FS5: Sony PXW-FX6
- Thread starter J.Brown
- Start date
scorsesefan
Veteran
I'm within my return period on my A7SIII and I was thinking about swapping it out for a FX6, but the LCD issues and lack of EVF are making me think I should keep the A7SIII. I mostly do run n' gun doc stuff and the thought of DIYing a loupe or buying an expensive 3rd party solution to a cam that's supposed to be run n' gun out of the box doesn't appeal to me...
Por que no los dos?
For what it's worth, I've found the FX6 a real pleasure to shoot with. I'd much rather shoot run n' gun doc stuff with the FX6 than with the a7Siii.
scorsesefan
Veteran
I can't afford both and I already have a FS7. I've owned an FS5 and I loved shooting with it, especially being able to reposition the lcd on the body. But at least the FS5 had an EVF (not too great) that you could use in a pinch...
I always used a loupe on the FS5 LCD, same with the FX6. At the end of the day, for me, the fact that I can position it anywhere makes it better than any EVF on the back of a camera. Even though it's a bit crap.
The only shooting position that makes sense for me with the a7Siii is holding the camera up to my eye. Looks great! - That EVF is excellent. But it doesn't feel very stable. Plus I'm usually the tallest person in the room so that high angle is not ideal.
The only shooting position that makes sense for me with the a7Siii is holding the camera up to my eye. Looks great! - That EVF is excellent. But it doesn't feel very stable. Plus I'm usually the tallest person in the room so that high angle is not ideal.
scorsesefan
Veteran
Yeah, I'm 6' 2" so I'm up there, too. With the FS5 I would shoot held high against my chest which would put the POV at or a little lower than most subjects eye lines. One thing that annoys me about he A7SIII is the LCD doesn't clear the body so you can't hold it against your chest as point of contact...
scorsesefan
Veteran
Have you shot any run n' gun with your A7SIII yet, Abe?
ozmorphasis
Well-known member
Have you considered the Z-CAM EVF:
- HDMI & SDI
- on/off switch
- LCD screen
- Fast boot
- Plenty of mounting options
- 6.5v to 18V input
- Wifi transmission
How's the image detail? Early reviews mentioned being able to see pixels, which is what I expect from the $400 LEYE but not from a $1k EVF.
Yes, CVP review on pre-production model said they can see pixels, I don't with the model I have.
The image is clear, it's easy to focus.
The menu system is simple and easy to navigate.
All tools possible available.
Compare to the Zacuto Kameleon, from the pictures I've seen, the Z-CAM EVF display only one tool at time, while with the Kameleon you have three.
The image is clear, it's easy to focus.
The menu system is simple and easy to navigate.
All tools possible available.
Compare to the Zacuto Kameleon, from the pictures I've seen, the Z-CAM EVF display only one tool at time, while with the Kameleon you have three.
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ahalpert
Major Contributor
Only on gimbal which I actually do a lot of run and gun on. Going shoulder-mounted I'm still using FS7. But I find myself gravitating towards tripod/gimbal shoots and doing more gimbal than shoulder-mounted/handheld generally.
I use auto ISO when I need automatic exposure adjustments, which frankly is not ideal since there is a band of noisy ISOs between the native ISOs. But I can actually control exposure via the smartphone app so I may consider that option when gimbaling. I already use the smartphone for remote touch focus on "live" gimbal stuff.
If you're looking down on it from above a lot (in the chest-level shooting you describe) then maybe a small monitor on top is good? Tho I know you said you want simplified rigging for r&g. The wifi smartphone monitor is interesting but it lags a little (maybe good enough) and my camera threw an overheat warning once after having it on for like 4 hours.
The xperia phone monitor they have for the a1 looks kinda cool. Tho I don't know if it works with A7SIII and it's also $2.5k
It sorta sounds like the main problem for you is the monitor position not clearing the body?
scorsesefan
Veteran
Yeah, I'd like to keep it simple for R & G. I wouldn't mind a small monitor, but then you add a battery and cable... I shot with it a bit today and, yeah the main issue is the monitor placement. You're looking straight down at it and because it sticks out a bit you don't make a solid point of contact at the chest. When I'm interviewing people I like to have my axis of eye contact very short. Meaning making eye contact with the subject and then looking down quickly at the monitor and then making eye contact again. Does that make sense? Placing the monitor towards the front of the body accomplishes that. Maybe I'm looking for a Unicorn camera
... The EVF is awesome though. Very life-like...
ahalpert
Major Contributor
It'd be cool just to mount a smartphone to the hotshoe so you get the internal battery and bright screen, and low fuss rigging. Kind of like with the sony xperia in this picture except pointed straight up at you:
I dont think the new xperia works with the A7SIII like it does with the a1 (plus it's $2500).
