New Sony FS7

VinceinLA said:
After 100's of hours of recent feature doc work on an F3, I am very skeptical of this shoulder mount idea on the FS7. The Cion is going to have the same kind of problems. There is no way these cameras are going to balance properly with a fixed sweet spot, given all the different battery and lens possibilities. Arri, like usual, got it right with their system on the Amira. I'd like to see the FS7 mated up the new Zacuto baseplate that's coming out soon. I may buy one for a variety of cameras after testing out the prototype at AbleCine recently.
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I think that it's not really intended to be used for longer periods. But it's nice to be able to get it on your shoulder quickly without extra stuff for shorter times and if you only do it occasionally. If you're someone who shoots for hours everyday, obviously a more serious solution is needed. But for the rest of us...

yeah, I'm also curious about the new Zacuto VCT. Seems like a swell solution that will work with almost any camera. Will look into getting one for my FS700. I always found camera specific solutions too expensive and once the camera is out dated they lose all value.
 
VinceinLA said:
After 100's of hours of recent feature doc work on an F3, I am very skeptical of this shoulder mount idea on the FS7. The Cion is going to have the same kind of problems. There is no way these cameras are going to balance properly with a fixed sweet spot, given all the different battery and lens possibilities. Arri, like usual, got it right with their system on the Amira. I'd like to see the FS7 mated up the new Zacuto baseplate that's coming out soon. I may buy one for a variety of cameras after testing out the prototype at AbleCine recently.
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Yes many think this camera will not need rig and is ready to shoot. I don't think so.
 
SJX said:
For me it looks like soft video in slow motion. But right each his own.
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Must say it didn't blow me away either - looks like soft video in slow motion with the colour desaturated! I'm sure it'll be capable of doing almost anything you need it to though, reckon it'll take the world by storm and make some amazing films in all sorts of genres and budgets.
Steve
 
steve phillipps said:
Must say it didn't blow me away either - looks like soft video in slow motion with the colour desaturated! I'm sure it'll be capable of doing almost anything you need it to though, reckon it'll take the world by storm and make some amazing films in all sorts of genres and budgets.
Steve
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It was shot with the Dog Schidt lenses treated for low contrast and image quirks. That is a specific look with those lenses on any camera. I liked the soft feel of it. I think with Slog3 and 10bit internal the footage can be pushed/pulled in so many ways of personal preference. Some good some bad.
 
dmitrizigany said:
yeah, I'm also curious about the new Zacuto VCT. Seems like a swell solution that will work with almost any camera. Will look into getting one for my FS700. I always found camera specific solutions too expensive and once the camera is out dated they lose all value.
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Does the FS7 require a special baseplate? I had my eye on a used shape 6000 shoulder baseplate but wondered if I needed the newer ones with height adjustable front rods. I like the idea of being able to move the camera around the baseplate depending on length of lens to keep center over shoulder.
 
Regarding baseplates for the FS7, Sony is selling their own model with VCT14 mount but 3rd parties are already involved, Vocas for instance has one for the FS7 too. They also has top plate with handle and other accessories. You can look at their product flyer here : http://www.vocas.com/sites/default/files/support/attachments/Flyer Sony PXW-FS7 IBC 2014.pdf

The balance should be better (less front heavy) with the XDCA-FS7 (...) module and a V-mount battery at the back.

Speaking of the new Zacuto baseplate, I saw it at IBC too and the sliding option is nice indeed. The shoulder "pads" (gel pads) seemed more comfortable that your regular rubber shoulder pad. Built quality and finish is typical Zacuto which means... barely above average.
 
The Vocas plate doesn't seem like it would have much range since its molded for the curve of the backside. It doesn't appear to have any height adjustment on the front rails so that would mean they are standard unlike the C300 rails.

I might just grab up an older non adjustable Shape 6000 plate under $400. I wish Sony would price their baseplate lower. $900 or so seems a bit steep when the aftermarket ones in that price range offer so much more. I like the idea of the Zacuto gel pads. Wonder how durable they are?
 
