F5: Sony F5 Rugged enough for documentary work?

H

Hanad

Member
Hi guys I was just seeing some work done by James Longley and he stuff h is doing in Afghanistan. He is using the c300 and is very happy with the results and portability/ stealthiness
of the camera. Do you think the F5 would be rugged enough in those conditions? is it dust proof, shock or even a bit water proof? I know some of you guys have played with it and would love to here your thoughts. Even if you haven't played with it your input would be great!

Thanks
 
Hanad said:
Do you think the F5 would be rugged enough in those conditions? is it dust proof, shock or even a bit water proof?
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Yes and no. There's no dust or waterproofing as a feature, but no other cameras in this class are either. It doesn't stop people from putting them in those conditions, getting the work done, and having your camera working fine after.

Done that with my F3 in dust, light rain, etc. It comes out fine. Just common sense care...if you're in a real, honest-to-god dust storm you cover it. You'd do that even if it WAS "dust-proof", because I can tell you your lens sure as heck won't be. Nor will your accessories.

I've had the F5 in my hands, it's built better than the F3 and EX1 or 3, and those cameras have been everywhere without many problems. The F5 body is cast aluminum...the F3 and EX cameras are cast aluminum frames with plastic cladding.
 
Thanks guys for your replies. And thanks Nate I have used the Ex1/3 before and although it seemed plastic, it felt like it could take a few hits and some dust too. I have held the f3 before and it seemed quite rugged. I am looking forward to getting the F5, I was close to get the c300 until the New F camera rumour started and decided to wait. I am glad I did and I hope it makes a good camera for documentaries.

Last question. Btw if You had to use 1 affordable lens with you to do documentary type work with the F5, what would it be and why?
 
Nate Weaver said:
Yes and no. There's no dust or waterproofing as a feature, but no other cameras in this class are either. It doesn't stop people from putting them in those conditions, getting the work done, and having your camera working fine after.

Done that with my F3 in dust, light rain, etc. It comes out fine. Just common sense care...if you're in a real, honest-to-god dust storm you cover it. You'd do that even if it WAS "dust-proof", because I can tell you your lens sure as heck won't be. Nor will your accessories.

I've had the F5 in my hands, it's built better than the F3 and EX1 or 3, and those cameras have been everywhere without many problems. The F5 body is cast aluminum...the F3 and EX cameras are cast aluminum frames with plastic cladding.
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You'd be surprised how big productions put Epic's and Alexa's in some pretty grueling circumstances and simply throw a plastic bag over it. I'm guilty of it.

Just a couple days ago, we were shooting in some light rain with two Panavised Epic packages and we had simply taped some trash bags over the camera. Ta-da, waterproofed. >:)


When considering a docu camera, I assess picture quality, lens options and then ergonomics, such as if it's light to hold or well balanced on the shoulder, etc.

I'd worry about ergonomics more than ruggedness, as somone mentioned, any camera in that class will be rugged enough for typical to crazy use. Just don't leave it on the north pole for a timelapse, ya know?
 
Sorry but a doc camera with a 35mm chip is likely a bad call. You will spend so much time dealing focus problems. You also have a lot of weight to deal with given the batteries needed and a zoom that will cover 35mm. It's easy to get caught up in the 35mm craze but for doc work, it's usually a mistake if there is any run and gun at all. This is why 2/3" shoulder cameras are still made and bought everyday for news, sports, doc/nature work, etc.
 
^ very true. I guess it depends. I've seen some 35mm documentaries that are quite nice, but they are clearly more deliberate and controlled. If the documentary is spontaneous and on the go, you would be best for smaller chip. My last feature documentary was in China, and we shot AF100's, a compromise of big chip and small chip.
 
"Auto everything zoom" is not a must for docu work... They were shooting documentaries in last century with 16mm and 35mm film cameras...
As far as weight issue goes, F5 with battery and let's say a 17-55 Nikon zoom or even 17-50 Red lens would not be heavier than full size 2/3" camera with standard zoom...
 
Hanad said:
Last question. Btw if You had to use 1 affordable lens with you to do documentary type work with the F5, what would it be and why?
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Red 18-50, or a still lens in the 18-50 or 24-70 range. You just need that MM range for doc work. F2.8 if you can get it.

I have both Red 18-50 and 50-150 for that sort of one-man all-situations work, and they have their mechanical issues, but having that range in two small lenses with at least decent mechanics (as opposed to sketchy stills lens mechanics) is a godsend.
 
