Dealing with YouTube Gear Hype (feeling bad about purchasing X-H2S instead of S5II)

Dear co-videographers,

Last month, I decided to purchase a Fujifilm X-H2S. My three-year-old Fujifilm X-T3 is broken and needs to be repaired (luckily I have insurance for it). Since I need my camera for work, I couldn't afford to send it for repair yet. Renting a camera gets pretty expensive soon if you need it for every job.

So in order to allow myself to send my 'old' camera for repair, I decided to upgrade to the Fujifilm X-H2S. This way I have a camera when my X-T3 gets repaired (which will likely lasts multiple weeks) and will benefit from the features from the new model (IBIS, over two stops more dynamic range in F-log2, very low rolling shutter, internal ProRes recording, 4K 60p without a crop, 6.2K Open Gate 3:2, full HDMI). On top of that, I will have two camera's in the end with similar color science which opens up new possibilities for shooting interviews and is great for having a back-up on shoot. The only real downside to the X-H2S would be that it uses PASM instead of retro dials, and I love the analog handling and aesthetics of my X-T3, but the definite increase in quality compensates for it. Another thing is that the price (€2749) is a lot more than I paid for my X-T3 (€1400). But it's the only Fujifilm body that offers uncompromised video quality and IBIS really comes in handy for shooting interviews and general B-roll, especially using unstabilized primes.

So far, so good, sounds like a reasonable decision. I anticipated the purchase for long and finally decided I would upgrade to the X-H2S, when I got the money. It's arguably the best Fujifilm camera for video and seems like a solid investment for a freelance video shooter.

However, then the announcement of the Panasonic Lumix S5II really confused things for me. It is significantly cheaper then the X-H2S (€2200 vs €2749) while offering better IBIS, generally better autofocus, far more video assist tools, even better colors to my eyes, nicer image texture (to my eyes less smudgy and more organic looking), it evens has an 5.8K Open Gate mode as well and it has the full frame look. In short, from the examples of YouTube I seemed to like the S5II footage quite a bit better, while the price is lower. And it cut the right corners for me: it has a crop in 4K 60p, it has data rates only up to 200 Mbps (instead of 720 Mbps), it doesn't shoot ProRes. But all these are things I could actually live with if the general image quality is really nice. And the Lumix S primes seemed really compelling: f1,8 primes for a price often lower then most equivalent Fujifilm offerings, with smooth autofocus (same can't be said for all Fujifilm lenses).

I started really contemplate the S5II, because I felt in love with the footage after watching many YouTube test video's and comparisons. But purely rational speaking, I didn't make much sense:

  • My X-T3 would be of much less use as a B-cam, since it only creates more work to match the colors with the S5II. Especially for wedding photography, having two camera bodies from the same camera brand makes it so much easier when applying LUTS or picture profiles in a RAW workflow.
  • I would need to buy another S5II or S5 to have two camera's and match image quality and colors, instead of just using my to-be-repaired X-T3 for that.
  • I already own 4 Fujifilm lenses. Although I would like more video-oriented lenses and I my lens setup needs some revision and additions, I get much use of my Fuji 18-55mm lens and I like the metal build quality and aperture rings a lot. It would mean I needed to sell all these lenses and lose money on it, then buy new ones without an aperture ring and possibly less character.
  • I already was generally happy with the X-T3 image quality and didn't necessarily need to upgrade it, so if the X-H2S has even better quality, what's the problem?
  • The X-H2S has much better codecs and data rates and has a stacked sensor, providing (far) less rolling shutter.
  • I am already familiar with the Fujifilm workflow and wouldn't need to adjust as much when using the menu's or handling the footage in post.

Still, I felt wrong about my choice even when I purchased the X-H2S. I got anxious about all the YouTube video's hyping up the S5II, proclaiming it's the best-value camera on the market right now. When I bought my X-T3, it was the best value for the price, but now the X-H2S had to prove its higher price tag against a cheaper, in some ways better option.

Luckily, these feelings have settled a little bit now. Still, I would like to hear your opinion. In this case, would you have chosen to 'switch systems' and reap the disadvantages of doing so? Do you think it's worth the hassle just to get the full frame look, nice looking texture and different (in my opinion even more pleasing) colors? Do you even agree with me that those difference are noticeable at all? I feel that the YouTube hype of 'the newest camera' and 'best value' and 'switching systems' has a grip on me emotionally, because practically thinking, this was the most reasonable choice. Love to hear from you!