FS7: Today would you go for an FSII or and FS7 II?

C

cane141

Well-known member
Yep, this question gets asked a million times but times are changing, and perspectives change so I'm asking again.

I'm looking at either of these cameras again for more corporate / event projects ( I used to be a Canon C300 MKII and C200 owner )

The FS5 II looks great, but then the FS7 II also has a lot of pros.
The main thing I want is decent low light sensitivity and a strong codec to work with.

Both options have this, one externally and the other internally but are there any users out there who wish they had one or the other for any reason, your thoughts are much appreciated :)

cheers.
 
The 7 wins in every way but weight- (and maybe raw recording) how critical is weight to you?

The old school will say weight does not matter- but on a gimbal or trotting up a mountain it does
 
morgan_moore said:
The 7 wins in every way but weight- (and maybe raw recording) how critical is weight to you?

The old school will say weight does not matter- but on a gimbal or trotting up a mountain it does
Click to expand...

Weight doesn't matter too much, of course, my back wouldn't agree, but if I had a job that required going up a mountain then the FS7 would stay in the bag, and i would simply look at a much smaller form factor like a GH5s, A7iii or possibly the BM Pocket 4K. The FS5 sits above these DSLR cams but much more suited to travel or very light kit jobs.
 
BUt if you want to go up a mountain with ND and XLR the 5 might be the thing.

Especially considering the franken rigging of a mirrorles

S
 
The core question: 10bit 4K internal or not?
The 2nd almost core question: size? Do you really really really want to go smaller than a FS7? (but for some reason can't use a mirrorless as your small supplementary camera instead?)

There are other details, like FS7 can do timecode (but only with the XDCA accessory) and the FS5 can't, then there are how they each do slow motion a little different, etc etc etc.... but these are all secondary details compared to the first two questions you need to answer for yourself.
 
If you do any gimbal work the FS5 hands down. Throw an Atomos Shogun Inferno into the mix and you are getting 4k/120fps and 2k/240fps 12-bit prores raw in a much lighter package ready to rock on gimbals for (Sports, action scenes, etc). If you mainly film events, ads, docs, music videos, or cinematic productions go with FS7. FS7 is the better camera hands down. Doens't require recording monitor add-ons, has better internal codec, better low-light sensitivity and exposure options, better hardware for sound and professional production, etc. If you need slow-mo and gimbal get FS5. Everything else get the FS7.
 
morgan_moore said:
BUt if you want to go up a mountain with ND and XLR the 5 might be the thing.

Especially considering the franken rigging of a mirrorles

S
Click to expand...

I guess the question here for me is, how many times would I get a job up a mountain...
I think most people know their clients and projects and, most of the time, If an unusual shoot came up, then I would have to hire the right kit suit.
I, for instance, don't do any underwater projects so haven't invested in underwater housing but if a project came up that made it worth investing, then I would either buy or hire.

But I get where you're coming from, and I guess the more I think about it, I am leaning towards the FS7 II for more long-term.
 
If you want -> The main thing I want is decent low light sensitivity and a strong codec to work with. Then FS7II is the one to go for.
 
Depends a lot on how much you are doing gimbal work, or doing "climbing up a mountain".

If you do it a LOT then go for the FS5!

Only doing it sometimes? Then get a FS7, and get an a7Smk2 / a7mk3 / a7Rmk3 for the niche gimbal/climbing/undercover work. (or heck, even get an a6500! Or perhaps go with another brand, with the very tempting Nikon Z6!! Mmmmmm...... Or perhaps the Fujifilm X-T3)
 
IronFilm said:
... go with another brand, with the very tempting Nikon Z6!! Mmmmmm...... Or perhaps the Fujifilm X-T3)
Click to expand...

Or maybe the BM Pocket 4K or as some people have posted, the GH5s? seems to pair well...

the obvious choice would be an A7III in this category but BM pocket looks like a good contender so far...
 
Clibing up a mountain was maybe a silly phrase.

Yes I had a jobs that involved climbing kimanjaro, maount kenya and failing to climb cotapaxi.

This summer Ive also covered large festivals, which are 2-3k to walk across, I shoot the UK Army on exersise on occasion,

For all of this stuff the 7 feels too big and a mirrorless covered in accessories feels like it will just fall apart

Pretty much I consider my FS7 (+lenses+Vlocks etc) to be a camera I like to operate with an assistant.
 
morgan_moore said:
BUt if you want to go up a mountain with ND and XLR the 5 might be the thing.
Click to expand...

An FS7 with one of these, a great combo. I'm finding the Z90 quite indispensable. It has ND and XLRs. For a small camera it delivers quite an amazing image plus some amazing image speed options along with a blisteringly quick accurate phase detect auto focus. I use it quite often with a Century Optics .6 WA adapter that is 75% zoom through and that has an 85mm opening. Using a 62mm to 82mm step up ring the adapter just clamps on, isn't too heavy and gives a FF equivalent of 17.4 with virtually no vertical barrel distortion. Matches amazingly well with the FS7 profiles I'm using. Pretty decent example of the Z90 in action here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DT3fRzCnoo

Century Optics Tinsley 0.6 WA adapter.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/century-op...192760?hash=item3b1825acf8:g:bDMAAOSwPu9bbcxN

Chris Young
 
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I'm starting to shoot a lot of corporate stuff, and am getting tempted to buy an FS5. Should I go for a used Mark I or get a MK II? I really like the new color. I'm just not
too thrilled about going back to an APSC sensor with all full frame lenses. A7III and A9 are my two main cameras.
 
C100Scottie said:
I'm starting to shoot a lot of corporate stuff, and am getting tempted to buy an FS5. Should I go for a used Mark I or get a MK II? I really like the new color. I'm just not
too thrilled about going back to an APSC sensor with all full frame lenses. A7III and A9 are my two main cameras.
Click to expand...

A Metabones Speedbooster will give you close to the FF look though?? depending on what lenses you have...
 
cane141 said:
A Metabones Speedbooster will give you close to the FF look though?? depending on what lenses you have...
Click to expand...

Not sure you'll get the same shallow DOF look you'd get with the full frame A7...
But the speedbooster will provide you with equivalent Field of View for your full frame lenses, while at the same time providing you with more exposure for low-light situations. So you don't need to go out and buy additional lenses to get as wide -- plus on the longer end you can get a non-speedboosting adapter to provide you with longer focal lengths.
On the other hand, the additional monitoring output options (and XDCA time code options) provided by an FS7 can be extremely valuable in many corporate situations - so for corporate shoots I'd go with an FS7 model...
 
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