FS7: FS7 Kit Purchase reccomendations

emretufekci

emretufekci

Well-known member
Hi everyone,

I am putting an FS7 kit together and wanted to get feedback from everybody for recommendations for accessories, add-ons...etc:

Things like rail systems, mattebox, follow focus, on board mics, cheese plates, bags, hard cases, monitors......... Anything you can think of.

No limit on the budget.

Thanks to all in advance.
 
He probably means "no limit" in the sense that since the FS7 is only $8k, you've got plenty of headroom before you reach the $16k price tag of a C300mkII (which will still need rails, matte box, follow focus, etc). You could buy high end stuff (Bright Tangerine matte box, follow focus, a nice VCT baseplate with rails, etc). and still be thousands less than a C300mkII body. If you consider the cost of an Amira or Epic... the $30-40k price difference means you could buy some of the best support gear, mics, cases, Gratical EVF, external monitors, wireless follow focus, wireless video transmitter... and still be cheaper than an Amira body.

Hell, you can buy Sony's PL primes for about $9k? You could have a heck of a kit for cheaper than an Amira body. (Don't get me wrong, the FS7 is nowhere as nice as the Amira... but that's a lot of monetary headroom for support gear between an FS7 and Amira)
 
I would still rank FS7 above C300II since I see some pretty big limitations there-- mainly in the 4K area. But, having said that, the question is best answered when knowing exactly what the OP wants to do.

If you give us some specifics, there will be no shortage of opinions ;)

Ned Soltz
 
Thanks for the feedback guys, let me clarify why FS7:

I already have an Alexa, 2 Amira's, Varicams...etc I am looking to add a FS7 because we have clientele that is specifically asking for it. We are going to invest in a reliable support package rail systems, mattebox, follow focus, on board mics, cheese plates, bags, hard cases, monitors) to use it for many years.

I was looking get input from users who may have opinions about this product vs. this when it comes accessories it.
 
View attachment 103699

This is my rig and something I think works for most shoots. Add a follow focus and monitor when needed.

I would consider these things at first:

128GB XQD cards
BP-U60 batteries
Top plate of some sort. I have a Berkey top plate which is great and a top handle from Berkey.
I use a Denz base plate with rod support which is small and frankly nothing larger is needed.

The there are so many things like microphones, headphones, lens adapters, lenses, FF, matteboxes and the like that do fit many cameras so I would get something compatible with as many cameras as possible.
 
I use the Shape arm replacement for the Sony arm and am very pleased.

The Arri baseplate seems very sturdy. I have the Chrosziel but am not happy with placement of its shoulder pad. If you don't care about the shoulder pad, Chrosziel should also be a baseplate consideration.

I also have an very much like the Sony UWP-16 wireless system with the SMAD-P3 MI shoe adapter. Power the receiver from the camera and transfer audio directly without cable.

Since you indicate you have Amira and Varicam, I presume you have PL glass. The 16x9, Wooden Camera and Hotrod camera E to PL adapters are all well built.

While I don't own one, I've been impressed with the Orca bags. I carry my FS7 in either a Petrol Dr Bag or a Pelican case.

I'll add things to the list as I think of them

Ned Soltz
 
nsoltz said:
I use the Shape arm replacement for the Sony arm and am very pleased.
Click to expand...

Much of my work involves air travel so I try to keep the FS7 package to a minimum. And though it adds bulk, & weight, I wouldn't want to be without Shape's arm.

A common complaint with the stock finder is it's support. Loosen the single lever on the 90* rod clamp & the EVF flops out of level. A simple solution is to swap the clamp for one that has two independent levers. Since it was available for next day shipping via Amazon Prime I got SmallRig's version, & while not as robust as Zacuto's, works totally fine, & weighs less.

http://store.zacuto.com/z-mount-2/

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C4PLQVQ

Also recommend Swit's Dual Charger (S-3602U) over Sony's single slot. Because the Swit's DC power cable is removable it takes up about the same amount of room in the case as Sony's stock FS7 charger.

http://www.swit.us/sdvbachafors.html

Consider batteries by Swit, or Hawk-Woods. I have the Swit's with a USB port, & a P-Tap, but you'd need a special cable to access either when their mounted onto the FS7. Swit's come out with a larger battery that due to it's length likely places these ports outside the FS7's body. And Hawk Woods just released a new battery that no longer requires a DC cable & has two P-Taps that face the back of the camera, so easily accessible, but I don't know if they're chipped for the FS7, or not.

