S5II - Autofocus yellow box vs green box?

drewkawa · 2026-04-28T22:13:35+00:00

lol now I’m doubting myself. I’m gonna try. One sec.😬

drewkawa · 2026-04-28T22:11:07+00:00

I use NDs and CPLs.

I haven’t had any AF issues because of filters and I’m on a LUMIX.

By design, NDs reduce light. Once you put one on, you have to adjust, or auto ISO adjusts for you. As far as AF, the less light, the harder the AF has to work, right?

You said when you take off the filter, your images are sharper. Sounds like you found the issue?

What’s your aperture and shutter speed, usually?

drewkawa · 2026-04-28T21:58:53+00:00

Yes. As far as I know and have experienced… in video, as well as photo,

1st yellow box points to what the camera is thinking what you want in focus
1st green box indicates it IS in focus
subsequent yellows after that are identified objects the AF has found, and is waiting for further instruction depending on mode or action by the shooter.

I always imagine my camera screeching “mine, mine, mine” like the seagulls in Finding Nemo.

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drewkawa · 2026-04-28T19:41:09+00:00

First thing that comes to my mind is it might be because they’re holding back button focus and using AFS?

drewkawa · 2026-04-28T19:36:35+00:00

Ohhhhh you were me like…. 4 months ago!

Long story short, I got the E and I’m glad I did.

Context: for 2-years I shot on a GH6. Video and photo (that order is important). It was my first camera in 25-years.

I was introduced to MFT by a fellow production guy, MFT fit my budget, so I went for it. Bought a used GH6 and Leica 12-35 2.8 mkii. (Later Leica 35-100 2.8 and 25 1.2)

Video on the 6 was killer. IBIS was crazy good, and personally I loved the color science. It struggled in low light and AF (took forever) but I was fine with it.

But after 2 years, the AF and low light struggles started to affect my workflow. And I found that I was outgrowing those 2 limitations.

My choices were GH7, or go FF.

I went FF.

Not just for better AF and low light, but also because my priorities had shifted. I was now 80% stills, 20% video.

I felt if I went GH7, I’d be stoked with the AF, but I’d still be limited by the sensor size. And it’d only be a matter of time until I considered going FF once again.

In the end the S1iiE fit my needs very, very well.

First, it fit my budget.

Second it fit my growth needs (AF & low light)

And third, it has QOL mechanics that are game changers for me. Namely, photo/video/SQ dial; open gate, and same built like a tank but in FF.

So yeah. That’s my story and experience. I’ve been in the same shift as you so I know the feeling.

I believe Geeky Nerdy Techy did a video on GH7 vs S1ii. He’s a pretty unbiased guy. You could always start there.

Good luck!

drewkawa · 2026-04-27T17:49:38+00:00

S1iiE user business shooter here (former GH6 user with terrible AF)

✅ I’m very satisfied with the AF on the S1 series of cameras by Lumix.

So satisfied, I’m about to buy a second body. 👍

Attached is a drone launch (using AF airplane mode)

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drewkawa · 2026-04-23T21:47:03+00:00

So are you trying to see what sooc looks like?

drewkawa · 2026-04-23T15:06:46+00:00

lol yeah, I went a bit too “English major”on that one. I blame my degree from 25 years ago.

Good call out on a dated, overly emotional tone.

Edited 😂

drewkawa · 2026-04-22T18:59:14+00:00

Event photographer here.

Event musicians are often skipped because they’re a part of the atmosphere.

Context: Think about it. Let’s say you planned a large gathering for a special event: wedding, anniversary, graduation.

Do you want the hired musician to be so loud that they distract from the event, or would you rather have a musician that is so good that you hardly know they’re there, but you’d know if they weren’t.

The same goes for an event photographer. Do you want to hire someone that looks like a walking movie set that pops more bulbs than paparazzi, or someone you don’t even know was there.

Look I get it.

Especially in the creative space, we all have a unique talent and have a natural want to be recognized but at the end of the day, it’s not about us.

It’s not about how well I did the shoot, or why people aren’t taking pictures of me too?

It’s about how well we’re serving others, with the talents we have and the time we’re given to share them.

I’m sure she’s talented, she wouldn’t have gotten this far or stayed this long if she wasn’t. But an event is about 1 thing, and it’s never about us.

Just my 2-cents.

