Doug Jensen
Carbonite Member
I currently own, or have owned, the following Sony cameras: Z1U, EX1, EX1R, EX3, FS100, Z7U, HC1, F350, F800, F3, PMW-200, and F55.
Never had any visible dead pixels on any of them.
F55: Any signs of a f55 price drop
- Thread starter ryaninoz
- Start date
I currently own, or have owned, the following Sony cameras: Z1U, EX1, EX1R, EX3, FS100, Z7U, HC1, F350, F800, F3, PMW-200, and F55.
Never had any visible dead pixels on any of them.
Nate Weaver
Veteran
All the 55s I've seen in prep bays have had R5s on them.
I'm only talking about my 2-3-4 times I've seen them being prepped in bays at SIM and Abel. Not a very scientific sample.
HD Gear Guru
Well-known member
It is true. 4k is being dictated. More so by up and coming streaming networks rather than traditional networks - so far. Sony Picture Television is also pretty much making it a requirement for the shows they produce. It is very similar to what happened over 15 years ago when digital HD was just in its infancy. The smart networks were shooting film and transferring to HD for their online and archiving. This was well before there was a broadcast standard for HD let alone a way to acquire 24p HD. Those who adopted it, wanted to have something that would give them an archive and some what "future proof" product. Most of those requiring 4K are receiving it as F55 or Red raw.
Costs of archiving and managing the footage continue to decrease and will continue to decrease in the foreseeable future. So it's not too far fetched to go the route of F55 or Red 4k raw.
JMtheDP
Veteran
I have seen this with several case studies on the F55 - they wanted ALEXA, because they know it, because it's ARRI, etc etc.... but then suit said "we need 4K" and the ALEXA was out.
For that reason, I didn't buy an ALEXA. I couldn't see any advantage from my end. The AMIRA is even worse - I don't fancy paying $10,000 in "licences" to use my camera's full capabilties. I don't believe for a second that's how much Apple charge for ProRes codecs - otherwise a BlackMagic 4K would cost the same as an F5. The only time I remember Sony doing something similar was with the F3's S-Log, and even that they did a bit of a u-turn on.
For that reason, I didn't buy an ALEXA. I couldn't see any advantage from my end. The AMIRA is even worse - I don't fancy paying $10,000 in "licences" to use my camera's full capabilties. I don't believe for a second that's how much Apple charge for ProRes codecs - otherwise a BlackMagic 4K would cost the same as an F5. The only time I remember Sony doing something similar was with the F3's S-Log, and even that they did a bit of a u-turn on.
It may be that it's because RAW is needed as much as 4K itself. Either way, 4K RAW will produce a very good 1080 with a lot of flexibility....
As far as the future goes, then maybe more than ever in camera history it's difficult to see substantial ways the F55 can be improved on. There will be newer models, I'm sure, but whereas in the past you've been able to look at a camera and go "if only...", that's more difficult here. That's even more true with it's adaptability for live 4K usage, sending the RAW down a cable to an OB truck as during the World Cup matches.
In terms of the future, then for pricing etc I'd expect a lot to be determined by the competition - but Canon don't seem to be in a hurry to bring on anything new, and at twice the price, for something not as good, the new Varicam is hardly likely to make much dent in F55 sales when it finally ships. Maybe a 4K camera from Arri could see a change in the market?
Run&Gun
Veteran
That's how I feel. And I own three(1x tape, 2x P2). I expressed my concerns over what I feel are short comings of the planned HD & 4K versions to a rep and engineer(supposedly one of the head engineers of the new camera). I think they fell on deaf ears. I'm just one unknown photographer, but I've also been using the Vari day in and day out for the last eight years. I have a pretty good idea what they should be giving "us".
I think the 5/55 is the most versatile camera on the market, today. And I can see the price going up, unfortunately...
F55 is quite young but price could be competitive..
F55 is quite young but price could be competitive..
Agree with starcentra as Sony professional camcorders prices are topically take little more time to decrease as compare to others but beside that there is also a possibility that some suppliers are selling in very competitive prices.
www.unitedbroadcast.com
F55 is quite young but price could be competitive..
Agree with starcentra as Sony professional camcorders prices are topically take little more time to decrease as compare to others but beside that there is also a possibility that some suppliers are selling in very competitive prices.
www.unitedbroadcast.com
Hey, what deal? What I am missing?
Prices staying high is not that bad thing as it may seems at first glance. For new buyers it's of course bad but for owners it's actually a really good thing. Your items keep it's value longer which means it's safer investment.
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Don't get me wrong, I think the s35 varicam will be a good camera in it's own right - but in terms of rolling shutter (versus global of the F55), and only uncompressed RAW (to take just two factors) the F55 must be seen as better. The problem is the price, as announced at NAB - far, far more than an F55. Who on earth will pay a lot more for a product that isn't as good?
You may call yourself "just one unknown photographer" but you voice the same as is felt by a very large number of people, and I'm sure it was far from the first time concerns such as yours have been voiced to the rep. The question is, what happens next? The only way I see the Varicam making any sort of sales at all is roughly a halving or more of it's price - maybe we'll see that announcement at IBC? But if that means a loss on every unit sold, how long can that go on for?