First time I hear any youtuber at all talking about this, it is insane how much this companies force us to create garbage
Love your videos Luc! To the point and well made. I am glad you don't do unboxing videos. I just bought a "new" FX3 and love it. Call me old fashioned but I just had a lot of fear buying used, without warranty, when I need a reliable camera for the next short film I will work on soon. Before I bought the FX3 I bought the BM 6K FF body and found the low light image unusable. Returned that body. Then I bought the Panasonic S5IIX and that low light image was unusable as well. I gave up on the 6K hype and settled on the FX3. I do my best to keep financial and environmental costs down and only buy what I absolutely need. Thanks for all you do for our filmmaking community, Luc!
There is one benefit of full frame that is clearly worth the money, and that is the 1.5x crop of APS-C, it essentially gives you a new set of lenses. I have a 17-28mm Tamron f/2.8 and a 17-70mm f/2.8. When I need more reach, I can pull out my APS-C. I have a ZV-E10 and that one has a crop in 4K, so you get even more zoom. For subject separation in video you probably won't notice the pretty bokeh, but I got the A7C for low light video, not for photography. I do wish I had 10-bit 422 like the A6700. I may pick up an FX30 or A6700 soon.
It’s so good and important to know that we still have a experienced content creator telling the true story about overwhelming consumer marketing and guiding on how to use our money in this industry. Thank you so much for the integrity and please keep posting and maybe some other content creators are going to follow you and the game will change for better 👏👏👏
Stunning, the writing is wonderful and your experiences are priceless. As a baby videographer with 57 years in photography, I ask: what gives me more fulfillment - rummaging through gear or one-pointedly shooting to serve?
This is the most reasonable video about formats and hardware. Thank you for honest appraisal of this side of the industry. I’m a Zeiss optics guy because I think the stuff is optically superior, durable as can be, and much more affordable when purchased used. I stick to full frame mostly because I understand the angle of view for the various focal lengths and just don’t want to learn another. Thanks for the other tips about music sourcing. I can’t help but agree with 100% of your observations and recommendations.
Great content! I like buying used gear whenever I can. And like you and many others I also run the gear until it's no longer working or becomes unreliable.
I have a 6kpro but have been filming in 1080 a lot recently for documenting some long-term projects. The storage space advantages are enormous, and honestly the quality difference is nearly indistinguishable as long as i have a well composed shot with nice lighting. I still use 4k or 6k for certain situations but it's nice to see that 1080 holds its own.
I shoot 2560x1280 uncompressed 14bit raw and if graded correctly it looks just as sharp as an as 4k 10/12bit compressed video. The uncompressed 14bit raw also has far superior color and tonal range. The camera cost me 280€ including a 50mm 1.8 lens and the extra battery and 128gb memory card.
This video put my mind at ease. I’m shooting a Doc for Telus and they require 1080. I have two cameras and one is only HD. I was thinking about shooting in 4K and upgrading my camera to 6K capable. But I can upgrade that camera to a 4K camera and save a ton of money.
Sad I am watching this after selling my beautiful good Canon FF gear and migrated to ML camera. 😢 I can feel that my Old camera was much ahead than the current one in terms of picture quality.
5:58 I don't shoot 4K. I shoot 2.4K/2.7K 14bit linear RAW (not debayered in camera) and since it's RAW I have complete control of the sharpness in post. It looks just as sharp and detailed as compressed 4K does. I'd argue compression, bit depth, sensor and general functionality matters way more than a silly number like resolution
All great points! With editing today, even most that shoot in 4K still export in 1080. For any projects I work on, I try to do slightly wider at 1080 in case I need to crop a little to keep editing easy, and then export at 4k if needed. I can barely tell the difference. Although getting into a full 4K workflow has helped to use content for horizontal or vertical footage.
This video is so damn refreshing. Love the part about buying used gear. I usually wait a few months after a release as you can save a few hundreds on open box or used. I just went through a camera purge to focus on just using the gear I have and own.
Is there a difference between Super 35 & APS-C? Thanks for this video. TH-cam and all the talented photo/video vloggers with their million gear reviews push us, exactly as you note, to relentlessly buy new gear. Not only are we likely spending more, or a lot more, money than necessary, but it also distracts our focus. A great story told with a mid-grade camera is a great story. A boring or non-existent story told with the greatest camera ever made is a boring story. I can't deny that the reviews are useful at times. And, just like you, I'm drawn to shiny things too. But I wish there were a lot fewer gear reviews and a lot more stories-ideas-aesthetics videos. Thank you, Luc!
Great information, especially the part about auto focus. I bounce between a Black Magic and Sony FX30 depending on what I am shooting. When I got the FX30 I mainly got for the reasons you mentioned (Tracking shots, etc), but I always find myself shooting manual focus. It truly is an art and something that everyone who does professional video work should master.
You are so right about looking for older used gear... I bought a FX30 last year, 40 years in the field and I was looking at a lighter kit, and I was totally fooled by the hype around the Tamron 17-70 2.8... not a bad lens but nowhere as good as the TH-cam community was making out. After a few months of frustration with it I bought a used 10 year old Sigma 18-35 1.8 with 7Artisans adapter... for less than half the price of the Tamron and it is insane to me how much better that old lens is. Yes the focus motor is noisy and yes it doesn't have the range but wholly heck it looks so much better than the Tamron. :)
Great video. You said many of the lies and there were a couple of some more left. Most people (I used to believed it too) think that gear makes a real difference but if the Camara user does not know better nothing will change. I love my Canon R6 but my skills or content got better when I replaced my Canon 6D, after practicing and learning more I saw a change not thanks to the equipment.
Nice presentation " NOW" I can feel at peace about being a gear junky and a bad photographer at the same time . I have always felt sad about the forementioned but listening to you somehow justifies my self imposed affliction. Thanks again. Jim
These are absolutely true! I also realized these things when I had my Fuji XT-1 and upgraded to XH-1. I just realized that new isn't always good. Each camera had a character to it, which appears in the handling and images. Now I'm using a Sony A7IV. I'm enjoying the handling, autofocus, and video/images. Like you I'm getting flooded by ads of higher end video cameras. Lastly, part of enjoying is seeing the changes in the videos/photos you make overtime (and practice). You really do see that the gear made incremental changes to the final output. A lot still relied on the skill and perspectives/stories you can turn into video/photo. Thanks man! This video took me to a philosophical journey of some sort. ✊😅 Looking out for the next thoughts.
