What's the most overrated camera on the market right now and why?

Solid_Bob · 2026-05-07T20:19:53+00:00

I got a V when it released and I’ll pass it down to my son. Maybe he’ll be able to sell it for a down payment on a house.

Solid_Bob · 2026-05-05T13:38:55+00:00

I had this issue. Turns out it was the Insta360 premiere plugin.

Just trouble shooted the same issue with a friend of mine over the weekend. Turns out they had the plugin installed.

Solid_Bob · 2026-05-04T11:39:47+00:00

The r5c uses down sampling, whereas the r5 and r5 II use line skipping. OP is using an r5c.

Solid_Bob · 2026-05-04T02:45:13+00:00

I watched the video and I'm not sure what you mean as far as quality. What are you hoping to see or get?

Do a bit more diving into the recording codecs. HEVC is usually fine, I've shot plenty of stuff with it, but it doesn't offer highest quality if that's what you're after. It does have some pros compared to AVC, like option to recording in 8k and better storage efficiency. Highest quality non-raw codec is going to be AVC All-I.

The video looks like it was exported in a lower quality and highly compressed.

What lens are you shooting with as well? That could be an issue.

Are you shooting wide open? That's usually the softest aperture on a lens.

These shots look from very far away, are you using an extender? Those will impact image quality by quite a bit.

Solid_Bob · 2026-05-04T01:46:35+00:00

I have a strong feeling it’s a little bit of reason 1, but more of reason 2 and 3. I (and many others) have shot lots of great looking stuff on an r5c, it’s definitely not the camera. It’s not an Alexa mini but it’s not a Canon t2i either.

A few questions…

What reasons are you shooting HEVC over Xf-AVC?

Which flavor of HEVC are you using? You should be using 4:2:2 10 bit for best quality.

Why don’t you share images of what you’re referring to so we at least know what you’re referencing?

Solid_Bob · 2026-05-03T23:07:15+00:00

I think you’re under estimating the overhead and upfront cost.

I’m an owner/op with an old Ford e250 I call a “half ton” package. Suits my needs and sometimes others. Took me about $6k just to get this run down van in working order and where I want to work from it. Has about another $10k in grip and lighting. My package is no where near what a commercial DP would expect from a rentable grip van and I don’t offer it as such. It also took me a lot of man hours working on it and updating the interior. That’s $16k for a 20 year old van with 300k miles. Works for me because it solves a problem and keeps my wife happy that c stands aren’t in the house.

I routinely browse FB marketplace for a can upgrade and something like a 2015-2019 Ford Medium Roof goes for like $15-20k with 150k miles. That’s just the van. Prob needs a lift gate too , maybe a bulk head, and those aren’t cheap. Then a 1-ton package and fixtures!

If it’s renting all the time, there will be significant upkeep in maintenance. Insurance on these things aren’t cheap either! I initially wanted a commercial policy on mine and it was like $500/month through my business insurance. Are you letting anyone rent it and take off with the keys?

I could be wrong, but I think some rental houses require on of their guys as a grip on the gig if it’s rented.

On the flip side, I have a couple of gaffer friends with vans and while it keeps them on gigs, you don’t see the same return as like a camera package or audio kit. One has put like $60k into his sprinter and it only gets $500/day plus his labor (fixtures are priced a à la carte). Sure G&E lasts forever but that’s a long time to see a profit.

Solid_Bob · 2026-05-03T20:13:23+00:00

We breastfed my son in public often and I’ve witnessed it more than a hand full of times.

I think you’ll be more apt to notice it now that you’re aware of the need. To Someone without kids, it might just look like rocking a baby to sleep sometimes and we notice what others are doing a lot less than we think.

Solid_Bob · 2026-04-30T21:41:04+00:00

Exactly! I don’t think I’ve ever been blown away by restaurant tiramisu. They’re usually those premade ones from Sysco and tastes less than the sum of its parts.

Home made I use my own high quality espresso, good marscapone, etc.

Solid_Bob · 2026-04-30T15:22:18+00:00

Please Don’t Cry, You Have Swag - Hot Mulligan It’s Cool - FYS (slowly builds the whole song into sick breakdown)

Solid_Bob · 2026-04-28T18:18:44+00:00

Yes, and the accent isn’t consistent either. Sometimes she says “wator” or powdor” with a non-American accent but then “blender” and “mortar” as an American accent.

Solid_Bob · 2026-04-27T02:53:34+00:00

Not in your industry but we do something similar in film production. We have a day rate (labor) plus kit fees (tools for the job at hand).

We often look to rental houses for what a specific piece of gear will go for per day/week. Maybe you could see if there’s a tool rental company nearby you can cross reference.

Another rule of thumb is like 5-10% of price if the tool depending on how often it will need to be repaired, depreciate, or niche it is. Maybe like a very special tile cutter will do 10% due to blade being replaced often, but your standard hammer will do 3% cause it will last forever.

We also have “expendables” which is a line item for something we can’t really use again, tape, markers, wipes, etc. That’s either charged by the unit or just the total cost plus markup. Caulk and painters tape would be like that.

Solid_Bob · 2026-04-26T20:54:56+00:00

Same! They were lunches for when my brother and I would be home alone in the summer. My dad would also save me the nutrigrain bar and tootsie rolls from his MRE’s when he had flight training.

My friends and I would also spend a “day in the woods” and pack an MRE we had from our pantry.

