FS700 Wildlife Shooter ADVICE

K

K.M

Member
Hello DVX

I plan on renting an fs700 for my upcoming trip to south africa. i am a frequent nature and wildlife shooter, recently using a gh2 and loving ETC with the 300mm!
What my question is; what lens am i looking to rent alongside with my fs700 that can provide me with varied, suitable focal lengths and trusted compatibility with the fs700, (IQ mainly in mind, most lenses can be adapted).

My gut says Canon zooms, but ive never used an fs100 or these Canon zooms either so what would you guys suggest? Assuming your basing your judgement on fs100 usage. I recon hireacamera can provide me with good options, especially since the FS700 will be rented from them.

Any lenses in this list stand out for good partnership with a fs700?

http://www.hireacamera.com/lens_hire/canon-telephoto-zoom.asp

Keep in mind;
  • Middle of no-where location for 3 weeks
  • Preferably ONE lens rather than 2/3
  • Sharp image
  • Will use new slo-mo features of 700
  • Match GH2 as b-cam
Thanks guys!
 
Since you're going to be renting, Canon lenses are out because they'll require a "smart" adapter (i.e. Metabones).

I would go with a Sony 70-400mm with a LA-EA2 adapter.
 
I too am looking at the Sony 70-400mm with a LA-EA2 adapter. There is only one FS700 clip I've been able to find that features the lens in autofocus mode. I'm wondering if an other non-Sony lenses might do fast AF with the FS700. But I suspect the LA-EA2 is "talking" to the camera and lenes, so the Sony might be the best choice. it would be like shooting o a 600mm with a FF camera.

https://vimeo.com/40369782
 
powervideo said:
I too am looking at the Sony 70-400mm with a LA-EA2 adapter. There is only one FS700 clip I've been able to find that features the lens in autofocus mode. I'm wondering if an other non-Sony lenses might do fast AF with the FS700. But I suspect the LA-EA2 is "talking" to the camera and lenes, so the Sony might be the best choice. it would be like shooting o a 600mm with a FF camera.

https://vimeo.com/40369782
Click to expand...

Interesting, so it seems this is the go-to zoom lens for this cam. 400mm should be enough, but are there any tele converters available? (i think im just spoilt with the ETC function on the gh2)

Also, thanks for the advice, and will definitely post some clips on here. For the sake of educating me, metabones adapters are expensive and/or unrentable?

thanks
 
K.M said:
metabones adapters are expensive and/or unrentable?
Click to expand...

Hireacamera have a rental page for the Metabones EF->NEX adaptor (although images are broken)...
http://www.hireacamera.com/camcorders/detail.asp?model=755


There are also signs that it’s starting to trickle through to UK suppliers (at last!)..

Proactive – web site says in stock, 2-3 days delivery, £394-80
http://www.proav.co.uk/Metabones-Canon-EF-Lens-to-Sony-NEX-Smart-Adapter/p31314.aspx

CVP – web site says estimate < 2 weeks delivery, £394-80
http://www.creativevideo.co.uk/index.php?t=product/metabones_ef-e-bm1
 
If you're preferred focal length is 300mm with 1080p ETC on GH2, I think the equivalent will be about 1200mm on an FS700. That may be tough to match or to afford unless you have a lot of money or dont mind using mirror lenses.
 
nyvz said:
If you're preferred focal length is 300mm with 1080p ETC on GH2, I think the equivalent will be about 1200mm on an FS700. That may be tough to match or to afford unless you have a lot of money or dont mind using mirror lenses.
Click to expand...

It's 1380mm to be exact. You can come close to it with 400mm with a 2x extender.
 
FS100 with 100-400 Canon L, 2x Doubler and Metabones adapter for IS ability. 1200mm equivalent. Metabones just came in, for anything more rugged we'll have a support bracket.
IMG_1272.jpg
 
powervideo said:
Wow. No lens support?
Click to expand...

Does look long long but maybe not heavy. I've rented a 300mm canon from abel w 2x extender.
THAT needed a support (fat lens). My warning having shot some outdoors/wildlife- is how do you focus?
In low contrast (late day, overcast or lowlight) focus becomes a challenge with unpredictable movements ;-)
 
Thats a lens! I've been trying a few different lenses and adapters on FS-700 trying to pick a lens set. Each adapter looses something. I've just received and done basic testing on the LA-EA2 (sony A mount) and metabones (Canon) (and Novoflex NEX/NIK).

So far I've found that even with the latest fw on the metabones (v5), still having issues talking Iris to some supported lenses on the fs700, hope to get to the bottom of it.

So I am presuming with the above, you are gaining IS but loosing autofocus.

With the LA-EA2 you are gaining phase detect autofocus, but loosing IS for Amount lenses.

You would need a Sigma with LA-EA2 to retain both?

Depends what you are shooting, what you value more.

After seeing Andrew Youngs footage linked above, and also doing some test shots using a sony emount 50mm and a Nikon Tamron 70-300 (with a 1.7x doubler) - I finally hit go on the 70-400mm Sony.

I just think I am going to value the autofocus on slomo more than IS. Again, depends what you are shooting.

I'll post some more footage once I get the lens. I'm particularly keen to try getting these sulpher-crested cockatoos on the wing in a closeup, and getting that little whippet on a flyby. Thats a pretty good test of the slomo/ LA-EL2/70-400mm combination.

https://vimeo.com/45479165
 
timmytimetravel said:
You would need a Sigma with LA-EA2 to retain both?
Click to expand...

Sadly Sigma have dropped or are dropping the OS support for Sony Alpha (on the basis that the alpha bodies have IS built in). So you'd need to find older versions of the lenses if you wanted to try that.

There are no clear IS solutions on the NEX aside from Sonys own E mount lenses. It's also worth pointing out that the Sony lenses are designed for motion, not stills and you'd get a better final result overall.

At least with slow mo the lack of IS isn't so obvious

cheers
paul
 
Michael Bergstrom said:
FS100 with 100-400 Canon L, 2x Doubler and Metabones adapter for IS ability. 1200mm equivalent. Metabones just came in, for anything more rugged we'll have a support bracket.
View attachment 54800
Click to expand...

Do you have any examples of footage shot with this? Also, is it me, or does the lens seem t be sagging out front? I'd stick a couple of rods and a support under that tripod ring mount on the lens. Yikes. Is it a Speedbooster or regular adapter on there?
 
I am also using an FS100 with the Canon 100-400 and 2x extender and the metabones I. I have had good results but it takes time to learn the feel of the focus at that distance and how to deal with the gitters that are magnified. Any wind and it becomes a real hassle. My biggest worry is the weight of the lens on the mount. I have a support bolted into the metabones as well as a lens support further down the lens.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5U1-PHvXQ0
The shots at 0:47 and 3:33 were both with the 2x and a lot of the others were with the 100-400.
 
One thing you are definitely going to need is ND, so its good you are taking something like the FS700. I'm still pretty fond of the Canon FDn series telephotos, the FDn 300 f2.8 is wonderful on m43 cameras like the AF100, GH2 and GH3, but I don't like it with the FD converter 2x and on the s35 sensor you are going to want something longer than 300mm (really). Nikon 200-400mm, the older non AF versions is pretty good, but its a push-pull design. To tell the truth I might skip the telephoto zoom concept and just take a good 400, a 1.4x TC and an 80-200 f2.8.
 
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