Great video and great message! Indeed, gear fetish is a whole separate thing today. It feels like there are collectors who praise new tech and then go out and shoot "test" footage, yet call themselves content creators or DPs, and those who just goes out and shoot squeezing the most out of the gear that they already have! The most irritating comments these days, come from people pleading tech companies to release new models sooner... Whele theres literally no reason to release new models, cuz there has been no breakthrough in the last 2-3 years (Speaking of Sony FX line up), that could justify new model release. Not to mention that most modern cameras cover most videoraphers' need for years to come. All this consumerism and fetishism is just so annoying...
Another lie ... you need F1.4 lenses for your video. It's YT plague. I'd say you are good with F2.8 for most of the shots. Especially closeups and portrait crops. Anything faster makes the DoF too shallow. Of course I'm talking here about depth of field so for smaller sensors you might need glass faster than F2.8, to get F2.8 equivalent of DoF, but also F4 DoF is enough in most situations. Related to this the smaller sensor sometimes has some benefits cause it creates deeper in-focus area ... so if you got APS-C F1.8 lens you got DoF similar to FF F2.8 but you need light for the F1.8 ... on the FF you will need higher ISO or stronger lights. And my biggest problem with FF cameras is ... that most brands cripple their APS-C/S35 cameras compared to their FF lines ... so sometimes you have to buy FF camera because it got some functionality S35 camera from the same company does not have :(.
Great advice as ever. I only buy second hand now. Spent way too much over the years on new gear. I shootb4k mostly butbmost of my end output ends up needing to only be 1080. Its just nice yo have the flexibility if needed. I've had Audiio a few years now and didn't know about the link feature that's pretty cool.
I love this video. I didn't just learn but more about realistic situations that other videos are just about selling. You made me finish the entire video which I don't usually do since other videos don't give me enough information that I need
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Nice video. I agree with most of it. Just the Autofocus.. there are bunch of settings that can make it more organic. I does not have to be robot-like. Also it depends on a camera model though. Do you have time to play with it?
Man, I love your videos. Always top-notch honest advice about the things that REALLY matter. I don't usually comment but just had to let you know how much I appreciate your videos.
For photographers the difference between a bigger frame sensor and APS-C and smaller is like night and day. The way I am able to push the ISO in low light where flashing is prohibited gives way better results than cameras with a smaller sensor. I agree with the rest you are saying.
Great video btw, I took your advice about used cams a few weeks ago and got a great deal on a Fs7m2 w/ lens, Shape top and bottom and Jason Hardcase- I love it!
13:15 - flexibility of lens mount interconnections - I don't think this information is propagated often enough. In fact it's probably quite the opposite - there are die hard camps of lens mount systems because brand fed influencers do not get support for saying camera works with non specifically designed lenses (this also feeds to your other points of "buy new model now", "buy/upgrade now", etc).
Good episode as usual. I do have a buy new addict but working through it. I did but my first bmpcc4k new but have added another 4k and a 6k to my closet with both being used and I got good deals on them. I also hunt for used super discounted glass, even if I pop on an adapter. I picked up a 135mm cine for $95.00 in December.. deal hunting is always key
The only film gear I buy new, is gear I can't buy used and that is absolutely necessary to do a job i have already signed a contract for. I feel like most video or audio equipment has plateaued in quality since like 2014/2015.
So much of the feel that you can easily have a change in is your choice of lenses. Wether they're super vintage, or modern and cheap, or very clear and expensive, it's always going to affect the way your light and colors are captured on your sensor.
Man, I'm still pissed about buying the DJI Mini 2 a month before the Mini 3 came out, haha. And K&F Concepts have lens mount adapters for almost all the cameras these days, love that cheap brand! haha. Anyways, solid points, we shouldn't let "Gear Acquisition Syndrome" (GAS) get us, lol. Great video as always, see ya!
Very well said! Most the equipment and especially in the last 7 ish years, can go on and on. Businesses are in the business of money making, they will do what they can to get it.
There is actually a very good thing to this "constant upgrade" policy - there are really tons good gear on a second-hand market, which are still a very good gear, but you can get them way cheaper.
In regards to new/used gear, what is your take on financing equipment? Specifically expensive and typically one time purchase items (titan tubes/flagship camera models/etc) that also have the potential to be rented out locally?
I personally don't do it because the stress that debt gives me isn't worth it, even if it's more profitable. Some people are better wired to live with it though, that's just me. For me, never buy on credit
I would love to hear your takes on the environmental impact of filmmakers. You teased about it a bit in this video but I’d love something that actually dives in. This is my full time job, but I also like to consider myself environmentally conscious and happen to like the earth we live on… I’d love to know what you identify as the largest issues and possible ways you avoid or counteract them in this space
You compare full-frame to Super 35, but what about, say, Micro 4/3 (the GH6, e.g., can shoot 4:2:2 10-bit C4K 60p)? Would you be laughed off a set with something like that?
Nah! Worked with guy who had a canon 7d. No lens cap! L series lens scratched to shit. And a dead pixel! 😂 he still got more work than me. Dude was a shooter for real. Your vision is everything
I guess it depends what kind of set, but you can 100% make great stuff with M43 cameras. If you turn up to a show that requested an Alexa with it, it won't be good, but it's about the right tool for the right job.
I like all your points. Especially the used portion. I have only bought two new cameras, and one was under a grand. I have never bought a new lens. Even better is that I have only "upgraded" cameras because a project needed camera options I didn't have at the time.
