FS7: Happy new FS7 user!

Erik Naso

Erik Naso

Veteran
I made the jump!

Erik With FS7 16x9.jpg

Very happy with the decision to purchase the FS7. This was a tough one too. So many options and prices are all over the place on cameras. I covered my thinking in a new blog post on "How i picked the right camera"

As with every new camera comes the fun of making it work for you. I really want to keep it simple so for a while I'm going to try it out as is but that Shape extension arm looks to good to pass up. I'm also pretty happy with the Loupe. I thought I would replace it with the SmallHD 502 Sidefinder or Gratical but I don't see that happening.

If you are new to the FS7 like me and are looking for some training I have a special discount code for Doug Jensen's Master Class. Check the blog post for details. This is a very good training series that I'm also taking now. I'm a big fan of training videos and Doug's is really good.

I also want to say a BIG thank you! to the community. These boards really helped me understand how people are using the FS7. Really enjoy DVXuser!

Cheers!
 
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Enjoy the camera Erik. The FS7 has proven to be a great workhorse for me this past year. Hopefully FW VRS3.0 will be out this next month.
 
The FS7 is a fine camera with some annoying rough edges which are easily overlooked for the price.
 
You made the right choice Erik! Mine got to ROI after a few months use and I've been so pleased with the results given the low price. A year later there's no other camera I'd rather own.
 
Yep! Did the same about two months ago and absolutely no regrets. Amazing images thus far. Just keep it in Cine EI...
 
The FS7 is one of the all time greats in my book.

Other all time greats IMHO:
UVW-100B (great affordable and very light Beta SP, I bought it w/o a second mortgage, used it for 5 years )
DSR500 (16x9 Rugged ENG cam, I could not break this one, also kept for 5 years, fantastic digital tape format and a nice way to start using 16x9)
EX3 (Sony got this one really right with a simple shoulder rig it was a light, rugged ENG cam, and a great way to get into HD, I still use it all the time, much better than the EX1)

Now the FS7 joins this group. I had a dozen other cams, Sonys, Panys and Cannons at the same time but none of them make this list.
 
Erik,

Glad to have you on this board!

Seems your quite the Sony convert. Will you still be using the C300, or are you replacing it completely?

Even though the Shape arm makes the camera even fatter it's still the single best accessory for the FS7.

Your next addition should be a replacement bracket for the EVF, as the stock version's single lever makes it too easy to knock out of level during adjustments. SmallRig, Zacuto, & Lamparte, offer similar solutions, & while Zacuto's is the most robust, it's also the most expensive, & I went with SmallRig's.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006S8EOIC

An even better solution is Vocas' Viewfinder Bracket. Took me awhile to swallow the price, but in retrospect I should have bought in straight away. Just the ability to quickly disconnect the EVF is worth the price of admission, & it's overall elegant design makes the camera feel better built. Seems to be out-of-stock at B&H, & Adorama, but perhaps Abel Cine has them available.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1127978-REG/vocas_0700_0060_viewfinder_bracket_for_sony.html

The same goes for Zacuto's FS7 Z-Finder. It's shorter then the stock loupe, & much better built. Makes the viewing system feel less shoddy. The optics are superior to Sony's, but does require a tad more look-around. I've burnt an LCD when a loupe was briefly exposed to direct Sun, & seen others do the same, so the self-closing cap was the deciding feature. It's not for everyone, & suggest taking it for a spin. Bit pricey, but less so if you already own a BMPCC Z-Finder.

http://www.newsshooter.com/2015/07/...he-sony-screen-into-a-much-better-viewfinder/

I too felt a Gratical was the path forward, but I'm adverse to adding weight to the front of the FS7, & bulking out my camera cases. Also (AFAIK) the Gratical still doesn't display it's own Tally inside the EVF, which is a non-starter for me, & it's not fully compatible with the FS7's Smart Grip. Hate to lose that functionality, especially the ability to move around the punch-in focus assist coming in Firmware 3.0.
 
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This Shape extension, does this allow for the camera to be seated level on the ground, table, or similar without taking the handle off? Im getting tired of the whole thing tipping over towards the EVF if you should need to put the cam down for a sec while in handheld mode.

Edit: Got my anwer from the demo vid from Shape.

Thanks for the tip! Will buy soon.
 
