FS7: FS7 successor (rumours/expectations)

I almost exclusively use speedboosters on FS5 and FS7 as it works so great. I even shoot with the 24-105 on these cameras and I actually prefer the 24-105 even on a C200 or C100. It's sharp enough and has a very workable range. Given these are so cheap they're great.
 
Interesting that this is becoming a FS7 vs Canon thread.

When I bought the FS7 I had a choice
MF 4k 10bit 150fps sony with speedboosting option and functional XLR placement for $8g
vs
MF 50-HD 30p Canon with no speedboosting option and non functional XLR placement for $14g

no - brainer

Canon 'on paper' have turned that table quite a bit with the C200 offering AF, functional XLR placement, raw, 18-80 etc

Sony are in a tough place not to 'kill' the F5/55 yet still be no brainer ahead of Canon.

My position is Ill probably just stick with the 7 until at least next years 'show season' but at that point Id certainly be having a close look at other options.

Even the GH5s and ZcamE2 has a paper spec that take a need for looking at.

Ha! FS7 vs Canon...

I have shot on both FS7/C300 II equally for the last few years and the C200 since Oct 2017.

I also own the Red SW, and there are equal pros and cons for each.

I recently ditched all my Canon gear ( painfully) and jumped back on Sony FS7 II as my workhorse.

I would love to have spent that money instead on upgrading the RED SW to a Gemini, but I still need a "workhorse" camera for those fast turnaround gigs and events / corporate gigs in between the nice upscale TVC/promos fashion etc. I guess Gemini next year maybe.

The C300 mkii was a beautiful camera as was its predecessor the MK 1 but TBH, it has been painful trying to persuade clients over to the Canon after shooting Sony Fs7 for so long. So when the C200 dropped, I figured this was the perfect hybrid of a RED with all the mod cons of a Canon and might be a good choice since I got used to the Canon etc. So decided to sell the C300 MKII.

Unfortunately, I had to hire the FS7 much more than I thought this past year and got to shoot on RED SW for a few projects.

When you've shot on RED, it's hard to justify shooting on the C200, they can match in pos after a bit of work but Red is RED and Canon feels like a poor mans Red on the raw side, and it was even harder to get the C200 on jobs unless I had free reign to choose any format:)

I ended up selling the C200 and going in on a RED SW for the sweeter gigs and FS7 II for the workhorse jobs, it's full circle, but I feel the Sony and RED are two very different systems that can fill a wide range of gigs.

I am also much happier with the Sony MB combo giving me the use of FF lenses extra stop of light etc. Yep there are some nice pros with the C300 MKII and C200 but couldn't quite make it work for my workflows.

I'm sure next year will be a new FS cam, maybe a mini Venice and probably another Red upgrade program who knows, but I feel the FS7 II can go on for a few years yet at least in 4K for sure.

I still need a small gimbal/travel cam and the GH5s or maybe the BMPCC 4K are good contenders but I would prob throw the FS5 MKI in there as the price is good especially on a used one and the built-in ND's and small form factor can also work well with gimbals etc
 
Last edited:
I expect that whatever replaces the F55 will be sort of a S35 version of the VENICE... And I'm sure it will also have E-Mount (a-la venice). Which is quite a big deal. Then you could use the same glass all the way from an a6500 all the way up to the VENICE.

I was expecting the original FS5 to be full frame... There has to be a lower end full frame coming to the FS-line sooner rather than later. And no matter how good the FS7 already is, they need to start to bring some of the innovations from the A7 cameras to their video cameras. Especially the AF.

The F55/5 are due for replacements, the FS7/FS5 are using 6 year old sensors... Seems like it's all set for a big overhaul...

Sony had the NEX-VG900 quite early on.
Surprising they never thought to update it in the years since then.
 
WHY oh WHY are so many of you interested in the fs7 successor to be fullframe? I just don´t get it? To get that little bit of extra DOF? Still don´t get it.