Maybe i’m asking a silly question, but what do you think about Panasonic S5 (mark I)? I’m a hybrid shooter and mainly hobbyist, sometimes doing some work but mostly for myself. I choosing between s5 and a6700, sony has such a great autofocus
Even cinematographers (or people who consider themselves as) say that you need full frame for that shallow DOF. It's such a bullshit. Yes, you can go wider at the same focal length and this means shallower DOF. And then people go crazy and buy f1.2 to replace a 1.4 and there is only one eye in the whole frame that's in focus. :D Anyway, you can get a RED or Alexa pretty cheap, i got my 16:9 Alexa with an XR module and FSND set for less than a Sony FX3. Not a daily run&gun camera, but so nice to have it. :D
After 25 years in the industry apart from lenses and lights, cameras I usually rent them. If the client don’t have the money to make a proper film I will not do it. But I also propose to do it will my small camera … a Sony ZV-1 ;) hehhe
Personally I think 4k is standard. It gives you some wiggle room in post. But depending on the camera, shooting 1080 can look great. I worked with a DP who got his hands on a used HD Alexa for 20k and it looked amazing. People still call him to DP for them since he has that camera.
Thanks for the down-to-earth, sensible advice in this video. There is a lot of hype out there, it's reassuring to hear from an experienced worker in the industry to cut through the nonsense. Can you please tell us how long the discount for the Audiio deal lasts for? I mean, is there a deadline to claim the 70% off by? Thanks.
I completely completely Agree with the full frame! For my budget a super35 sensors and lenses are most suitable for me. Not only that. When I was shooting super-35 on a full frame, I realized that it still captures as much light as the full frame by like 1-2 stops of light less?(Which is actually really little). Not only that, you can get a speed booster adapter and get +1 stop of light than the full frame. Most important of all is the lighting, learning lighting changed the way I film things, gear doesn't even matter anymore(except lens, anamorphic lens is so goood!).
I cannot say I am a experience video shooter, and I shoot mirrorless camera, but would love to share some feelings. About the resolution, normally I shoot in 4K, in case I need to crop, but it is because I shoot in HEVC 10bit, so I don't save a lot of storage space while shooting in 1080p, plus the pixel binning in modern camera works better in 4K than FHD, but most of the footage will be convert to FHD later. About the autofocus, also from a small camera stand point, good autofocus is useful, until you have a monitor that you can see the focus point clearly, as most of the screen is actually not large enough, if every company use 5 inch build in monitor, I would love to do the manual focus. But you are right, manual focus looks much better.
Some very good points, and some I'm surprised you didn't touch on - I very recently upgraded to 4K (a C70) after shooing with a C100 M2 for years. My C100 has been a venerable workhorse for my modest documentary work. I have enjoyed the tiny, surprisingly gradable files, but the codec has just gotten to the point that I just can't squeeze any more quality out of it - even with new A.I. post enhancement. I'm blown away by the lowlight capabilities in cameras like the Panasonic S52, but for me, I have no problem with the super 35 sensor and I know, for my work, this camera will serve me fine.
Going from an f5 to fx9 I found the in built VND a massive improvement / ease of working, on doc work . AF is great for some shots , mostly focusing on one subject / object . But yeah anything else its just not going to work in docs , but should actually work better for narrative with controlled , staged ,repeated shots often being the case . So you can just whip off the PL mount and put on an E mount AF lens for the shot of Tom Cruise running directly into the camera , and safe the focus puller some grief and save time / money . Really I think this will happen . And built in IBIS as a bonus , VND if you want it ,gradually these things will get into the main stream , The Sony Burrito being the trail blazer . Arri might have to get some R&D going or get left behind. Like their scramble for a 4K camera ( gluing 2 sensors together ) , when all the platforms demanded it and Arri just said we don't care we only make feature films with DP,s and Directors who would never work for Netflix et el. Look how that ended up.
Excellent topic. I'm still flying a first gen Mavic Air for the reasons you state in the video. It works great and provides excellent 4K imagery. I recently bought a B cam and chose to stay with my ZCam E2M4 for the same reasons. I even bought used and invested the money I saved on a cine lens. The message, in my opinion, is this; if you don't need it, don't buy it. Keep it simple.
I'm a photographer, not videographer, so I'm not sure if the build quality standards carry across gear types, but, I get asked all the time about how I can be so reckless with my gear as to take it out in the snow or inclement weather. It's as if the photo isn't the objective for many camera owners? I don't really understand that mindset. I try to look after my equipment, but I still want to get the best photo possible.
Luc, as you mentioned older gear often still does the job about as well as when was new. So buying gear should be predicated on what you need not on the what has been released and the marketing hype around it.
Hmmm, I don't know if I agree on full frame, I think it's kind of future proofing, and I would imagine that eventually most people will be shooting with full frame sensors, so if you were going to buy a camera, wouldn't it make sense to choose one which will last as long as possible? Especially now that the ZV-E1 is around $2k. I would hate to invest in Super 35 and then in 3 years realize that I kind of need a full frame, and have to replace all the lenses, etc. I mean, I know you have a lot of cameras, but you said the one camera you needed to buy new was the FX3, might not have been specifically for the full frame, but I am not sure there is a situation where you would say "oh no, I only have my FX3", while the opposite could very much happen, leading you to need to go out and get a full frame camera. So maybe you don't "need" it now, but if I was starting out, I would just kind of skate to where the puck is going, rather than where it is now. Which is kind of the same thing with 4k, I think the reason why you may want something that could do 6k is to reframe a shot without losing quality. I don't think there will be 6k or 8k deliverables, but I think the ability to "zoom in" in post can be very helpful, especially if you are "run and gunning" and may not be able to frame things perfectly while shooting. 4k was great when you only have to delivery 1080p, and now that everything shifts to 4k, it is nice to have a little safety margin. If you are just starting out, why not get a BM Pocket 6k rather than the 4k? I guess I approach it from the perspective of "If you are going to start collecting camera gear, pick stuff that will last a long time, and that can cover your potential needs for years down the line"
I am a hybrid shooter who is mainly concerned with landscape, wildlife and aircraft. I am only now increasing my use of video compared with the occasional videos I produced in the past. So I wanted to choose gear which would be dual function with high quality stills. So I got a full frame A7IV which does everything I want without too much compromise in any of the areas. I got a 6700 recently and was blown away with the results at an air festival using a large telephoto zoom. I think I now have the perfect pairing for my domains of interest. The key to choice for me was the ability to operate in all the areas I want without too much compromise and expense.
Respect for pushing the used gear narrative, professional gear is mostly made to last
Manufacturers wouldn't send out products to be obsolete as soon as the newer models are released. These cameras are meant to be put through hell and back.
