Fs100 or fs700

N

Nostalgic

Active member
For a while I hold off buying the FS 100.
I really wanted this camera very much but was turned off by the video look and some of the audio problems I heard here in this forum.
I never lost interest in this camera and still view new videos on Vimeo with a great improvement of great film looking videos.( not so much video looking).
At this point I dumped the idea of getting the 5D Mark iii instead, and I am absulutly sure that I want to go with the NEX FS line.
The problem that I am having now is which one.
In my heart and mind, I know it should be the FS100 but I want to hear from you guys if this is the right thing.
At this point my bread and butter is weddings. Even though my goal for 2012 was start the transition out of events to more documentary and corporate work (which this year was about 25% of my work) I am still shooting mostly weddings.
My most expensive camera was the sony fx1000 ($3200) so I am not sure how comfortable I am to spend over 8k for a camera at this point.
My question is.
Do I buy the fs700, future proof camera for future work or settle for the fs 100?
 
I've been a photographer forever and a video producer for 25 years and recently bought the FS700 from BandPro, my 13th camera or roughly, a new one every 2 years. In the beginning I bought the minimum level / lowest cost camera and sticks. Mid 90's someone told me to buy a Sachtler tripod and not worry about buying another one - I still have it today in great condition. At the same time, I started buying top level Sony or Panasonic cams and have never regretted it.

I would say, set your sights high and buy a little above what you think you need right now or what you think you can get by with for now and you'll never regret it.

The FS700 is without a doubt, the best performing camera I have ever owned.

Regards,
Scott
 
Thank you Scot and Allen for your replys.
@Allen
It is not about the cameras performance that I doubts. It is about do i really need to invest at this point in the fs 700 or should the fs100 be good enough for me for the next 2-3 years.
 
If you feel you can afford it, the FS700 is the one. The cinegammas, built in ND, and slo mo just make it really nice to work with. FS100 has none of those, though it's obviously a great camera. I know for the extra price, i ended up feeling like i really got everything i could want in a single camera. I'm guessing if i had the FS100, i'd constantly be thinking "darn it, wish i had the cinegammas. darn it, wish i had the slo-mo!"
 
Just wonder. if the owners of the FS1OO at that time could choose between the 2, how many of theme will get the 700?
 
Do you ever want to throw your camera down the stairs or go at it with a hammer?

No? then dont buy new camera, buy a holiday or something for your wife instead. Once I had lost a certain amount of shots on my 7d, I wanted to grind it into the dust.. why? no onboard sound hours of frustration in the edit, lost shots due to moiree, hdmi lead cutting the shot etc

I bought the FS100 because of my utter contempt for my 7d. The Fs100 cured the XLR issue .. I had a reason to buy it.

I dont get why people think about a new camera unless they have specific reasons to get rid of the one they have

Now once in a while technology changes, like a mobile phone that can collect e-mail, is a different thing to one that doesn not, at some point my 2003 Nokia had to go

So you are buying a camera to solve problems, or to embrace a new technology?

Outline your current issues you have, or the new tech that you want and the answer should be clear..

BTW weddings?.. get a 700 the onboard ND will save your ass

S
 
My primary camera at the moment is the canon 7d .I also have the Sony fx100 which I don't use that often. (Just put it for sale)
I was looking for something that will replaced both,
I hoped that the fx700\100 with the stock lens (auto focus) will replace the fx1000. and 24p and s35 will replace the 7D.
 
That may or may not work, I dont know the FX1000 but it looks like the EX1 (which I own) you have various issues using the FS series as a video camera

-the stock lens the manual focus has terrible fly by wire delay and the AF is centre point only - so neither can really be relied upon to gain you a sharp picture with a moving subject

The lens on the EX1 is far better .. because it actually works in manual mode and works in AF mode to, because the DOf is so deep the AF doesnt really have to do any work!

The second problem is that the ergonomics of the FS series is worse (for handheld) than an EX1style due to the monitor being further back and on top which makes handholding with an eyeline even more painful and unsteady than with an EX1 style body
You will probably have to budget for an EVF at least, you wont get focus check (zoom in) the EVF, and due to shooting S35 you will need to check focus a lot
If you want a good concept of focus you will want a 720 monitor and Vlock power to keep it running.. at that point the camera is so built as to be of a completely different mass and formfactor to a naked EX1

Of course focussing with S35 in manual requires a deep skillset too

I would have significant reservations in thinking that the FS series will work like an EX style camera due to the lack of quality of the kit lens and extra stresses placed on sustaining focus

You might consider the EX200 (or whatever the title is) the has been recently announced

The FS series are a fine replacement for the 7d in every way, the base iSO of the FS100 will require ND more often than with a 100ISO base DSLR, consider and budget for this, it is a major selling point for the FS700

S
 
Thank you Morgan for taking the time.
I have been using the canon 7d for over 2 years to shoot wedding so I am pretty good with focusing.
I have seen many wedding videos online that were shot with FS100 and it looks pretty good.
The only time I will use the camera on auto will be for the dancing part and ill keep the lens all the way wide or even use the e mount wide lens.
 
I own an FS100. When I saw the FS700 for the first time I was intrigued and felt a bit odd because it wasn't long after I got my FS100. It really depends on the equipment you have and what kind of shooting you do. I do believe the FS700 is a great camera, but I think I would rather buy 2 FS100s than 1 FS700, I think the FS100 still offers better price to performance value because it has such an amazing S35 sensor at such a rock bottom price.

