Let me start off with saying that I am an independent film maker, so extra items needed for the camera are a major factor in the above rating.
First off, my original assumption was that (as it was described as a SSD hypergate) I assumed that it would be possible to grab footage directly from the camera. This is not the case. You will need an external drive bay in order to format and transfer footage from the SSD.
Second, the monitor is not calibrated as well as I would like. It runs a little yellow/green and a bit brighter than you might expect. For someone shooting in 2.5k RAW or using the film (as opposed to video) ProRes setting this might not be a problem, but when doing product shots or other circumstances where you might not want to shoot in raw film this can be a big problem. Color correction is always a step in post, but boosting brightness and completely changing the color can sometimes have a negative bearing on the final product. You can always get an external monitor , but the only video out is SDI which necessitates a converter to HDMI unless you drop the extra money on a compatible screen.
Third, MacDrive on some PC's can mess up the SSD which is something to be aware of in an office with both MacOS and Windows workstations. This may only be an issue due to the specific bay I have, but I would recommend keeping the footage transfer process through whatever OS the drive was formatted to work with. This may also have to do with the MacOSX Journaled format, but why would you ever risk loosing footage?
Fourth, you will spend more money on lenses and peripherals than you ever will on this camera. I knew this way beforehand, but if you've always rented prior to this purchase it is something you certainly should know.
Fifth, the lens mount is not active so some lenses will not work with this camera without an adapter. Again, this was a known before I purchased it, but something to be aware of. Don't think you can use your Panasonic kit lens for a while until you have the money for a good lens. That being said, check out the Voitlander and Rokinon fixed lenses. I've used them for everything from corporate product shoots to commercials and the footage looks amazing. If you really need a zoom lens, and can't live without it, you'll need a Canon EF to MFT adapter with built-in manual aperture. Also, never expect the aperture to actually work with the adapter, it just creates a vignette.
Sixth, the camera body itself is very finicky. If you put it on a rig that doesn't allow proper ventilation from the fans you will have a problem with over heating. The battery charge monitor is horrible and will not reflect the actual amount charged when plugged in. Also, the battery typically only lasts an hour or so (depending on how much you are shooting vs. how long you let it sit on) which can be a complication when trying to run with a lightweight kit.
Seventh, you can only choose between ProRes, AvidDNX, or 2.5k RAW and the different frame rates that goes along with them. It would certainly be nice to have the ability to change bit-rate etc. This isn't too big of a problem, but will need to be kept in mind when planning out post-production. Where one TB might have once fit an entire clients project base, or an entire movie, you will now need several.
All of the above being stated, I do love this camera. The above is simply that which took me much trial and error to discover for myself. Please don't think this to be a negative review, but you really need to know what you are dealing with when spending this kind of money. It took me several weeks of research to decide I desired this camera. Many of the tips and tricks I've found along the way came from reviews, be them negative or otherwise, and this is simply another resource. Having 2.5k at your disposal for creating any film for a festival at a price range under $2K is fantastic. With a single 256Gb drive I can should a couple hours of ProRes or fill it with 30 minutes of 2.5K RAW when out creating for myself. All together the after costs are really rather slight for what this camera can do at it's price-point. Don't come into this expecting the same footage and experience as a RED, but don't think your going to have to pack it in ice to keep the thing cool.
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