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

[cane141]

I have all Sony native lenses.

Well, the only way you'll get close to that look is with FF glass on an MB speed booster which btw looks pretty awesome and unique within the batch of S35 crop sensor cams.
No other "cine" camera with built-in ND's etc. can really achieve this look at the moment unless you jump up to a Red Monstro or wait for a Mavo LF or staying with the FF mirrorless / DSLR.

It's one of the big reasons I went back to the FS7 II after the Canon C300II and a C200. I love the FF look it achieves with the MB SB.
Especially for corporates and events etc. where it's nice to roll with a couple of FF zooms like the 24-70 II - 70-200 II and get an extra stop.

Saying that though I have seen some excellent stuff shot with the Fujinon MK lenses and I'd still be interested try a set at some point regardless of the FF look...

 

[morgan_moore]

The full frame 'look' might be considered to be vista at 2.8, well S35 CINE glass has been available at T2 for decades - creating the exact same look!

S35 T2 wide glass is pretty rare on low budgets.. making 'boosters' a great thing (they still are) however with the birth of short flange depth and some indy lens makers (samyang 16/2 for example) getting that look on unboosted S35 is no longer only for those that can affor Zeiss superspeeds.

 

[C100Scottie]

i can't get a speed booster for my Sony FF lenses, can I? i'd like a heavier duty camera for some corporate stuff, but there's nothing will touch the FF look
of my A7III or A9 with fast primes. It just looks fantastical

 

[Liam Hall]

i can't get a speed booster for my Sony FF lenses, can I? i'd like a heavier duty camera for some corporate stuff, but there's nothing will touch the FF look
of my A7III or A9 with fast primes. It just looks fantastical

Nope. It's all about the length of your flange. And yours isn't long enough...

 

[captslomo]

That's what she said. BOOM!

 

[C100Scottie]

haha.

 

[C100Scottie]

FS5II with Sony ECM VG1 (the shotgun mic) for $4300, yay or nay?

 

[IronFilm]

FS5II with Sony ECM VG1 (the shotgun mic) for $4300, yay or nay?

That Sony mic is only good for scratch audio (just like every other mic mounted on a camera....)

As for that price? It is good if that is the price for a brand new one!

But buying new?! Nah, I'd be pushing for it to be lower by a few hundred.

 

[Run&Gun]

That Sony mic is only good for scratch audio (just like every other mic mounted on a camera....)

Let's not throw out blanket statements that aren't true. We've been down this rabbit hole way too many times(and going many pages deep each time). You need to qualify that statement. If you're talking about narrative, yes. ENG, no.

 

[Grug]

I've been pondering this a bit recently.

Bare-bones, using internal recording - The FS7 is the clear victor (unless the 1080p 10-bit 4:2:2 internal on the FS5 is good enough for your needs).

The FS7s menus and controls are kinda gross. But they're still much better than the FS5's (which are flat out disgusting).

However, if you need timecode sync (something that's basically a constant in my world) it gets a little trickier.

With the FS7 you need the extension back, which is ganglier than it should be, and adds some considerable bulk to the camera. With the FS5 you need an external recorder like the Odyssey 7Q which has TC input. But this is where it gets a little more interesting I think. Paired with the O7Q, the FS5 doesn't need an extension box to output its raw signal, so it's a MUCH more compact package for outputting raw (or, more-likely, recording Prores from the raw signal), and since the O7Q functions as a solid onboard monitor as well, the added gack factor is minimal.

Add to that, the fact that (unlike almost any other camera you'd use an external recorder for these days) you still get a solid 10-bit 4:2:2 internal recording for backup with the FS5. And that helps take a lot of the stress out of relying on an external recorder for your masters.

 

[morgan_moore]

However, if you need timecode sync (something that's basically a constant in my world) it gets a little trickier.

Your world sounds like it needs an F5

I think the conversation can be legitmately broadened to Fs5 vs Fs7 vs used F5 - there are many reasons to consider the F5 option.

I have only once worked on a project (a broadcast multicam show, not live) that absolutely demanded TC.. I had significant chats with the producers that I wanted to use an F5 not an FS7 - as all the gear was rental and the glass was PL it was entirely possible for only another $20 a day - which is the rental difference between F5 and F7.

 

[IronFilm]

Let's not throw out blanket statements that aren't true. We've been down this rabbit hole way too many times(and going many pages deep each time). You need to qualify that statement. If you're talking about narrative, yes. ENG, no.

ENG standards only require scratch audio it seems ;-)

However, if you need timecode sync (something that's basically a constant in my world) it gets a little trickier.

With the FS7 you need the extension back, which is ganglier than it should be, and adds some considerable bulk to the camera. With the FS5 you need an external recorder like the Odyssey 7Q which has TC input. But this is where it gets a little more interesting I think. Paired with the O7Q, the FS5 doesn't need an extension box to output its raw signal, so it's a MUCH more compact package for outputting raw (or, more-likely, recording Prores from the raw signal), and since the O7Q functions as a solid onboard monitor as well, the added gack factor is minimal.

Add to that, the fact that (unlike almost any other camera you'd use an external recorder for these days) you still get a solid 10-bit 4:2:2 internal recording for backup with the FS5. And that helps take a lot of the stress out of relying on an external recorder for your masters.

If Atomos ever brings out a module for the Ninja V which supports both SDI and TC at once together, then they'll have an extremely popular set up for FS5 and FS700 owners.

However, if you need timecode sync (something that's basically a constant in my world) it gets a little trickier.

Your world sounds like it needs an F5

I think the conversation can be legitmately broadened to Fs5 vs Fs7 vs used F5 - there are many reasons to consider the F5 option.

Am amazed by how cheap F5 prices have fallen on eBay, they're barely more expensive than a secondhand FS7.