I do not believe they will make it ff, but maybe wil come with a higher end model that is ff. I have used the FS7 professionally since the get go. From tropical to artic conditions. Run and gun as well as really controlled situations. Its been banged around quite a lot. I would really like the mk2 with the lock mount and the electronical nds. Of course there are many small issues that should and could be tweaked, but NOT a bigger sensor. S35 is more then enough. Now I really love my two fujinon mks and would be heartbroken if I had to change them out. Would rather go for a fs7 mk2 then a new FF version. I dont buy the "more sony lenses accesible" argument. These lenses are photo lenses and suck for real world filming. Of course decent AF is ok but you can´t base a professional video camera around AF. I have a sony a7iii with 24-105 for small run and gun situations with af, but I need a bigger more stable camera for 98% of my work. Of course great af would be nice in some situations, but mostly not. A new and improved fs7 with electronic nds, lock mount, better slow mo, dual iso, more light sensitivity etc would be great.

I just dont understand why so many people want to change a true winner. It just dosen´t make sense. If you want FF and AF the a7s3 will probably be for you. Out here in the real documentary world I live in, hell no.



!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Will be paying attention from April 6th to April 11th and only wish I could be there. It is interesting how many of these cameras have the same sensor, but are held back via firmware, for marketing reasons, from their full potential.
 
It is interesting how many of these cameras have the same sensor, but are held back via firmware, for marketing reasons, from their full potential.

Don't be ridiculous, there's a lot more to the cost of a camera than a sensor. If you think the only difference from one camera to the next is software you're embarrassing yourself.
 
Don't be ridiculous, there's a lot more to the cost of a camera than a sensor. If you think the only difference from one camera to the next is software you're embarrassing yourself.

But not so ridiculous if you think of the Sony f5 can't Record 4K internally debacle... well actually it could and was purposely hobbled not to do so.. Arri do the same with various licensing costs.. its cheaper to make everything the same on one production line then hobble one camera electronically compared to the more expensive one.. personally I don't think its wrong.,. its just economics.. Sony just embarrassed themselves by swearing till they were blue in the face that is was 100% impossible for the f5 to rec 4K internally.. which was of course total BS..
 
Back in the day I had the F5 in one hand and the loan payment agreeemnt in the other.

I made the choice - 'I cant spend $15k on HD' and walked out the door!

Three months later I bought the newly released Fs7 for $8k.

Sony dont seem to have profited from that one.
 
I don't know what could lure me to purchase a new video camera. I enjoy my FS7/FS5 so much and there would have to be a substantial plethora of improvements and new features to open up my wallet.
 
Back in the day I had the F5 in one hand and the loan payment agreeemnt in the other.

I made the choice - 'I cant spend $15k on HD' and walked out the door!

Three months later I bought the newly released Fs7 for $8k.

Sony dont seem to have profited from that one.


You chose wisely young Jedi .. I bought my f5 was back before the fs7 was released.. and I had only ever had one 4K request.. "rented an f55".. I thought 4K was at least 4 /5 years down the road.. and by then I,d buy a new camera anyway.. wrong.. ! I was set to sell the f5 and buy an f55.. thankfully I didnt do it quickly and the magical hack/ $1K key came out.. an excellent Xmas present to me myself and saved me the $15K up grade .. Paul Ream you are a legend ...
 
I don't know what could lure me to purchase a new video camera. I enjoy my FS7/FS5 so much and there would have to be a substantial plethora of improvements and new features to open up my wallet.

'4k' 240 and 'HD-SQ' 1000

I use the '' as currently I believe '4k' delivers great HD and 'HD-SQ' delivers web 720
 
I've just got back from my camera dealer, they know nothing about a new Sony camera apart from the new A7IIIs, I can't imagine Doug out testing that though!

Feel free to PM me Doug, I have high level security clearence and I've signed the Official Secrets Act;-)
 
Back
Top