FS7: B-camera: need your expert advise :)

[moldcad]

Sam - definitely roll time, max media size and overheating are factors that I must consider in my planned usage scenario. This is why I assumed my FS7 would be doing the wide locked-off job, as it can roll (even unattended) for a time long enough to cover an average concert in its entirety. Those additional shots with a small B-cam would not need to be continuous, so cooling down and/or battery change would certainly be possible...

Yes I'd certainly miss 10-bit Slog, but even in 8 bits I hope it would intercut easier with my FS7 than anything else. That said, if the BMC4K from your link was coming with EF mount (just sent an inquiry about it) - who knows... If I didn't have the Resolve Studio dongle already, it would win hands down!

Piotr

 

[Clermond]

it always depends what you focus on. I use the a6300 as B-Cam and it is easy to match with a FS7
The a6300 is versatile. I use it with a suction cup, on a beholder ms1 and had it already attached to a hexacopter
So my focus is on lightweight, easy to match at a low budget. I don't need 10bit output at a B-cam
I never had issues with overheating as I do not record for more than 15mins on one take (the a6500 is improved)
I do no pans, but rolling shutter is an issue. I heard it's an issue on the A7s series too.

As a single shooter I would not choose a BMD cam.
They need a lot of accessories (power, viewfinder) and they are poor at low light.

it depends on your focus and on your budget.

FS7 / a6300 match. YMMV

 

[morgan_moore]

As a single shooter I would not choose a BMD cam.
They need a lot of accessories (power, viewfinder) and they are poor at low light.

I think the rep for lowlight is not fair.. but Im from the 400-800 era (!) paired with a 50 1.4 I would suggest it is basically good anywhere there is a pool of light.

A bmc does not need a viewfinder any more than a sony mirror cam.. the screen on the back is fine on sticks in a music concert

The bmc has 12v power in and will work for long time on any 12v battery on a plate including BPU that runs the FS7, meaning the need to only stock one battery type, the internal battery keeps the thing going if you need to swap batts during a take - most excellent. Of course it is simple to power from the mains too.

Sony mirror cams have badly place silly little batteries, with sketchy life, on an odd voltage that you often cant get at without pulling the cam off a tripod/rig - Im guess dummy batts exist though.

FWIW Ive been in on the shooting of 2 features with BMC and none of the cameras ever had any functionality issues.

 

[moldcad]

What voltage can the A6500 dummy battery be powered with - does anyone know?

While seeing how the BMPC4K is more of a professional video tool, I can't hide the appeal of a Sony also as a stills camera...

Piotr

 

[Wes.]

What voltage can the A6500 dummy battery be powered with - does anyone know?

While seeing how the BMPC4K is more of a professional video tool, I can't hide the appeal of a Sony also as a stills camera...

Piotr

Not positive but most dummy batteries do have a voltage regulator, I use one on my A7s so I can power the camera from my DJI Ronin-M.


Subsequently, to add to the original question. I use the original A7s as a b-cam for my fs7. It sits on sticks for a second angle of an interview, or lives on the ronin staying built so if I want to switch to stabilizer I can just put down the fs7 and pick up the a7s.

I'm open to suggestions about matching the two better, I like cine4 on the a7s and if i'm going for the what you see is what you get on the fs7 I usually do HG7 from an abelcine look profile back when the fs7 first came out.

 

[Clermond]

What voltage can the A6500 dummy battery be powered with - does anyone know?

While seeing how the BMPC4K is more of a professional video tool, I can't hide the appeal of a Sony also as a stills camera...

Piotr

either with a dummy (have to google by myself) or you can use a 5V usb battery and power it via usb cable

 

[Ben Scott]

I used to run my A7 off a mobile phone battery pack without any issues.

 

[moldcad]

Some details, perhaps? Would appreciate it

Piotr

 

[Ben Scott]

It has a USB port for charging so you can charge the battery while it is being used, or a £20 dummy battery off ebay can connect to it.

 

[broughtonfilm]

Another FS7 matches the main one 99% of the time

I'm in the same boat as Piotr. I keep telling myself that A6500 is the logical choice (because of E-mount, similar sensor size, Slog and file format) but then I see this and start scratching my head, especially that it is less than half of what A6500 costs: https://vimeo.com/176661709 and this: https://vimeo.com/168318112

 

[Clermond]

It has a USB port for charging so you can charge the battery while it is being used, or a £20 dummy battery off ebay can connect to it.

it was all in the video I searched and linked for him. I will stay out of his threads in future.

