FS5: Initial real world thoughts on the FS5

J

jacobgibbins

New member
I got my hands on one of the first batch in the UK a few days ago, so obviously went straight out to play with it. Shot for about 15 minutes before my rider got a flat tire, but still lots of thoughts on various things from the codec, slow mo, NDs, zoom, size etc

http://aspectmediauk.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/sony-fs5-initial-real-world-thoughts.html

Check it out and if you think we need to cover anything in particular let us know.

Cheers

Jacob
 
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jacobgibbins said:
I got my hands on one of the first batch in the UK a few days ago, so obviously went straight out to play with it. Shot for about 15 minutes before my rider got a flat tire, but still lots of thoughts on various things from the codec, slow mo, NDs, zoom, size etc

http://aspectmediauk.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/sony-fs5-initial-real-world-thoughts.html

Check it out and if you think we need to cover anything in particular let us know.

Cheers

Jacob
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Question in regards to editing the XAVC-L - how well does it edit if you drop the quality to 1/2 or 1/4 in Premiere? I have a 2011 Macbook Pro fully loaded and I find that for most large projects I have to use 1/4 res with my A7s XAVC-S footage. I'm cool with it for now and would be happy if the L edits just as well.
 
I found if I dropped the quality down to 1/2 it coped fine ( if not the occasional stutter ) with 3 layers of video, and at 1/4 it was fine with 5. Specs of my laptop are in the post, so make of that what you will...
 
Just discovered if you record 4K internally on the FS5... you can't use a monitor.... at all ..... (?!?!?!?!)
Thats a huge drawback... :\
 
Bassman2003 said:
Supposed to be changed to normal with the first firmware update.
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That doesn't seem to be the case.
Jeromy thinks that the limitations are a result of the ASIC circuits used and that the FS5 issues will never be overcome with a simple firmware update.

This looks to be a very big design oversight from Sony and something that cannot be fixed without changes to the hardware itself. I’m sure many potential buyers of the FS5 will now be thinking twice about purchasing the camera.
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http://www.newsshooter.com/2015/11/...e-built-in-monitor-or-evf-no-can-do-say-sony/
 
Thanks so much for the review Jacob

By chance, do you have the ability to do a rough match comparison with the GH4? Currently own the latter and about to jump on the FS5 (CFO keeps holding me back :D )
 
Regarding the Clear Image Zoom feature you wrote...


"24mm F1.4 is now a 24-48mm F1.4 Constant.
70-200mm F2.8 is now a 70-400mm F2.
15mm 2.8 fisheye is now a 15mm F2 fisheye to 30mm Wide F2
24-105mm F4 is now a 24-210mm F2.8 Constant."


Since your using a SpeedBooster, which is a Focal Reducer, your calculations are incorrect.

Your 24mm with a .71x SpeedBooster yields the field of view of a 17mm, not a 24mm.

And Clear Image Zoom doesn't double the focal length, rather it crops into the sensor resulting in images that look like they were shot with the same lens, but in a smaller format. Arguably a useful feature, but not equivalent to a optical zoom.

Also there's a glitch with the SpeedBoosters regarding aperture. As you noted your zooms become a stop faster, but your prime did not. In fact they both did, but the Metabones isn't relaying the information correctly. Your 24mm f/1.4 prime now behaves as a 17mm f/1.0. All my fast EF primes behave similarly, & it's something to be aware of when using a external light meter, or calculating DOF.
 
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jayhawk30 said:
From what I understand, the first firmware update you will be able to use a monitor when recording 4k internally but you won't be able to use either the onboard LCD or EVF. I believe this is how the A7 series works?
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That would also be a fairly ridiculous feature nearly all the time....
EX: Corporate interview, shooting very shallow depth of field. 4K... hit record... you lose being able to see anything on the screen, but the producer/client/etc can still watch on their monitor. How on earth do I know as the DP/operator whats happening? Definitely not a solution if thats the case ....
 
It may just not be the camera for you and thats just that but the comment "That would also be a fairly ridiculous feature nearly all the time...." I really don't think so, I think your set up is probably extremely rare. I would think if people bothered to lug around a good monitor or 7q+/Shogun when shooting UHD they would probably want to use those monitors vs the little meh looking Sony LCD and EVF or if you do not even bother to record UHD internally and just on you 7q or Shogun then you still have the Sony supplied LCD/EVF.

The FS7 is only $4000 or so more even if you factor in a fair chuck of XQD, divide that up over only 18 months or so I can't imagine its a deal breaker but if you only do that type of shoot once in while some options could be to use the SDI to send HD signal (this all may be a non issue if your willing to send HD vs UHD, maybe LAN wired or wireless, use the output on your monitor. I am sure after the update there will be a workaround available, just need to decide if its worth the hassle and wait or just buy the FS7 now

I am sure the issue is that the processor is working pretty hard to be able to compress to LGOP, write to 2 cards (copy or proxy), viewfinder LUT of some sort, and toggle between the LCD or little EVF.
 
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