FS7: Run & Gun - All in One Lens

Publimix said:
To use the same strawmans technique: your answer for the initial question: 'which FS7 Run and gun lens' would be "buy another camera"
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Or follow the lead of still photographers who have already trod over this same ground -- and just get used to the idea that you have to carry at least 2-3 good lenses and become proficient at changing lenses quickly (or carry another body). There is no avoiding this simple fact of life for a professional who actually cares about the quality of the images he/she is capturing. If someone only wants one lens -- they bought the wrong type of camera.
 
JCummings said:
Hate to say this, but perhaps you would be better served with an additional 2/3" or 1/2" camera just for these situations. They're plentiful and cheap on the used market. So are the lenses....
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Absolutely - my EX1 is just unbeatable for such purposes... As to a run& gun lens on the FS7, well - just bought another Canon for use with my Speed Booster, this time the 24-70mm F4.0 IS, and it's much lighter than the (great otherwise) kit 28-135mm lens, and has just the right focal range for run&gun. A 300mm zoom? Doh - the 28-135mm Sony is only good on the tripod!

Piotr
 
Doug Jensen said:
Or follow the lead of still photographers who have already trod over this same ground -- and just get used to the idea that you have to carry at least 2-3 good lenses and become proficient at changing lenses quickly (or carry another body)
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The thing about stills is it is pretty easy/affordable to carry 2-3 bodies (16-35 50, 70-200 is a typical news setup)

Mounting a BM micro with an 'emergancy' wide is actually of interest on my rig if only I could get a switch to use a single monitor..

S
 
moldcad said:
Doh - the 28-135mm Sony is only good on the tripod!
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I've used the 28-135mm handheld extensively, but mostly for docu-esque filming.

The only photographers I know who use Canon's 28-300mm uber-zoom are paparazzi. Suits their priority of grabbing the shot over maximizing image quality.
 
stokstad said:
I guess a b4 lens with the crop mode could work.
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The B4 adapter is £1,170 + VAT alone and sourcing a decent Broadcast HD lens will probably be close to £1000 (there's a lot of junk on Ebay *goes without saying) and B4 Lens absolutely needs support so the FS7 needs to be rigged and powered by VLock to balance it out.

I came to the conclusion that we'd be better off to buy one of Sony's small Broadcast video cameras instead. That's not to say others might find it a good option though.
 
Ben Scott said:
Canon 24-105 on a speedbooster and making use of the centre crop to act as a 2x extender.
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I like that idea a lot. I have learned to embrace the center punch with my Nikon 24-70. Works real well with my Nikon 70-200 as well. Only takes a minute to mount a little T-bracket for support. Now you are switchable from 70-200 to 140-400. Great for wildlife.
 
I'm hoping someone comes out with a turret set up for the Fs7 like this:

s-l300.jpg


I jest, but have you seen this?:

119708573.XxEwpRLP.jpg


As to the OP's dilemma, I suggest you just live with having to change lenses. That is what I had to do when shooting BTS on feature films. You just have to dance between your telephoto of choice, a mid-range zoom, and a wide zoom. I found that I could perform a lens swap in about 10 seconds, less if I wasn't having to worry about securing the lens that came off the camera. Now, I know from experience that this method is flawed and you WILL end up missing shots that would have been captured were an "all in one" fast, wide ( 18mm or wider ) and long ( 150mm or longer ), lightweight, short physical length, easily portable and easily stowable, non-tromboning, manual iris, par focal, high IQ, mechanical focus s35 zoom something that exists. It doesn't.

Consider a two camera solution- the Fs7 for the longer lens stuff and an A7s with wide lens that you carry on your person for quick-draw capture of wider stuff that unfolds.
 
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Bern Caughey said:
I've used the 28-135mm handheld extensively, but mostly for docu-esque filming.

The only photographers I know who use Canon's 28-300mm uber-zoom are paparazzi. Suits their priority of grabbing the shot over maximizing image quality.
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Good for you, man - if you're young and fit (plus perhaps the camera moved back on a rig such as the Zacuto Recoil). If I said the kit lens is "only good for tripod", I should have added "for me" in order to be quite clear - I'm 62 years old, and after 2 unsuccessful neck spine surgeries. This considered, the 28-135mm definitely makes my FS7 too nose-heavy when shoulder mount for longer than 5 minutes, unfortunately :(

Piotr
 
"Doh - the 28-135mm Sony is only good on the tripod!" - Piotr


Had that been...

"Doh- for MYSELF, the 28-135mm Sony is only good on the tripod as I have back and neck issues."

the subsequent debate could have been avoided. :cheesy:
 
If 3.5lbs is too heavy a lens to deal with... well I'm afraid a large sensor camera is never going to work for you.

The FS7 offers the 2k S16mm crop now doesn't it? If I had your optical needs with thatcamera, I'd be looking at grabbing some nice S16mm zooms. They'll serve you much better in terms of focal range coverage.
 
There's a lot of people who would be better served by a one-piece camera like the new Z150. Sure you give up some features, but you gain a whole lot in terms of speed, ergonomics, weight, and a 12x zoom lens. For some people a camera like that will provide better results than a bigger sensor camera with interchangeable lenses. Especially if someone is not really willing to invest in decent lenses or accept the fact they will have to change lenses frequently.
 
I still say it all comes down to whether you need the shallow DOF or enhanced low light sensitivity of the larger sensors. If not. . .why would you torture yourself with dealing with heavier rigs and multiple lenses?
 
Doug Jensen said:
There's a lot of people who would be better served by a one-piece camera like the new Z150. Sure you give up some features, but you gain a whole lot in terms of speed, ergonomics, weight, and a 12x zoom lens. For some people a camera like that will provide better results than a bigger sensor camera with interchangeable lenses. Especially if someone is not really willing to invest in decent lenses or accept the fact they will have to change lenses frequently.
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I agree 100%, Doug. I have a client that wanted a camera that he could have a pro operator use when the budget allowed, but he himself could also manage for lower/ no budget shoots. He had his heart set on the FS5, but I talked him into the Z150 because I knew it would be a better fit for his skill level and super run-n-gun nature of his productions.

He listened to me and LOVES his Z150. That camera hits a great sweet spot for low/mid range productions that need to move fast and don't need super shallow DOF (although it does have a 1" sensor, so it's better than the old Beta days).
 
If Sony produce a Z150 with SLog3/SGamut3.cine XAVC-I at FS7 data rates I'll be first in line. A 4K handycam that I can match to my FS7 footage will all my LUTs would be the best 2nd camera I could wish for.

I can't believe Sony haven't done this already to breath more life into their handycam lineup which is looking very dated.
 
Damn, I doubted between the canon fx300 (and the Sony version pxw 200), but both not 4K. This Z150 camera comes a year too late and now I am used to the FS7. :-)

However FS7 is more flexible, and I am happy with it (do some macro now and then).
 
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