Here is the most outrageous thing off all. Global shutter. Here it is on smartphone from early 2016
th-cam.com/video/0_izgriBm8o/w-d-xo.html
Camera companies can't do that or they squeeze every cent that in the future they will squeeze us more for a global shutter camera.@@jrt2792
Does this include for lenses as well? Luc always mentions camera bodies, but I’m looking for pro advice on if I should buy lenses used. If so, where is the best place to buy?
@@thekevinfoster Those lenses are more expensive than the actual camera body, as long as the lens has been taken care of, it's perfectly fine to get a used lenses. I usually go to eBay for my lenses.
@@jrt2792 Thanks!
So good to see a TH-camr detached of the consumerism hype, and spreading a word of responsibility. Thanks so much!
I completely agree and I am painfully aware of this as a TH-camr reviewer who is constantly recommending new products lol. My goal for 2024 is to go minimal and stick with what I have and just teach people how to use what they already have... right after I upgrade to the A9III lol
But your review videos are informative and entertaining so keep em comin!
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😭🤣
I only upgrade when what I have can’t get the job done any longer. My main car is 18 years old. It still gets the job done.
I’m 70 and just retired after a couple decades as a ranch/farm broker. For all of that time I shot my own photos and video. Started with a Nikon D90 and then moved to Lumix GH3, GH4, GH5 and a DJI Mavic 2 pro drone. I just purchased a Lumix G9II and kitted it out with cage, external monitor, SSD drive….and I’m wondering why I didn’t just kit-out my GH5. Anyway - I’m really excited to learn more/better ways to use the equipment I have and not spend money on upgrades. Thanks for this great content. New subscriber.
About the resolution topic: I saw an article years ago where a DP (or maybe an engineer) did a resolution test in an IMAX theater. They filled half the screen with white and half with black, then kept doubling it so they had alternating white and black stripes across the screen. By the time they got to around 2.5k anyone in the theater farther back than 5 rows could only see a gray screen. They couldn't see the difference in white and black lines anymore.
Personally, I wish 2k was the standard. I think it's plenty of resolution and uses much less bandwidth.
Long ago I worked in a brand new building covered with black-and-white speckled granite. That is, if you were standing right outside of it. From a distance, it looked dark gray. It's the same with TV sets. If you have a 4K screen way across the room, can you really tell?
Hell I still use my 720p TV, no ones mentioned the low res in 13+ years but we are also not point blank at 72" we are about 10 feet away from it.
@@karikaru Roger Deakins shoots in 2K IIRC.
And your point is? This proves nothing
This is the most HONEST TH-camr on here regarding filming, gear, etc. I appreciate your videos and wisdom.
Awesome! Thank you!
I think he is trying too much to simplify everything
Hi luc, you always working in different scenario of weather from freezing winter to dusty summer. have you consider to make video about how you keep your gear when you travelling or your maintenance routine ? Like how to keep your lens and sensor clean and away from fungus, or safety gear to make sure your gear is safe in case you slipped and drop those expensive gear...
I like this channel more and more. 3 times Luc mentioned online influencers and camera gear sales...FINALLY SOMEONE IS CALLING OUT THE LYING. Of course many online influences are getting significant financial perks for hawking various vendors gear despite their protestations otherwise. Just hearing the seasoned, sensible advice from someone who has years of experience under his belt is very helpful. Thank you for making this video.
thanks man!
Lol yes. I love hearing youtubers say... Sony just sent me this camera, but they aren't sponsoring so I'll be completely honest. When we know, they will never be honest as their $ is determined by the views and interactions on their videos, and having the camera pre release guarantees them the views... so of course they will praise it so they get the next one pre release. Some of those channels need disclaimers
Autofocus is for "niche" and "most of us should be using manual focus"? That may be true for commercial films and even wedding videos, but they surely represent a tiny fraction of camera sales.
I think this is meant in the context of filmmaking. Because autofocus can so abrupt and distracting, manual focus is preferred. If you’re behind the camera, you can operate the focus in the way that you think makes the impact you’re looking for, and autofocus becomes a real problem whenever it doesn’t work perfectly. While there are times you might wish you had autofocus, like filming yourself while you move in frame, there are ways to work around it.
Even 4k is mostly overkill when 90% of content is consumed on phone and iPad screens.
Certainly
This is simply not true. 4k is definetely today's standard. Even for watching in 1080p screens the difference is notable
1080p always looks like nothing is ever truly in focus
Plus even if you are delivering in 1080p most videos fo a bit of reframing in post, 4k allows you to now loose a lot of res while doing that
4k is definetely overkill, it's expected
@@kipkipfulit's still better to film in 1080 than to not film at all.
Professional will definitely pay extra for the 10% usage beyond phones, especially the price difference is not huge, considering the money you can make, probably just with 1 or 2 projects. My clients sometimes want both horizontal and vertical HD versions for the same video, so 4K became mandatory. And I would love to have 6K so I can crop when editing.
@@kipkipful
It simply is true.
Agree with point 1, i'm a minimalist when it comes to gear, I only buy something when it specifically fulfils a need.
Thank you Luc. You are a breath of fresh air my friend. I watch many of the channels that hype up new gear, especially DJI gear because I like the content they create. With that said, I can always tell when they are pushing some sort of product, even if they try to do it discreetly. This doesn't make me like their channels any less and I understand why they do it (I'm for anyone making money from their work), but when you take a step back you realize that all these photography/videography youtube channels feel the same.
thank you, appreciate the kind words!
I couldn't agreed more Luc with this video and topic. I started my creative career that is now my profession with a Sony 6300 that I kept for 3 years shooting my first paid gigs with it. I upgraded to my A7IV once my APSC died completely and clearly FF is a topic many people been caught up in order to start with a camera full frame. Same things applied for musis companies royalty free bombarding us all the time is a bit too much. Keep up the good stuff coming!!!!Greatings from London😄
Today is a different story. If you were to start your photography journey way back when I did in 2009, our options were limited. You go APS-C because it was far cheaper than Full-frame. But today, an a7iii is $2,000 usd. Used market a7iii is $1,200 usd. If you wait, you can get a brand new a7iii on sale for as low as $1,500 usd. An a6600 is $1,000 usd while you can get a used one for $700 usd. Which would you prefer to go with right now? I would go for the a7iii because of the huge price drop and that's one of the biggest factor. Today, you guys are lucky that there are so many camera options to choose from. Back then, Canon and Nikon only release a limited amount and waited 4 to 5 years to release a new model.
