A7s sample footage

I've always thought of the 5D as a camera that was almost impossible to mishandle; it just always produces a fairly pleasing image, but case in point, every time I hand it over to my wife or family, the product is horrible. So wait and see. Remember Den Lennie did poorly in the camera shootout - almost embarrassingly bad compared to some of the other teams. I think the Smokies video looks very good. Actually better than the 4k video.

I'll say it again, if you're interested in Sony cameras, check out Alistair's site - lot of information including about highlight handling, the 1-109 issue, etc.

One of the reasons I'm interested in getting into the Sony ecosystem is that, in my opinion, the F35 and F3, in the right hands, produce the best images I've ever seen. I actually prefer them over Alexa stuff, it seems like a more pleasing image. I just think that Sony sensors are very pleasing to the eye, handled correctly. In TV, Check out Sherlock season 1 (f35) and Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown (F3 and FS700) for examples of Sony cams - granted the teams using them on both shows are really really good - the colorist on Parts Unknown is particularly good.
 
I agree that some of the footage looked really ugly, but as others mentioned, no product is idiot proof.
and than there's an aesthetic problem, connected with the colour vision of the human eye in dark - as we all knew, colours disappears quite quickly after sunset, with the exception of the blue/red sky of course.

A lot of dslr pictures taken in the night with tripod/loooong shutter speeds are looking horrible too, like a bad LSD trip - muuuuch too colourful, especially in the greens etc. The bayer sensor is really a bad layout for shooting in darkness, where you could allmost forget all rules of daylight - it's not just making the scene brighter...
 
in the Shubaya video comments, he states that he shot it at ISO 800 and below so it is definitely NOT slog2.

yeah, it didn't look like it was SLOG2. I wouldn't say the exposure was wrong but that I shoot to protect highlights and would have dropped the exposure a bit. Seems to be the case with a lot of the footage I've seen so far. People are exposing a bit hotter than I perhaps would.
 
Obviously only the PAL-Version is a world camera (like Samuel already mentioned):

  • MENU →
    s_menu_setup.png
    (Setup) → [PAL/NTSC Selector] → [Enter]
Note


  • This function is provided with 1080 50i-compatible devices only. It is not provided with 1080 60i-compatible devices. The 1080 50i-compatible devices have a “50i” mark on the bottom of the product.
  • If you insert a memory card that has previously been formatted with the PAL system, a message telling you that you must re-format the card appears. When you record using the NTSC system, re-format the memory card or use another memory card.
  • When the NTSC mode is selected, the “Running on NTSC.” message always appears on the start-up screen each time you turn the product on.
 
Obviously only the PAL-Version is a world camera (like Samuel already mentioned):

Ouch, that is a shame! My plan is to buy the PAL version in Thailand, but that "Running on NTSC" message is gone get annoying very quickly. Just pray there isn't a "Are you sure you want to run on NTSC?" confirm keypress as well.
 
Hey Guys/Gals,

Can someone please explain how the Metabones Canon adapter actually works. I have never needed a Metabones adapter and have not used my L glass on other cameras bodies besides RED. I mostly shoot RED and Canon Cinema EOS. Never adapted Canon to Emount before. How exactly does it work? Can you change F stop internally with the camera body or is it a feature of the adapter itself? I believe the IS does have functionality as well. Would appreciate any insight or first hand experience info.

Also, I have a bunch of the newer Canon 600EX flashes. I believe I can get a hot shoe adapter so I can retain full functionality of those flashes with a Sony body. Does anyone have insight on that? Thanks.
 
It just translates the electronic iris and other information onto the sony body, as well as a power path for the IS - the body basically thinks it's controlling an emount lens. It works just like having it on a canon body, except that the autofocus works slowly compared to a native lens. Sort of like the slow response of the autofocus on a canon dslr when using the LCD vs the viewfinder.
 
