FS7: Plastic Junk
- Thread starter allenfacemire
- Start date
Yes, the mic holder is too big for most shotgun mics. I've got a 416, which is quite thin, but I've used a few O-rings at the point where I want the mic to sit in the holder and the problem is solved. I bought the set below and then chose the rings that were the right fit for the 416 (tight enough to stay on the mic securely). As you can see, it's a pretty cheap solution.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/419-Rubbe...05&rk=1&rkt=1&&_trksid=p2045573.c100505.m3226
Of course, this won't help if/when the holder wears out and your mic starts drooping for that reason.
Patrick
combatentropy
Veteran
I think many here would pluck down an extra $1,000 for a metal FS7. Would well-built metal parts really add more than that to the price? I'm asking honestly, since I'm not an engineer.
Last I checked, metal wasn't $100 per ounce. I know that it would be bit harder than plastic to cut and bend to your will, but come on.
Does making it well, out of metal, really add thousands to the cost (and therefore thousands upon thousands to the final price because, you know, profit margin)? Or it is just one of the many irrational evils in this world: someone deciding to shave a few dollars on the cost per unit, when they could have made it out of metal, simply marked it up a few dollars instead, and made the same amount of profit?
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
Entropy..
Metal is not the King. A skeleton of metal and plastic shell impact in a manner that will protect the internal components better.
Just like you car has a plastic bumper rather than a 50s chrome plated steel bumper (fender?)
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Overall I think the 7 is ok - im happy with saving $20g over a Venice build quality because the 7 is "good enough"
Also get a spare! A second cam is more likely to keep you shooting than a single titanium one!
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The 7 does have form design limitations of course - the raised rear is stupid "design" - the flat form of the 5/55 is way better.
Metal is not the King. A skeleton of metal and plastic shell impact in a manner that will protect the internal components better.
Just like you car has a plastic bumper rather than a 50s chrome plated steel bumper (fender?)
-
Overall I think the 7 is ok - im happy with saving $20g over a Venice build quality because the 7 is "good enough"
Also get a spare! A second cam is more likely to keep you shooting than a single titanium one!
--
The 7 does have form design limitations of course - the raised rear is stupid "design" - the flat form of the 5/55 is way better.
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
I think all the add ons are trash.
To be fair the screen is handy on occasion and has not broken yet.
It is a real shame to lose audio 3 and 4 when removing the handle.
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When I used the 7 with cn7 and xdA the whole thing was not solid - but IMO if you want tc vlock and a cine zoom one should spec an 5/55 - so really Sony offer a good range fs5 fs7 5/55 and Venice - great line up to fit all budgets and productions
Styles
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My 2008 ex1 still works. Over time we we find out if the 7 has a weak point - most likely the power switch or menu wheel or hdmi port and likely not the chassis
To be fair the screen is handy on occasion and has not broken yet.
It is a real shame to lose audio 3 and 4 when removing the handle.
--
When I used the 7 with cn7 and xdA the whole thing was not solid - but IMO if you want tc vlock and a cine zoom one should spec an 5/55 - so really Sony offer a good range fs5 fs7 5/55 and Venice - great line up to fit all budgets and productions
Styles
--
My 2008 ex1 still works. Over time we we find out if the 7 has a weak point - most likely the power switch or menu wheel or hdmi port and likely not the chassis
And yet, I've had three of them break while flying. I finally figured out an orientation to fold the Cac-12 next to the handle during transport, and it's held together since.
Run&Gun
Veteran
I meant more along the lines of normal use/wear and tear. I don't rule anything out of the realm of possibility in regards to damage during shipping. Especially airline shipping. I've had A/B chargers broken, top lights broken, a friend had A/B batts broken(!)... I've even seen an entire fleet of broadcast RF cams destroyed while being transported on the truck they travel on in the bins they were designed to live in. I think the airlines could figure out how to break a solid rubber bouncy ball surrounded by foam in a Pelican case. Nothing is really un-breakable, but certain things are definetly made and engineered to withstand use and abuse better.
I've never used a 7, but I don't think it's as much the body as it is the surrounding parts and pieces. My first Betacam was a 100B. It was Sony's "entry level" Betacam and the body was well made, but some of the surrounding pieces were definetly not as tough as on the BVW series. I broke the VF mount and believe it or not, the top handle actually cracked in the middle and I had to replace it. Both pieces were plastic, where as they were metal on the BVW's.
VisionRouge
Member
cyvideo
Veteran
Been there done that breakage twice! Once on an FS700 and then the FS7. Agree with you on the Betacams, DVC Digi-Betas and the disc XDCams etc, of which I still have one. They are built like tanks compared to the much more flim-flam flimsy FS7s. Can you image putting anywhere near the strain on either FS7's lens mount that in the past you subjected the trusty old 2/3" mount to on those cameras?
Chris Young