u/Ok_Particular_8247

Both cameras are the same price for me right now (~$1600), so it's a pure feature/use-case decision, not a budget one. Trying to figure out which fits better and hoping people who've actually shot on either (or both) can share real experience. My situation: I currently earn money from a mix of photo and video work — mostly product shots and some portraits/commercial content. But I'm also trying to move toward making short films and sketch-style narrative content as a bigger long-term goal, alongside my existing YouTube/gaming content brand. What's pulling me toward the A6700: reliable phase-detect AF with subject tracking, which matters for paid client work where I can't always get a second take (product shoots, portrait sessions with real clients). What's pulling me toward the S5: full-frame sensor for a more cinematic look, unlimited recording without overheating (relevant for longer narrative takes/rehearsals), dual card slots, and V-Log for grading flexibility. I've read that the original S5's AF (DFD, no phase-detect) is noticeably weaker than the A6700's, but some people say that matters less for scripted/blocked scenes where you're not relying on AF tracking the way you would for run-and-gun vlogging. Questions for anyone with hands-on experience: If you shoot narrative/scripted short-form content (sketches, short films), how much do you actually lean on autofocus vs. manual focus with marks? Does the S5's weaker AF actually hurt in that context, or is it mostly a non-issue once you're working from blocking/rehearsals? For paid commercial/portrait work specifically, has anyone regretted going with the S5's AF, or found workarounds that made it a non-issue? If you had to pick one camera to grow into both "hybrid commercial shooter" AND "aspiring filmmaker" at the same time, which one did you not regret a year later? Not looking to relitigate spec sheets — just want to hear what actually mattered once the camera was in your hands day to day. Thanks!