Rumors New Lumix camera(s) on May 13th?

[dirk]

But I also think, the premium is quite high, considering the market price of the S5II is about the half of the rumored S1IIe price.

At the moment I agree. Lets wait what the reviewers will say.

All cameras get more expensive. Look at the Nikon Z6iii vs. the Z6ii. List price Z6iii at launch was 2.999€, Nikon Z6ii was 2.199€. 800€ cheaper. This is a huge difference. List price differences only, not street price.

And Nikon has a significant higher market share, ergo more sales, ergo lower production costs per unit. Economies of scale.

I think Panasonic is very competitive with its prices. But in absolute terms, this is still a lot of money. I normally buy second hand only because of this.

 

[xaviergut]

Look at the Nikon Z6iii vs. the Z6ii.

Speaking of Nikon Z, it seems that Lumix is releasing the Nikon Z6iii and Nikon Z5ii at the same time...

But, I still don't see any feature that could make photographers from Sony, Canon or Nikon change to L-Mount system...

And my hope for a RF style camera with evf, grip and mechanical shutter (a S9 foto centric) is starting to vanish...

 

[Nevyn72]

Speaking of Nikon Z, it seems that Lumix is releasing the Nikon Z6iii and Nikon Z5ii at the same time...

But, I still don't see any feature that could make photographers from Sony, Canon or Nikon change to L-Mount system...

And my hope for a RF style camera with evf, grip and mechanical shutter (a S9 foto centric) is starting to vanish...

They don't want the old buffs changing their mounts (at least not first priority).

They want all the new creators buying Lumix.
And that's a smart move... They don't need to sell gear, but they just need to buy a lot of gear...

 

[Jayneboo]

Speaking of Nikon Z, it seems that Lumix is releasing the Nikon Z6iii and Nikon Z5ii at the same time...

But, I still don't see any feature that could make photographers from Sony, Canon or Nikon change to L-Mount system...

And my hope for a RF style camera with evf, grip and mechanical shutter (a S9 foto centric) is starting to vanish...

Yep.. nothing new here! Disappointing. Personally I'm done with 24 megapixels, and I'm not sure a not quite there yet autofocus and giving it a label "Urban Sports" does the trick or fools anyone.

 

[Jayneboo]

Oh dear, that sounded harsh and miserable, I must be in need of more morning coffee I'm sure these new bodies will be of interest to someone, just not me.

 

[dirk]

Speaking of Nikon Z, it seems that Lumix is releasing the Nikon Z6iii and Nikon Z5ii at the same time...

Is this a typo?

Nikon Z5ii is April 25, Z6iii April 24.

Z5ii has - like the S5ii - "only" 3.6 MP EVF. List price Nikon Z5ii is 1.899€.

But, I still don't see any feature that could make photographers from Sony, Canon or Nikon change to L-Mount system...

I do think the time of switchers is over. Unlike in the past, no brand has a significant advantage over the other, except in special areas, which is only useful for 1% of the customers. Image quality, AF, video capability is all more or less the same. There are no real technological earthquakes anymore.

Even with lens selection, all brands except Sony have the same problems, because they all started new with mirrorless fullframe in 2018.

Even Fuji with its older X system has to develop new lenses for its 40MP sensor.

In my view, 95% of the users of mirrorless system xyz will not benefit from a switch.

But more important are new users. Users, who either did not have yet a real camera or users who used a DSLR in the past but want to have now mirrorless. These users have to buy new glass anyway. Therefore they are open minded for all brands.

This is why I think it is important for L-Mount to close the gap for small and light lenses like a small telezoom below 650g and a 28mm FFL.

And my hope for a RF style camera with evf, grip abd mechanical shutter (a S9 foto centric) is starting to vanish.

Yes, that is a tough call. It seems that Panasonic wants to use first a general platform structure to use as many parts as possible in all different bodies. Fuji is doing the same and OM system did that now with the OM3, which is that big, because it uses the parts of the OM1Mk2.

This strategy is very cost efficient and thanks to this, Panasonic will be able to be competitive long term on price and still have a margin to put this money in R&D for new bodies & lenses.

On the other hand, after they now launched the S1II and SIIe, what else is needed? I do not see the necessity of another S1II/S1RII like body.

Therefore it could be that Panasonic's next release could be a rangefinder style camera. I do not know whether Panasonic has the ressources to launch a 4th body this year. Especially with the tax desaster and unknown sales numbers in the USA.

But there are two argument against a Lumix RF style camera in L-Mount:

1. Leica does not allow this (fear for Q and M sales)
2. Panasonic wants only the MFT line for smaller bodies.

In MFT such a RF style body is probably more needed than in L-Mount. Although I would like to have it in both systems, I can understand that MFT users are more the target group for for small & compact than typical fullframe L-Mount users.

If I were Panasonic, I would do RF style in both systems. But ressources are limited and the market share not as big as Sony or Fuji/ Canon/ Nikon.

 

[Pete_W]

Oh dear, that sounded harsh and miserable, I must be in need of more morning coffee I'm sure these new bodies will be of interest to someone, just not me.

Ha ha! They are of interest to me. I am really happy with the 24MP sensors. Plenty of resolution for me and I don't want massive file sizes.

I love my S5II but the S1II range interests me because it provides a better EVF which will help my ageing eyes and a tilting LCD which I've always preferred over the regular articulating screen as it helps with waist-height shooting.

I would not want to pay the launch price but when the discounts start flowing it will be tempting.

Is this a typo?

Nikon Z5ii is April 25, Z6iii April 24.

Z5ii has - like the S5ii - "only" 3.6 MP EVF. List price Nikon Z5ii is 1.899€.

I think Xavier was saying the two new Lumix cameras are very similar to the Nikons in regards to the sensors.

I do think the time of switchers is over. Unlike in the past, no brand has a significant advantage over the other, except in special areas, which is only useful for 1% of the customers. Image quality, AF, video capability is all more or less the same. There are no real technological earthquakes anymore.

Based on Facebook posts I've seen, a lot of people still seem to switch for specific features that some brands have that others don't. It's the old saying "the grass is always greener...".

In my view, 95% of the users of mirrorless system xyz will not benefit from a switch.

Yes, I agree. A lot of the time it's simply GAS and the biggest limiting factor is the camera operator's skill. Good photos can be taken with all major brand cameras.

On the other hand, after they now launched the S1II and SIIe, what else is needed? I do not see the necessity of another S1II/S1RII like body.

Therefore it could be that Panasonic's next release could be a rangefinder style camera. I do not know whether Panasonic has the ressources to launch a 4th body this year. Especially with the tax desaster and unknown sales numbers in the USA.

There has been speculation that Panasonic will release a new version of the LX100 for a while. It's certainly possible given the increase in demand for portable compact cameras.

 

[PhotoPete]

What I like in Lumix is light and affordable lenses. Before I started with S-series I looked at Nikon. I got the feeling that lenses were bigger, heavier and more expensive. Also the selection was not as wide as with L-mount.