Honest question - would like input

J

Jim_Beam

Active member
How does the FS-700 stack up against the BMPCC4K ?

I have a chance to buy either setup fully rigged with lots of accessories for about the same money. I was leaning towards the FS700 but logic says a much newer sensor should be a better performer. 4K 60P 12 bit RAW is all I need.

The 120P of the FS700 is nice to have but not a deal breaker to me so by going with a BMPCC4K and losing the 120P aspect is not a deciding factor at all.

I suppose it all comes down to the way each cam renders an image and how much noise is in the footage.

I would really like your thoughts on this one as I am stuck on deciding which one to pull the trigger on.
 
Having recently looked at some FS700 footage I made when that camera was new-ish, I don't think it's even close. The P4K should be better by a large margin.

I should say that the clips I shot were internal, compressed codec in the FS700. I don't know if it offers more these days. The codec is what I would consider the strength of the P4K. A good sensor with a GREAT codec.

I don't own either camera, but own a P6K.
 
I haven't shot with either camera (aside from helping a friend set up an FS700 MK II), but I would find full size XLR inputs, built-in ND filters, and AF a pretty big advantage.

It really comes down to what you shoot, and how you shoot it.

CDNG or BRAW will beat AVC long GOP hands down any day of the week.
 
I've never owned an FS700 but I do own an Fs5 (same sensor, although some different processing) and I've owned a BMPCC4K in the past.

The biggest differences that come to mind are (1) low-light capabilities and (2) ergonomics.

When shooting via raw over SDI from the FS700/Fs5 (to ProRes or CNDG) the image can be great. It needs to be overexposed by about 1.5 stops to get a cleaner image, but in the right hands the footage will hold its own against much newer and more expensive cameras. That said, it is not great in low-light scenarios or when trying to pull the footage back from underexpose (and even "normal" exposure can be noisy). Here are some tests I shot of over/underexposure with my Fs5 and the internal/external recordings: https://vimeo.com/401370891

Ignore the internal codec (the FS700 internal codec is different—and much weaker). In the external ProRes recording you can see that underexposing and leaving footage underexposed—e.g., if your goal is a dark scene—generally works out; but if you're underexposed and trying to recover footage back to "normal" exposure you're in trouble.

The BMPCC4K is much better at handling low-light situations, in my experience. And a bit better at responding to underexposure. You can see some of this here: https://youtu.be/gHMNx_F2oMc

Generally I found the image and menus of the BMPCC4K to be great, but the ergonomics were awful. The lack of an adjustable screen, the mini-XLR, the useless battery life—it really turned me off the camera. I didn't want a camera that needed rigging just to shoot comfortably and for longer than 20 minutes. That said, the FS700 never won any awards for ergonomics—and hanging an external recorder off it doesn't help. But you do get internal NDs, full-size XLRs, a proper battery, and an adjustable screen (but not a great screen).

I'm biased (because I love the Fs5) but you may want to look at a used Fs5 instead. With the FX6 being released I'm sure they'll be available for even less than before. Just make sure you get one with the RAW upgrade, or a Mk II (which came with it standard). The Fs5 gives you the FS700 sensor along with better internal codecs, way better ergonomics, face tracking AF (not great, but usable), and a variable ND, which is absolutely extraordinary.
 
Used FS5m1 are now going for $1550+ and some include RAW. Both will require an external recorder to get that RAW though. A friend at work just shot some stuff for his department on his new to him FS700 to an external recorder and Prores, looks really good.

All that said, I'm looking at either an FS5 or Z Cam E2. The FS700 are going for the same prices as FS5 right now so unless your deal is really good, I'd go with an FS5.
 
Thanks for the feed back - lots to think about here.

I dont need the ND's and the ergonomics are a moot point in my use case. I would like to have the best image I can have for the money and as much sensitivity as I can get in this class of camera - so it looks like the BMPCC 4K wins on that front. I wish the P4K could still output DNG's......
 
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