F3: Is a Sony F3 worthwhile buying in 2015??

I

IronFilm

Veteran
Does a Sony F3 still make sense to people in 2015? Because have you seen on eBay lately just how cheap they're going? :-o You can pick up a Sony F3 for similar pricing to a new BMCC.


The expensive SxS media puts me off, but this appears to be an easy way to avoid that expense:


http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/786662-REG/Sonnet_SD_SXS_E34_SDHC_Adapter_for_SxS.html


For the only extra grand or so over the cost of an AF100 or FS100 it would seem like an F3 is worth it if you're looking for an older large sensor camcorder on the ultra cheap.




(as I've been seriously looking into getting an AF100 for only a grand, just so I can have an "impressive" pro looking camera to impress the brides/guests and wedding shoots, with the rest of my kit being 1x GH4 + 1x GH2 + 2x GH1. I know images is all that should matter, and appearances shouldn't matter, but in real life first impressions do matter. If a few extra hundred dollars to get an AF100 over GH2 with the same image quality, then leads to more bookings, that it is money very well spent. But then this logic dangerously leads me down the path to spend even more on a Sony F3... as then I could use the F3 on serious jobs too)


For context, I also own a kitted out BMPCC (that I love love) but it can look like a glorified smartphone to some people :-/ (until they see the images produced! But again, first impressions do matter and last)
 
Last edited:
If weddings are your core buissnes I would get a canon c100 mk2. It's a solid camera better at lowlight than the sonys gives you a 1080 60p and has great face detect AF.
 
Nah, I'm avoiding Canon thanks. And this wouldn't be for my A camera, as my A camera in this situation is a Panasonic GH4.

What I'm seeking is an additional "window dressing" camera for show ;-) Which is a "cheap" (i.e. older) large sensor camcorders (with interchangeable lenses). As at least then it can double purpose as an additional tool in my toolbox for a few jobs other than weddings, and I can get nice usable footage from it from weddings in its "C camera" capacity too. (unlike say a DVX100, which arguably could serve the same purpose of a "window dressing" camera for show, but I wouldn't want to use even one second of footage out of that)

I thought this limited to me to going after either a Sony FS100 or Panasonic AF100 on eBay (or maybe if I get very very lucky, an amazing deal on a used Sony FS700. Am ignoring C100/C300 here for now, though if I came across a flat out ridiculous deal on one I would go for it).

But then I saw the prices of a Sony F3! Looks like they're ultra tempting at these low prices.
 
If you consider the F3 to be an FS100 with ND then it is worth it.

If you want a fatter codec a recorder is an embuggerance and you might be better with a BMCC

S
 
morgan_moore said:
If you consider the F3 to be an FS100 with ND then it is worth it.
Click to expand...
Well... it is more than that! Literally, *more*... the extra weight vs the FS100 is one of my bigger concerns. Uncertain how usable going handheld or with a monopod a F3 is.

morgan_moore said:
If you want a fatter codec a recorder is an embuggerance and you might be better with a BMCC
Click to expand...

Not so much of a nuisance if you'd be using an extra monitor anyway (which doubles as a recorder, such as the BMD VA), which is likely giving the awkward placement of the onboard monitor and EVF.
 
I'm biased because I have one for sale. However IMHO it is hands down the best deal in a used video camera these days.
It is a way better camera than an FS100 or especially an AF100 and most people i know preferred the picture to a C300. It is more debatable with an FS700 but I think it still was a superior picture and so did my friend who owned the FS700. It handled highlights better. . Its phenomenal in low light equal to a Canon C300 or FS700 and nearly the same as an FS7 . Faster than an F55. Perfectly clean at 3200 ISO (12 db).

For most purposes the 8 bit codec is fine, but If you invest in a Samurai or Shogun you can shoot Slog and get a fantastic picture for a very very low price. You can buy an original Samurai dirt cheap as well under $400 . You can shoot with PL glass or get an adapter for Nikon or Canon.

The downsides are - its a little heavier and you need to buy a 3rd part EVF for exteriors. I used an Alfatron and you can buy a used one for under $1K now and I was happily mounting mine with a mafer clamp and a stud. A Zacutio is cheaper .. So for under $3500 K you have a phenomenal camera and be shooting Log. Do I prefer the FS7 - yes but its more than $3.5K.

If you don't care about Log, all you need is the EVF.

I used it handheld with a monopod and was fine , but it is heavier than the other cameras. It was never a problem for me though . Other people built one rig or another just like they do with all the other cameras.

I'm curious about whether using LUTCalc you could shoot Slog on an F3 then apply a LUT to change it to SLOG3, then apply a second LUT to apply the much praised Alexa look with LC709Type A. I'll bet it would work.

AF100 by comparison > frankly POS IMHO.

Lenny
 
Last edited:
EVF is rather pricey.... more than half as much the camera itself! I am thinking I could get by with a Blackmagic Video Assist's FHD screen (which doubles as a 10bit recorder too! :-D ) with a sun shade?
 
Maybe, I only know what I bought 4 years ago so there may be other choices. My point was only that an EVF of some kind is desirable for exteriors. I know people who have shot with the rear eyepiece and that will work but its not great (same as an EX-1) . The Zacuto as I rte call was more like $600 new but that's off the top of my head.

For all large sensor camera I chose to shoot with a TV Logic 5.6" mounted on the camera's hot shoe instead of an EVF, but that's just the way I like to work. There are cheaper monitors and more expensive and some people don't use them at all. Nowadays I keep a 7" Odyssey 7Q+ on my FS7 whenever I can.

