FS5: Thinking about making the jump...

scorsesefan

scorsesefan

Veteran
Hi all. I've been a happy C100 mk1 user for a few yrs now. I mostly do run n' gun and sit down intvs as a one man crew. However a portion of my work is corporate/broadcast and I've gotten a few requests for 4K. I would like to stay in the Canon ecosystem (I love their skin tones, have Canon glass) but unfortunately my budget (about $3000 for a used body) puts their 4K offerings out of reach. What are your thoughts on the FS5's 4K? It's a pretty weak color space/bit depth but I'm sort of used to that with the C100. I also love the grab n' go form of the FS5.
Thoughts? Thanks
 
You probably don't like DSLRs, but the 5D Mark IV would be a no-brainer.

Canon's colors, EF mount, 4K DCI, C-Log, DPAF, very good Motion JPEG @500Mb/s, etc.

(Or even the new EOS R is worth a consideration.)

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IMO, the FS5 is only worth it if you're planning on upgrading to a RAW package in the future (which turns the camera into a different system).
 
If you're going to shoot (and stay) in a Rec709 space, the 4k will be good. It's actually a good picture. If you want to color-correct any more than a basic correction, it'll be lacking due to the bit depth.

I shoot my FS5 in Slog2 in HD with the 10-bit 422, and it's fantastic. Whenever I get that urge to invest in a sexier rig (RED or Canon), I remind myself how great the FS5 is to shoot with as a solo operator, including that fantastic auto-ND. Very satisfied for what it is intended.
 
I would like to avoid DSLR. Great image but I find setup to be a PITA..Hmm. So that 14 stops of DR is in HD mode? How many stops do you guys estimate in 4K?
 
I've had the FS5 for a few years now, but just upgraded to an FS7. The FS5 served me very well, especially for the kind of work that you are doing. I honestly never ran into many issues with the 4K internal codec, even shooting S-log 3. I would get occasional banding in skies, but since most of what I shoot end up on the web, that really wasn't a huge issues for me. For music videos or very stylistic shoots, I'd record raw-> prores into the Shogun Inferno with great results. It's not a perfect camera by any means, but once I learned it's limitations I rarely found myself disappointed with my footage.
I'd be happy to send you links to projects shot with the FS5, both internally and externally recorded. I'm also actually trying to sell my FS5 (and possibly package it with the Shogun Inferno) so please reach out if you're interested at all!
 
scorsesefan said:
Hi all. I've been a happy C100 mk1 user for a few yrs now. I mostly do run n' gun and sit down intvs as a one man crew. However a portion of my work is corporate/broadcast and I've gotten a few requests for 4K. I would like to stay in the Canon ecosystem (I love their skin tones, have Canon glass) but unfortunately my budget (about $3000 for a used body) puts their 4K offerings out of reach. What are your thoughts on the FS5's 4K? It's a pretty weak color space/bit depth but I'm sort of used to that with the C100. I also love the grab n' go form of the FS5.
Thoughts? Thanks
Click to expand...

If you can stretch another grand or two then you're within reach of a secondhand Sony FS7, which is massively popular camera (my last four shots was all working with an FS7! Although with me in the sound department) and is a much better camera for 4K than the FS7
 
IronFilm said:
If you can stretch another grand or two then you're within reach of a secondhand Sony FS7, which is massively popular camera (my last four shots was all working with an FS7! Although with me in the sound department) and is a much better camera for 4K than the FS7
Click to expand...
Would love to grab an fs7 but might be a bit out of my budget right now.
 
enhues said:
I've had the FS5 for a few years now, but just upgraded to an FS7. The FS5 served me very well, especially for the kind of work that you are doing. I honestly never ran into many issues with the 4K internal codec, even shooting S-log 3. I would get occasional banding in skies, but since most of what I shoot end up on the web, that really wasn't a huge issues for me. For music videos or very stylistic shoots, I'd record raw-> prores into the Shogun Inferno with great results. It's not a perfect camera by any means, but once I learned it's limitations I rarely found myself disappointed with my footage.
I'd be happy to send you links to projects shot with the FS5, both internally and externally recorded. I'm also actually trying to sell my FS5 (and possibly package it with the Shogun Inferno) so please reach out if you're interested at all!
Click to expand...

Thanks. When I'm ready to purchase I'll DM you.
 
I would also suggest checking out either B and H or Adorama Used Departments. The often have discounted Sony cameras and usually do a good job of rating them. Also, they offer the option to get an extended warranty exclusively through them for used equipment they sell, so that can give you a little peace of mind. I got my FS7 that way as an open box with 0 hours and a five-year extended warranty.
 
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