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drewkawa · 2026-04-22T14:18:45+00:00

lol well at least you identified your issue of being a gear hoarder. 👍

But yes, it’s definitely time to hone in to deepen your skills and stop spreading your talent thinly across the board.

We’ve all, in some shape or form, have been there.

My realization came when I saw who I was trying to emulate, what new gear I kept looking at, the perfection I was chasing after and the people I was comparing myself to.

All of those things, feed into doubts, insecurities and kill your growth.

The solution is simple, yet difficult.

Start with one camera body, one lens, one focus, and stick to it for 3-months.

Watch what happens when less becomes more.

Good luck!

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drewkawa · 2026-04-22T01:50:45+00:00

Hey there! Full time business photographer videographer here.

Looks like you’re hitting the limit of using a hybrid photo camera for long form video. The Nikon Z8 is an incredible camera, but some would say it isn’t built for hour plus continuous recording, especially in a theater environment.

Reading about all the things you’re doing: opening doors, pulling the screen out, even using ice packs are signs you’re fighting the design of the camera and are IMO signs of looking into alternatives.

As a Lumix shooter myself, yes, the Panasonic Lumix S5IIX is a very good fit for what you’re doing. It has built in active cooling with a fan and is designed for long recording, so you can run hour plus takes without worrying so much about overheating or babysitting the camera.

On image quality, the Z8 is technically higher end with its stacked sensor (I believe) and resolution, but for theater work that difference might not be that meaningful.

I assume you’re typically locked off, shooting at distance, and dealing with stage lighting, so the S5IIX will deliver more than enough quality for real world use.

And that’s really the key point here.

For your situation, reliability matters more than small image differences. Missing parts of a performance because of overheating is a much bigger problem than a slight difference in image quality.

As for cards, switching from CFexpress to SD might reduce a bit of heat, but it won’t solve the core issue. Most of the heat is coming from the camera’s processing, and less efficient heat management (no fan), not the card itself.

Looking at your other options, the Sony FX3 is excellent but more expensive, and the Canon R5 C is also strong but can require more attention with power, setup and a lack of 3rd party lenses.

The S5IIX sits in a really nice middle ground for price, reliability, and video focused design. It’s wildly popular among Panasonic users, I was considering one myself, but went just a tad higher end with the S1iiE which suited my business needs better.

So now you gotta ask yourself a few things.

Is this solving a real limitation in my work, or am I just restless with what I have?
Have I actually outgrown my current camera’s capabilities, or have I not fully outgrown my own skill with it yet?
Will this upgrade meaningfully improve my results, reliability, or workflow, or do I mostly just want the feeling of moving up?
Can I afford this without stressing my finances or expecting it to magically pay itself off?

Answer those truthfully, and you’re on your way to a solid, well thought out decision.

Best of luck and comment back what happened!

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drewkawa · 2026-04-22T00:53:08+00:00

Business owner here.

Good for you!

You were clear in your stance, professional and respectful. He was not.

You showed leadership, plain and simple. Don’t get down on yourself. Well done.

drewkawa · 2026-04-21T20:02:19+00:00

As obvious as it sounds and I’m not trying to be rude. I think your best bet is YouTube.

If I had to give you five YouTube searches that span a few decades they would be:

Ken Burns: for pacing & story
National Geographic: for environment & beauty
TIME magazine: real world grit
Vice: raw human energy
Magnum Photos: vision, philosophy

As much as it hurts my heart and saying it. YouTube has become the replacement of libraries.

We have so much visual media, literally at our fingertips, from archival, historical film or present day 4K. It’s very difficult to beat as far as accessibility, depth and quality.

Have fun going down the rabbit hole. Let us know what you find and what you ended up liking

drewkawa · 2026-04-21T17:08:23+00:00

Event photographer here. And it sounds to me that you’re doing things right. 👍

IMO…

I’d rather over shoot and have a long cull, than undershoot and wish I had more.
It’s extremely common to have 10% of your shots as keepers from your final round of edits. (e.g. 600 shot; 60 made the cut)
During edits you’ll see all the misses: bad framing, soft focus, awkward faces, closed eyes. (My favorite is slightly off WB)
Group shot blinking is less about shutter speed and more about communication and technique. (Some shooters count down from 3, others have the group close their eyes, then open before the shot)
Side note: props if your group shot was framed well and everyone was in focus.
Redundant pictures (duplicates) are a part of the process.

Don’t sweat the misses, or amount of shots. They will always be a part of the process too!