I wonder what happened the the GH4 vs A7s comparison that Den Lennie was working on a few weeks back. It was supposed to have gone up by now and nothing. Considering these are the two cameras I am considering I really hope it sees the light of day and would be concerned if it never came out after the footage was shot and screen caps showing it being edited.
 
Great. Thanks wallrc. I was hoping it is that easy. Thats good news.

Apparently there are quite a few lenses that the autofocus is so slow as to be unusable - metabones keeps a long list going. But as far as I understand it, all versions of the adapter control the aperture without issue, and for the most part that's all we really care about.
 
wallrc is correct, Metabones gives you the electronic control - aperture and IS works on most lenses, AF is really slow.

A Canon flash on a Sony body will be full manual, it'll fire and nothing else, you'll have to make all the adjustments as the TTL contacts are different. Right now with the A7 I use cheap Cactus V5 triggers, a Yongnuo 560 speedlite and a generic off camera flash cord labeled 'Canon' and they work great - but again full manual.
 
I agree with those that believe this camera has consistently found its way into the wrong peoples hands(including those that worked on original launch material).

We still don't know which is which (it can be camera 3 or 4), but this puts it at least in line with the F3 in terms of DR (and that means two stops better than the C300).

Says you.. Having shot regularly over the past few years with f3 and c300, I would hardly say there is any difference at all in regards to DR. If anything the nod would go to the C series
 
I wonder what happened the the GH4 vs A7s comparison that Den Lennie was working on a few weeks back. It was supposed to have gone up by now and nothing. Considering these are the two cameras I am considering I really hope it sees the light of day and would be concerned if it never came out after the footage was shot and screen caps showing it being edited.

I think he said that he got real paid work that has to come first. Can't argue with that, but I wish he hadn't teased the test if he's not gone finish it.
 
Obviously only the PAL-Version is a world camera (like Samuel already mentioned):

Actually reading it I think it looks like NTSC gives you 24p/30p/60p; and PAL gives you 25p/30p/50p/60p... Nearly "world"... but not quite!

OMG! How cack-handed is that!? Sony, you half-brained nitwits! Just give everyone everything. It's 2014 already! You're already pricing this above the competition, and that can do every frame rate you can imagine.

Personally I shoot 24p for the web and 25p for broadcast... So I need two cameras?! Gah!

Perhaps an attempt to stop Europeans buying cheaper US or far-east models..? Market protectionism... Petty, really petty!
 
Actually reading it I think it looks like NTSC gives you 24p/30p/60p; and PAL gives you 25p/30p/50p/60p... Nearly "world"... but not quite!

OMG! How cack-handed is that!? Sony, you half-brained nitwits! Just give everyone everything. It's 2014 already! You're already pricing this above the competition, and that can do every frame rate you can imagine.

Personally I shoot 24p for the web and 25p for broadcast... So I need two cameras?! Gah!
I agree, its SO STUPID. It seems that only Panasonic is a company that is a little bit more open minded. All those little things together: PAL/NTSC version, min. 3200 iso in slog etc. are making this camera less and less interesting...


Edit:
On the other hand, IQ, it's dynamic range, might be so good that it scared them. It might be better then fs700, so they are crippling it to protect it. That would be good, while annoying we can find workarounds for all of those little things.
 
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Hey Guys/Gals,

Can someone please explain how the Metabones Canon adapter actually works. I have never needed a Metabones adapter and have not used my L glass on other cameras bodies besides RED. I mostly shoot RED and Canon Cinema EOS. Never adapted Canon to Emount before. How exactly does it work? Can you change F stop internally with the camera body or is it a feature of the adapter itself? I believe the IS does have functionality as well. Would appreciate any insight or first hand experience info.

just adding about Metabones adapter.
if you wanna use a7S with your EF full sized glass for full size mode, you must get Metabones Smart Adapter ver.3 or newer, not ver.2 nor 1.

ver.1 is discontinued now but ver.2 is still available from everywhere and it's only work for APS-C crop mode even you use with beautifull EF L full size lens.
 
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