Buying a used F3 vs a new (or even used) FS700?

I'm leaning toward getting a used FS100 for around 3k or less, and spending the rest of my money on lenses/accessories.

I'd do this with the hopes that I learn the FS100 and rent/buy an FS700 with not as high of a learning curve. Does this seem practical?
 
FS100 is a tricky beast. People pull their hair out because of the profiles. And no ND's either. Much different than the FS700 in terms of image quality. I still say for your budget, C100 is the best bet.
 
Why not consider a used AF100? It's a good video camera, and accepts any lenses. It has the same or better IQ as the FS100 and it has built in NDs. You can get low mileage used AF100s for as low as $2500. Since it adapts for almost any lens you can get started with some old Nikons. You'd soon be happier to have a video camera instead of rigging up a DSLR and you'd be learning on a proper video camera with XLRs into which you can record. It's the best bang for the buck around
 
SGCman said:
I'm leaning toward getting a used FS100 for around 3k or less, and spending the rest of my money on lenses/accessories.
I'd do this with the hopes that I learn the FS100 and rent/buy an FS700 with not as high of a learning curve. Does this seem practical?
Click to expand...
In many ways yes. The way the development is going good cameras become cheaper and cheaper. But the price of lenses and support gear stay pretty much the same. The cameras are fast becoming the cheapest piece of gear in your kit ;)
 
dmitrizigany said:
Can't understand why anyone would wanna use a dslr for filming if they have the option to use a proper video camera...
Click to expand...

Price and the quality it offers. True there are no XLR inputs but if you use a wireless mic or record sound with an external recorder it's a non-issue. I own the Sony F55 and still work on lots of gigs shooting with teams of DSLR shooters. It shoots amazing video and it took me 5 years to truly appreciate it.
 
starcentral said:
Honestly to get started save your money and for now just go for a DSLR and don't look back..
Click to expand...

In all honesty, it really depends on what you shoot. I am not a fan of dslr's personally after having a couple beginning with a GH1 and now my pocket camera is an NEX 7, I find them awkward for SOME of the shoots. They certainly have earned their place but if I were you I would rent a couple of cameras or cut a deal with some people in your area to assist on a shoots with different cameras and see what will work for the type of shooting you intend to do. I own an FS100, its a great camera for some things but as noted the profiles can drive you mad and ND is another issue but when its tweaked, the images are astounding. Glass is where its at and as we all can see from the 4K for $3k from BM things are changing. Personally I am about to add another camera to my kit because I am damn tired of having to lug around my FS100 and all the whistles and bells from Berkey and others when a simple one piece camcorder would do the trick. I am renting a PWX Z100 next week to see what it is like and probably a PMW 300 the following week.
 
I hear ya, I'm not a fan of fake video cameras either but know they can do the job. If I didn't know what camera to get I'd just start off with a smaller investment that will get the job done until a later time when I could upgrade or figure out what i want. No one said you had to make it a long term decision. We often get caught up in "what camera". But with today's choices it's so easy to do. Renting or making friends with cameras is smart move as well.
 
Last edited:
starcentral said:
AF100 is a great option too!
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've been looking at the AF100. I know someone selling an FS100 for $2,200 which seems to be about the same prices as an AF100.

The camera I really want is the FS700, how similar is the FS100 to the FS700 in terms of operational use (button placement, menu, etc)? If they're somewhat similar, I feel like it serves as a better way to learn the FS700 without actually owning one than an AF100 does.

As for DSLR, those aren't an option for me, I have 2 DSLRs and I'm not really a fan of them, though I never invested much into lenses for them.
 
Advantages of the FS700 over the FS100: Cine gammas (a big deal), ND, "4k ready," slow motion, better grip with support for a zoom rocker (mostly for the future), expanded focus easier to reach, SDI. What have I forgotten?

At one point, I was looking seriously at the AF100, and I found myself thinking about buying a series of M43 lenses. Then I woke up. Why would I want to do that? As it is, I have a few E-mount lenses for the FS700, and I have mixed feelings about that. But not too many. Put money into lenses that you believe will last you a lifetime.
 
With both cameras you'd ideally want to add an Odyssey 7Q, for everything with the FS700 and for 50-60fps 1080p from the F3. Personally I much prefer the way you can setup the F3 for shooting - never have to press the menu button for anything except switching the camera to 720p50 for recording slow-motion to my PIX240. That's a BIG deal so far as actually using a camera on set.

However the FS700+O7Q clearly wins the overall features game, and will be future-proof beyond the F3's 1080p resolution limit (though I'd still probably argue that most of today's 4k cameras will be obsolete by the time 4k actually reaches mass market penetration - but that's a whole other discussion), but it is a less gainly camera operationally.

However either camera will make more than adequately beautiful pictures, so it's not too painful a choice either way.
 
starcentral said:
My next purchase are CP.2's I don't really need. :P
Click to expand...

Nonsense Dennis. Soon as you get them you'll instantly wonder why you wasted so many years dicking around with dodgy witness marks and dinky focus with stills lenses. But don't worry, your satisfaction at being over that stage of your life will quickly overcome any real feelings of regret.
 
I use PL's on a semi-regular basis, what I meant more by my post is that many people place obstacles for themselves thinking if they don't have this or that they can't do anything "professional".

I personally have no issues shooing heavily blocked scenes or complete live events with DLR lenses.


Anyway has the poster decided on what they will get?
 
Jim Ritscher said:
At one point, I was looking seriously at the AF100, and I found myself thinking about buying a series of M43 lenses. Then I woke up. Why would I want to do that? As it is, I have a few E-mount lenses for the FS700, and I have mixed feelings about that. But not too many. Put money into lenses that you believe will last you a lifetime.
Click to expand...

There's no need to buy m4/3 lenses if you want to use an AF100 or an FS100 or FS700 for that matter. The great thing about these cameras is that they enable the use of any lenses that will cover using adapters. I have an AF100 but I am selling my m4/3 lenses to make my lenses useful on a great range of bodies.
 
Wow, fantastic! They referred to it as the PMW-FS700, so will this only be an option for the next model? ..........ha
 
It's not option for the next model, you just need RAW option on FS700 and the Odyssey firmware coming out later this month...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top