FS7: Blackmagic's New URSA Mini - Will We See a New Sony Soon?

Joshua Milligan

Joshua Milligan

Well-known member
Blackmagic announced their new URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2 today. It looks great. Obviously BM has notoriously been plagued with quality control issues and the overall ability to trust their cameras for professional work. That being said, they seemed to have ironed a lot of that out on the URSA Mini Pro which has been used on a lot of bigger projects recently. The new URSA Mini Pro G2, if it follows a similar path, should make for another great offer by the company.

I am in no way interested in getting one of these over my FS7II, however, it definitely begs the question of when we should see a new FS camera. I personally ran a FS7 for nearly three years and ended up grabbing a MKII last year to replace it. I really enjoy the camera as it ticks almost all of the boxes for me. I don't plan to get rid of my FS7II for a while, but I do think Sony's offerings are starting to get a little long in the tooth. The F55, F5, FS7 (I & II) and FS5 (I & II) are all great cameras, but now days competitors are offering higher frame rates, advanced autofocus, smaller bodies (well, some of them are smaller), better LCD screens (Canon for example) and affordable raw.

Do you think Sony is getting ready to replace at least one of these cameras in order to update their line, or do you think 2020 will be the year? Again, I don't plan to sell my FS7II anytime soon, but I'd just genuinely love to hear your thoughts.

https://www.newsshooter.com/2019/03...DuRd39oqO5PSHglCXKSKoSHNXKFHrppAo_CumAsHLcdAw
 
Joshua Milligan said:
... now days competitors are offering higher frame rates, advanced autofocus, smaller bodies (well, some of them are smaller), better LCD screens (Canon for example) and affordable raw.
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Are they? I certainly won't jump ship until BM starts to get a bit of a reputation for dependability. But I also haven't seen other competitors (with built-in ND's, XLR audio, etc) that have enticed me from my F7I - even on specs alone. That purchase, I bought my FS7 about 1 month after they starting shipping, has long paid for itself. But I'm also not the sort to buy a new camera every year...so maybe I've missed an announcement...

I would like to see another major FW update - say 5.0 before Sony starts adding more cameras. No idea if that will happen or if this year brings more camera's...might depend on how well Venice starts doing...
 
markfpv said:
Are they? I certainly won't jump ship until BM starts to get a bit of a reputation for dependability. But I also haven't seen other competitors (with built-in ND's, XLR audio, etc) that have enticed me from my F7I - even on specs alone. That purchase, I bought my FS7 about 1 month after they starting shipping, has long paid for itself. But I'm also not the sort to buy a new camera every year...so maybe I've missed an announcement...
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I'm like you in that I'm not the type of person to buy a new camera like this every year. My FS7 was long paid off before I picked up a FS7II and that camera is now paid off as well. The only cameras I've upgraded somewhat frequently have been the Sony mirrorless line and that's only because each version desperately needed the update. But even then, the version III mirrorless cameras are fantastic and won't need updating for quite some time.

I don't think Sony is behind necessarily, just that their cameras are at the point now where I could see a need for some refreshment. Not that I myself would get one anytime soon, but still.
 
I might be interested if BM were to put out an E-Mount late and my recent investments in glass could move with me. I might..... ;>)
 
I think to be prized away from the FS7 we need to be presented with an 'order of magnitude' improvement.

500FPS and amazing AF might do it.

At the moment you have
-BM no af
-C200 no HFR
-Eva - no AF

none really eat the FS7 as a jobbing camera.
 
morgan_moore said:
I think to be prized away from the FS7 we need to be presented with an 'order of magnitude' improvement.

500FPS and amazing AF might do it.

At the moment you have
-BM no af
-C200 no HFR
-Eva - no AF

none really eat the FS7 as a jobbing camera.
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no af except Canon is reliable for work.
all these cameras are jobbing cameras with different strengths and weaknesses.
It depends on your personal taste and preferences.
for me the Panasonic color science in scene files is priceless,
you might have a different perspective.
 
morgan_moore said:
I think to be prized away from the FS7 we need to be presented with an 'order of magnitude' improvement.

