Shooting handheld with Sony F3

L

Lew15

New member
I'm about to start shooing a new project using the F3, but I'd like to shoot a lot of the scenes handheld so I can quickly move to my next position and take another shoot without having to spend too much time setting up for the next shot. I'm worried that the camera doesn't suit my way of shooting, does anyone have experience they can share shooting with the F3 handheld for periods of 30-45mins, continually recording with only minimal breaks/cuts. Somewhat like documentary film-making I need to be prepared for something unexpected happening that I have to capture quickly before the moment is over, I won't be bouncing and waving the camera about as if shooting a handheld action scene. What I need to be able to do is frame a shot, quickly adjust focus and aperture, and then shoot a nice steady shot for a few minutes, then quickly move in closer, quickly adjust focus and aperture, then shoot a nice steady shot for another couple of minutes, repeating this process to cover different angles.


I'm either going to use the prime lenses that come with the "K" kit (35, 50 and 85mm - but I'll probably stick with the most suitable one rather than keep changing them during a scene) or the Sony SCL-Z18X140. I not too keen on adding anything else to the camera, I'll just have an external mic plugged into one of the XLR ports and a sound operator holding a boom. So not additional monitor etc. However I have considered using a handheld rig like this http://www.visuals.co.uk/vocas_f3_shoulder_mount_system.php with something like Z-Finder EVF, but again I'm not sure how much it's going to restrict me or slow me down.


I can shoot handheld with an EX1 or EX3 and it's easily steady enough for what I do, so I'm really wondering how the F3 compares, is it too heavy and do prime lens make it too out of balance to shoot handheld footage? Another worry I have is working with prime lenses and having to walk closer to subjects to get close-ups, I am used to taking up a handheld position and shooting, then zooming in and adjust focus/app if necessary before continuing my shot, I can stand at one distance and cover a range of different shots like this.


One of the main reasons I want to use the F3, apart from the super 35mm sensor and beautiful images it can capture, is the XDCAM codec it shoots in. I already have a ton of content shot using EX1 and EX3 and it's all XDCAM 1080p, so shooting in that format is good for my post-production workflow, editing with Final Cut Pro, good for storage etc. I love the format and many of our clients also like the compatibility of XDCAM.
 
Lew15 said:
I can shoot handheld with an EX1 or EX3 and it's easily steady enough for what I do, so I'm really wondering how the F3 compares, is it too heavy and do prime lens make it too out of balance to shoot handheld footage? Another worry I have is working with prime lenses and having to walk closer to subjects to get close-ups, I am used to taking up a handheld position and shooting, then zooming in and adjust focus/app if necessary before continuing my shot, I can stand at one distance and cover a range of different shots like this.
Click to expand...

The F3 isn't much heavier than the EX1/3 if you don't put a huge lens on the front (some cinema lenses can be 10lbs.) The plastic primes will be fine.

The complaint most people have is when trying to use it as shoulder mount you can't use the EVF and even the LCD is too far back to balance it on your shoulder.

Most people get a HiDef small field monitor or a 3rd party EVF and put it on an arm so they can get it back on their shoulder. Then a set of grips and your set. Try the grips and find some that fit you before you even look at the prices. The expensive ones often have a wider range of adjustments, but if the cheap ones fit you why bother?
 
Congrats on choosing the F3 for your project. You will love shooting on it.

I have used the F3 in shoulder mount configuration without any add-on VF by using a set of long rails (18") and putting grips on the front and RedRock Micro shoulder pad mount on the back. You can slide the F3 as forward as you want so you can still see the LCD screen. It seems to work for me. See photo below but I didn't have the pad mounted in that shot.

SonyF3campic1.jpg


For the type of shooting you are doing I would not suggest using primes. I would rather suggest a small variable zoom such as a 16-50mm f2.8 that will let you quickly reframe your shoots if needed without moving position, it can also be used for fast zoom shots without losing focus (zoom in first, set your focus, then zoom out). A fixed aperture will help you not have to adjust iris constantly. You can also use the TLCS feature of the F3 which not many people exploit but it allows you to preset an amount of gain or shutter to automatically assist you in keeping exposure. You can even tell it how many seconds to take for a live automatic adjustment so it is not abrupt and noticeable to the viewer.
 
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Bill that is excellent, can also be used to put your camera on the ground for any low shot requirements... good call.
 
Some really interesting posts thanks guys! I am currently leaning towards the Vocas rig, Alphatron EVF and then a couple of Nikon lenses to cover a nice range. I really need an iris ring on the lens. I might rent the kit first to make sure it's right for what I'll be shooting.

Has anyone had any experience using the Sony SCL-Z18X140 18-252mm which I believe was designed for the F3?
 
Not me, but I think 252mm is overkill. 85, 105mm is a great focal length for closeup shots without getting too close or obtrusive to your subject. It all depends on your needs of course.
 
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