F3: Sony F3K advice

S

stupla

Active member
Hi,


I'm needing to upgrade my camera as I'm using EX1's at the moment along with a Canon 7D.
I've seen, for sale, a second hand Canon C300 and a Sony F3K (with the 3 Sony lenses). Both are going for just under $10,000.
My work varies from "in the field" documentary to doing long interviews with people. I also travel quite a bit - so the lighter the better really. I've used mostly the EX1 for this work and been really happy with the results but really wanting the shallow depth of field.
I've not actually held either of these cameras but they both look good. I've a lot of SXS cards since I've EX1, but I've also a few canon lenses.
I would value any help, to let me know if you thought one or the other was the better bargain (or indeed a bargain at all), or maybe I save a bit of cash and go with Canon C100/Sony FS100?
Many thanks!
 
For documentary work, I'd say get the C300. It's broadcast friendly without an external recorder, and works better out of the box without substantial rigging.
 
I would go for the Canon too and have a fellow DP who made the same decision to go for a C300 over an F3. EOS lens and iris control, smaller foot print and 50mbps to satisfy the broadcasters. Even has a c-log mode too!
 
Of the pre owned cameras +1 for C300. Easier to use. Lower cost broader choice of lenses for rental available in small rental shops all over the world. No need for special adapter to make EF lenses work. Smaller package, better internal record. Available PL converter for EF mount camera if needed. What is included in the used kits? Is a warranty important to you? Primes are nice for the interviews, not likely so much for the in the field doco work. Pl zooms are quite pricey or quite heavy ie.. Angenieux or Red zoom lenses. You will likely be left wanting with FS100 or C100 purchase.

If you consider Sony product FS700r is much better choice than FS100. Down stream pairing of FS700 with Convergent Odyssey for 4K or high speed shooting and 12 but recording can be a big +. Available converters for EF and PL make the camera a strong contender. If you don't have to worry about "broadcast acquisition specs" this might give you a better all around option for you.
 
Not to **** where I sleep, but the C300 will also be far more valuable in the future as compared to the F3 which really never caught on and due to size I know a lot of people steer clear from.
 
starcentral said:
Not to s*%t where I sleep, but the C300 will also be far more valuable in the future as compared to the F3 which really never caught on and due to size I know a lot of people steer clear from.
Click to expand...

We'll see, I kinda thought the same, but just the other day Canon slashed the price of their C500 by 1/3 down to $19,999. So I don't think re-sale value is a good measure to judge a purchase of any of these cameras by.
 
True true... but I guess I what I meant was that the C300 would probably stay more in demand than the F3 in general. The word "value" was sort of the wrong word.
 
Grug said:
We'll see, I kinda thought the same, but just the other day Canon slashed the price of their C500 by 1/3 down to $19,999. So I don't think re-sale value is a good measure to judge a purchase of any of these cameras by.
Click to expand...

C300 sells like hotcakes, and stays booked solid.

C500s are another story altogether, from what I witness in my town.
 
I think only you may know what is right. Personally I would take an F3 over a C300, although that is part ignorance on my part because I have never used the Canon. The F3 is far from Sony's finest hour, but if you are used to the EX3 series then it will definitely be familiar to you and you already own some cards and things.

I would have thought both cameras need a bit of rigging to start making sense. Why camera makers decided the classic shoulder-mount shape was bad I do not know. Put an F3 in a 2/3" shell and I'd be first in line!
 
Personally I think it is very personal!

Go hang out with some operators and chat about their set ups - shoulder up and roll for five mins - with a good eyeline (if you do talkie shots).

I prefer the F3 but your original post (travel, compact) leads me to think that the C300 is right for you.

The F3 should be available at a significantly lower price, that was big to me but some wont care.

S
 
I would just go with the cheapest, most popular option: the C100. Things are changing too quickly, I was thinking of the F3 and I'm still mulling it over but I think I would have to turn it over within eight months probably for a 4K camera, so the resale value of anything you buy now has to be considered.
 
