A couple FS100 questions before I make a purchase

Woo ok now that I have lenses sorted out, just need to find an affordable baseplate and mattebox that I can throw on my existing rig. Any suggestions?

oh darn, just realized, nikon's focus the wrong way =p
 
Michael Solomon said:
Woo ok now that I have lenses sorted out, just need to find an affordable baseplate and mattebox that I can throw on my existing rig. Any suggestions?

oh darn, just realized, nikon's focus the wrong way =p
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They do, but you get used to it :P


I have heard great stuff about the Shoot35 gear.
The JAG35 baseplate is actually what we are using right now for the FS100 on the current shoot.
I think we have a red rock mattebox.

If you are used to using screw-on filters and don't really have many issues with flare, you could always hold off on a mattebox until you really need it (though it does make life easier)
 
Michael Solomon said:
To preface, I currently shoot with a Canon 5DII and I find myself really starting to get frustrated with the camera. I do my own grading, so 4:2:0 is annoying as hell.
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Everything that is on tv or bluray is 4:2:0. Shooting at 4:2:2 will help in doing greenscreen work, it will not help grading at all. Bitrate will help that. People seem to be quite confused with 4:2:2 and what it actually achieves. 4:2:0 is what FS100 shoots.

I hate how it's such a harsh clip into highlights as well and not smooth roll off into blacks.
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? The highlight handling on the 5d is one of the best in the market. FS100 will not handle highlights any better. It does have considerably less moire though.
 
1) Do you think the cost justifies upgrading from a 5DII?
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Yes, worked for me. I had a 7D w PL and 5DII. Added FS100 w PL and sold 5DII. I went FS for long takes, on board audio, no jello or major aliasing issues. But, I still shoot with the 7D.

2) Is an external recorder necessary for this camera? What exactly are the benefits of using one and how would you power it?
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No, totally happy with the internal recorder. I shoot for web and TV spots. I've shot a few smaller national spots with the camera.

3) What peripherals & accessories are necessary? Trying to determine my actual final cost of upgrading (extra batteries, cards, recorder, top handles, etc. etc.)
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On board monitor - I had a Small HD 5.6 and switched to the TV Logic 5.6. I prefer the TV logic for waveform, but false color is the future (present). I've been shooting too long and grew up with scopes.

Batts - 2 generic for camera, 2 generic for monitor. One charger per battery.

Cards - 2 16GB SDHC

Small HD HDMI splitter to feed on-board and a 24" HDMI director and client monitors.



4) Regarding lenses, which ones would you reccomend? I currently have all canon glass but I know at the moment there are only 'dumb' adapters meaning you need another body to set the aperture on your lenses. I won't have access so that means going with different lenses. Which ones would you guys recommend at a $1500-$2000 budget? Looking for a 28mm, 50mm, and 100mm equivalent on the 5DII
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I shoot mostly scripted content with grip and electric crew, we pick a stop and shoot it all day. With that said...

EF mount
Tokina 11-16
Canon 24-70
Canon 70-200

PL mount
Red Primes - 18 through 100


==Other Gear specific questions==
1) I have a gini rig at the moment, will the FS100 fit/function on it?
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I don't have a HH setup. Head and sticks, a Libec H55 or 2060 based on job.

2) Any recommendations for baseplates for the FS100?
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Using the Atomic / Optitek PL mount and 15mm base with 10" rods which cover all the lenses above.

3) I know there's no internal ND filter. Up until this point I've used screw on filters since all of my lenses were the same diameter. Is it time to invest in a mattebox?
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Screw on ND for the EF zooms, MB with filters for the primes.

Hope this helps.
 
maarek said:
Everything that is on tv or bluray is 4:2:0. Shooting at 4:2:2 will help in doing greenscreen work, it will not help grading at all. Bitrate will help that. People seem to be quite confused with 4:2:2 and what it actually achieves. 4:2:0 is what FS100 shoots.
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Errrr.....

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Common_chroma_subsampling_ratios.svg

Common_chroma_subsampling_ratios.svg


There's alot of good reasons to be working with the highest quality while gradeing.... i find 422 to be a good thing, i find 444 to be much better... i find DNx to be a good thing too, and i find uncompressed to be much better

I don't think i'm confused...

d
 
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Rolling shutter on FS100 is twice as fast as the 5D, I've measured both. Moire on the FS100 is WAY WAY BETTER than any Canon DSLR. I've yet to get it on any shots with my FS100, but I know it is possible. With my 7D I just looked at it wrong and I got moire! :)

Going from the 7D to the FS100 for me was DEFINITELY a step up. The camera is more sensitive, way less noise, and more detail. I think the noise is more pleasing when I do get it. I like the LCD screen better and actually prefer the placement. The handle that comes with it is crap, balance is all wrong. It's also very light compared to other cameras so I use it on all my rigs I used with my 7D. Given the 5D is heavier than the 7D you should be fine.

Hilight handling on the FS100 is NO WHERE near as nice as the 7D/5D. In fact, this is one of the biggest pluses of the 7D/5D that people rave about. If you don't like the 5D handling, you are going to hate out of the box FS100. Given the FS100 saturates quite a bit out of the box, if you pull the saturation down, it does handle clipping better. And even further, if you take the time to learn, you can fix the handling in post (because you can do what the camera was doing just as easily once you understand how to fix it). There are some threads here that go into detail on fixing hl issues.

