F3: Is the F3 still a good buy?

alex1

alex1

Well-known member
Hi guys,

A friend of mine is selling his F3 with about 1000 hours for $2300. Comes with the charger, battery, 16GB card, PL mount and cables. A good deal?

What should I keep in mind if buying?

I currently own a A7s with e-mount lenses, but I couldn't find exactly what native mount the F3 has. Is it e-mount? Or is an adapter required?

Thanks for the replies.
 
I was very interested in this camera at one point, and there are several people here that still use them that will probably chime in, but just wanted to mention it's a native FZ mount, but most people used PL or EF lenses on it.

The most important part is if the camera has the 10-bit 4:2:2 S-LOG and 4:4:4 output upgrade which transforms it into a different tool. The new ones that were recently discontinued shipped with it, but not sure how long your friend has had the camera.
 
At that kind of price it certainly is. You'll want an external recorder to get 10-bit SLOG from the camera (ideally in 4:4:4 if the camera has the upgrade). The camera has an FZ mount, and comes with a PL mount by default - there's tonnes of FZ adapters to Nikon, Canon, Olympus etc. lenses out there.
 
It's a great camera. The cheaper it gets the more worth it, it becomes.
Still one of the best FullHD images out there with an external recorder.
However, these days you could probably find one with less hours or an even lower price than your friend's.
 
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yoclay said:
It's a great camera. The cheaper it gets the more worth it, it becomes.
Still one of the best FullHD images out there with an external recorder.
However, these days you could probably find one with less hours or an even lower price than your friend's.
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I checked ebay and the lowest price I could find is $2500. Where could I find one for a cheaper price?

Thanks.
 
Its a beautiful camera in the right hands.

Output to HD 10bit 422 in Slog and it rocks as good as others out here.
 
what work will you do with it? Its quite large and heavy if youre used to the a7s. I use it for almost everything because the image is so nice though.
 
Many probably don't know this, but combined with the Blackmagic video assist 5" display / digital recorder you can record 60p in HD over single HDI from the F3. That is quite an amazing way to get a great codec like ProRes an 10-bit 422 files.

While 444 is possible with the F3 specific upgrade, I don't think you will experience or see night and day differences over 422.

Regardless, $2300 is pretty good.
 
starcentral said:
Many probably don't know this, but combined with the Blackmagic video assist 5" display / digital recorder you can record 60p in HD over single HDI from the F3. That is quite an amazing way to get a great codec like ProRes an 10-bit 422 files.

While 444 is possible with the F3 specific upgrade, I don't think you will experience or see night and day differences over 422.

Regardless, $2300 is pretty good.
Click to expand...

Single HDI ?
I thought double only (A/B) unless you had paid upgrade.
I know on the Odyssey you could change the project rate to cheat the camera, but what's different about the assist?
Same is true for something like the Video Devices PIX-E5 ?
 
hmm maybe I'm wrong, I was going off what a seller of a F3 in marketplace was saying he was doing.

Does the F3 have any 3G ports? Or dual link only?

EDIT: Yes, just confirmed you can do 3G on the F3 for using single cable. But you need the paid update for 3G-sdi from what I can tell.
 
starcentral said:
hmm maybe I'm wrong, I was going off what a seller of a F3 in marketplace was saying he was doing.

Does the F3 have any 3G ports? Or dual link only?

EDIT: Yes, just confirmed you can do 3G on the F3 for using single cable. But you need the paid update for 3G-sdi from what I can tell.
Click to expand...

Yes, but I believe you can do dual SDI 60p without the paid upgrade, which means that if you have a recorder with two SDI inputs you are good to go. No 444 though.
So the PiX-E7 (not E5) or Odyssey should be able to let you do it.
 
NorBro said:
I was very interested in this camera at one point, and there are several people here that still use them that will probably chime in, but just wanted to mention it's a native FZ mount, but most people used PL or EF lenses on it.

The most important part is if the camera has the 10-bit 4:2:2 S-LOG and 4:4:4 output upgrade which transforms it into a different tool. The new ones that were recently discontinued shipped with it, but not sure how long your friend has had the camera.
Click to expand...

Nah more often people used Nikon F mount lenses than Canon EF mount with the F3. Because Canon is a royal pain the ass to use when Nikon is simply better.

Also the newer F3 cameras which shipped with slog would've had the free slog update already on it which doesn't however give 444. So getting a little older one which went with the paid update instead is the way to go if you can.
 
starcentral said:
While 444 is possible with the F3 specific upgrade, I don't think you will experience or see night and day differences over 422.
Click to expand...

Actually if you compare Prores422 and 444 side by side there is a noticeable difference. The 444 file is sharper and less grainy. I also see less banding in extreme lighting.
Uncompressed 444 is noticeably sharper and less grainy than any of the Prores files and obviously there is vastly more latitude when grading.
 
Harry Lime said:
Actually if you compare Prores422 and 444 side by side there is a noticeable difference. The 444 file is sharper and less grainy. I also see less banding in extreme lighting.
Uncompressed 444 is noticeably sharper and less grainy than any of the Prores files and obviously there is vastly more latitude when grading.
Click to expand...


What recorder are you using for uncompressed Harry ?
 
I love mine and the only reason I am moving away from shooting with it for personal work is size (going to mirrorless for small personal projects where I need to travel light).

Just did a shoot with the FS7 and F3 and they matched up so well I was impressed, and that was shooting slog internally. I really need to pick up an external recorder for mine but the camera is lovely, specially the colors it produces.
 
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