I would like an F5/55 and will get a used one in 2015. IMO it is worth considering the ecosystem you are buying in to.

My route FS100, F3.. and down the line F5/55 they all have cheap lens adapters, all run off the same monitors, all need T rigs,

I can rent a 5 and drop in where my 3 lives..

S
 
Well, for run and gun, since neither the F-3 nor the Canons have a useful VF, you'll need a small monitor or EVF. So the the hand held preference is yours, but for image quality at a very low price, the F-3 wins. In fact, it's a better image color wise than the F-5 (excluding the use of S-Log).
 
Hey, I think the reality is that you can pick up an F3 for about $5000 if you shop around. You don't need the PL lenses. You can buy a Canon mount for about $300 and a Samurai recorder for about $700. The IQ is better than the C300.
However, the C300 would be far more practical for documentary and is the defacto standard now. From what I have seen, the C100 is an even better value. So based on your work the choice is obvious. For myself, shooting more fiction, I prefer the F3.
 
Not sure what people talk about when they talk about the F3 size. Its a perfect size and makes more stable images because its not some weird SLR thing, and like they said S-log wins in looks and dynamic range. The C300 is very expensive for what it is. The internal codec is still 8bit and not that impressive. xdcam looks great, actually. Spend a little money to test both.

Reading the comments is funny to me since I JUST finished shooting a music event tonight with it and while shooting I even tbhought about how I liked being able to do stable close-ups on the fly because I can brace the F3 against my chest. The C300 makes you hold the camera way out in front of you, like a smelly baby!
 
Not sure what people talk about when they talk about the F3 size. Its a perfect size and makes more stable images because its not some weird SLR thing, and like they said S-log wins in looks and dynamic range. You can mount things to it easily and it has tons of great features and assignable buttons. The C300 is very expensive for what it is. The internal codec is still 8bit and not really that impressive. Xdcam holds up just as good, actually. Spend a little money to test both.

Reading the comments is funny to me since I JUST finished shooting a music event tonight with it and while shooting I even tbhought about how I liked being able to do stable close-ups on the fly because I can brace the F3 against my chest. The C300 makes you hold the camera way out in front of you, like a smelly baby!
 
The F3 is big.

Well it is it isn't - the C300 is small - or not.

That is why the OP must try them, built.

My F3 is built for 'work' - so I want everything sharp, which means I need a monitor, which needs powering, which means Vlock Batts, which means a rig.. which means it is big and for 'work' I want those Vlocks so it can go for hours, and hey I want the stronger codec, so I bolted on the Hyperdeck shuttle - which means it is bigger, and heavier.

But since I bought my F3 I rebuilt my FS100 for 'fun' (which is kind of C300 size).. it is now small.. just a top handle and a DIY screen-shade.

So Im picking a camera for the job - small, poor focus, bad codec, super light agile, short batt life - that is my FS100 (which I would swap for a C300 any day).. or the F3 built - it is BIG, but you get focus, audio, super codec and all.

Building a C300 for 'work' would be dumb as the onboard low res monitor has to stay to keep the XLR, so you end up with a proper monitor and the other one, and you only get 8bit.

Bu the OP is doing travel 'fun' - he can probably afford to lose some shots to focus or dead batts in exchange for a smaller more portable camera..

IMO every shoot is a trade off and it is extremely personal to find the right camera(s) for each mission.

Id have a C300 in my arsenal any time and likely it might see more miles than the F3.

S
 
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I own a F3 and a F5 so you know where I stand. I was forced in to using a C300 on a 4 day job and I did enjoy using it but how do you properly put it on your shoulder without it being almost behind your head? I swear they designed it to be held like a Hasselblad. Nice image but way overpriced for what it offers.
If you want to save some money you can get a F3 for around 5-6K these days. If your sold on the Canon, my gut tells me Canon is going to have to announce a replacement soon and a lot of people are going to be dumping their C300's for cheap.
 
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