Is there untapped potential in the 28mm fixed compact arena

[Archiver]

One and a half years after this thread was started, I find myself with a Panasonic LX10 - which replaces my much loved LX7 - and a Panasonic GX85. The LX10 surprises me no end with the quality of its 4k video and stabilization, and the GX85 with a few small primes is all I need for personal work. This combination is fantastic for personal and documentary video shooting, and guerilla shooting where permits are needed but not acquired. The GX85 is also a good B-cam for the GH4.

I'm finally in possession of simple, stabilized cameras (looking at you, BMPCC) with decent image quality for personal work, and it's great.

 

[jsrockit]

On a side, note... we should have two new 24mp APSC, 28mm fixed lens cameras this year... the Fujifilm XF10 and the Ricoh GR III. Finally.

 

[NickTrop]

Right tool for the right job. For video -- Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema. (IMO you don't need 4K...) Then get whatever focal length(s) suites you. There's a used body on Adorama right now for $439. That frees up presumably some dollars for a still camera -- pick your poison. Not a fan of the Swiss Army Knife approach.

The next thought is "style" of video shooting. Film style? Set shots? Edited cuts? Slow (so as not to invoke rolling shutter) camera movement -- if any? Talking YouTube heads? I'd go with full frame DSLR for the large sensor and lens selection. Run and gun doc style? That has become its own aesthetic and nearly all video-capable anything, including a phone, will suffice.

Sound. Good sound is more important anyway. Always has been. It's what distinguishes the pro from the ham-n-egger productions far more than "artifacts" and "bit-rates" and "blown highlights" anyway...

Never liked 28mm focal length for whatever reason. Not really wide enough for wide exteriors. Too wide/distortion producing for people shots. And orphan focal length. Not a fan.