@@harryvuemediayour forget to mention the high prices of ff lenses.
Every year is a new product and always a game changer. I’ve grown to ignore anyone who says game changer.
Your videos are always refreshing.
Amen! I couldn’t agree more. The use of “game changer”, “built like a tank” and “an absolute beast” usually cause me to turn the video off immediately. 😂
Great Luc! Still using my Blackmagic 4k and I love it. You get to a point where quality is enough for what you want to achieve. When to get there stop striving for more. Create more…
100%
I actually prefer S35 to full frame. Especially for the lens selection
Excellent, thank you! I use Canon 5dii for cinematography, was tepmted to go to R6, But, went for another 5dii. Made sense to have 2 of the same and dual set ups! I also use Nikon manual lenses with them
very correct thoughts, this is what is needed among the modern stream of new advertising. Besides, your words about autofocus echo the fact that I want to switch to manual focus, to shoot on cinema rig, instead of steadicam.
1. Resolution: For years, people have been watching 2K in movie theaters. Most theaters still use 2K projectors. Color depth matters way more than resolution. In fact, most people can't even tell the difference between 2K and 4K after they weren't pixel peeping two feet away from the screen. I've run a projector at a documentary film festival, and everything we showed was at 2K.
2. Autofocus: For most applications, it is awful. There is nothing worse than trying to stay focused on something, only to have the camera suddenly decide to track something else in the frame. Personally, I only have manual focus lenses. Because of the aesthetics of them, I typically use late 60s/early 70s photography lenses, and modify them for follow focus and de-click the aperture ring. On that note, learning how to disassemble, clean, repair, and modify your lenses is an important skill to have.
Agreed!
Most of the best quality lenses that you’d want to use especially the ones with cinematic character are manual focus only unless you buy a lidar system that is a pain to set up and use.
Back in October, I switched to manual lenses only and sold my old lenses (sort of trading them so I am "buying new" but in return, selling something. Manual has changed my perspective of filmmaking and made me more intentional. I also don't feel I need any new equipment and working with what I have matters more. Love all your points on here, especially that Autofocus really isn't mandatory!
Thanks man!
Luc, I have to say your videos are so good. I've legit learned so much from you in the short time that I found your channel, and this video especially calmed a lot of fears that I had concerning my camera gear. Thanks for keeping it real and for making yourself as a youtuber/expert look human by showing us that self reflection. It is very much appreciated :)
Great episode as always from Luc! No unboxing- 5 star! I turned off all monetization from my channel myself and sometimes not make money but create what you like- it’s fills much better.
never unboxing!
The reviving fresh air of common sense and excellent advice! This video can also apply to those who only shoot still photography. Many thanks.
I have just found your channel from this video. Great to see someone as influential as you to push this narrative. I found myself identifying with so much of this as I love gear but I am trying to resist urge to buy more until I level up significantly to justify it. Looking forward to going through your back catalog of videos.
this was a cup of tea for me since I still use older gear that people keep telling me to upgrade for no reason. thanks!
Glad to help!
Amazing video, finally someone speaking truthfully about the gear industry. And the palstic! First time I hear any youtuber at all talking about this, it is insane how much this companies force us to create garbage
so much waste!
Love your videos Luc! To the point and well made. I am glad you don't do unboxing videos. I just bought a "new" FX3 and love it. Call me old fashioned but I just had a lot of fear buying used, without warranty, when I need a reliable camera for the next short film I will work on soon. Before I bought the FX3 I bought the BM 6K FF body and found the low light image unusable. Returned that body. Then I bought the Panasonic S5IIX and that low light image was unusable as well. I gave up on the 6K hype and settled on the FX3. I do my best to keep financial and environmental costs down and only buy what I absolutely need. Thanks for all you do for our filmmaking community, Luc!
There is one benefit of full frame that is clearly worth the money, and that is the 1.5x crop of APS-C, it essentially gives you a new set of lenses. I have a 17-28mm Tamron f/2.8 and a 17-70mm f/2.8. When I need more reach, I can pull out my APS-C. I have a ZV-E10 and that one has a crop in 4K, so you get even more zoom. For subject separation in video you probably won't notice the pretty bokeh, but I got the A7C for low light video, not for photography. I do wish I had 10-bit 422 like the A6700. I may pick up an FX30 or A6700 soon.
Great rundown! I do own an FX3, but still regularly still use my Sony FS700 for Doc work.
Moving from the 5D IV to the R5 was lightyears ahead. Especially for video.
It’s so good and important to know that we still have a experienced content creator telling the true story about overwhelming consumer marketing and guiding on how to use our money in this industry. Thank you so much for the integrity and please keep posting and maybe some other content creators are going to follow you and the game will change for better 👏👏👏
Thanks, much appreciated!
Stunning, the writing is wonderful and your experiences are priceless. As a baby videographer with 57 years in photography, I ask: what gives me more fulfillment - rummaging through gear or one-pointedly shooting to serve?
I always deliver in 1080p. The only question I got from clients is… can you deliver it smaller. So even 4K is overrated.
This is the most reasonable video about formats and hardware. Thank you for honest appraisal of this side of the industry. I’m a Zeiss optics guy because I think the stuff is optically superior, durable as can be, and much more affordable when purchased used. I stick to full frame mostly because I understand the angle of view for the various focal lengths and just don’t want to learn another. Thanks for the other tips about music sourcing. I can’t help but agree with 100% of your observations and recommendations.
Straightforward & on point! It's great to hear these words from a professional cinematographer. Thanks Luc.
Great content!
I like buying used gear whenever I can. And like you and many others I also run the gear until it's no longer working or becomes unreliable.
I have a 6kpro but have been filming in 1080 a lot recently for documenting some long-term projects. The storage space advantages are enormous, and honestly the quality difference is nearly indistinguishable as long as i have a well composed shot with nice lighting. I still use 4k or 6k for certain situations but it's nice to see that 1080 holds its own.
I shoot 2560x1280 uncompressed 14bit raw and if graded correctly it looks just as sharp as an as 4k 10/12bit compressed video.