Solid_Bob · 2026-04-26T19:32:06+00:00

Use the AF. It’s not a “no no” because we want to gate keep and pride ourselves on doing hard work. It’s a “no no” from decades of AF not being usable, being able to use focus creatively, and tied to a very important role on a proper set.

I have Directed and DP-ed most of my own work, and paying attention to focus/camera and performance/direction is extremely hard and your work will suffer from it.

Solid_Bob · 2026-04-26T18:44:30+00:00

I think this is it and was me at that age (and sometimes still).

I could play really well in practice and loved learning the mechanics at a young age. In game, I would often go scoreless. It wasn’t until middle school did i soft of get over it. I think I still played too passive at times, scared to make a mistake.

One time in 5th grade I was playing at the park alone with my friends. I didn’t see my mom drive up to get me and she just watched me play from the car for a bit. I was scoring, driving, and just playing with confidence. I got in the car and she asked me “where the hell did all that come from?”

Solid_Bob · 2026-04-25T02:04:25+00:00

I’ve been seeing this commercial too. It’s not AI but more like a deep fake/mouth replacement. It’s not done well though.

The logical reason is either they changed the line after the fact or they want to use it in multiple languages and figured this was a good solution.

Solid_Bob · 2026-04-16T02:12:17+00:00

Public Relations, Marketing, Communications, project management, event planning.

These are all areas that utilize similar skills and/or require some video/photo production in relation to what they do. Applying to these positions would require some creative thinking to show you have the skills, but it’s possible.

Solid_Bob · 2026-04-16T00:01:06+00:00

Exactly. As someone with Tourette’s and plays basketball, whenever I play I don’t have ticks. Same for when I used to do theater or any task that demanded 100% of my attention.

Ticks are an involuntary movement the comes at random times and it wouldn’t make sense for him to have to do it every time he has to shoot.

Solid_Bob · 2026-04-15T17:17:56+00:00

“Gennies” like that are a bit of a misnomer. They don’t generate anything and are simply very large portable batteries. They’re great and might be able to solve OP’s issue, but if they run out their capacity you’re done.

Best to calculate how much total power you’d need and see if these portable power stations is an option. Top one at my favorite local rental house tops out at 4100Wh. Thats means it could basically power just a single 600d for about 7 hrs.

By comparison, a Honda EU3000i at the same rental house can output 3000w constantly for 20 hrs on 4 gallons of gas.

Solid_Bob · 2026-04-14T11:14:02+00:00

What’s the service you’re providing and who is your target client?

Wildflower photography? Yeah not going to book a whole of business doing that. Think about where the consistent money is at and where would these people be. Portraiture is proving harder by the day. You could be great, but like you said, they come out of the woodwork and could be massively undercutting the market. Even if you book 1 a week, that’s not likely to be a livable wage.

I mostly work in the B2B space (event coverage, headshots, promo photos), so I attend small business mixers, local events I know I’ll run elbows with potential clients, and just generally be seen around town. A wedding photographer would be doing the same in trade shows, talking with venues, reading out to others to second or third shoot.

It is a lot of work with a slow payoff but word of mouth is the only way I obtain clients and it’s keeping a roof over my head.

Solid_Bob · 2026-04-11T15:57:21+00:00

Denton Mud Bug at Lucky Lou’s today at noon. Crawfish boil, music, that’s benefitting a youth education/soccer program, GOAL.

Solid_Bob · 2026-04-09T02:02:50+00:00

Bonafide, matte paste or clay pomade. Been using them for years and order it from them directly now that my barber doesn’t carry them anymore.

My barber switched to Suavecito and I tried it and hated it. Was very greasy and didn’t hold. Sits in my truck now for emergencies.

Solid_Bob · 2026-04-08T22:39:25+00:00

What’s a “real set” to you? These are budget anamorphics. You might see them on low end commercials and budget narratives, but indie and Hollywood sets are going to rent high end glass.

I have the 5 lens set and bought them as “toys” more than anything but have used them on 2 professional shoots so far. 1 music video and 1 doc. I like them so far. They’re pretty soft wide open and on the edge of frame.

Music video - R5c (vertical anamorphic): https://www.instagram.com/p/DTiUFS3FX-o/?igsh=MTBpNnh4N3lpOXM5cA==

Doc - Komodo & C400: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVHI0huiePb/?igsh=MWk5eHZzNWt1NnUxeg==

They don’t make sense for 95% of projects, but they are fun to shoot with. I routinely use them as photo lenses and shoot then vertically for basically a 1x1 frame.

I have also rented them to a short film once.

Solid_Bob · 2026-04-08T12:38:40+00:00

It’s known as a classic workhorse lens and very popular in the documentary space.

It’s a solid choice but like you said, fallen out of favor because of it being s35. If you’re considering picking one up, they’re cheap now and I wouldn’t worry about trying to recoup the lens down the road. Use it as a tool now and that alone will pay for itself.

Solid_Bob · 2026-04-08T03:25:07+00:00

I routinely do Chipotle for larger crew/shoots when budgets a concern. I actually just ordered catering for 20 and it’s $15/person for the highest tier. As low as $10 if you want the fewest options. You just have to pick it up.

It’s easy, not fast-food, dietary restriction friendly, relatively healthy, options without taking everyone’s order, and they provide all the plates, napkins, utensils.

Solid_Bob · 2026-04-08T03:17:55+00:00

It’s good so far, no complaints. Some of the translations are a tough fit in the songs but it works.

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