Plastic quality

NeedCreative

NeedCreative

Well-known member
Now after using my FS100 for a couple of nights, I nearly broke the thing while rigging it. I started to rethink my assessment of build quality insofar as the physical body of the camera itself. At first just test shooting and carrying it around I felt "this isnt bad. Its light but sturdy enough. Then tonight the lens got stuck in the gears of my follow focus and while everything is fine, compared to the Zeiss lens on it and the rig it was on, the FS100 feels like it was made from the cheapest plastics Sony could possibly get. The panels sound hollow. I'm shocked at the low build quality for a $5,000 product. In fact the only solid parts seem to be the lens mount area, the grip, and the mount points.

Anyone else feel the same way? If this was a $200 camera I'd understand but for this kind of camera were they out of their minds? Apple builds tanks at the $500 range and Sony used rice paper thin plastic at the 5K range. Very surprising. It's certainly functional but should have been significantly better.
 
NeedCreative said:
Now after using my FS100 for a couple of nights, I nearly broke the thing while rigging it. I started to rethink my assessment of build quality insofar as the physical body of the camera itself. At first just test shooting and carrying it around I felt "this isnt bad. Its light but sturdy enough. Then tonight the lens got stuck in the gears of my follow focus and while everything is fine, compared to the Zeiss lens on it and the rig it was on, the FS100 feels like it was made from the cheapest plastics Sony could possibly get. The panels sound hollow. I'm shocked at the low build quality for a $5,000 product. In fact the only solid parts seem to be the lens mount area, the grip, and the mount points.

Anyone else feel the same way? If this was a $200 camera I'd understand but for this kind of camera were they out of their minds? Apple builds tanks at the $500 range and Sony used rice paper thin plastic at the 5K range. Very surprising. It's certainly functional but should have been significantly better.
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Typical Sony, always missing something. I don't think I've ever seen a complete Sony product. I guess it's called meeting your bottom line, it's all about profit. Skimp somewhere to fatten the purse.

What I notice is that Sony is all about marketing. "Build Quality" is something not marketable. But things like 'Super 35mm Sensor', 'Short Flange Distance', 'Slow & Quick Record' are. So they focused on the pre-launch marketable aspects. Having said that, did Sony know that the build quality would hurt ongoing sales? Probably, but they probably forecast their initial sales from their pre-launch campaign and probably made their money back already.

Exactly which part nearly broke? When you say "broke" do you mean break in half or do you mean "almost cracked".
 
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Almost cracked. Like any more leverage (and there wasn't much) and it felt like the brittle plastic would just crack. And I agree Sony always seems to find a skimp point. But plastic quality? Geez.
 
As far as I know, the FS 100 has a sturdy aluminum "skeleton" under the plastic panels.

I personally would prefer an aluminum housing, but I always hear folks complaining about the weight and size of cameras, and since a passionate DSLR shooter was involved in the design process - there you go.

Frank
 
Postmaster said:
As far as I know, the FS 100 has a sturdy aluminum "skeleton" under the plastic panels.

I personally would prefer an aluminum housing, but I always hear folks complaining about the weight and size of cameras, and since a passionate DSLR shooter was involved in the design process - there you go.

Frank
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I hear you and I understand but a few oz more wouldn't have hurt and would have made a difference. And I'm sure there's a metal cage inside but the main plastic is still crack and scratch prone.

Don't get me wrong I do love the camera so far but I do wish they'd have built the 5,000 dollar body a bit more sturdy than a take out food container. ;) that's a slight exaggeration bur you get my point.
 
Yeah, my old ex1 felt cheap and was starting to break apart in places after a few years of regular use. They sure aren't making these bodies to last which is a shame, because it really kills the resale value when pieces start breaking. I actually feel like the build quality on my AF-100 is pretty solid. Seems like it will last a bit longer than some of the Sony gear.
 
The last solid built video camera I owned was a Panasonic DVC30. It was built like a tank with its magnesium alloy diecast chassis. It also felt good and solid when hand holding. I really miss this type of quality.
 
Mark Williams said:
The last solid built video camera I owned was a Panasonic DVC30. It was built like a tank with its magnesium alloy diecast chassis. It also felt good and solid when hand holding. I really miss this type of quality.
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my hvx200 is a ****ing tank too, its taken some bad spills and its truckin hard still
 
NeedCreative said:
I hear you and I understand but a few oz more wouldn't have hurt and would have made a difference. And I'm sure there's a metal cage inside but the main plastic is still crack and scratch prone.