The uncompressed 14bit raw also has far superior color and tonal range. The camera cost me 280€ including a 50mm 1.8 lens and the extra battery and 128gb memory card.
@@shueibdahirMagicLantern?
@@vasconcllos magic lantern yes but its the new crop mood one. Very stable
1080's still got it!
1080p lacks detail. You can’t zoom in digitally because it will become pixelated af
This video put my mind at ease. I’m shooting a Doc for Telus and they require 1080. I have two cameras and one is only HD. I was thinking about shooting in 4K and upgrading my camera to 6K capable. But I can upgrade that camera to a 4K camera and save a ton of money.
save the money!
Great points. Wondering if anyone has thought on 420/422 and 8/10bit specs on cameras. Seems not every pixel is made alike?
Sad I am watching this after selling my beautiful good Canon FF gear and migrated to ML camera. 😢 I can feel that my Old camera was much ahead than the current one in terms of picture quality.
5:58 I don't shoot 4K. I shoot 2.4K/2.7K 14bit linear RAW (not debayered in camera) and since it's RAW I have complete control of the sharpness in post. It looks just as sharp and detailed as compressed 4K does.
I'd argue compression, bit depth, sensor and general functionality matters way more than a silly number like resolution
All great points! With editing today, even most that shoot in 4K still export in 1080. For any projects I work on, I try to do slightly wider at 1080 in case I need to crop a little to keep editing easy, and then export at 4k if needed. I can barely tell the difference. Although getting into a full 4K workflow has helped to use content for horizontal or vertical footage.
Yes, you're totally right!
This video is so damn refreshing. Love the part about buying used gear. I usually wait a few months after a release as you can save a few hundreds on open box or used. I just went through a camera purge to focus on just using the gear I have and own.
Is there a difference between Super 35 & APS-C?
Thanks for this video. TH-cam and all the talented photo/video vloggers with their million gear reviews push us, exactly as you note, to relentlessly buy new gear. Not only are we likely spending more, or a lot more, money than necessary, but it also distracts our focus. A great story told with a mid-grade camera is a great story. A boring or non-existent story told with the greatest camera ever made is a boring story. I can't deny that the reviews are useful at times. And, just like you, I'm drawn to shiny things too. But I wish there were a lot fewer gear reviews and a lot more stories-ideas-aesthetics videos. Thank you, Luc!
not really...there might be some variance depending the brand, but you can think of them being pretty much the same most of the time
Great information, especially the part about auto focus. I bounce between a Black Magic and Sony FX30 depending on what I am shooting. When I got the FX30 I mainly got for the reasons you mentioned (Tracking shots, etc), but I always find myself shooting manual focus. It truly is an art and something that everyone who does professional video work should master.
totally agree!
Wow! I was not aware of the link match for Audiio. I really needed that. Thank you
2:04 if you look at most professional DJI equipment like the inspire, ronin gimbal and ronin 4D they all use the same battery
So much I agree with you here. Great to see someone advocating for sensible thinking!
You are so right about looking for older used gear... I bought a FX30 last year, 40 years in the field and I was looking at a lighter kit, and I was totally fooled by the hype around the Tamron 17-70 2.8... not a bad lens but nowhere as good as the TH-cam community was making out. After a few months of frustration with it I bought a used 10 year old Sigma 18-35 1.8 with 7Artisans adapter... for less than half the price of the Tamron and it is insane to me how much better that old lens is. Yes the focus motor is noisy and yes it doesn't have the range but wholly heck it looks so much better than the Tamron. :)
I love that lens! Used it forever, such a great choice!
Great video. You said many of the lies and there were a couple of some more left. Most people (I used to believed it too) think that gear makes a real difference but if the Camara user does not know better nothing will change. I love my Canon R6 but my skills or content got better when I replaced my Canon 6D, after practicing and learning more I saw a change not thanks to the equipment.
Nice presentation " NOW" I can feel at peace about being a gear junky and a bad photographer at the same time . I have always felt sad about the forementioned but listening to you somehow justifies
my self imposed affliction. Thanks again. Jim
These are absolutely true! I also realized these things when I had my Fuji XT-1 and upgraded to XH-1. I just realized that new isn't always good. Each camera had a character to it, which appears in the handling and images.
Now I'm using a Sony A7IV. I'm enjoying the handling, autofocus, and video/images. Like you I'm getting flooded by ads of higher end video cameras.
Lastly, part of enjoying is seeing the changes in the videos/photos you make overtime (and practice). You really do see that the gear made incremental changes to the final output. A lot still relied on the skill and perspectives/stories you can turn into video/photo.
Thanks man! This video took me to a philosophical journey of some sort. ✊😅 Looking out for the next thoughts.
Great video and great message! Indeed, gear fetish is a whole separate thing today. It feels like there are collectors who praise new tech and then go out and shoot "test" footage, yet call themselves content creators or DPs, and those who just goes out and shoot squeezing the most out of the gear that they already have! The most irritating comments these days, come from people pleading tech companies to release new models sooner... Whele theres literally no reason to release new models, cuz there has been no breakthrough in the last 2-3 years (Speaking of Sony FX line up), that could justify new model release. Not to mention that most modern cameras cover most videoraphers' need for years to come. All this consumerism and fetishism is just so annoying...
Another lie ... you need F1.4 lenses for your video. It's YT plague.
I'd say you are good with F2.8 for most of the shots. Especially closeups and portrait crops. Anything faster makes the DoF too shallow. Of course I'm talking here about depth of field
so for smaller sensors you might need glass faster than F2.8, to get F2.8 equivalent of DoF, but also F4 DoF is enough in most situations.
Related to this the smaller sensor sometimes has some benefits cause it creates deeper in-focus area ... so if you got APS-C F1.8 lens you got DoF similar to FF F2.8 but you need light for the F1.8 ... on the FF you will need higher ISO or stronger lights.
And my biggest problem with FF cameras is ... that most brands cripple their APS-C/S35 cameras compared to their FF lines ... so sometimes you have to buy FF camera because it got some functionality S35 camera from the same company does not have :(.
What if a f1.4 lense have a sharpest f2.8 than a f2.8 lense?
