A77 or NEX 7 as a "B" camera for my FS100?

BrianMurphy

BrianMurphy

Veteran
For the past couple years my "B" camera, has been a reliable GH13. I carried a couple of lenses and adapters as well as the needed audio connections. It got used for production now and then as another angle, for production stills, and as a backup camera should the Super Reliable HMC150 ever go down. It never did get to do that job.
Now that I have an FS100 with a compliment of lenses that will fit either the NEX 7 or the A77 it is the obvious choice for my next "B" camera. I would be interested to hear what folks have to say regarding this choice. I like the size of the NEX 7 and figure it will fit in the Pelican case that will soon be home to the FS100 and lenses but I am not sure there would be enough room to squeeze the A77 in there though that would not be the reason I wouldn't go with it.
Any advice is greatly appreciated,
Brian
 
Hmmm it seems the "international" primary is favouring the NEX 7. Thanks for your input it is much appreciated and I would imagine that if you are happy with the NEX 5 then the NEX 7 would make you happy too. I put my GH1 on the board and when it goes I will make my final decision.
 
I was in your same indecision (GH2 hack or nex7-5)
For video nex5n or 7 are very similar, not for photo, nex7 wins.
I have tested nex 5 Vs Canon 7D, nex5n wins video and photo
The GH1 hack is excellent.
The Sony Nex much brighter.
same sensor size and lens connections FS100
 
Nex 5N, not a NEX7. The 5N is a bit more sensitive and quite a bit cheaper, although video only goes up to ISO3200 on both. The 7 has shown a little more moire and aliasing from some initial tests. But i don't think anyone has really compared side by side. The video will be different though - 5N is scaling a 16mpix image compared to scaling a 24mpix image on the 7. I don't even know whether the 7 is full sensor or part of a sensor. The 5N is the full sensor width.

The A77 for video i believe is cropped.

cheers
paul
 
Has anyone stumbled across a more in-depth review of the NEX-7's video capabilities yet? The only thing I've found has been Reichmann's review on Luminous Landscape.

As a stills camera, I find the NEX-7 hugely attractive (large-sensor, small size and full MANUAL controls), but I'd love to know how the video fairs compared to the other HDSLRs out there. And whether people would consider using it in A-Cam scenarios with the same confidence that they currently use the 5DII/7D?
 
I've not had my 5N overheat but i suspect it depends on conditions and ambient temperature. Also i don't tend to use it for long sections of recording.

The controls are fully manual in video and okay once you get used to them. The 7 has the benefit of programmable wheels but for video, beyond swapping iso, i'm not sure what you'd be changing.

I use manual focus lenses exclusively, but if you have the e mounts then i think you can even track faces and autofocus on them. I do remember trying once at one of my sons concerts, that was an exercise in dumb camera intelligence as to what it decided to track next. It was some pretty tough conditions though, i'll give the camera that.

As a stills camera it's replaced my dSLR, i travel everywhere with it, it's light and practical. It's so light you could mount it on the FS100 and shoot two angles at once!

Quality it's not bad for a dSLR. The compression, like the FS, is pretty good. I did a test between uncompressed and compressed and for all intents and purposes there wasn't enough difference. It was there but not like a canon vs uncompressed. There's still some aliasing and moire but it's much better than canons. (Also you can't really record uncompressed off it because the HDMI out includes the graphic overlay)

The form factor is tough, leads to jello shake handheld without stabilisation.

I may use it occasionally as a B camera to rig in very tight spots. Inside cars with a 12mm voigtlander lens for example would give some scope inside.

I don't see the 7 being any better at video, it may be a little worse, and because of the price difference it may not be worth it.

I find the 7 a bit of an odd choice, the sensor inside really doesn't work well with the wide angle rangefinder lenses which is one of the markets sony was targeting. The 5N works so much better in this regard. I would be interested in the 5N sensor inside the body of the 7. So perhaps the next generation NEX...

hope this helps
paul
 
Thanks for the feedback Paul, I now think I am going to wait a while before doing anything. It seems that I will benefit from a good 5N price point on the used market should I go there or from a next generation in the new market. I am starting to feel that I have my hands full with then new FS100 at this stage just getting it to "fit" and feel right shooting. So perhaps I will just hold on to the GH13 and deal with the difference in post for now. "fix it in shipping" as they say. I too look forward to seeing some people put the NEX7 through its paces with video tests/comparisons.
Cheers
 
paulcurtis said:
I've not had my 5N overheat but i suspect it depends on conditions and ambient temperature. Also i don't tend to use it for long sections of recording.

The controls are fully manual in video and okay once you get used to them. The 7 has the benefit of programmable wheels but for video, beyond swapping iso, i'm not sure what you'd be changing.

I use manual focus lenses exclusively, but if you have the e mounts then i think you can even track faces and autofocus on them. I do remember trying once at one of my sons concerts, that was an exercise in dumb camera intelligence as to what it decided to track next. It was some pretty tough conditions though, i'll give the camera that.

As a stills camera it's replaced my dSLR, i travel everywhere with it, it's light and practical. It's so light you could mount it on the FS100 and shoot two angles at once!

Quality it's not bad for a dSLR. The compression, like the FS, is pretty good. I did a test between uncompressed and compressed and for all intents and purposes there wasn't enough difference. It was there but not like a canon vs uncompressed. There's still some aliasing and moire but it's much better than canons. (Also you can't really record uncompressed off it because the HDMI out includes the graphic overlay)

The form factor is tough, leads to jello shake handheld without stabilisation.

I may use it occasionally as a B camera to rig in very tight spots. Inside cars with a 12mm voigtlander lens for example would give some scope inside.

I don't see the 7 being any better at video, it may be a little worse, and because of the price difference it may not be worth it.

I find the 7 a bit of an odd choice, the sensor inside really doesn't work well with the wide angle rangefinder lenses which is one of the markets sony was targeting. The 5N works so much better in this regard. I would be interested in the 5N sensor inside the body of the 7. So perhaps the next generation NEX...

hope this helps
paul
Click to expand...

thanks a bunch for this reply! definitely going to check on the 5N even more now that I've heard a videographers POV on it. :dankk2:
 
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