FS7: Last minute purchase indecision...your thoughts...

Chris Johnston

Chris Johnston

Veteran
I've been budgeted 10K for this year (1st 2 weeks of Oct)

I mostly shoot head and shoulders interview stuff as well as a weekly cooking show for TV broadcast. (pretty much all in studio)
Benn using fs100s for the last few years but early this year purchased a FS7 to start replacing the ageing fs100s.
I was planning on a 2nd fs7 in oct but now that it's almost go time I'm having second thoughts.
The 10 K budget was supposed to get me a second fs7, extra batts/ 128 cards/ carry bags/ new rechargeable batts for the lavs etc. etc.
Now with the price increase recently, I have been toying with the idea of getting an FS5 instead of the 7 so I can still get all the little goodies I need besides just the cam.

I've never used an FS5 so I'm not sure about matching up footy in post.

Just curious, your thoughts? stick with the original plan and get fs7? or go fs5?
 
You are likely to get a bunch of replies saying you should go with the FS7.... and they'll probably be right. I own the FS5 and for the first time last week I had to shoot on a clients FS7. It seems a really nice camera, but I did spot 3 things the FS5 is better at. 1) Obviously size and weight. I'd end up with backache shooting my current run and gun projects on an FS7. 2) Clear image zoom. 3) Variable (and auto) ND.

No.2 is useful, but not essential if you have a good collection of glass and time to change them. But 1 and 3 is what, IMO, practically sets the FS5 apart from the FS7. The variable ND is the FS5's key advantage I believe. That extra control/balance you have between iris and ND has proven a godsend with many projects I've worked on.

But I conceed in every other area I can think of (right now) the FS7 wins out.
 
I would definitely go with the 7. FS5 has some nice quality of life additions that are missing from the FS7, but its lack of CineEI and XAVC-I put it in an entirely different class of camera in my experience.

More importantly, if you're going to be using it primarily for multicam, you need a camera that can share scene files. Otherwise you will be renting another FS7 every time you need to need to hand off the footage and can't do a grade yourself.

If you already have an FS7 and are choking at the cost of another, I'd say just go with an a7rii/a7sii and save some more money. You can easily finesse a match in post, I do it all the time.
 
Running around with a pimped FS7 is a back breaker (to newbs who never ran around with a broadcast cam)

So if you do running around the FS5 has appeal.

But you are 'mainly in the studio'

So one assumes your scenes dont have huge dynamic range or rely on stooopid ISO or need you keeping changing ND. (USPs of sony and other 'proper' cameras)

I would..

Either

- get an FS7 for perfect shot matching, codec look whatever matching and only one set of settings/batts whatever.. it can be very liberating for B to completely match A cos you never think 'hmm maybe reshoot that angle on the better cam.

Or..

I would consider a black magic micro (or three!) and get those over pot shots, have an easy life on a gimbal etc.

S
 
I'll never understand people that consider an FS7 a heavy camera.

Anyway, the ND of the FS5 is the only thing that interests me about that camera. I feel it's a solid tier below the FS7 is every aspect of operation and image quality, whereas the FS7 holds its own with cameras way more expensive.
 
Unless you're Keith Floyd on a fishing vessel in the North Atlantic, not sure why your camera needs to be on the shoulder for a cooking show. Certainly never has been when I've shot that sort of stuff.
 
I meant overhead hard rig looking at the pans/chopping board ..

Overall in a studio environment (controlled lights) you gotta wonder if the fs7 makes a nicer pic than the BM micro or 2.5k

The FS7 shines in the field.
 
I don't come from 2/3rd chip cameras as a shooter. I was either in post or Directing when they were the standard.

Thing is looking at that rig the camera is the least heavy part of it and if you transferred the same setup to the FS5 the weight difference would be negligible. I mean, without a lens an FS7 is only 1kg more than a 5D mk2. And your setup looks nice and balanced for handheld :)

I blame all the weedy new gen of ops and their skinny bony arms.

Anyways, I'll shut up and stop taking the thread off topic.
 
( i deleted pic - because of face in background) but yes nicely balanced and totally agree.
For me personally - the small savings in going down to FS5 - you give up more than you save in $. And I'd still spring for the FS7.
But I sort of agree with Sam, for mostly intvw / cooking stuff (OP's orig post) I'd maybe think about gimbal size camera for unique angles (that can also be used on a gimbal for other shoots).
 
I plan on using one of the stripped down fs100s for an "above shot" close up looking down into pots/pans.

Also, Does anyone use the "center crop" on the fs7 rather than the whole sensor. I was a little confused what benefit that would give, if any.
 
I find that hand holding the FS5 is a dream. No need to have a rig to shoulder mount it. I can hold it up high or down low and it is steady as a rock and it can be stripped down for flying. The ergonomics are terrific.
 
Chris Johnston said:
I plan on using one of the stripped down fs100s for an "above shot" close up looking down into pots/pans.

Also, Does anyone use the "center crop" on the fs7 rather than the whole sensor. I was a little confused what benefit that would give, if any.
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CC is useful for grabbing long lens shots.. better to have than not as a digital EXT.. the original purpose was to be able to use S16 lenses.. you do lose quality.. after debayer ,its less resolution than HD.. but for TV it hardly matters for a few shots.. I wouldn't shoot a whole program on CC though.. unless its was a look you were going for.. or you only had wide angle lenses :)
 
Yeah agreed. I think there's a quite noticeable drop in quality with it but if you use it for a shot you couldn't otherwise get, as opposed to out of laziness not moving or changing a lens, then it can do a job.
 
Chris Johnston said:
All cams are usually on sticks for 90% of what I shoot. Hardly ever shoulder mount much.
Click to expand...

Until I read this I was going to suggest the FS5 as it gives different options for mounting. I would go with a second FS7 it's just a much better camera than the FS5 all said and done. I wouldn't trade the bitrate and codecs for a smaller package if I was shooting predominantly on a tripod.

I use the centre crop for HFR which I find has less artefacts than the line skipping full sensor HFR. I've never had any complaints with crop mode being mixed with 4k it's almost as though people accept slo mo is softer.
 
Thanks all, I think Ill just stick with the FS7. Gives me $1500 for batts cards etc. I was hoping to have enough left over to get a new monitor, but the footy matching is too important for me and the same cams setup identically just makes the quick turn around more of a priority than the extra gadgets...
 
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