A few notes on moving to the FS700 from the AF100

[mainstreetprod]

I've had a few weeks to get acquainted with shooting a feature on the FS700, moving from the AF100 last year. Here are some quick comparisons:


1) resolution- FS700 noticeably sharper

2) Mojo- not there. Panasonic has better baked in film look. FS700 needs post work for cinematic look vs video

3) focus- much easier with the Sony, even using the LCD . Had considerable problems getting focus right on the AF100, even with a 7" external LCD with focus assist. I think the better resolution of the Sony, combined with a better LCD helps in focusing. The LCD "viewfinder" attachment is very handy for outside use, better than a hood

4) Highlight handling- night and day difference. Constant problems with the AF100 in situations with heavy highlights. FS700 is better in any PP, but flip into Slog-2 and enter a whole new world of DR. i've found a circular polarizing filter can help tame highlights on exteriors at the typical time of day (late morning- early afternoon) that polarizers work best.

5) AVCHD- seems to be a bit better on the FS700

6) Ergonomics - neither camera is very good. FS700 is quite awkward to handhold, but it can be done.

7) Batteries- The large Sony battery (960) is longer lasting than Panny. The smaller one that comes with the camera is not that great.

8) Super Slow motion is great! I've found 120FPS to be usable 90% of the time, so I set the S & Q button for it, along with 1fps for time lapses

9) Nice that they can use the same lenses with just a simple adapter change

Sample screenshots from "The Good Book": Rural tobacco field, sunset over road, walking in on husband with other woman, moment of realization, other woman scene, boy on trek back home, baptism, befriending bag lady in church

 

[hscully]

Thanks for that. I have been considering an FS700 as the next camera after the AF100 with developments to 4K and the Odessey 7Q. Right now it looks like the FS700 provides the most bang for the buck out there. I like the look of the AF100, the mojo, as you say. I'd also appreciate the s35 size sensor for wides. That's where I've had the most difficulty in getting good results with focus.

 

[mainstreetprod]

I'll probably sell the FS700 immediately after shooting this feature. However, the only reason for that is that in the next year of planning for the next movie, the camera will depreciate a LOT and the next big thing will be available, whatever it may be. If I were shooting something in the immediate future, I wouldn't hesitate to keep it- it's serving me well.

 

[hscully]

Nice... great frame grabs. The highlights on the train tracks and in the water are holding up splendidly. Did you bring up the saturation in the church frame grab? That has a nice richness to it. Good skin tones, looks good. Great good luck on that feature. I have a short in the fall then a feature in June coming up. I'll stick with the AF100 for the short and honestly, I'd shoot the feature with it too. We'll see what's around by then.

 

[mainstreetprod]

The church footage was actually oversaturated (warm tones) due to unavoidable mixing of daylight (coming in stained glass windows) and a 100+ bulb tungsten chandelier overhead. We added more light, bounced off the ceiling. I decided to just use the daylight WB preset and of course everything looked super warm. I toned it down a bit in post. I decided against shooting SLOG-2 (except in case of extreme highlights) and instead opted to go with a colorful custom PP. I think it's safer to bring things down in post than to try and bring it up from the muted SLOG colors, at least when shooting 8 bit.

Despite it's shortcomings, I think the AF100 is by far the best bargain on the used camera market. Looks like it is going for around $1800, which is an absolute steal for what it can do.

 

[Gene Sung]

Probably the main reason I like the FS700 is that it does not have a baked in look, as e colors are very realistic looking. If you are a grading fanatic like I am, it's the ideal scenario; but only if you like to grade. IMO why have your film's look be dictated by the manufacture? Give it your own color treatment and make it more unique.

As for S-Log, I've got a pretty good handle on it now. At first it freaked me out a bit as the exposure definitely is more critical, but it's not that hard once you get used to it. Lately, that's all I've been shooting in. The crazy good highlights and DR make talent look so good compared to the Cinegammas. With the 7Q + Slog, I think the FS700 will be certainly be the best camera under $15K and a pretty legit cinema camera.

 

[Colinelves]

Probably the main reason I like the FS700 is that it does not have a baked in look, as e colors are very realistic looking. If you are a grading fanatic like I am, it's the ideal scenario; but only if you like to grade. IMO why have your film's look be dictated by the manufacture? Give it your own color treatment and make it more unique.

As for S-Log, I've got a pretty good handle on it now. At first it freaked me out a bit as the exposure definitely is more critical, but it's not that hard once you get used to it. Lately, that's all I've been shooting in. The crazy good highlights and DR make talent look so good compared to the Cinegammas. With the 7Q + Slog, I think the FS700 will be certainly be the best camera under $15K and a pretty legit cinema camera.

I agree 100%!

 

[mainstreetprod]

I am using S-log in some circumstances. I used it in the scene above where the boy is walking down the road with trees overhead. The sky highlights would have looked terrible without it. Also, both Gulf scenes were shot with it. The mode helped keep the ultra white beach sand and wave highlights under control.

 

[Dermot]

If you shoot Slog and then apply Sony's display LUT on the footage you may find you don't need to boost sat atall, they seem to be meant to be used together ;-)

Some other homemade LUT's are pretty bad, Sony's works well if your exposure is spot on

If the exposure is off i would correct it in LOG before applying the LUT, then grade in LIN ontop of the LUT (unless you have LOG controls on your gradeing system)