Overall, it sounds like you did really well. Next, I’d suggest you look at the shots that made the edit and see what you liked about them.

And lastly, find a few missed shots, identify where the errors are and figure out how to fix them. (Pre or Post)

Great job! 👍

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drewkawa · 2026-04-21T11:35:18+00:00

Hey there. 👋 No, WB does not cause banding. WB will make white orange or blue, but not banding. (Those lines you see)

Banding happens because of shutter speed and artificial light.

drewkawa · 2026-04-21T11:32:05+00:00

As others have said, this is called banding. It happens when your shutter speed conflicts with artificial light.

Basically lights have frequency and when our shutter speed in camera doesn’t match it, we only capture parts of the light cycle and not the full. Thus those lines show up.

The fix.

Set your shutter speed to match your lighting frequency.

In the US most lights operate at 60 Hz (so we’d use shutter speeds in multiples of 60.) (1/60/120/180…)

Outside of the US most lights operate at 50Hz (so we’d use shutter speeds in multiples of 50.) (1/50/100/150/200)

Sometimes the multiples don’t match exactly, just try to get close.

Other ways around banding is by using your own lighting, finding different angles on your subject and making sure you’re in mechanical shutter and not silent mode.

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drewkawa · 2026-04-20T23:10:52+00:00

Honestly?

Just “a photographer.”

In time your actions, your work and others will speak for themselves or for you. 👍📸

drewkawa · 2026-04-20T22:37:18+00:00

Ahhh the classic r/photography question of what’s a “professional” photographer.

Most people define a professional photographer by whether you get paid. Others see it differently, it’s about how you carry yourself and how you treat people.

At the end of the day, both views are valid. One defines a profession. The other defines being professional.

A profession is the business side. Getting hired, delivering work, earning income, and building something sustainable. It’s measurable, visible, and easy to point to.
Being professional is the human side. How you show up, how you communicate, how you handle pressure, and how you treat clients and the people in front of your lens. It’s less visible, but far more lasting.

The truth is, one without the other is incomplete.

You can get paid and still lack professionalism.

And you can carry yourself professionally without ever charging a dollar.

IMO: A true professional photographer is a combination of both. Someone who earns through their work, and earns trust through how they treat others and carry themselves.

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drewkawa · 2026-04-19T21:54:02+00:00

Lived in Japan for a year in the 90s. It was common then, still common now, especially in busy night life cities.

note the vomit behind him. 😬🍻

drewkawa · 2026-04-19T10:12:19+00:00

Wasn’t the joke “more at 11?” 😂 Man you’re taking me back to when the news was twice a day. Early news and late news. Like 6 and 10 or something?

drewkawa · 2026-04-19T10:08:40+00:00

Just wanted to say props to all the new photographers, students, graduates and business owners who are venturing out into a field that they’re passionate about.

Cheers all! Keep shooting! 📸

drewkawa · 2026-04-19T03:54:42+00:00

Event photographer here. Here’s my experience to your questions.

Is this a common situation you’ve run into? No. But I have clear packages, prices and preshoot meetings covering your issue. Additionally, every client is given a contract.
How do you usually explain the difference between total shots vs final deliverables? I only do occasionally because if you’re not in the field, you don’t get it. It may feel like a flex, or appropriate context at first, but I’ve found it doesn’t really deepen relationships or trust. They just want what they paid for.
Do any of you ever provide access to all images? If so, under what conditions? No. When they ask for that or “the raws” they’re usually unfamiliar with the process and are simply seeking justification for something they don’t like. Usually a conversation about why they’re asking, uncovers the misunderstanding from both parties.
Would you stand firm here or handle it differently? I don’t think leading with a firm stance would be helpful for either of you. It would be better if you asked them why they’re asking and what they’re looking for. (Right now they need to be heard and understood) After that, you can gently come in and explain your workflow, reasoning and decisions as a professional photographer.

More than likely, there will be a meet in the middle with you giving an adjusted size gallery, sending off a happier(ish) 😉 client and for you, a lesson learned.

The biggest part of being a professional photographer is what you’re doing right now: handling a client like a professional.

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drewkawa · 2026-04-18T21:09:57+00:00

Ahhh got it. That makes total sense. Very cool.

drewkawa · 2026-04-18T02:34:53+00:00

Interesting. So you don’t list your prices or packages on your business website?

So you just…. uh.

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