From the looks of things, the F5 will be more rugged than any of the older 'affordable' Sony cameras. As for a docu lens. The Fuji 19-90mm cabrio looks like the best option going at the moment.
 
Grug said:
The Fuji 19-90mm cabrio looks like the best option going at the moment.
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Well, he did say "affordable", but yes, that lens is clearly the run and gun king for real budgets at the moment.

I'm trying to figure out how to swing one at the moment (in addition to my 55 purchase).
 
Yes, if money is no object the Cabrio would be my first pick fur use with my F3 when shooting doc. In the meantime my #1 lens has been the Nikon 17-55 2.8, supplemented by a 85 1.4 for interviews and 80-200 2.8 when I need to reach out.

As noted there are different type's of doc work. Since 2008 I've taken my EX-1 to Iraq twice and Afghan once and it has been through hell and never failed me. Plenty of 115 degree days in there. This I think is a testament to Sony's quality and has been passed on to the F3 and I assume the F5 as well. For some doc work where it's more run and gun, limited time on scene and numerous unknown's, where you have one opportunity to get the shot that might be 5 ft in front of you or 500' the EX-1/3 and now PMW-200 would be the right camera. My last trip to Afghan I brought my EX-1 and 5D but only used the dslr about 30% of the time when the situation was more 'controllable' or close in. If you have a good amount of time with a subject and location the F's will be great. I used it exclusively on all my doc work over the past year and never needed what a ENG cam would offer.

I've seen a number of guys in the field use the wrong camera for the job and they paid for it in missed shots or lost focus, etc.
 
Ryan Patrick O'Hara said:
You'd be surprised how big productions put Epic's and Alexa's in some pretty grueling circumstances and simply throw a plastic bag over it. I'm guilty of it.

Just a couple days ago, we were shooting in some light rain with two Panavised Epic packages and we had simply taped some trash bags over the camera. Ta-da, waterproofed. >:)


When considering a docu camera, I assess picture quality, lens options and then ergonomics, such as if it's light to hold or well balanced on the shoulder, etc.

I'd worry about ergonomics more than ruggedness, as somone mentioned, any camera in that class will be rugged enough for typical to crazy use. Just don't leave it on the north pole for a timelapse, ya know?
Click to expand...

Guilty of this as well, from large F3 setups to Alexa setups, I always just tell the assistants to cover with plastic bags. Honestly never really had a problem with that, specially if you bring along some matteboxes, put a polarizing filter in your mattebox, seal up the front of your lens with the mattebox and tuck the plastic in all around. You'll have no problem at all with you new "weather proofed" camera. No rain will hit your front element, (though your mattebox might take some rust later on in the screws if you dont have stainless hardware on it) but all in all you'll get the work done. Just use common sense and even the biggest camera package will be easily handled with some clear plastic trash bags, mattebox, and some gaffers tape.
 
Hi,
i personally think that the F5/55 will be easier to protect than the f3...
I think you could "house" the entire body, and work with the EVF "on the outside".
If you buy a cheaper Viewfinder than the Sony's the loss if they fail will not be as bad.
with my F3 i always struggle in bad conditions, though i have a portabrace Raincover,
but as i work with the built in LCD this gets really difficult...the viewfinder is just not up to it.

cheers
 
Sweeney said:
Sorry but a doc camera with a 35mm chip is likely a bad call. You will spend so much time dealing focus problems. You also have a lot of weight to deal with given the batteries needed and a zoom that will cover 35mm. It's easy to get caught up in the 35mm craze but for doc work, it's usually a mistake if there is any run and gun at all. This is why 2/3" shoulder cameras are still made and bought everyday for news, sports, doc/nature work, etc.
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Sweeney, I was with you until I started shooting with the Fuji Cabrio. This will definitely change your opinion of using a super 35mm sensor for doc work. In my opinion it breathes new life into the F3.
 
You can always shoot 5.5 -8 and get the same depth of field what you have with 2/3 lens at 2.4, and dont have any problems with focus , you can always magnify the frame in post for 30% without any one will see it in the frame as you shoot with much higher codec then 2/3 :-)
you can always bump 9-12 db of gain and still be in better position then 900r if you don't have enough light
with 24-105 canon and the new electronic focus control the f-5 probably much better then any other eng camcorder
 
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