Does anyone use the Sony NEX FS100

N

Nostalgic

Active member
I post the same question in a another forum but did not get any reply.

Most of my work is wedding and currently using the 7D for that.
I love the footage from the 7D but the lack of focus assist , x4,x8 while recording and a good audio bring some limitations to my work.
If there is anyone here that use the fs100 for weddingS then I would love to hear how they like it compare to a DSLR.
 
Most of the people here use the FS100. I don't do weddings but think the fs100 would probably work just fine in that environment. (actually it would probably work much better)
 
I do conferences and exhibitions, which are sort of like weddings. TBH, there's no contest in my view - the FS100 wins for sheer usability, long records, long battery life, on-board audio, better noise (or lack thereof).

The low detail creamy/dreamy look of a DSLR, the non-threatening stance, its ability to go where most video cameras cannot go, is fine. It has a look some (not all) clients love and pay for.

There's part of me that thinks I'd trust an EX1R on a wedding more than the FS100 (ability to A-B roll the cards, good fixed lens with awesome reach, native format that's quick to edit and easy to live with at 35mbits, twisty screen that you can view holding the camera overhead). If you're being paid to deliver high quality results under duress and time pressures, the EX1R is still a great, great camera that may lack sex appeal but deilvers great looking images.

DSLRs? Great for stills on weddings. How are you going to do the speeches with 'about' 12 minutes? How many batteries are you going to have to fiddle with that give out really quickly? How are you going to pull focus? Slomo is all the rage, want to rely on Twixtor for everything?

Sorry, long day (shooting on my EX1, though I took my FS100). Love my DSLR, but it's a welcome guest on most jobs, and there's only a few when it's the go-to choice (like filming interviews in Lebanon and Cairo earlier this year).
 
Nostalgic said:
If there is anyone here that use the fs100 for weddingS then I would love to hear how they like it compare to a DSLR.
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I don´t do weddings (I actually hate them), but I´m the only DP in the family and my brother in law twisted my arm, so I did his.
Here you can see what you can get out of a FS100 on a wedding (or similar event)
All shouldermount/handheld with full manual Samyang 35mm and 85mm primes.

Frank

 
I am not new to the wedding filming (WWW.NostalgicFrames.COM), I actually used to shoot weddings with the sonY FX1000 until the 7D was introduced.
What I Dont Like about the 7D is that I have to get out of record every time i need a reassurance that I am in focus. Even with the VF zacuto I still don't get the reassurance. I really hope that with the FS 100 with the focus assist and the x4 and x8 will give me the reassurance of focusing.
Can anyone express there experience with focusing while shooting weddings (especially when walking down the isle)
 
I'm only talking from personal experience here and not in relation to the wedding's, but with the expanded focus, x8 to me, was vritually useless, it was really hard to judge any sort of focus off it at all, x4 was really good and I could make an accurate focus with that.
 
LiamR said:
I'm only talking from personal experience here and not in relation to the wedding's, but with the expanded focus, x8 to me, was vritually useless, it was really hard to judge any sort of focus off it at all, x4 was really good and I could make an accurate focus with that.
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I also find the X8 useless, very little difference in sharpness from out of focus and in focus and no peaking indication.

X4 is fine and peaking works in this mode (could be stronger) for extra confidence.
 
I don´t do weddings (I actually hate them)
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I am a recovering weddingographer. Having tons of wedding DSLR experience in recent years, I *guess* the FS100 would be a good camera, depending on what you are looking to achieve. (i tried clicking on your website but wasn't able to watch any videos….I'm doing 5 things at once on my computer, though)

Strong points for on-board audio, auto focus on the kit lens, great slo-mo, and long battery life. BTW, I have to babysit that "autofocus", sometimes I find it focusing on the wall behind the subject…it's not perfect at least for me it hasn't been stellar. but yeah, with the firmware upgrade, you do have that expanded focus if thats your thing. And yes, you can use it while shooting. I might recommend an EVF for run & gun type shooting if you really want to nail your focus.

As for "the look", if you work with the camera, I'm sure you can come up with some nice profile settings. The Canon DSLRs seem to produce excellent results right out of the box (IMO), you might have to get accustomed with the FS100 to make it shine. Its definitely a work in progress for me. But fun.

Given the choices of form-factor DSLR-type cameras, I would say the FS100 is the best bang for the buck. BUT, I would see about demoing one before you purchase.

How are you going to do the speeches with 'about' 12 minutes?
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Oh God, they just keep getting longer and longer….it's a strong reason why I had to cut & run.
 
I do weddings quite often, but I use a sony Z5. I would say the fs100 would be good enough with the kit lens as your main lens, and a few primes for beauty shoots. But you will need an evf and shoulder mount and I would recommend either getting a high capacity memory card or the hard drive unit. I am also not sure but i heard that you could record footage directly from the fs100 to a usb hard drive?
 
Hanad said:
... I would recommend either getting a high capacity memory card or the hard drive unit.
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Bad idea, if it acts up you don't loose 30 minutes, but the whole wedding. Your customers will be not amused.
I use only 8 GB cards on the FS100, since changing them takes just a few seconds.
Never understood the obsession with large media - it´s a risk.

Frank
 
Postmaster said:
Bad idea, if it acts up you don't loose 30 minutes, but the whole wedding. Your customers will be not amused.
I use only 8 GB cards on the FS100, since changing them takes just a few seconds.
Never understood the obsession with large media - it´s a risk.

Frank
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Ohh right I didn't think of it that way, I just thought of it because of convenience wise and if you miss something. I think the 8gb card records 35 min footage. Would you recommend using 16gb cards instead? so you can record 70 min almost like tape..
 
I don't see the reason to get all crazy with external storage for a wedding.

I use 16gb cards…..about 87 minutes or thereabout. Bring a bunch of those to the job & you're set.
 
@Deepfocus88
I am not sure why you were not able to open my website but this is my Vimeo Hub https://vimeo.com/nf/videos

I am not planing on any shoulder rig, I much rather use a mono pod just like with 7D (I know I will need to figure out something for the Canon 70-200)
As well, I much rather not use any EVF if I don't have to. (I really hoped that the monitor with the VF will do a good job)
I will probably get the stock lens but want use it but to the dancing part of the reception.
Let me tell you my limitations with the 7D during a wedding shoot and please let me know if that could be solved with the FS100

pulling focus (Without stock lens) while bride going down the isle------- how good is the focus assist and the x4 to pull focus in this situation?
The same is for the toast part when it is very dark and I am about f1.8 and the person who give the speech move from one side to another--- focus assist will help?
How fast can you make adjustment to ISO and shutter speed?
Can the focus point be adjusted (Right -left/up-down)?
Sorry for all the questions and thank you very much for all for taking the time.
 
Hanad said:
/

Ohh right I didn't think of it that way, I just thought of it because of convenience wise and if you miss something. I think the 8gb card records 35 min footage. Would you recommend using 16gb cards instead? so you can record 70 min almost like tape..
Click to expand...

I usually fill my cards up to about 30 minutes before I swap them.
On a narrative set or while shooting commercials after every scene.
Maybe I´m a bit paranoid here, but after getting burned badly once, by a deflective card, I'm better save than sorry.
And really, how much are you gonna miss while swapping cards, that takes - what?- 10 seconds?

Convenience should not be an issue at all, for any halfway decent pro.

Frank
 
Goodram used to make very good SDHC card 16GB class 10 (SLC) . Two years ago I paid 30eur .At now they are much cheaper but it is not the same like used to be . All cards are MLC at now . Is anyone know which company(brand ) still making SDHC card ( SLC ) ?????
 
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