If you're interested - I'm selling a great FS7 as well as a Samurai and probably the Alfatron as well ( though I hate to let go of it) . Also have the MTF Nikon > F3 adapter and a ton of great Nikon lenses. I reluctantly switched to Canon for my FS7.

Frankly I am astonished at how much the price dropped on the F3 but I guess its because other cameras just took its place. The FS7 is only marginally better looking in 709. I can get a fairly good match with the FS7 and so am always considering just holding on to it but I rarely shoot multi camera.
 
Maybe, I only know what I bought 4 years ago so there may be other choices. That BM video assist looks pretty cool! My point was only that an EVF of some kind is desirable for exteriors. I know people who have shot with the rear eyepiece and that will work but its not great (same as an EX-1) Could get you through until the Video assist becomes available . The Zacuto as I recall was more like $600 new but that's off the top of my head.

For all large sensor camera I chose to shoot with a TV Logic 5.6" mounted on the camera's hot shoe instead of an EVF, but that's just the way I like to work. There are cheaper monitors and more expensive and some people don't use them at all. Nowadays I keep a 7" Odyssey 7Q+ on my FS7 whenever I can.

If you're interested - I'm selling a great FS7 as well as a Samurai and probably the Alfatron as well ( though I hate to let go of it) . Also have the MTF Nikon > F3 adapter and a ton of great Nikon lenses. I reluctantly switched to Canon for my FS7.

Frankly I am astonished at how much the price dropped on the F3 but I guess its because other cameras just took its place. The FS7 is only marginally better looking in 709. I can get a fairly good match with the FS7 and so am always considering just holding on to it but I rarely shoot multi camera.

Lenny
 
I bought the f3 in 2015 for a very good price. In terms of specs its the cheapest and one of the best bodies on the market if you want 10bit 4:2:2, at an native iso of 800 with over 13 stops of dr. Because of ND and xlr you can shoot with it as is. But after a while you might want a viewfinder and a baseplate for handheld work.

Iso 6400 looks good especially in prores. The colours are much more pleasing than I have seen in any other sony camera except f35.

so for 1080p and the price I think its a very good contender.
 
Pair it with an Odyssey 7Q or a PIX-E5 and the F3 is just about the best bang for buck camera in the world right now. 800 ISO, 10-bit 1080p 4:2:2 at up to 60fps and 4:4:4 up to 30fps. 13.5 stops of DR, with excellent highlight rolloff. Terrific high ISO capabilities and a really sharp, resolute 1080p image.

It's a terrific camera in an ergonomically-challenged body. But if you can pair it with Element Technica's F3 Body Armour, that changes and the camera becomes much easier to work with. I'm yet to get much with my F5 that I find much better than what I could achieve with the F3.

Highly recommended for the price.
 
I got it with body armour and tilta baseplate aswell as nikon adapter and SxS SD adapter for around $2,5k. In sweden though.

in the states Im not sure what would be a good price.
 
We upgraded from an F3 to an FS7 primarily to get 4k and High Frame Rates. However, at the prices that F3's are going for, we decided not to sell ours. It's more valuable to us as a second camera than what we could get for it.

If you don't need 4k or high frame rates, the F3 is an exceptional camera.
 
IronFilm said:
Well... it is more than that! Literally, *more*... the extra weight vs the FS100 is one of my bigger concerns. Uncertain how usable going handheld or with a monopod a F3 is.



Not so much of a nuisance if you'd be using an extra monitor anyway (which doubles as a recorder, such as the BMD VA), which is likely giving the awkward placement of the onboard monitor and EVF.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking the F3 price will keep dropping but it's still a solid camera. It's basically an EX3 kicked up a notch or two as it only does 35mbs but for so many of us, that's plenty. When you consider how much they cost a few years ago, they are a bargain now.
The AF100 is a nice camera as well and you can buy them by the pound. So if price is driving, might be a good choice. The funky chip size has always been problematic for me. Makes lensing kind of tough.
And while the AF100 is much lighter, in hand held mode it's got the VF in the back which is just a pain.
 
I'm holding on to my F3L. I thought about selling it and upgrading to the FS7, but held off for several reasons.

For starters I think I would only get $3000-4000 for the camera (very low hours). I don't need 4k or high speed and the jump in IQ is marginal.

Overall the IQ is still very competitive, but you need an external recorder to get the most out of it. (Hyperdeck Shuttle-2, Atoms or Qdyssey). The Hyperdeck Shuttle-2 will get you uncompressed slog 422 for little money.

If you can get a clean used F3 for a good price, the IQ is hard to beat. Even better if it has the full slog option.

https://vimeo.com/118928522

PRO

- Image quality is competitive with FS7/F5 @ HD
- Low light monster. 3200 is totally useable.
- Nice highlight roll-off
- 13.5 stops of range
- Accurate colors
- Sturdy FZ-Mount is much stronger than the E-mount on the FS7. Takes heavy PL-mount adapter and lenses without a problem.
- Built in ND filters
- Dead silent
- Connectivity (SDI in/out, HDMI, XLR audio etc)
- Reliable workhorse. A professional piece of gear from the electronics to the sophistication of the color science and firmware. I'd trust my F3 over any BM or RED any day.

CON
- Ergonomics. Imagine a Handycam and broadcast camera had an affair...
- The rear EVF is mediocre, but better than nothing on a sunny day.
- No RAW (uncompressed slog 10bit RGB444) so color temp etc is baked in.
- 60fps max
- The Sony look (tm)
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top