But i agree, you dont need to shoot everything at f1.4
Great advice as ever. I only buy second hand now. Spent way too much over the years on new gear. I shootb4k mostly butbmost of my end output ends up needing to only be 1080. Its just nice yo have the flexibility if needed. I've had Audiio a few years now and didn't know about the link feature that's pretty cool.
I love this video. I didn't just learn but more about realistic situations that other videos are just about selling. You made me finish the entire video which I don't usually do since other videos don't give me enough information that I need
Nice video. I agree with most of it. Just the Autofocus.. there are bunch of settings that can make it more organic. I does not have to be robot-like. Also it depends on a camera model though. Do you have time to play with it?
Great to hear the sensor size mentioned. I’m using a LUMIX GH6 right now, and wanted to see if you think the MFT size is good enough for cine work?
It sure is!
You sir are awesome. Going against the grain with your TH-cam content. Swimming upstream. We appreciate you. More of this plz
Thanks!
Man, I love your videos. Always top-notch honest advice about the things that REALLY matter. I don't usually comment but just had to let you know how much I appreciate your videos.
Thanks man, very much appreciated!
We need more people like you on TH-cam Thank you.
For photographers the difference between a bigger frame sensor and APS-C and smaller is like night and day.
The way I am able to push the ISO in low light where flashing is prohibited gives way better results than cameras with a smaller sensor.
I agree with the rest you are saying.
Great video btw, I took your advice about used cams a few weeks ago and got a great deal on a Fs7m2 w/ lens, Shape top and bottom and Jason Hardcase- I love it!
13:15 - flexibility of lens mount interconnections - I don't think this information is propagated often enough. In fact it's probably quite the opposite - there are die hard camps of lens mount systems because brand fed influencers do not get support for saying camera works with non specifically designed lenses (this also feeds to your other points of "buy new model now", "buy/upgrade now", etc).
Yes! Agree fully!
Good episode as usual. I do have a buy new addict but working through it. I did but my first bmpcc4k new but have added another 4k and a 6k to my closet with both being used and I got good deals on them. I also hunt for used super discounted glass, even if I pop on an adapter. I picked up a 135mm cine for $95.00 in December.. deal hunting is always key
we're all struggling with it!
The only film gear I buy new, is gear I can't buy used and that is absolutely necessary to do a job i have already signed a contract for. I feel like most video or audio equipment has plateaued in quality since like 2014/2015.
Good stuff, Luc! All points are well made and solid advice.
So much of the feel that you can easily have a change in is your choice of lenses. Wether they're super vintage, or modern and cheap, or very clear and expensive, it's always going to affect the way your light and colors are captured on your sensor.
good point!
Man, I'm still pissed about buying the DJI Mini 2 a month before the Mini 3 came out, haha. And K&F Concepts have lens mount adapters for almost all the cameras these days, love that cheap brand! haha. Anyways, solid points, we shouldn't let "Gear Acquisition Syndrome" (GAS) get us, lol. Great video as always, see ya!
Very well said! Most the equipment and especially in the last 7 ish years, can go on and on. Businesses are in the business of money making, they will do what they can to get it.
There is actually a very good thing to this "constant upgrade" policy - there are really tons good gear on a second-hand market, which are still a very good gear, but you can get them way cheaper.
good point!
In regards to new/used gear, what is your take on financing equipment? Specifically expensive and typically one time purchase items (titan tubes/flagship camera models/etc) that also have the potential to be rented out locally?
I personally don't do it because the stress that debt gives me isn't worth it, even if it's more profitable. Some people are better wired to live with it though, that's just me. For me, never buy on credit
Where should we buy used gear from? Amazon?ebay?
I would love to hear your takes on the environmental impact of filmmakers. You teased about it a bit in this video but I’d love something that actually dives in.
This is my full time job, but I also like to consider myself environmentally conscious and happen to like the earth we live on… I’d love to know what you identify as the largest issues and possible ways you avoid or counteract them in this space
It's not good. Over consumption is probably the worst part of it. So many electronics...
Thanks for the video dude. It’s nice to know I am not mad. You’ve pretty much backed up my entire ethos.
glad to hear it!
You compare full-frame to Super 35, but what about, say, Micro 4/3 (the GH6, e.g., can shoot 4:2:2 10-bit C4K 60p)? Would you be laughed off a set with something like that?
Nah! Worked with guy who had a canon 7d. No lens cap! L series lens scratched to shit. And a dead pixel! 😂 he still got more work than me. Dude was a shooter for real. Your vision is everything
I guess it depends what kind of set, but you can 100% make great stuff with M43 cameras. If you turn up to a show that requested an Alexa with it, it won't be good, but it's about the right tool for the right job.
@@ThiCityProductions lol
How do you handle running a TH-cam channel and working as a full-time documentary maker? Do you outsource editing?
I do! It's a ton of work, but working with an editor is the only way I keep it going
any tips on how to find an editor?
@@LucForsyth
I like all your points. Especially the used portion. I have only bought two new cameras, and one was under a grand. I have never bought a new lens. Even better is that I have only "upgraded" cameras because a project needed camera options I didn't have at the time.
that's the right move for sure!
Maybe i’m asking a silly question, but what do you think about Panasonic S5 (mark I)? I’m a hybrid shooter and mainly hobbyist, sometimes doing some work but mostly for myself. I choosing between s5 and a6700, sony has such a great autofocus
Even cinematographers (or people who consider themselves as) say that you need full frame for that shallow DOF. It's such a bullshit. Yes, you can go wider at the same focal length and this means shallower DOF. And then people go crazy and buy f1.2 to replace a 1.4 and there is only one eye in the whole frame that's in focus. :D
Anyway, you can get a RED or Alexa pretty cheap, i got my 16:9 Alexa with an XR module and FSND set for less than a Sony FX3. Not a daily run&gun camera, but so nice to have it. :D
This is a wonderful video and perspective to a guy who has brought old quality equipment for years.
So refreshing to see someone making the most of the gear they have, instead of being trapped by the New New tune all the time. Great video.
After 25 years in the industry apart from lenses and lights, cameras I usually rent them. If the client don’t have the money to make a proper film I will not do it. But I also propose to do it will my small camera … a Sony ZV-1 ;) hehhe
also a good strategy!