 

[Clermond]

... but then I see this and start scratching my head, especially that it is less than half of what A6500 costs: https://vimeo.com/176661709 and this: https://vimeo.com/168318112

well, based on this "test" I buying a FS7 would not be justified

 

[moldcad]

it was all in the video I searched and linked for him. I will stay out of his threads in future.

I'm very grateful for the video you linked for me, but does it mean I cannot ask a person who actually owned an A7sII about powering details?

Piotr

 

[moldcad]

Another FS7 matches the main one 99% of the time

I'm in the same boat as Piotr. I keep telling myself that A6500 is the logical choice (because of E-mount, similar sensor size, Slog and file format) but then I see this and start scratching my head, especially that it is less than half of what A6500 costs: https://vimeo.com/176661709 and this: https://vimeo.com/168318112

Yeah, one might really get a real headache trying to decide... This is even cheaper, and a Speed Booster for my Canon exists... At first sight, the only disadvantages vs. A6500/A7sII being not phase-detect focusing and slightly worse low-light performance. Anything else that I'm missing? Of course, how the picture would intercut with FS7 is another matter - but I'm suspicious that even though at paper the Sony little cams have the same S-log/S-gamut capabilities as the FS7, real-life color matching could be as difficult (or easy) as with another camera, like this little Panasonic or the BMPC4K - I wouldn't know before trying!

Piotr

 

[jpham]

I'm surprise no one mention Sony FS700R + Odyssey 7Q+ for B-camera.

 

[broughtonfilm]

Yeah, one might really get a real headache trying to decide... This is even cheaper, and a Speed Booster for my Canon exists... At first sight, the only disadvantages vs. A6500/A7sII being not phase-detect focusing. Anything else that I'm missing? Of course, how the picture would intercut with FS7 is another matter - but I'm suspicious that even though at paper the Sony little cams have the same S-log/S-gamut capabilities as the FS7, real-life color matching could be as difficult (or easy) as with another camera, like this little Panasonic or the BMPC4K - I wouldn't know before trying!

Piotr

I played with both the GX85 and A6500 at B&H store the other day. They are very similar in size, GX85 feels slightly heavier. EVF is much much better on A6500. It may be a matter of settings tweaking but the image stabilization was more convincing on the GX85, pretty fantastic at that. GX85 has no OLPF, don't know what it means in reality as far as aliasing and moire goes.

GX85 does not have a mic input, not a deal breaker for me because I'd never use it anyway but it will disqualify it for many. I think the biggest thing is compatibility with other brands' lenses. I haven't researched it extensively but it seems that there are more adapter options for the E-mount. I may be wrong.

 

[moldcad]

I'm surprise no one mention Sony FS700R + Odyssey 7Q+ for B-camera.

Thanks, but the assumption has been cheap, small and simple camera for a physically disabled person

Piotr

 

[moldcad]

Another thing for me to decide is whether to plan rigging the small B-cam up, or assume using it "saute" (with just the necessary add-ons, power first of all). Of course one usually makes such decisions after the initial period of actually using a new camera, but I'm trying to sell some stuff left from my EX1/FS100 period (like the Redrockmicro shoulder mount, Zacuto EVF Z-Finder Pro, PAG light & brick batteries, etc.). I have them listed on a local auction service, and it's possible someone buys one of those items any day - hence a question to those who were/are using one of those cams (mainly the A6300, as I will probably be buying the A6500 after all): could you please post some pictures of your rigs, if you used any? As to powering up this thing, I guess I'll try to find a regulated voltage dummy battery so that I'm not limited to a power source of 7-9V.

Do you think using such a small camera with the Zacuto EVF Z-Finder Pro is a good idea? TIA

Piotr

 

[allenfacemire]

Yes the Mk IV

No log output
No 4k output
Cropped 4k mode
No focus peaking
No focus magnification while recording
High frame rates at 720p only


Great stills and timelapse camera. Not a great video camera.

Totally concur here. That's why I initially bought a Nikon D800 and then moved on to the A7s. Still no log output but it pretty much does all the aforementioned.
That said, if you pair it with an Odyssey, then you are cooking with gas. Match CODEX and TC. I have a battery eliminator for the A7s so the camera and Nano Flash all run off a single Anton style battery. I take the HDMI out of the camera into the Nano and than SDI out of the Nano to the 7Q. For me and my purposes-- it's a panacea!

 

[deltoidjohn]

I'm surprise no one mention Sony FS700R + Odyssey 7Q+ for B-camera.

That's because that combo would actually become the A-camera and relegate the FS7 to B-camera duties!