Other: Max ND stops with the FS5?

I

IronFilm

Veteran
"....built-in electronic variable ND filter that's capable of 7 stops (ND 2.1). There will also be a manual ND filter with options of clear, 1/4, 1/16, and 1/64."

Does this mean the FS5 can have a max of 13 stops? (7+6) If so I reckon this can be a big bonus over the FS7 if you are shooting a mix of in and out of indoors and outdoors in bright sunlight a lot in slog with a very minimal setup.

Or can you not use them together?? (as those other four manual options, are just presets and not separate ND filters)
 
The hard stops are just fixed settings of the variable ND.

This is what I gather from the info out there. So 7 stops is the Max.
 
Yeah I was somewhat afraid of that, as 13 stops would be so cool. I too got the impression it is just pre sets of the electronic ND filter, but was hoping there is some info out there saying otherwise that I'd missed?

As 7 stops would be less than the C300MK2, but still a stop more than the FS7 which I find is a little too little if shooting wide open on a fast prime outdoors.
 
IronFilm said:
Yeah I was somewhat afraid of that, as 13 stops would be so cool. I too got the impression it is just pre sets of the electronic ND filter, but was hoping there is some info out there saying otherwise that I'd missed?

As 7 stops would be less than the C300MK2, but still a stop more than the FS7 which I find is a little too little if shooting wide open on a fast prime outdoors.
Click to expand...

Is the FS5 not a stop more sensitive than the FS7 which negates the extra stop of ND anyway?
 
IronFilm said:
I too got the impression it is just pre sets of the electronic ND filter...
Click to expand...

Yes, I believe that's right. I think there's basically no way they could fit a filter wheel AND the electronic ND (which is quite bulky) under the E-mount.
 
I'm holding an FS5 in the palm of my hand right now (so tiny!). The presets are settings of the variable ND, so 7 stops is the full available range.
 
The FS5's provides a minimum of 2, & maximum of 7, stops of ND. When set to Clear the ND system moves completely out of the optical path, which I imagine changes the backfocus.
 
I'm pretty sure all ND systems use a physical "clear" filter to avoid a change in backfocus... I don't think I've ever seen a built-in mechanical ND filter system that changed your backfocus depending on your ND/clear setting.
 
The C300 mkII has two filter systems. The first has 0 (aka Clear), 2, 4, or 6, stops of ND. The second filter system drops into the optical path for an additional 2, or 4, stops of ND, but also causes the backfocus to change.
 
I do not imagine that the FS5's variable ND system will change backfocus but it will be something I'll send up the chain at Sony and will also test when I get one to review.

Ned Soltz
 
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