Personally I think 4k is standard. It gives you some wiggle room in post. But depending on the camera, shooting 1080 can look great. I worked with a DP who got his hands on a used HD Alexa for 20k and it looked amazing. People still call him to DP for them since he has that camera.
Thanks for highlighting all these excellent points Luc. Great video.
Thanks!
I see a FX9 ? in the back. what do you use to film the podcast then :)?
@Luc Forsyth
With manual lenses on video how easy is shoot and run?
Thanks for the down-to-earth, sensible advice in this video. There is a lot of hype out there, it's reassuring to hear from an experienced worker in the industry to cut through the nonsense. Can you please tell us how long the discount for the Audiio deal lasts for? I mean, is there a deadline to claim the 70% off by? Thanks.
No deadline yet as far as I know!
I completely completely Agree with the full frame! For my budget a super35 sensors and lenses are most suitable for me. Not only that. When I was shooting super-35 on a full frame, I realized that it still captures as much light as the full frame by like 1-2 stops of light less?(Which is actually really little). Not only that, you can get a speed booster adapter and get +1 stop of light than the full frame. Most important of all is the lighting, learning lighting changed the way I film things, gear doesn't even matter anymore(except lens, anamorphic lens is so goood!).
I cannot say I am a experience video shooter, and I shoot mirrorless camera, but would love to share some feelings.
About the resolution, normally I shoot in 4K, in case I need to crop, but it is because I shoot in HEVC 10bit, so I don't save a lot of storage space while shooting in 1080p, plus the pixel binning in modern camera works better in 4K than FHD, but most of the footage will be convert to FHD later.
About the autofocus, also from a small camera stand point, good autofocus is useful, until you have a monitor that you can see the focus point clearly, as most of the screen is actually not large enough, if every company use 5 inch build in monitor, I would love to do the manual focus. But you are right, manual focus looks much better.
Some very good points, and some I'm surprised you didn't touch on - I very recently upgraded to 4K (a C70) after shooing with a C100 M2 for years. My C100 has been a venerable workhorse for my modest documentary work. I have enjoyed the tiny, surprisingly gradable files, but the codec has just gotten to the point that I just can't squeeze any more quality out of it - even with new A.I. post enhancement. I'm blown away by the lowlight capabilities in cameras like the Panasonic S52, but for me, I have no problem with the super 35 sensor and I know, for my work, this camera will serve me fine.
Gotta keep the videos to a manageable length! Thanks for sharing!
Going from an f5 to fx9 I found the in built VND a massive improvement / ease of working, on doc work . AF is great for some shots , mostly focusing on one subject / object . But yeah anything else its just not going to work in docs , but should actually work better for narrative with controlled , staged ,repeated shots often being the case . So you can just whip off the PL mount and put on an E mount AF lens for the shot of Tom Cruise running directly into the camera , and safe the focus puller some grief and save time / money . Really I think this will happen . And built in IBIS as a bonus , VND if you want it ,gradually these things will get into the main stream , The Sony Burrito being the trail blazer . Arri might have to get some R&D going or get left behind. Like their scramble for a 4K camera ( gluing 2 sensors together ) , when all the platforms demanded it and Arri just said we don't care we only make feature films with DP,s and Directors who would never work for Netflix et el. Look how that ended up.
all good points! big improvements for sure, but the F5 is still no slouch...
@@LucForsyth Sure I had mine for years , it was a big step from my PMW500 !
I feel like higher resolutions is pretty great if you shoot on the go where you can't really plan your shots. You can crop without losing quality
not for me, but it's a valid point!
Excellent topic. I'm still flying a first gen Mavic Air for the reasons you state in the video. It works great and provides excellent 4K imagery. I recently bought a B cam and chose to stay with my ZCam E2M4 for the same reasons. I even bought used and invested the money I saved on a cine lens. The message, in my opinion, is this; if you don't need it, don't buy it. Keep it simple.
yes! use it to the bitter end!
I'm a photographer, not videographer, so I'm not sure if the build quality standards carry across gear types, but, I get asked all the time about how I can be so reckless with my gear as to take it out in the snow or inclement weather.
It's as if the photo isn't the objective for many camera owners?
I don't really understand that mindset. I try to look after my equipment, but I still want to get the best photo possible.
Great to see experience and insight at the forefront of this post. All points well made. Thx
Glad it was helpful!
Luc, as you mentioned older gear often still does the job about as well as when was new. So buying gear should be predicated on what you need not on the what has been released and the marketing hype around it.
Hmmm, I don't know if I agree on full frame, I think it's kind of future proofing, and I would imagine that eventually most people will be shooting with full frame sensors, so if you were going to buy a camera, wouldn't it make sense to choose one which will last as long as possible? Especially now that the ZV-E1 is around $2k. I would hate to invest in Super 35 and then in 3 years realize that I kind of need a full frame, and have to replace all the lenses, etc. I mean, I know you have a lot of cameras, but you said the one camera you needed to buy new was the FX3, might not have been specifically for the full frame, but I am not sure there is a situation where you would say "oh no, I only have my FX3", while the opposite could very much happen, leading you to need to go out and get a full frame camera. So maybe you don't "need" it now, but if I was starting out, I would just kind of skate to where the puck is going, rather than where it is now.
Which is kind of the same thing with 4k, I think the reason why you may want something that could do 6k is to reframe a shot without losing quality. I don't think there will be 6k or 8k deliverables, but I think the ability to "zoom in" in post can be very helpful, especially if you are "run and gunning" and may not be able to frame things perfectly while shooting. 4k was great when you only have to delivery 1080p, and now that everything shifts to 4k, it is nice to have a little safety margin. If you are just starting out, why not get a BM Pocket 6k rather than the 4k?
I guess I approach it from the perspective of "If you are going to start collecting camera gear, pick stuff that will last a long time, and that can cover your potential needs for years down the line"
I am a hybrid shooter who is mainly concerned with landscape, wildlife and aircraft. I am only now increasing my use of video compared with the occasional videos I produced in the past. So I wanted to choose gear which would be dual function with high quality stills. So I got a full frame A7IV which does everything I want without too much compromise in any of the areas. I got a 6700 recently and was blown away with the results at an air festival using a large telephoto zoom. I think I now have the perfect pairing for my domains of interest. The key to choice for me was the ability to operate in all the areas I want without too much compromise and expense.