I don't regret shooting on the FS100 over the 7D anyday, but, I do miss the size of the 7D. That was the first hard part to get over.
 
Michael Solomon said:
This Piece?: http://jag35.com/products/dslrproducts/baseplate.html

I saw it but my concern was that the baseplate was too skinny width wise for the FS100 which is far longer than a DSLR. Almost seems like it would tip forwards or backwards. Does it feel secure for you?
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after building the camera yesterday, I would not suggest the jag35 rails for the FS100 if you plan on doing any sort of larger build. We had two monitors (7" and 4.3"), a matte box, FF, and lens on the FS and it was a bit wobbly, in my opinion.
 
hulkster2k3 said:
I use the redrock micro riser plate. Its quite sturdy.
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This one: http://www.amazon.com/Redrock-Micro...YF3I/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1320691348&sr=8-3 ?


JPM Photography said:
after building the camera yesterday, I would not suggest the jag35 rails for the FS100 if you plan on doing any sort of larger build. We had two monitors (7" and 4.3"), a matte box, FF, and lens on the FS and it was a bit wobbly, in my opinion.
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What would you recommend? I have some gini 15mm rails at the moment. Figured rails are rails after a certain point.


davidwinters said:
EF mount
Tokina 11-16
Canon 24-70
Canon 70-200
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How do you set the aperture on the Canon lenses since no 'smart' adapters are available?
 
Hello this is my first post here. I'm also researching an FS100 camera. I'm not a pro but am plenty old enough to be one!
Someone above mentioned 10" front end rods being long enough for the lenses mentioned- I'd also like some rods that come out
the back end (Erm, that didn't sound so good). So should I think in terms of 20 inches - that seems long.

Thanks very much,

Peter Fox
North Carolina
 
Lens is a Red Pro Prime, 18, 25, or 35mm, not sure which. PL adapter and black parts are Optitek, shiney base is custom, I had plates made for my 2060 and Libec. FF5 on the rods, hand wheels not attached. Name the bottle in the BG.
 
I was in the same boat and was hoping canon c300 would be within my reach and solve some of the 5ds short comings but didn't. I looked at the f100 but as stated the handling of the 5d highlights is alot better imo. I don't see enough of a pure image quality spike to warrant the $3000 extra unless you need the added features.
 
Michael Solomon said:
Now I'm having doubts about making the transition =p
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I have an FS100 and love the camera. The images are just outstanding. I am shooting regularly at +15db (3200 ISO equivalent) and it is crystal clear, with shadow detail that just takes my breath away.

I can't comment on highlight handling vs. a 5DII as I have never tested them side by side personally, but I have not be that displeased with it. I have shoot some stuff with some pretty severe blown highlights and the FS100 held up very well. Now I do give a bit of credit for the highlight handling to the vintage Nikkor lenses I am using which have a tendency to bloom a bit and soften highlights quite pleasingly.

Add the image quality, very good image profile control, the very clean low light capabilities with a color peaking monitor and real sound and I think the camera is well worth the money.
 
reem12 said:
I was in the same boat and was hoping canon c300 would be within my reach and solve some of the 5ds short comings but didn't. I looked at the f100 but as stated the handling of the 5d highlights is alot better imo. I don't see enough of a pure image quality spike to warrant the $3000 extra unless you need the added features.
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You put the same scene from the 5D and FS100 up on the same screen, there is NO comparison, especially on a wide shot. The codec in the 5D just cannot retain the detail that the FS100 does. I did this test and it affirmed my decision to buy one. I am ABSOLUTELY happy with the sharpness out of the FS100. It resolves quite a bit more real detail than the 5D does.

In addition, given the rolling shutter is MORE than twice as fast as the 5D (the 5D clocks in about ~25ms whereas the FS100 at ~12ms) for the same FoV shot, you can get A LOT more freedom in what you can do with the FS100. For anything telephoto, this makes a huge difference.

I too think the C300 is perfect for me, but not because I think the IQ is poor in the FS100, or the low light handling which is EXTREMELY better than the 5D. For me it's just the lens mount. I have a lot of EF lenses that need electronic control.

Given that the FS100 uses less than HALF the power of the C300, I've gone a whole day on the same battery when switching off when not in use.

The weight of the FS100 is 2.2lbs before battery and lens. It is amazingly light, so it can be used on a lot of support equipment you might have.

The display has a histogram which is VERY nice, and you get zebras and focus assist tools that make doing a rack focus real easy.

But, the mother of all goodness for me is 1080p60. It works GREAT. The 720p60 on the 5D is horrendous. The artifacts are so bad with moire/aliasing it's just not even funny. I use this for slo-mo work ALL THE TIME.

Oh, and the moire issues with the 5D? I've had the FS100 since release and have NEVER noticed moire in any of the shots. Ever.

I think the image quality is DEFINITELY worth the extra $3000. As I said, shooting side by side and comparing the footage, not only was I amazed, but so was my editor.
 
eheath said:
I dunno which 5d you have, but i'm pretty sure the one everyone else has does not shoot 60fps....
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My special 5D! :) Haha, no, good catch. I use the 7D and 5D, but mostly the 7D because I like the S35 a lot more. I hadn't even noticed that the 5D didn't have it since I use it so infrequently. So I guess that's even a bigger plus for the FS100.

But, even talking 7D, the 720p is so bad, we stopped using it altogether. We would rather slow 24p down and be jumpy then use 720p60 on ANY Canon VDSLR that supports it.
 
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