A7S FF or APS-C mode for 60P?

[benjaminreece]

Hey guys,

While I'd prefer to maximize the FF potential of the A7S I have two reasons to consider APS-C mode beyond the Rolling Shutter (which is not a large factor for me). One is that my favorite piece of glass is the Sigma 18-35 1.8 and the other is that it seems that 60P shoots with better resolution/less moire at APS-C mode. 60P will be used for about 80+ percent of the type of footage that I will be shooting, so it is a primary concern of mine.

See here:
https://translate.google.com/transl...ony-A7s---Schaerfe-und-Moires.html&edit-text=

However, I wouldn't mind purchasing some FF glass, the Tamron 24-70 VC or Nikon 35-70 2.8 which has some nice flare to it, etc seem like great zoom options at FF- but then again, I don't want to just go out and purchase glass for the sake of FF if APS-C has better resolution/RS (on the A7S, internal) anyway.

Do you guys see any reason at all to go FF glass given this? How has your experience been with APS-C vs FF mode?

 

[The Irish TRex]

Pretty much everything I shoot is at 60p. I was shocked to see how much moire there was in FF mode at 60p. You couldn't shoot a box with writing on it without having major trouble reading the fine print because there was so much. However, when switched to crop mode that pretty much all went away. I'd say if that matters than just shoot crop mode. You can always get a FF lens and use it in that mode when it matters. The one advantage I see is that FF lenses in FF mode give you almost a stop less noise at high ISO's in my brief testing. For me, I just keep it in crop mode and enjoy the clean picture and extra zoom reach.

 

[ashclever]

I've been enjoying using my Metabones Speedbooster in crop mode on my A7s. Best of both worlds. You get way less rolling shutter, full frame look, you get the stop of light loss back again, and 60p is usable. Full frame glass is the best investment in my opinion because it works for both crop and full frame cameras.

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www.roughcutproductions.com

 

[The Irish TRex]

I've been enjoying using my Metabones Speedbooster in crop mode on my A7s. Best of both worlds. You get way less rolling shutter, full frame look, you get the stop of light loss back again, and 60p is usable. Full frame glass is the best investment in my opinion because it works for both crop and full frame cameras.

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www.roughcutproductions.com

Interesting. Never thought to use teh Speedbooster to gain that extra stop of noise-free goodness. Good idea. Because power zoom is so much built into my style, I'm left with the APS-C options only right now. So far so good.

 

[llirik]

I've been enjoying using my Metabones Speedbooster in crop mode on my A7s. Best of both worlds. You get way less rolling shutter, full frame look, you get the stop of light loss back again, and 60p is usable. Full frame glass is the best investment in my opinion because it works for both crop and full frame cameras.

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www.roughcutproductions.com

Yup, that's what I'm doing, and it's working great.

 

[rabbit2]

I'm thinking about the same combination - a7s + Sigma 18-35mm in APS-C mode. What worries me is that minimum 3200 ISO in slog2. I heard that my Tiffen Vari ND will not be strong enough.
How about these other Picture Profiles? Is there any info about how much less dynamic range is with those Cine2, Cine4?

 

[benjaminreece]

I've been enjoying using my Metabones Speedbooster in crop mode on my A7s. Best of both worlds. You get way less rolling shutter, full frame look, you get the stop of light loss back again, and 60p is usable. Full frame glass is the best investment in my opinion because it works for both crop and full frame cameras.

----------------------------------------
www.roughcutproductions.com

I love the idea of one glass to rule them all-

One problem zoom FF options. If you get a quality 24-70 2.8 the APS-C equiv is roughly 38-112, not wide enough for me as my primary "goto" lens. Other option is to go for a 16/17-35 but often those have much more distortion than the 18-35 has on the sigma (I actually owned the 17-35 Nikon)

So, other options are to go super expensive PL glass or go prime- which, I'm just too spoiled having such a sharp/distortion free/fast piece of glass like the Sigma to go back to prime for RnG type shooting (sure, I'd use/rent CP2's etc if I were shooting a narrative/feature/budgeted commercial/music video, but then again, I wouldn't be shooting it on the A7S, would be on a proper cine system) -

So, it seems like the best option given my scenario is to keep using the Sigma, perhaps pick up a FF zoom down the road as its always a good investment.

 

[benjaminreece]

I'm thinking about the same combination - a7s + Sigma 18-35mm in APS-C mode. What worries me is that minimum 3200 ISO in slog2. I heard that my Tiffen Vari ND will not be strong enough.
How about these other Picture Profiles? Is there any info about how much less dynamic range is with those Cine2, Cine4?

I used it with the Tiffen VariND + Hoya IR Cut the other day and I was able to get proper zero clipping (even sky) with the vari- however, your results may vary. And I can't call it a great combo yet as I have not put it through the paces yet.

 

[Samuel H]

My plan:
* stick to my vintage Leica-R glass, designed for full frame
* record 24p in full frame mode with dumb lens adapter
* record 60p and 120p in APS-C mode with speedbooster