A Sony guy's question...

Why is the BMC4.6 not on you map? This price seems much closer to the DVX (although you will need to buy some ND)

Morgan,

While answering your above, valid question, I forgot about one perhaps most important reason I've reservations against BMC: perhaps in the US market it's not an issue, but here in Poland any need for repair - be it on warranty or not - would require the PITA procedure of re-exporting it to the US as BMW doesn't have any infrastructure here. This means cost and delays. I wonder how it is in other EU countries; does UK for instance have BM authorized service points for their cameras? Please somebody answer this very important question for me, and I might change my mind :)

The other problem for me is that for some reasons I'd like to buy a camera "for the rest of my life" NOW, and afaik the Ursa mini is still unavailable in EU - or is it?

Piotr
 
EF mount has a deep flange depth and will not take a speed booster in any shape or form with any lens from any maker.

I think EF is a ludicrous mount and cannot see why the varicam or the BM cameras use it.

But surely a retired guy has time to swap out a couple of primes?

If you need to tool up with an affordable runabout zoom then E-mount or MFT mount works well.

Hello Morgan & others having tried or considering the Ursa mini:

Regarding the lens mount (EF vs. PL), is my impression right that even if EF is a - as you put it - "ludicrous mount", I'd be able to find more compatible lenses for it than for PL mount that would not ruin my bank account? If you agree, I would like to start with some - again, as you put it - an affordable runabout EF-compatible zoom lens, and only later add some nice primes to my collection, one by one. Now, my question is this:

Considering the Ursa mini native ISO, which affordable EF-mount zoom would you recommend as my first, runabout lens? Please advise, my experience with interchangeable lenses is limited to those for cameras like Sony E-mount with cheap E-mount adapter... Could it be some Canon F2.8? Does it need to have ISS (Ursa mini doesn't have any in-camera stabilization, afaik)? And for my first lens, I'd prefer one compatible with Ursa mini aperture and focus automation systems. Would this zoom be good enough: http://cvp.com/index.php?t=product/canon_ef24-105_f4l_is_usm, or is its F2.8 version necessary for Ursa? TIA,

Piotr

PS. And for my first primes, how about this kit:
http://cvp.com/index.php?t=product/samyang_7409_vdslr_kit_2
 
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I have no idea about service. Personally Ive only had a couple of electronic cameras fail in 20 years.. it is not like they have flapping shutters or tape transport to wear out.

I have had (like many) problems with my EX1 zoom lens.. so moving parts built into the camera seem the biggest threat.. the Panny has a built in zoom lens.

--

Should you buy the BM4.6? I think you need to cost the media and the batteries carefully.

Lenses..

The 24-105 tends to work with a speed booster well.

Without a speed booster I would consider a 17-55 2.8 instead.

The rokinon/samyang primes? I dont think they have the best build but they are ok for the money. 14 3.5 is a bit slow but you cant get the 16/2 instead.. because its not made in ludicrous canon mount.. the rear element needs to be close the the sensor to deliver the price/width/speed ratio

Personally I would be looking for vintage primes.. but not many fit the canon mount without physical modification.

Here we see the canon mount coming in to play.. could this (and local service?) be a good reason to spend the extra and get an FS7.

PL is certainly not the correct mount for a budget setup.

S
 
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That is the lense I suggested as a 'normal zoom'

EF and EFs lenses all have the same mount and communication protocol.

EFs lenses have a smaller image circle (designed to cover photo 'APS' sensors which are similar in size to movie S35 sensors ) and will not cover fullframe 35 or work with a speed booster.

EF or EFs lenses will work with the BMC4.6 or the FS7

S
 
Gentlemen;

Thanks for all your valuable input. I was almost convinced to buy the Ursa mini 4.6K with EF mount (PL would mean much more expensive options in the future) - but had to give it up because it's not yet available in Poland at all, and at CVP (UK) they couldn't even tell me some ETA - such deeply back-ordered the camera is, with lots of orders files before mine... So - as I said before, not compromising as I am, I'm currently almost decided on the FS7K.

Why "almost"? Well - because, and here is another question to you guys whether you have heard any rumors - I still also consider waiting for the upcoming NAB with a hope something interesting might be announced. By "interesting" I mean a camera of almost FS7 class as far as the codec is concerned, but a little bit more appropriate for a semi-retired guy like me: perhaps smaller, with still better ergonomics, maybe even new sensor, and a bit cheaper. I know - it would be at least half a year from such announcement (if any is coming) to actual availability, and then I would again become an early adopter like I used to with the EX1, so it's a tough decision.

Anyway: has anyone heard any rumors of something like this coming at this year's NAB? Or do you think I can safely buy the FS7 NOW? TIA

Piotr
 
The only rumour I heard regarding Sony is a full frame version of something like the FS5/FS7 coming out at NAB or this year, but it's hard to say.

Their technology from the A7rii (full frame sensor) is quite good so I can see it eventually making it into pro camera's down the road.

Who knows.
 
Most news, not just fake ones, will begin to trickle out in the next week to ten days. With that in mind, I'd hang on to one's zloty (or Euros) a bit longer.
 
Sony just posted that they are discontinuing the Fs7, will drop the price by $2,000 and replace it with a much better Fs8! Just kidding. Always a day late and a dollar short...

Anyway, yes, it is so very close to NAB to buy a camera especially when Sony releases new cameras so often these days. Hope you like the camera and enjoy shooting with it!
 
If anything, it would be FS9 not FS8, and couldn't be cheaper than the FS7. I'm more concerned something quite different with FS7 capacities but cheaper might come out :) BUT, I got my FS7K for a good price (here in Poland); also CVP (who already probably know what Sony is bringing to the table at NAB) have recently raised their FS7 pricing, which I take as a proof nothing is going to make it obsolete too soon...
 
Oh, and BTW: are there any LUT packages specifically for the FS7 to be downloaded somewhere for use with Catalyst, Vegas Pro and Resolve - or do I need to rely on general Sony Slog ones? In Vegas, there are 3D Luts defined for F5/F55, but not for FS7. In Resolve, it's just the "Sony" category. Do I really need something Sony FS7-specific for best results?
 
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