But you might consider using the wifi smartphone monitoring if you just need to keep an eye on your framing. It's totally good enough for that. In fact, it's almost good enough for me to operate a moving gimbal shot with. And assuming you have a smartphone, you can easily test it out for yourself.
It sort of depends on how long you'll be rolling for. I did have that scare where it threw an overheat warning after 4 hours of smartphone monitoring. It didn't shut down, but I closed the wifi connection to be safe and then the warning went away. If not for that overheat potential, I'd say it's a solid way to go. I wouldn't rely on that for all-day continuous shooting but for on and off shooting it might do the trick.
I dont think the new xperia works with the A7SIII like it does with the a1 (plus it's $2500).
But you might consider using the wifi smartphone monitoring if you just need to keep an eye on your framing. It's totally good enough for that. In fact, it's almost good enough for me to operate a moving gimbal shot with. And assuming you have a smartphone, you can easily test it out for yourself.
It sort of depends on how long you'll be rolling for. I did have that scare where it threw an overheat warning after 4 hours of smartphone monitoring. It didn't shut down, but I closed the wifi connection to be safe and then the warning went away. If not for that overheat potential, I'd say it's a solid way to go. I wouldn't rely on that for all-day continuous shooting but for on and off shooting it might do the trick.
scorsesefan
Veteran
Thanks, Abe. I'll try the wifi smartphone technique. Or as J.Brown suggested I may wait for the FX6 II or wait for the price to come down on the FX6. My guess is it will be down to $5000 or so in a year or two...
Doug Jensen
Carbonite Member
As far as i can tell there is no truth to that Youtube story. But Sony did ask me to send them a video of how wobbly my LCD monitor is and then they said they would swap it out with a new one. So I don't know if there is a wide spread problem or not, but based on all the traffic between me and Sony about this I think I just got a lemon. We'll see.
But in the end it doesn't matter too much anyway because I'm beta testing the Zacuto Z-Finder for the FX6 and it is wonderful. Their mounting system fixes the problem and now I have a beautiful diopter, rock solid mount, and a 1001 different ways to configure the viewfinder. I can actually use the camera now outside and without reading glasses.
Jim Feeley
Veteran
You're talking about this $595 "coming in early Feb" Z-Finder, right? https://store.zacuto.com/sony-fx6-z-finder/
That's really great news Doug!
Doug Jensen
Carbonite Member
Yes, that's the one. Absolutely worth every cent. I know everyone is as insistent on having a good viewfinder as I am, but to me it is essential. I cannot shoot with an LCD panel.
That is really good to know Doug, and I'd actually much rather have a decent loupe solution than an external EVF.
My only concern is weight and balance. When balance is most important is when I'm running the lightest setup - so the 24-105 f/4, a wireless receiver and not much else. Does the Z-Finder not feel like it's pulling the camera over to one side all the time?
Edited to add another question: When you pop the Z-Finder off the frame, does the LCD still fold flat against the body? The FX6 is already quite a wide camera, I'm just wondering if it will still fit in the bag I got for my FS5. Thanks!
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Doug Jensen
Carbonite Member
Andy, obviously you're adding some weight to the camera but not too much. I just weighed the whole Z-finder/LCD assembly and it comes to 1.8 pounds -- including the Sony LCD.
As to balance, I think it's going to matter where you place it on the camera and how you configure it. I mostly shoot from a tripod so I have mine mounted at the rear of the handle on the left side. And it's down low, almost side by side with the handle. I could also mount it more over the top of, or behind, the handle if I wanted to. Everyone is going to have their own preference for placement. It is great to have so many mounting options on the FX6.
Folding? No, it's not going to fold up and the camera is definitely taller and wider than it was before. I'm not a fan of breaking down cameras to pack them up, and I never break down any of my other cameras, but I think I'll have break this one down. Fortunately that is fast and easy. I just unplug the monitor cable, loosen one lever, and the whole Z-Finder/LCD slides right off the rail. It takes literally less than ten seconds to remove the whole thing and it's easy to get it back into the exact same position when you put it back on.
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