Even with cameras like the Digital Bolex and Black Magic Cinema camera coming out at $3000, nothing can touch the FS100s S35 sensor for it's size or it's quality. There are now, and will be in the near future, cameras that compete with the FS700 with price and features.

I think it'll still be awhile before anyone else will bring a camera to market that has a sensor with the quality that the FS100 has at it's price or below.

So yeah, I would buy 2 FS100s and not look back.
 
I also do a lion's share of my work with wedding film production. I aslo was originally on the fence between the 100 and the 700. If money was no object, obviously the 700 would possibly be a better choice. However, from a practical/business standpoint, the 100 was better suited for me as I needed multiple cameras when I upgraded from my NX5Us.

The super slo mo capability of the 700 is great...however, once again from a practical standpoint, slo mo is an effect and over used...well you know the story.

Frank Glencairn's (Postmaster) G-Log Ultimate Picture Profile works superbly on the FS100...so much that I probably will keep it there for everything...


Just stick some great glass on the 100...and you'll be good to go... just my two cents...
 
A few days ago i pulled the trigger and order the FS100UK together with the Sony HXR-FMU128 , 64GB sd card and the metabone, almost 6K Total.
I was really exited about getting the camera and felt I did the best choice.
Then the announcement of the Canon EOS100 came out and made me wonder.
if the C100 will sell for 8k then I feel great with the FS100, but if it will end up for 5-6k then I am not sure anymore.
There is also side in me that says just take the FS100 and don't look back because there is no end to it.
 
I think most of the posts on this board concern the camera, or image quality, but do not address the business aspect of a camera purchase. Just something to think about... Will purchasing a camera that is $15K as opposed to $7K for example get you more wedding jobs? Not likely. Will you be able to charge your wedding clients more because you are shooting with a better camera? No, they don't really care what camera you own. The truth of the matter is, if you for example were to purchase a camera twice as expensive as you shoot with now, whether it's $7K, $10K, $15K, it just means it takes that much longer to turn a profit. And that's the bottom line. Cameras have such a limited lifespan now, 3 years at most, and more likely you will replace your camera every 2 years. As for me, I no longer purchase what I consider expensive cameras. I can't charge my clients more, the competition in my market is too tight. And technology is advancing so quickly, it doesn't make sense to spend a bundle on a camera I will be replacing in a year and a half. Maybe I'm just a tight ass, but I'm also a realist when it comes to business.

All the Best!

Dave
 
David W. Jones said:
I think most of the posts on this board concern the camera, or image quality, but do not address the business aspect of a camera purchase. Just something to think about... Will purchasing a camera that is $15K as opposed to $7K for example get you more wedding jobs? Not likely. Will you be able to charge your wedding clients more because you are shooting with a better camera? No, they don't really care what camera you own. The truth of the matter is, if you for example were to purchase a camera twice as expensive as you shoot with now, whether it's $7K, $10K, $15K, it just means it takes that much longer to turn a profit. And that's the bottom line. Cameras have such a limited lifespan now, 3 years at most, and more likely you will replace your camera every 2 years. As for me, I no longer purchase what I consider expensive cameras. I can't charge my clients more, the competition in my market is too tight. And technology is advancing so quickly, it doesn't make sense to spend a bundle on a camera I will be replacing in a year and a half. Maybe I'm just a tight ass, but I'm also a realist when it comes to business.
All the Best!

Dave
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+1
I agree with you 100%.
 
David W. Jones said:
I think most of the posts on this board concern the camera, or image quality, but do not address the business aspect of a camera purchase. Just something to think about... Will purchasing a camera that is $15K as opposed to $7K for example get you more wedding jobs? Not likely. Will you be able to charge your wedding clients more because you are shooting with a better camera? No, they don't really care what camera you own. The truth of the matter is, if you for example were to purchase a camera twice as expensive as you shoot with now, whether it's $7K, $10K, $15K, it just means it takes that much longer to turn a profit. And that's the bottom line. Cameras have such a limited lifespan now, 3 years at most, and more likely you will replace your camera every 2 years. As for me, I no longer purchase what I consider expensive cameras. I can't charge my clients more, the competition in my market is too tight. And technology is advancing so quickly, it doesn't make sense to spend a bundle on a camera I will be replacing in a year and a half. Maybe I'm just a tight ass, but I'm also a realist when it comes to business.

All the Best!

Dave
Click to expand...

Wise words.

That has become my mantra too but I spent a lot of cash in working it out though.

If you blew $30k on the C500 would you clients pay a premium for footage shot on that camera or would they not notice and go to the cheaper bloke with the FS100. Depends on your clients.

I was given some great advice once, clients decide what equipment you own so if you want better equipment get better clients.
 
Guess it really depends... My last expensive camera was the Red One. Clients thought they wanted it until they realized shooting 4K Redraw meant no full res realtime playback, long file conversion times to 1080, long color correction sessions, no same day edits, all on their dime. So I downgraded cameras to keep my clients happy. As a matter of fact with Red One MX prices so low, I took a client poll just last week to see if any would be interested in me shooting their projects on the Red One MX. All of them said NO!
 
I have been seeking the minimum camera to 'do the job' thats not to temp clients - its to not get sacked by them!

Lost shots on DSLRs made me plump for the FS100

S
 
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