Pricing up on retailers' sites in the UK now - £5,599 for body only. That it pretty seriously ridiculous for this bit of kit! Every other manufacturer might as well jus pack up and go home!
Steve
 
keith.uk said:
Either that or fight back by releasing something better and cheaper!
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Of course, but I think they'll struggle without the multi-national mega bucks behind them.
This is what I think is happening with RED at the moment - I reckon they're gonna struggle now. Originally they had a chief executive who was a mad indie film buff and who genuinely did seem determined that film-makers should be empowered and not be ripped off any more, and he demonstrated that a bit of kit capable of Hollywood quality could cost not $200,000 but $20,000! Just like Convergent Designs did with the Nanoflash - they showed that Sony was holding back putting decent codecs on the likes of the EX3 not on the grounds of cost of technical limitations - but simply because they needed to give people a reason to spend 10x as much on another of their cameras. RED changed things, CD changed things...but now the big boys have responded (I would say "conceded"!) and fallen into line and been forced to stop ripping everyone off! Don't blame them for ripping everyone off - they're a business - the more money they can make the better, job well done - it's just that they can't do it any more because there are alternatives out there.
Steve
 
Agreed. And I'd imagine that this big push from Sony is motivated in large part by their desire to persuade hundreds of millions of people to buy 4k televisions. I'd guess that's where the real money is for them, and it's a consideration not applicable to Canon.
 
steve phillipps said:
Of course, but I think they'll struggle without the multi-national mega bucks behind them.
This is what I think is happening with RED at the moment - I reckon they're gonna struggle now. Originally they had a chief executive who was a mad indie film buff and who genuinely did seem determined that film-makers should be empowered and not be ripped off any more, and he demonstrated that a bit of kit capable of Hollywood quality could cost not $200,000 but $20,000! Just like Convergent Designs did with the Nanoflash - they showed that Sony was holding back putting decent codecs on the likes of the EX3 not on the grounds of cost of technical limitations - but simply because they needed to give people a reason to spend 10x as much on another of their cameras. RED changed things, CD changed things...but now the big boys have responded (I would say "conceded"!) and fallen into line and been forced to stop ripping everyone off! Don't blame them for ripping everyone off - they're a business - the more money they can make the better, job well done - it's just that they can't do it any more because there are alternatives out there.
Steve
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No one is being cheated or ripped off in either case, more competition with lower prices, or less competition with higher prices. Both are just two sides of the same coin in a free market. Otherwise you would have to say that now with more competition, the camera companies are getting "ripped off" by the consumer, but that doesn't make sense.

Remember you actually want the camera companies to make a lot of profits because part of that profit is what they use for research and development to make better cameras. No profits or very little profits means very little budget for R&D which means no new camera development.

Also Red patented some technology and software that many companies still can't rival. That's not "just a little bit of kit". It's truly innovation, not just some parts sitting on the shelf that Red put together.
 
Gillvane said:
Remember you actually want the camera companies to make a lot of profits because part of that profit is what they use for research and development to make better cameras. No profits or very little profits means very little budget for R&D which means no new camera development.
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It is true that part of the profit is invested in R&D. However, guess how much percentage is that?
 
Liam Hall said:
That's 5,999 Pounds Sterling... ...plus VAT. Price has been up over a week...
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£5,599 sorry for the dollar sign at the current exchange rate thats high compared to what B&H has it listed for. I'm sure the price will
change again once the camera is released for sale anyway. Current exchange rate £5,599 = US $9,159.15
 
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Gary W said:
£5,599 sorry for the dollar sign at the current exchange rate thats high compared to what B&H has it listed for. I'm sure the price will
change again once the camera is released for sale anyway. Current exchange rate £5,599 = US $9,159.15
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Welcome to Europe.
But at least we have a working social and healthcare system in most parts ;)
 
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