FS7: Just pulled the trigger on the FS7K
- Thread starter moldcad
- Start date
moldcad
Veteran
Oh, I already did - and must tell you that after the time, effort and money I put into pimping up my two previous cameras (EX1 and FS100 - both for ergonomics purposes as my arm is too week for just holding any camera in front of me naked, and the latter also for enabling permanent use of a mattebox due to the lack of internal ND filters) - I was hoping to try and use the FS7 as designed by Sony, i.e. out of the box. Now it turns out it's not quite possible; a rail system and better shoulder pad are necessary.
But having just spend what really is a lot of money to Polish standards, I'm afraid I must wait a couple of weeks (at least) before I buy anything to improve the Sony design. I have two systems on mind as candidates for my FS7 development into a more usable tool:
- Zacuto Recoil (less the Gratical EVF but with the Zacuto Z-Finder for the FS7), or
- Olof's FS7 system: front rails with lens support, thicker shoulder pad and a pair of short back rails for mounting one of my PAG heavy batteries
I guess I will go with the latter; Zacuto stuff is nicely built but expensive - and I'm not sure positioning the camera as far back as the main intention of the Recoil system is would be such a great idea, all the controls becoming inaccessible during shooting.
Piotr
Clermond
Veteran
maybe you can just use the time and see how you get a long with the FS7 as it is? I found it very useful out of the box.
[My car is 10 yrs old and has now 280.000 kms on the clock. I like the car - I have to like it because I have now budget for a newer one.]
If you need to add rails smallHD has some solid and affordable stuff
moldcad
Veteran
Absolutely - this is what I'm going to do. The only reason for wanting to add some stuff to my FS7K asap is the E-mount, flexing slightly under the kit lens weight/momentum - but of course, learning the camera's plethora of setting, I can use my other, lightweight lenses.
BTW, you say you've used your out of the box - do you have the SELP28135 kit lens? If so, do you also feel it should be supported as it overtaxes the E-mount somewhat? Perhaps I'm paranoid about it
BTW, you say you've used your out of the box - do you have the SELP28135 kit lens? If so, do you also feel it should be supported as it overtaxes the E-mount somewhat? Perhaps I'm paranoid about it
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
It is simple physics.. with the camera that far back it balances on the shoulder and becomes less stressful to use.
The way my camera is set up it is very rare for me to change any settings.
180 shutter
Manual Iris on the lens
My only interaction with the camera when on the shoulder is to record, engage S+Q, or change the ND wheel.
Soon you learn these by touch.
(you may note my camera has some yellow tape blobs.. these are raised so I can find the S+Q button by feel)
S
Clermond
Veteran
I don't have the 28-135 because 28 is too long at the wide end. I have some CP.2 lenses (1kg) also the 1.5kg 100mm. I use it not for many hours continuously so mostly without a lens support. If it makes you feel better I would use one but there are some 28135 owners here who could help you better.
moldcad
Veteran
For those FS7K owners who are using the SELP28-135 lens: I realized the camera bottom and the lens leg are actually level and flush, so I just used the long Manfrotto plate (w/o any add-ons) and supported the two. Do yo think they (camera and lens) have been designed for the 2 surfaces I'm supporting to actually be at exactly the same level, and by doing so I'm not stressing the E-mount? I didn't fix the lens foot with any screw, so if there is any tension it only be acting upwards on the lens - but of course I wouldn't like that to replace the downward tension from the lens weight, acting on it when without any support... Please share your thoughts!
Of course, this is just a temporary measure before I get a rail system with a proper adjustable lens support....
Of course, this is just a temporary measure before I get a rail system with a proper adjustable lens support....
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FrameFarmMedia
Veteran
I see them as two very different camera markets. Mini URSA is aimed as pure cinema cam with fat codecs but no ND and audio pots and functions stuck behind the side monitor rather than on the body. The FS7 can straddle both narrative and doc style content. The raw on the fs7 sucks but for most one man band type work the camera is aimed at 10bit 422 XAVCI is more than you need.
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Narrative and doc style work isn't usually in my workflow. I typically work towards music videos, shorts, commercials, etc. Not to say the fs7 can't handle those either.
Low light sensitivity and built-in nd is what I like most over the mini 4.6. I still see some videos of the fs7 having that videoish look compared to the mini 4.6, at least to me. Coming from a Sony FS100 platform when I had one a few years ago. That's one of my other hesitations, I'm literally on the verge of purchasing either one though.
But ill wait a bit longer till after NAB 16' to see what else new comes out, just for peace of mind
Paul schefz
Well-known member
THIS
if you need raw and everything that comes with that, don't get the FS7, it just gets too big, expensive, heavy, a pain....it's just not made for raw....get an F5...
BUT: if the firmware upgrade for the FS5 is coming within the next couple of weeks.....the FS5 all of a sudden became a very interesting raw camera with decent internal capabilities (but still without certain features/ports of the FS7)....
starcentral
Veteran
this is well said!!!
Agreed. My favorite thing about my FS7 is the many hats it can wear. I recently shot my first interviews using the L codec (had only tested it and never actually used on a gig for the 17 months I've owned the camera) and was pleasantly surprised that I did not notice compression difference from the I codec
moldcad
Veteran
Guys, please - before you engage into another FS7 vs. Ursa dispute - please take a look at my pics, and express your opinion. TIA
Piotr
FrameFarmMedia
Veteran
That should work as it is. The lens mount shouldn't flex but I'd want to secure vertical movement. If you drill and tap a 1/4 20 hole to pin the foot down it would stop any vertical movement.
moldcad
Veteran
Thanks man.
I have an FS7 noob question: what capacity/speed SD cards do you guys usually use as the Utility card? I guess user files can grow in size, but each is probably entry (like Scene Files, etc.) are probably rather small; also I don't think the card speed is important... Please tell me what a reasonable minimum is.
Another noob question: when shooting from tripod, I'd definitely like to use an external monitor. Please tell me whether the FS7 is able to output things like peaking, zebra etc? I have a Marshall monitor whose peaking is not adjustable, and shows on every contrasty edge in the picture - really useless, so if I cannot use the camera's own tools (for focus and exposure), I'll have to buy a new one...
I have an FS7 noob question: what capacity/speed SD cards do you guys usually use as the Utility card? I guess user files can grow in size, but each is probably entry (like Scene Files, etc.) are probably rather small; also I don't think the card speed is important... Please tell me what a reasonable minimum is.
Another noob question: when shooting from tripod, I'd definitely like to use an external monitor. Please tell me whether the FS7 is able to output things like peaking, zebra etc? I have a Marshall monitor whose peaking is not adjustable, and shows on every contrasty edge in the picture - really useless, so if I cannot use the camera's own tools (for focus and exposure), I'll have to buy a new one...
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morgan_moore
Major Contributor
I have a $5 4gb card
FrameFarmMedia
Veteran
The VF aids like peaking and zebras don't output to external monitors they are only on the VF stream.