FS7: Sony rumored to release new FS7

deltoidjohn said:
Unfortunately I have a feeling it will come to very cheap cameras much sooner than it comes to proper cameras. 720p240 and 1080p120 started appearing as common features on many lower-end cameras in recent years, yet the Sony FS-cams (and I think the Ursa Mini?) are still the only sub $10,000 pro cameras which exceed 60fps. When you look at what frame rates are available on everything from a GoPro to the Lumix bridge cams to an iPhone, it blows my mind that in 2016 we don't have 1080p120 as a standard feature on Pro Cams.
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We do, don't we? On Red, Sony, Arri and even Canon.
 
I'm quite happy to wait for the FS7/F5 level camera that is derived from the F65. Sony are going to have to wave more in front of me than variND and framerate gimmicks.

The next camera I buy has to have that step up in 'look' rather than features. I still have a couple of years to go on my prediction that Sony would release an F65 level camera for £5k and I'm happy to wait it out.
 
I bought an FS7 2 months ago, so I'm not super excited about this development. :Drogar-Dum(DBG): Part of me wants to sell the FS7 in pristine condition, then use my Blackmagic cams until the "FST3" ships.

Anyway, like you all said, I think the variND is a given. But I also think a new AF system is practically guaranteed as well (given the pressure from the C300II, the ability to utilize the AF in all e new fancy E/FE glass, etc.).

Because of what it takes to add AF to a sensor, I think the likelihood of Sony using roughly "the same sensor" is pretty small. Sensors have come a long way since the FS7's 4K sensor first debuted. For example, the sensor in my a6300 is better in lowlight than the FS7, and it's a 24mp sensor. It also has very good AF- tracking, face detection, etc., and the sensor in the a6500 has further improvements to the noise floor and data throughput.

Given Sony's success with scaling 6K to 4K (minus overheating issues), I wouldn't be surprised at all to see the sensor from the a6500 put into this next camera... which means, there would be a significant upgrade to color quality & accuracy, dynamic range, and, even with no new codecs, presumably increased performance at the same data rate (given the higher quality starting point).

Sensor stabilization also makes a lot of sense to me. Sony has already designed it, it's quite small, and it would be a big selling point that no other professional camera has. Purists could simply keep it turned off and locked in place.

If these assumptions are true, this wouldn't be a small upgrade, not would it be come in at the same price. I imagine it would retail for $10K or more.

The only part of this that doesn't make sense is Sony's timing with the F5/55. Though it would only be a short mismatch, since my guess is we'll see a new F5/55 announced on or before NAB 2017.
 
fascinating guessing ;-)

I am not sure about AF and IBIS. It could be more a feature for a FS5 markII.
And don't forget that there was a big price jump from a6300 to a6500.
In the end Sony is always good for a surprise.
 
According to my Facebook using colleague someone has screen shotted a legit online shop listing FS7 MkII.

We shall see.
 
Hi,
(Long time lurker, first time poster)
I just bought an FS7 (coming from PMW-200 + AtomosSamurai) and I love it in terms of resolution/DR/noise (at least compared to the PMW-200).
I pulled the trigger because I thought that the successor was at least 9-12 months in the future...
Well, I don't have problems with a better FS7 Mk2 being out, but usually SONY stops supporting older products as soon as the successor is announced -> meaning that we won't get any bugfixes or new features for the FS7. And I was really hoping for XAVC480 and Face-AF (both should be technically possible with the FS7 Mk1).

Cheers,
Alex
 
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RealJEDI said:
And I was really hoping for XAVC480 and Face-AF (both should be technically possible with the FS7 Mk1).

Cheers,
Alex
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The FS7 is built on the same platform as the F5 and F55 so the Face AF is not possible at all. XAVC480 could be possible but as you point out Sony is not likely to support it on the FS7 Mk1 now there is an updated camera coming along.

There's always a danger buying a camera that has been around for 2 years it could be replaced or updated but really the FS7 already delivers everything most (not all) people need. The VariND will be nice but not essential, if XAVC480 is on the new camera again it's nice but not essential especially as XQD Cards are still only 128GB max.
 