LOL. Erik, the expression on your face! You look like a little kid who's just been granted unlimited access to a candy shop. :thumbsup:
BTW, I switched from an AF100 to an FS7 a few months ago, and am very happy.
 
Ken Hull said:
LOL. Erik, the expression on your face! You look like a little kid who's just been granted unlimited access to a candy shop. :thumbsup:
BTW, I switched from an AF100 to an FS7 a few months ago, and am very happy.
Click to expand...
What can I say! I love this stuff!
 
Bern Caughey said:
Erik,

Glad to have you on this board!

Seems your quite the Sony convert. Will you still be using the C300, or are you replacing it completely?

Even though the Shape arm makes the camera even fatter it's still the single best accessory for the FS7.

Your next addition should be a replacement bracket for the EVF, as the stock version's single lever makes it too easy to knock out of level during adjustments. SmallRig, Zacuto, & Lamparte, offer similar solutions, & while Zacuto's is the most robust, it's also the most expensive, & I went with SmallRig's.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006S8EOIC

An even better solution is Vocas' Viewfinder Bracket. Took me awhile to swallow the price, but in retrospect I should have bought in straight away. Just the ability to quickly disconnect the EVF is worth the price of admission, & it's overall elegant design makes the camera feel better built. Seems to be out-of-stock at B&H, & Adorama, but perhaps Abel Cine has them available.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1127978-REG/vocas_0700_0060_viewfinder_bracket_for_sony.html

The same goes for Zacuto's FS7 Z-Finder. It's shorter then the stock loupe, & much better built. Makes the viewing system feel less shoddy. The optics are superior to Sony's, but does require a tad more look-around. I've burnt an LCD when a loupe was briefly exposed to direct Sun, & seen others do the same, so the self-closing cap was the deciding feature. It's not for everyone, & suggest taking it for a spin. Bit pricey, but less so if you already own a BMPCC Z-Finder.

http://www.newsshooter.com/2015/07/...he-sony-screen-into-a-much-better-viewfinder/

I too felt a Gratical was the path forward, but I'm adverse to adding weight to the front of the FS7, & bulking out my camera cases. Also (AFAIK) the Gratical still doesn't display it's own Tally inside the EVF, which is a non-starter for me, & it's not fully compatible with the FS7's Smart Grip. Hate to lose that functionality, especially the ability to move around the punch-in focus assist coming in Firmware 3.0.
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Thanks Bern! Great info.
 
I wanted to Keep my rig as smal and light as possible, so I decided to keep the camera as it came.
I've used it for over a year this way and love it. I mostly use an Easyrig as well when hand held, and that takes care of the balancing as well so I don't feel the need for rigging out the camera.
 
Yoak said:
I wanted to Keep my rig as smal and light as possible, so I decided to keep the camera as it came.
I've used it for over a year this way and love it. I mostly use an Easyrig as well when hand held, and that takes care of the balancing as well so I don't feel the need for rigging out the camera.
Click to expand...

Same. I even shoot with a Sony FE lens (450grams), a short stubnosed Sony stereo mic, and a small Sony 30 battery to keep the weight at a minimum during some circumstances. Great camera :)
 
Erik, not that there was anything wrong with the C100 I took off your hands (it is still in my market if I ever need to rent it), but I ended up going FS7 back in June! Welcome to the movement. (The last Sony camera I bought was a DSR500WS as I was Panasonic for a long time with a quick re-taste of Canon...had an XL-1/7D/T2i back in the day(s)).
 
Welcome Erik! Over a 15 year period I went from Vx1000 to HVX200 to AF100 to FS700 to FS7. Shooting features yearly the last 5 years, I've routinely sold my camera right afterwards, afraid of losing a lot on depreciation and being outmoded feature wise. Not this one, it's not going anywhere anytime soon. In 4K Cine Ei mode, with all the DR I need, this one makes me look like a better cam op than I really am. You can't ask for more than that.
 
So people use FE lenses with this cam? I'm thinking since I'm going to start from scratch with lenses and I can't be bothered with adapters, then going native seems like a good idea. FE lenses should be ok right? If I can have a set of lenses that fit my A7S and a better ergo cam like the FS5 (same mount as FS7), then hopefully I'm thinking clearly as long as no downside to FE.
 
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