Help with setting up FS100?

S

SGCman

Member
I was able to get a the FS100 used at a decent price, but it didn't come with lenses and came with the Metabones Smart Adapter Mark2 (not the speedbooster).

What are the most necessary accessories? I have around $3-$4k left for camera specific items and want to purchase:
Lenses
Tripod
baseplate
Fluid Head
External Monitor
Slider (that can do vertical and horizontal)

My money priority is on the Lenses. I'm sure there are plenty of things missing from the list, any suggestions? Should I get the Metabones Speedbooster or just stick with the Smart Adapater MK2?

I'm willing to buy used and new.
 
I'm enjoying my FS100 very much and like it simple. To have a basic kit I would get a really good tripod. Buy a used Sachtler. DV10/DV12 would be a good match or the older Video namned Sachtler tripods. Forget about baseplates and such for now. If you have the Matebone adapter I would get two lenses. First the Canon EF-S 17-55/2.8 IS. It's a great piece and very versatile. I would also add a Canon EF 100/2.8 IS L macro. You'd be surprised on how much can be done with a few well selected pieces.
 
Thanks for the reply. Would you recommend buying the lenses used or new? There are some on ebay, but I'm worried about dust, any trusted sellers you know?

Also, is there a decent AutoFocus lenses for quick/lazy run and gun stuff that is comparable (or better than) the kit lens?
 
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Enjoy the FS100! There are lots of excellent deals on good used lenses out there. When buying consider that Sony is also now servicing the E mount lens market with many new lenses as is Zeiss. Not having to use an adapter is nice. Another great albeit not fast but very handy lens is the stock Sony 18-200. I thought I would rarely use it and now it is always with me. You can get one in 9 condition for a little over $600. BH a sponsor here has a great selection of used lenses and rates them condition wise and you know that you are getting something that won't be damaged. I buy from them all the time and have never been disappointed. You might also consider a used LA EA2 or 3 and some of the deals and quality Sony A mount lenses as well as many excellent prices on vintage Minolta glass. Also if you are going with Canon, check out this adapter from HolyManta.com with built in VND I am told there will be a Nikon version soon. There is glass out there other than Canon ...have fun
 
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Thanks for the info.
I don't know a lot about higher end Lenses (never really spent more than $200 on a lens), so I'll probably be posting a lot on this forum asking questions.

I do want to get at least 1 autofocus lens. I keep hearing the kit 18-200 is good. I might buy a used one, but are there any other good Sony Autofocus lenses? Is the cheaper, "Sony E-Mount SEL 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6" any good?
 
We went through the gamut with ol' Ron recently

LINK

If you haven't seen it already, you might want to peruse this thread for thoughts/opinions on being a new FS100 user. Happy reading!

EDIT: A strong vote for the kit lens......no it is not mind-blowing, but it is fairly reliable for autofocus. I would say look for one used, but not sure if you'll find many stand alone.
 
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SGCman said:
Thanks for the reply. Would you recommend buying the lenses used or new? There are some on ebay, but I'm worried about dust, any trusted sellers you know?

Also, is there a decent AutoFocus lenses for quick/lazy run and gun stuff that is comparable (or better than) the kit lens?
Click to expand...

I got all my 12 EF lenses used and dust have never been an issue. I had Sonys 18-200 FS100 kit lens and found it to work fine. Why not try it out buying a used one?
 
If there was, say, a $100 difference between used and new on the Sonys 18-200 FS100 kit lens, I would go for new. There is a lot of complex electronics/optics in there. On the other hand, I've bought a number of used lenses, and have been happy. Look through all the threads on the FS100/FS700. There is a of of useful discussion on lenses, speedboosters, etc. Many people don't like to have to rewrite the same answers over and over again.

Dust is not much of an issue. A little dust will just reduce contrast imperceptibly. Problems that come from a lens being dropped are much more serious.
 
I am just in the process of simplifying my lens kit. Not only for the FS100, but also for future cameras. This is the route I went, and more or less the system I will stay true too:

-3 high quality primes with decent speeds that can be used on as much cameras as possible. I went for Zeiss ZF lenses, Nikon mount. 25mm 2.8 macro, 50mm 1.4, and 85mm 1.4.
I might add a Tokina 11-16 2.8 in the future in case I switch to a smaller sensor cam like the GH4 of BMPCC. But for now, I find I really don't need wider than 25mm.

-Camera specific zoom lens with a wide range and IS, and ideally autofocus. In Run and Gun situations, you want as much settings to be possible on Auto (even if you don't use them always). This lens I will buy specific for each new camera, since the IS, range, mount and autofocus will be optimised for it. In case of the FS100 the 18-200 is a good example, because not only does the lens have good IS, the camera adds further IS functionality with almost only this lens.

-Speed booster/ adapter depending on the camera. In case of the FS100 the 3 primes will give me 6 focal lengths, ranging from 25-127,5mm (Full frame equivalent), and will allow me to shoot in very dim lit environments.

The reasons are, that first, I don't want to keep buying a whole set of new lenses for each cam. And second, I found that often the situation is either Run and Gun or very static beauty shots where you have more time to setup. Therefore I want 2 solutions (High quality primes and most flexible Run and Gun lens), each totally focussed on either situation.

As for other items (but actually also lenses), I recommend you take your time buying them (except for a tripod if you have none), and see what you need while shooting. Make the accessories the solutions to problems you encounter, rather then just buying a whole kit of stuff and trying to squeeze then into shoots. Just the standard FS100 kit with kit lens is already quite capable. You might find (as me while doing run and gun) that stuff like external monitors are not always needed. The beauty of the FS100 is that there is already so much in it.

Good luck with the cam! I plan to use mine for dozens of projects this year, and it already paid back for itself several times.
 
Hi SGCman. The FS100 is an awesome camera! What type of work will you mainly be doing with the cam? There are many different ways to answer your question but I think a lot of it will depend on your type of work. I personally did not like the 18-200 sony lens at all although I suppose it may have it's place in the bag depending on what you do. I am not sure what type of video background you are coming from but auto focus when it comes to moving subjects will be very undependable when compared to a "video" lens. That is not just with the kit lens, but with any DSLR lens and adapter. I realize this post is a couple months old but wanted to chime in. Did you buy any lenses yet?
 
i use fs100+18-200 for run and gun wedding situation all alone, but this 18-200, bad thing is image quality is a little fake, when u compare with A mount 16-50 F2.8, 2nd, it's not constant aperture. good thing is, the range is long enough , all fit ur needs

my second combination is, FS100+ EA2+A mount 16-50 F2.8, this is good also, image quality and color are better than 18-200, and it's constant aperture, when u run and gun, it can autofocus, although it is always set on F3.5, but, i can turn off AF , switch back to manual, then, i can use F2.8, it's quite nice too. bad thing is, the focus will jump in, not that smooth like E mount. but acceptable.

i tried the new lense Zeiss 16-70 F4 once, it's also pretty nice, image quality excellent, AF is better than A mount 16-50, more smooth, not like the A mount 16-50, the focus point will jump in focus point, also, constant aperture is good to use. bad thing is, it's only F4, the aperture is not big enough, only fit some situation where u don't need boken, only need accurate focus documentary recording.
 
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