The good thing with the FS7 is that its got so many updates already so its basically "mature".

For the next gen. Im hoping for 2K (17:9) 10/12bit 4:4:4 (prores, xavc) up to 120fps.
A really good downscale could IMO really help with colour, noise, tonality etc.

A better LCD (1080p) and a roboust EVF-attachment would be aswome aswell.

3 XLR (2 lav, 1 on camera mic)

Body-split on rods. If you could split the recorder/battery part and slide it backwards for perfect balance.

This would probably be a step up from the FS7 in price. Like a mini-F5.
 
Ben Scott said:
We do, don't we? On Red, Sony, Arri and even Canon.
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Being on ~8 cams does not make it a standard feature. It's a standard feature on tiny action cams, it's becoming a standard feature on mirrorless cams, but it is far from a standard feature on pro cams. It should be on every camera that can do 4K.

Thankfully it is on the FS cams and will no doubt still be there on the FS7 successor!
 
RealJEDI said:
Hi,
(Long time lurker, first time poster)
I just bought an FS7 (coming from PMW-200 + AtomosSamurai) and I love it in terms of resolution/DR/noise (at least compared to the PMW-200).
I pulled the trigger because I thought that the successor was at least 9-12 months in the future...
Well, I don't have problems with a better FS7 Mk2 being out, but usually SONY stops supporting older products as soon as the successor is announced -> meaning that we won't get any bugfixes or new features for the FS7. And I was really hoping for XAVC480 and Face-AF (both should be technically possible with the FS7 Mk1).

Cheers,
Alex
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Don't stress it. Most of the bugs and annoyances have been fixed and if Sony decide to add new features, at this stage in the product's cycle, that really is a bonus.

Enjoy your camera, go and shoot and be thankful that you don't have to fly by the seat of your pants with v1 firmware like many of us did two years ago:-)
 
btw two years ago is not true. I ordered mine in December 2014 long before it was available. I received it finally in July 2015!!
 
deltoidjohn said:
Being on ~8 cams does not make it a standard feature. It's a standard feature on tiny action cams, it's becoming a standard feature on mirrorless cams, but it is far from a standard feature on pro cams. It should be on every camera that can do 4K.

Thankfully it is on the FS cams and will no doubt still be there on the FS7 successor!
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I guess we have a different idea of what a 'pro' cam is.
 
The A6500 might be downsampling from 24MP but what frame rates is that setup capable of pulling? One imagines even with updated ASICS nowhere near enough at a good quality for it to be feasible in an FS7 replacement.

That whole 'my smartphone does this so my posh camera should be able to do it' line of argument doesn't really take into account the data rates and image quality required of higher end gear.
 
Ben Scott said:
That whole 'my smartphone does this so my posh camera should be able to do it' line of argument doesn't really take into account the data rates and image quality required of higher end gear.
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+1

The reason we dont fill our films with smartphone recordings is just that. The output does not hold pro-quality.
 
Clermond said:
btw two years ago is not true. I ordered mine in December 2014 long before it was available. I received it finally in July 2015!!
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Excuse me??

My camera was one of the first batch into Europe and is exactly two years old. It was delivered in the last week of October before I took it on a shoot in the USA on November 2nd. You can see the call sheet if you want. Oh and you can apologise too if you like, for suggesting I am lying. That's bang out of order.

FYI The original release date was October 15th and they turned up a week late.
 
Got mine Last week of October 2014. Delivery was on October 29, 2014 to be exact. 2 years old to add to the validity of other posters.
 
Liam Hall said:
Excuse me??

My camera was one of the first batch into Europe and is exactly two years old. It was delivered in the last week of October before I took it on a shoot in the USA on November 2nd. You can see the call sheet if you want. Oh and you can apologise too if you like, for suggesting I am lying. That's bang out of order.

FYI The original release date was October 15th and they turned up a week late.
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Excuse me?? Don't know why you started the lying thing? I was p*ssed about Sony and my (Ex)dealer. You should be sorry with me.
 
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