FS7: PMW FS5 Announced.

I think it looks sweet. Not for me, but I can see lots of people snapping this up, particularly those that do that DV camera, handheld, reality style.

One question: does it have CineEI??
 
EI - no.

'DV' shooting Yep - my job tomorrow Im looking at my 7 and quaking in my boots for lugging it around - trying to see a way to make it light - like shoot 4k and leave my 50-300 at home!

S
 
Perfect for people who do events where walking around with a zoom is all they need. As for walking around with the FS7, one word, monopod.
 
I'd like the FS7 to be smaller...

That's where the FS5 really shines. It can have a really small footprint
for long handheld operation.

Personally, I find the FS7 to big and heavy for all day handheld operation.
Yes, you can put it on your shoulder, but this is a much to high position
for doco work for me...

Really looking forward,

Erik
 
Isn't the FS7 supposed to go on the shoulder with the handle extender? I hadn't thought it would be such a struggle to schlepp around?
 
I think Sony is taking direct aim here at the C100.

BTW, US List is $6600 without lens; add $600 for the 18-105 kit lens (yuch! but we've beaten that to death)
Street price should be around $5600 but that was only a casual ballpark being thrown around.

Ned
 
This offering is boring and ergonomically a disaster.


The design of the body looks to be more in-line with what Canon is producing with the cinema line(which thousands of filmmakers seem to love). If they can revamp the menu system within the NEX lineup they would likely see greater success
 
Isn't the FS7 supposed to go on the shoulder with the handle extender? I hadn't thought it would be such a struggle to schlepp around?

Ive got a twisted set of logic that means I tend to build cameras - maybe I should go naked some time.

That logic?
-wanna see and focus?
need a 1080 monitor (502 +batteries)
-wanna record sound and monitor it?
need mic, lav, cans
-wanna hold a stable shot?
need a rig
-wanna tell the story?
need 16mm - 200mm glass
-got a long lens?
need to support it
-wanna not look like a plum?
need spare batts for everything

The load builds fast.

I see people shooting with a 5d and a rode mic and im kind of impressed.. I just would not dare do it!

S
 
The design of the body looks to be more in-line with what Canon is producing with the cinema line(which thousands of filmmakers seem to love). If they can revamp the menu system within the NEX lineup they would likely see greater success

The latest reviews of the C300 II are really slamming the unwieldly form factor of this camera. Many pros are fed up with the problems of a fully rigged camera in this design. This retrograde, "Bolex" look is faddish and rediculous for serious shooters. Sony is just selling cameras without thought to useability. And the prosumer public rants and raves about them. Sad.
 
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-wanna tell the story?
need 16mm - 200mm glass
-got a long lens?
need to support it

S

Yikes, if I always worked like that nothing would get done. There is a time and place to have everything rigged up, you should try to think outside the box and utilize a more bare bones setup on occasion. You would be surprised at what you can do with a camera and a good top handle :)
 
The latest reviews of the C300 II are really slamming the unwieldly platform of this camera. Many pros are fed up with the problems of a fully rigged camera in this design. This retrograde, "Bolex" look is faddish and rediculous for serious shooters. Sony is just selling cameras without thought to useability. And the prosumer public rants and raves about them. Sad.

Unwieldy platform? I've shot hundreds of a projects on a MK I and loved every minute with that camera(including the few times I had to have it on my shoulder). I don't relate to your comment at all, as all the "pros" and "serious shooters" I know absolutely love operating the c300. Maybe news and broadcast folks feel differently, don't know many of them. But as far as documentary, narrative and short form commercial work go, all I've heard is positive feedback in regards to form factor.
 
Yikes, if I always worked like that nothing would get done. There is a time and place to have everything rigged up, you should try to think outside the box and utilize a more bare bones setup on occasion. You would be surprised at what you can do with a camera and a good top handle :)

Actually im gonna go with a 135 prime tomorrow not a bigger zoom but really for 'kids playing' Im desiring to park myself back on sticks and pick off stuff with a 300.

As for top handle shooting.. that seems to work with 1/3 sensor cams like the EX1 kind of get in on everything for that TV look - but once you are in DOF/No IS world it doesn't really seem to gel.

The job tommorrow would be nice on the FS5.. 10-24, 24-105, or even just 17-55+crop mode

The small mass and crop mode would be perfect.

S
 
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Unwieldy platform? I've shot hundreds of a projects on a MK I and loved every minute with that camera(including the few times I had to have it on my shoulder). I don't relate to your comment at all, as all the "pros" and "serious shooters" I know absolutely love operating the c300. Maybe news and broadcast folks feel differently, don't know many of them. But as far as documentary, narrative and short form commercial work go, all I've heard is positive feedback in regards to form factor.
I think the diff in opinion is a function of how the camera is rigged. Once the C300 is fully rigged for tripod use, it's a rube goldberg beast. Shoulder mounted, it works, as you've pointed out, Leo.

To quote Dan Chung, "The upright form factor makes for easy handholding without a rig, but if you want to balance the camera on your shoulder then you need extra third party gear".
 
I think there are really two schools of shooting.

'proper'/serious' and 'gut cam'

Which tends to want a proper shoulder mount camera mainly to present perfect eyeline when shooting tight - IMO the C series (and FS5!) are terrible for this

There is another 'gut cam' school more around reality and also using a monopod or skinny sticks and often a crappy slider (which wont support a shoulder cam)

Shooting 'proper' as a solo op is a challenge (esp without a cabrio) and to some extent maybe we need revisit which style works in todays climate.

S
 
Shooting 'proper' as a solo op is a challenge (esp without a cabrio) and to some extent maybe we need revisit which style works in todays climate.

S

If you're shooting events and fast moving Doco then a video camera is a far better choice. I'd be getting one of Sony's handheld video gut cams as a B cam to the FS7 long before the FS5.
 
Well I have an EX1 :)

You have this odd thing like 'cinematic event coverage' or suchlike - but I want to add sound (spoken audio) as I hate stuff that is just some art/dross over some music.

There is a duality - in prep the director wants 'cinematic' and on location it is 'ooooh punch in on that sweet little kid'

So it is a mix of 'traditional' and 'modern toss' - trying to get that content and have it look nice - it all adds up to a combo that doesnt quite work technically- as I said the 5d-vid mic people seem to have it down but I kind of don't know how!

EX1+GH4 is a possibility!

The FS5 with a couple of well selected lenses (S16 zoom and a 50 1.4?) with its low mass, SDI for an EFV, XLRs, could potentially cross a nice barrier.

S
 
Well I have an EX1 :)

You have this odd thing like 'cinematic event coverage' or suchlike - but I want to add sound (spoken audio) as I hate stuff that is just some art/dross over some music.

There is a duality - in prep the director wants 'cinematic' and on location it is 'ooooh punch in on that sweet little kid'

So it is a mix of 'traditional' and 'modern toss' - trying to get that content and have it look nice - it all adds up to a combo that doesnt quite work technically- as I said the 5d-vid mic people seem to have it down but I kind of don't know how!

EX1+GH4 is a possibility!

S

I know exactly what you mean.

The proposed S16 HD centre crop will get you closer to that ideal, well, if it can be engaged by reprogramming a user button rather than rebooting the camera!!!
 
The FS5 has electronic zoom from the off, mix that with low mass and it is interesting to be honest.

of course that is today.. when Im prepping for a certain job tomorrow, next week, next job Ill be all about a chunky codec EI and luts!
S
 
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