Florida Birds with Panasonic Lumix S1H

If you can live without AF, then the S1H is one of the best cameras ever for it's price range, small size, and simplicity. I love it.
 
Doug Jensen said:
Just to add to what Clermond already said, AF is completely useless on the S1H no matter whether you are using an adapter or a native L-mount.
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What Doug said. I moved from canon 5DM4 to S1R for stills and it works if you get used to it. But for video on all S series cameras it’s either hunting or too slow. Despite you read in various groups that some people use AF I haven’t found a setting that makes AFC reliable and useful. Unfortunately.
 
Clermond said:
What Doug said. I moved from canon 5DM4 to S1R for stills and it works if you get used to it. But for video on all S series cameras it’s either hunting or too slow. Despite you read in various groups that some people use AF I haven’t found a setting that makes AFC reliable and useful. Unfortunately.
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It's good to hear you say that. I've been going through the S1H with a fine-tooth comb for about 7 weeks as I produce a 4-hour master class for it and I still have this fear that I've overlooked some magical setting that makes AF usable. But as time goes on and I hear the same thing from other owners, I'm sure my initial conclusions are correct. Fortunately, it's easy to use MF so not a huge deal for me personally. but I can see how it would suck if you wanted to use a gimbal or something like that.
 
Clermond said:
Despite you read in various groups that some people use AF I haven’t found a setting that makes AFC reliable and useful. Unfortunately.
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Are you using native Panasonic lenses like "lumix s 24-105 mm f/4 macro ois" and having the same problems with autofocus?
 
My only native L-mount is the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 art lens. AF sucks, but otherwise, a very, very nice lens.

I'll be using the camera mostly with my existing PL lenses, so not too interested in investing more $ in additional native lenses.
 
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Thanks clermond and Doug for useful informations. Doug what do you think about the new 1DX Mark III? Is the image quality near to Panasonic S1H (just watched some samples online) or is better? I'm referring to 4:2:2 10 bit footage, tomorrow it will ship and I'm still evaluating all the cameras...
 
Danilo Del Tufo said:
Doug what do you think about the new 1DX Mark III?
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The 1DX is just a DSLR pretending to be a video camera and isn't a cinema camera like the S1H, so it is not even on my radar. The S1H truly is a full-blown cinema camera with all the bell and whistles you'd expect to find on any camcorder -- except for built-in ND.


Please correct me if I am wrong about the 1DX . . .
No electronic OLED viewfinder
No timecode in/out
30 minute record limit
No XLR jacks
No compatibility with PL lenses
$2500 higher price

That's just the tip of the iceberg. I'm sure there would be tons of other differences with peaking, zebras, white balance, custom button assignments, etc. that would come to light if I cared enough to dig deeper.
I'm sure the 1DX will appeal to photographers who want to dabble in video production but don't really know what they are missing on a true cinema camera.
The S1H is built for experienced VIDEO professionals who have work to get done.

My 2 cents.
 
Hi Doug, all are good points. My doubts are related to autofocus performance of S1H, I've collected various opinions till now, it works enough (few people) and it doesn't work at all (more people). If there was not problems with autofocus I had taken the decision directly to S1H, but autofocus for me is very important.
 
I am with you Dong on the auto focus. I have been using my S1H for five weeks and love it. But auto focus is not even close to my Sony Z90 which is amazing in that regard, but not even close to the S1H in video quality and options. And yes, I have all Panasonic S Pro glass, 16-35 f/4, 24-70 f/2.8, 70-200 f/2.8, all great quality and very sharp. Now I am going to add a few full manual primes since I only manual focus when shooting video. The Z90 is for locked down on a specific show.
 
Danilo Del Tufo said:
Hi Doug, all are good points. My doubts are related to autofocus performance of S1H, I've collected various opinions till now, it works enough (few people) and it doesn't work at all (more people). If there was not problems with autofocus I had taken the decision directly to S1H, but autofocus for me is very important.
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You best rent the camera and see it for yourself

And oh pleeeeaaaase shorten that novel aka signature. Content is disappearing in this repeating lists.
 
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Doug Jensen said:
My only native L-mount is the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 art lens. AF sucks, but otherwise, a very, very nice lens.

I'll be using the camera mostly with my existing PL lenses, so not too interested in investing more $ in additional native lenses.
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Sigma lenses are worse in terms of AF than native Panasonic L lenses.
The Panasonic AF also needs light. Even in AF-S for stills with native Panasonic lenses it fails short after sunset.
 
I have tried the two Sigma lens, 35mm & 18-35, and the Panasonic S Pro are not five times better for autofocus. I find both can't cut it for auto focus. At least in a working environment for me.
 
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