I really like Denz's diminutive baseplate/Matte Box support that Osslund recommends, but haven't been able to find it in the USA, so need a special order. Vocas, & Shape, have similar options, but they're both bigger, & Shape's has rosettes on both sides.

http://www.denz-deniz.com/premium-products/baseplate-pxw-fs7/

http://www.vocas.com/accessories/mbs-100-type-n-mattebox-support

http://www.shapewlb.com/en/product/.../sony-fs7/sony-fs7-lightweight-plate_585.aspx

Wooden Camera offers a PL Mount that attaches to either one of their Top Plates instead of a rod support, & I'll likely pick up a set soon. The Top Plate on their site requires removing the OEM Top Handle, but they've just released a new one that doesn't.
 
May I humbly suggest an Odyssey7Q+ as an onboard monitor and recorder. You mentioned a monitor so why not get one that can also double as a recorder, and there is none more integrated with the FS7 than the Odyssey7Q+. It can record HD60p from the SDI outputs or 4K24p & UHD30p from the HDMI output. If you add the XDCA-FS7 to the camera, that unit can output RAW data from the FS7 so that the Odyssey could record RAW up to 4K60p and 2K240p. Note that this is faster than the top speed of the camera's internal video recording, which is limited to HD180p. The XDCA-FS7 Extension Unit is also useful for audio connection and timecode in/out, so when hiring out on pro-level jobs as your kitting would seem to indicate I would think these would be indispensable. The XDCA-FS7 also balances the camera better on the shoulder and allows it to run off of standard V-mount bricks (or Anton Bauer with an adapter).

Back to the Odyssey7Q+, soon it will also be able to take the RAW files and turn them into Apple ProRes at all frame rates and resolutions. It can alreadydo this in 4K/UHD up to 30p and 2K/HD up to 60p. Those will soon go up to 60p & 240p, respectively. Many clients prefer to work in Apple ProRes rather than the FS7's internal XAVC. Odyssey SSDs and particularly the compatible Samsung SSDs are dramatically less expensive and have a far greater run time capacity than Sony XQD cards.

And the Odyssey7Q+ is also an excellent OLED monitor with lots of focus assist and exposure tools. It has 17:9 letter boxing for viewing the full true 4K image, anamorphic desqueeze, as well as a complete 3D-LUT system with routing to use included preset LUTs or your own custom 3D-LUTs & lets you choose where to send the LUTs out to for monitoring.

Yes I work for Convergent Design, maker of the Odyssey7Q+, so I'm a bit partial. But there truly is no device as well integrated for use with the FS7 as the Odyssey7Q+.
 
+1 on the Odyssey7Q+. I was a long-time user of the 7Q, upgraded to the 7Q+ at the end of 2014. I don't always use it on my FS7, since sometimes I want to be smaller/lighter/nimble, but it's definitely the most versatile piece of kit I own. Records RAW, ProRes, 4K, 2K 240fps from the FS7's extension unit... I hook it up to my A7S and capture 4K from the HDMI. If I'm shooting interviews, it's a great operating monitor. If I've got an AC, it's got great focus pulling features. I also have several clients that love when I throw some handles on it for them to hold while we're out doing field shooting and don't want to lug around a 17"+ monitor. It also blows away several of the other monitor/recorder options, because they included two SSD slots which is why they can do the higher frame rates. The Shogun and the new Video Devices PIX-E won't ever record 4K 60 or 2K 240.
 
Thanks Josh/Mitch we just ordered Q7 for our Alexa and I think I am going to order a few more for our two tricasters. I think it may be overkill for FS7, we are getting the add on module to do ProRes internally. Any heavy lifting required we probably would opt out for alexa w/Q7.

Cheers,

PS: Your article on the Q7 on your blog is very helpful here is link for other users:

http://www.joshbecker.net/blog/2014/7/14/fs700-7q
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top