$8000 to Spend on a New Primary Filming Set-up. NEED HELP!

[abreu-canedo]

I have a FS700, Odyssey 7Q, Manual Nikkor primes (late 1980's), which I fly on a DJI Ronin with a wireless follow focus. The image I get with the Nikkors, SLog2 and Prores 422 is just beautiful. Being able to have motion and intelligent focus pulls is just wonderful!

However, it's heavy as heck!!!! I need a vest and arm just to take the weight off of my arms. I mean, I can do short takes without it, but if I'm going to be accompanying skateboarders in a street session, or filming a breakdance battle, I need support. So the vest/arm unit needs to be able to support a payload of 30lbs--which means you gonna have to spend valuable bucks. Also, the DJI Ronin is pricey because to fly an FS700 with a good lens and a wireless follow focus unit, you need a heavy duty gimbal--again, pricey.

I'm saying all of this because, if you go with a smaller form factor camera (GH4, A7s, or even BM Pocket Camera), you can purchase a stabilization unit such as a 3-axis gimbal for much cheaper ($1k). Then, you have enough money to get a wireless follow focus and some quality manual lenses, as well as an external monitor/recorder (7Q+ or Shogun). The production value of stabilization and focus control with external recording is just crazy. And it's affordable if you go with a smaller camera. However, I'd recommend a camera that can output 10bit video. This way you can have more room in post.

If zoom rocker and camcorder form factor are really that important to you, yeah, the PMW series are great. Also, the FS700 are getting really cheap used. However, I think that filmguy123 and dustylens make a compelling argument.

I hope this is helpful...although most of what I post is often just redundant haha

 

[Jim Ritscher]

I think there are some assumptions you are making but not stating. It sounds like the core assumption is, "I don't want a DSLR type camera; I've already had that. I want something that looks (and is) more professional." I could be wrong in this. And it would be good to state what you are looking for.
There are several core points here to consider.
- The joy of a super-35 camera like the FS700 is that it allows for easy, shallow depth of field. But when you are shooting your videos, that might not really be a priority. In fact, you may want the opposite.
- I've owned (and loved) the FS700. But it's not a very good run and gun camera. It's too heavy, clumsy.
- I would at least consider the new Sony PXW-FS7. It costs $8000 and is an amazing camera. It does continuous slow motion (unlike the FS700).
- You could use the same lenses with the Sony A7S and the FS7.
- Ultimately the issue comes down to lenses (unless you buy a camera with a single, nonremovable lens, which actually might make a lot of sense.) What kind of lenses do you want to own? Cameras come and go; lenses last for a long time. (I've gone through 3 core cameras in less than 3 years).
- I personally like super-35 lenses (or full frame lenses that work on a super-35 camera). The one thing I would not like to do is buy two sets of lenses: super-35 and micro 4/3. It just gets too complicated with all the Metabones adapters, etc. Some people would disagree with me violently here. My belief is: pick a format and stick with it.
- Do you actually shoot from a skateboard (at least some of the time)? That's an important factor, because from time time you will undoubtedly crash, and it would be helpful to have a small camera that is not that expensive, and that you can easily shield.
- A servo zoom is nice but not necessary. But a zoom is necessary for your kind of shooting.
- Other people's advice here is good. Now you just have to choose.

 

[Rdouthit]

- I would at least consider the new Sony PXW-FS7. It costs $8000 and is an amazing camera. It does continuous slow motion (unlike the FS700).
- You could use the same lenses with the Sony A7S and the FS7.

The problem with the FS7 is that it's not an $8000 camera. It's more like $11,000 once you budget in the required media, batteries and a single lens. That puts it outside the OP budget. And that doesn't even start to touch on archive storage and a system able to edit the high bitrate stuff out of it.

I would recommend maybe that the OP consider an FS100. It's a great (proper) video camera and super cheap right now ($2500 new). It's also small and light. Plus he can start to build a pro system (XLR mic, E-Mount Lenses, wireless mic) and then upgrade to a more serious bit of kit later (FS700mkII, FS7, or something completely different if his work dictates it.) I just sold mine, but I shot automotive action sports with it for several years (rallycross, X Games, etc.) Right now I shoot with an A7S (my off season) and am considering an FS7 for the upcoming year.

Ryan