500FPS and amazing AF might do it.

At the moment you have
-BM no af
-C200 no HFR
-Eva - no AF

none really eat the FS7 as a jobbing camera.
Click to expand...

FS5 with a9 auto focus is what I am waiting for :(
 
Clermond said:
no af except Canon is reliable for work.
all these cameras are jobbing cameras with different strengths and weaknesses.
It depends on your personal taste and preferences.
for me the Panasonic color science in scene files is priceless,
you might have a different perspective.
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The perspective is as an FS7 owner considering cost of a trade up/out across vs income. (this is the FS7 board and we are discussing FS7 stuff it is not a general discussion)

None of the current bunch induce a desire to trade out of my reasonably functional system which I own and is paid for.
 
morgan_moore said:
The perspective is as an FS7 owner considering cost of a trade up/out across vs income. (this is the FS7 board and we are discussing FS7 stuff it is not a general discussion)
.
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wait.. I don't get that. You opened a Blackmagic thread in the FS7 board. But if I as a 3yrs FS7 owner say that EVA1 color science was a reason to switch you insist that ist a FS7 board? c'mon. There may be no desire for you to trade out the FS7 but I can tell you I didn't regret it a single day.
 
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NorBro said:
In cinema cameras.

Almost everyone else has caught up with them with AF in the mirrorless world.
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yes. In cinema cameras. What else are we talking about?

I can't imagine that AF it will happen in cinema lenses with these heavy glass elements.
If you look at stills cameras there is nothing comparable in medium format to AF in DSLR/SLR
these cameras have just one to maximum five AF points. And it's stills which is way easier for AF
than moving objects in film.
 
Clermond said:
wait.. I don't get that. You opened a Blackmagic thread in the FS7 board. But if I as a 3yrs FS7 owner say that EVA1 color science was a reason to switch you insist that ist a FS7 board? c'mon. There may be no desire for you to trade out the FS7 but I can tell you I didn't regret it a single day.
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Well I dint know you found it worth switching.. that is interesting and relevant :)

Got any tests?
 
Newsguy said:
I’d be interested as well. I personally think the LT is the more logical move as it’s ergonomics are more akin to the FS7.
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that's a totally different story in terms of size and weight and also in term of budget. My dealer offered a LT demo recently for 9,900€ net and I was very tempted. I didn't do it as don't have clients for that and it's too big and heavy for what I do. The weight is a downside of the URSA mini Pro also (in addition to doubts of reliability)
 
morgan_moore said:
I think to be prized away from the FS7 we need to be presented with an 'order of magnitude' improvement.

500FPS and amazing AF might do it.

At the moment you have
-BM no af
-C200 no HFR
-Eva - no AF

none really eat the FS7 as a jobbing camera.
Click to expand...

Yes - I totally agree with Sam's assessment here too. I haven't seen anything with that "order of magnitude" improvement - that has tempted me to move away from my Fs7. Did the EVA and now BM maybe catch up to it? Perhaps... But even with paper specs there are still compromises with every camera. I am holding on to my cash for a camera that improves upon feature set while also making it easier for me to shoot with. Not saying it's not already out there - just saying I haven't been tempted much.
The color science argument rings a bit hollow to me... any of those camera's produce lovely images in capable hands. Is Panny, Canon or BM cs "better" than Sony? I say they are different & better is always subjective and an endless argument.
 
In terms of 'order of magnitude' .. my FS100 had no ND.. so the FS7 was an order of magnitude better!

Ive only really bought new cameras because the one I owned was critically crippled

5d - 30p only HDMI problems - audio problems
7d - soft as turd - hdmi problems - audio problems
FS100 - no ND - good HDMI
FS7 ND, SDI, XLR, 10bit bla.. - while it has its challenges it is not 'critically crippled'

EX1 - I hate 8bit and 28mm eFOV
CX350 has that one in its sights (after 11 years!)

On that basis the FS7 might have another 7 years or so in it!
 
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