FS5: Best sub $2K DSLR B Camera to go with Sony FS5

JimmyMcV

JimmyMcV

Member
I'm looking to get an A video camera and a B DSLR that hopefully won't be HELL to match.

If Sony FS5 were my A cam, what would be a good DSLR companion for $2k or less?

The new A7s ii is probably too expensive.


Note: My other option was to get a C100 Mk ii and buy a Canon 6D or 70D. What do you think? Might the 6D also be a good companion to the FS5 too? I know the 6D is a full frame... but maybe that'd be good to have a full frame option.
 
I think any of the canon's you listed are fine. Are you specifically looking for full frame?

What's wrong with old 7D (not mark II) ? Cheap and with the money you save you can buy lenses or other bits.
 
Funny you mention the 7D. Why not the mark ii? I was just looking at the specs! It's pretty cheap.

I have a bunch of canon lenses already, so that's a factor.

I lean towards full frame just because my shooting partner prefers it (since he'll be using it), but maybe I can convince him that APS-C frame is ok.
 
just price that's all.

I have a 7D I use for stills, I love it and it holds up to my needs and my clients. I don't shoot video on it, but tried it once for a few tests and was incredibly impressed. I think the bodies are like $500 these days.

Being honest though, i would try to stick with the same manufacture of camera. If you get 2 canon's you'll have less issues matching them and vice versa. Sony has picky color science, but if you take the time sure you can match them.
 
Make sure to buy a ton of 3rd party batteries too, but really it's the obvious choice. Just sold mine to make way for a new toy but it was phenomenal.
 
If you don't need 4K, why not a Sony a6000?
I just got one yesrerday for stills, but realized the latest firmware even added Xavc-s.
Its not as good as an A7, but it cost almost nothing
 
Yoak said:
If you don't need 4K, why not a Sony a6000?
I just got one yesrerday for stills, but realized the latest firmware even added Xavc-s.
Its not as good as an A7, but it cost almost nothing
Click to expand...

same here. I was tired getting all my Canon stuff packed just in case a client asks for an additional still photo and so I bought the a6000. I found a lot of cons for A7sII (price, 12MP stills only) / A7RII (price, no sLOG3) and FS5 (too expensive for rare video only use) I used the a6000 as a B-Cam and was surprised how great it behaved even it does not look like a professional video camera. Switch face detection off for video as it softens skin in an ugly way. I found picture style standard -3 -3 -3 as a good starting point. a6000 and the SEL 35/1.8 is a great match.
 
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That was my thoughts about the mk ii's as well. The price hike was just too steep for me at the moment, and I hate the place of the release button on the mk i.
 
Another vote for the FS5 + 2ndhand A7s mk1 combo! It sounds excellent.
Sony A6000 is another great option which is even much cheaper! Especially good now it has the XAVCS update (it didn't have it back when I bought my A5100, which is why I went for an A5100 over an A6000)
http://www.eoshd.com/2014/04/surprise-sony-alpha-a6000-video-mode-huge-improvement/

Downside is the A6000 lacks s-log 2, which will make them trickier to match them via that way.

If you don't care about increased size, then a secondhand Sony PMW-F3 (about US$2k) is impossible to overlook as an even better option than a Sony A7s mk1. (I'm shooting with an F3 myself)
 
You cannot do fancy things or heavy gradings with the a6000 but it behaves way better than I expected. As I wrote before I went for it because of shooting still and because of the EVF I choose it over the XAVC-S a5100. I never thought that Sony added such a value by a firmware upgrade. For me it hits the sweet spot: light, cheap, great stills also. If I had to rely on the second camera I would go for a A7. Which one depends on the bugdet. But as a nice to have B-Roll footage or a second angle interview the a6000 does a great job for me as a solo shooter. As a main camera it has the big issue of missing audio in and headphone out.
 
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