Don't get me wrong I do love the camera so far but I do wish they'd have built the 5,000 dollar body a bit more sturdy than a take out food container. ;) that's a slight exaggeration bur you get my point.
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I could not agree more. I come from a time and place where cameras where big and weight more than 30 lbs. And I love it that way - but they just don´t make em anymore (in that price league).

I think the weight and formfactor of a RED (not Epic) or F3 is the bare minimum.
And when you show up on set , you camera looks like a plastic toy and the camera of the clients mother in law is bigger and heavier - that is not pulling him on the confident side.

I really love the FS100, but I gonna put it in a solid cage with handles and all.

Frank
 
Postmaster said:
I really love the FS100, but I gonna put it in a solid cage with handles and all.

Frank
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I went out and got a Gini rig as a starter kit for that very reason. I think they may be working on a FS100 cage over at Trusmt too. Or, are considering one. That's why I created the Rigging your FS100 thread. For this very reason after watching Bloom and Nigel....
 
So apparently Den Lennie from F-Stop Academy helped design this thing and he is a Director/Producer himself.

Did he not recommend that the chassis be made sturdy????
 
ectobuilder said:
So apparently Den Lennie from F-Stop Academy helped design this thing and he is a Director/Producer himself.

Did he not recommend that the chassis be made sturdy????
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He probably did, and they probably didn't listen, as I'm sure he also said give us ND and SDI connections.
 
I totally agree, I was messing around with my old pani (pvdv710) small mini dv camcorder, and it felt so good. It was solid, has weight. And the plastic was thick as can be. We live in a "throw away society" where manufacturers produce items to last about six monthes, it goes with the tech cycle as well. Have you ever seen some of the land fills with cell phones and old computers? It's overwhelming to see how much waste there is today. I own a laundromat, we have some old machines, they were originally built with steel cogs and sprockets, they would last for an avg. of about ten to twelve yrs with daily usage. They now make them out of plastic, and they last about two monthes. It really is disgusting that this is what the world has become. And they wonder why, the bees are dying, there's global warming, rainsw polluted, ect.... sorry for the rant.
 
vcfilms said:
He probably did, and they probably didn't listen, as I'm sure he also said give us ND and SDI connections.
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I don´t know, if you listen to him at about 3:00 and 4:20 it more sounds to me he, just wanted a better DSLR mouse trap. Small and lightwight as possible so he can "steal" shots without permission at bus stops.


They should have asked me and we would have a better body, formfactor, 10bit, detachable monitor and SDI :happy:


Frank
 
Hey we all got film making ability, lets all make a documentary about Sony and how they always make an imperfect product to screw us over. Would be ironic using the FS100 to film that, Michael Moore style. lol
 
maranfilms said:
I totally agree, I was messing around with my old pani (pvdv710) small mini dv camcorder, and it felt so good. It was solid, has weight. And the plastic was thick as can be. We live in a "throw away society" where manufacturers produce items to last about six monthes, it goes with the tech cycle as well. Have you ever seen some of the land fills with cell phones and old computers? It's overwhelming to see how much waste there is today. I own a laundromat, we have some old machines, they were originally built with steel cogs and sprockets, they would last for an avg. of about ten to twelve yrs with daily usage. They now make them out of plastic, and they last about two monthes. It really is disgusting that this is what the world has become. And they wonder why, the bees are dying, there's global warming, rainsw polluted, ect.... sorry for the rant.
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I will say I like the build of most of my Apple gear, even if it is being assembled an made in Asia. My Dad is a PC user and I also have a freak PC from HP. I was a PC user for ages along with Apple but when Apple got out of the Plastic biz and started building aluminum and glass machines, I never looked back. My Nikon D2X, Sinar 8x10, and even my Toyo 8x10 and Linhoff 4x5s are all solid as rocks. I've never bought Sony before except for their TVs and while great performers, always cheesy plastic. The Sony cam I've used from the past couple of years is so cheap I always figured that was a reflection of cost.

But $5K for a body is a lot and I'm bummed about the plastic. Once you make the bloody form, casting it in aluminum or magnesium isn't going to break their bank and for sure, they'd blow away the market if they delivered something like that. But, it seems like the one common thread I get is 'that's Sony.'
 
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