What made you decide upon the FS100 over the AF100?

[Alpern]

Hi Alpern, could you elaborate on why you sold the AF100 out of curiosity?

First let me state my needs in a camera. I do mostly narrative film making, shorts, music videos and some talking head doc stuff. I shoot with almost all PL lenses, own a set of Zeiss CP's and rent others as needed.
I sold my af-100 because of the following:
I was not happy with image quality, mostly the high light handling.
Sensor size, its hard to find a good wide angle lens.
I know every one else loves the built in ND filters but I didn't like them because they jump value. So I always had to use a 1 stop ND filter to get the value I needed.
I do miss the HD-SDI but that's about it.
I also didn't like the form factor of AF100. The FS100 is not prefect but at least its a good platform to start with, you can build it how you want it.
Lastly I like the Sony's FMU because I can record to card and FMU. I can give the client the card at the end of the shoot and take the FMU back to post production. When budget allows for it, I also use an external recorder.

 

[David G. Smith]

For all those asking about ND filters, run, don't walk, and buy the Heliopan variable ND. Buy it 10 minutes ago. Yes, it's expensive, but yes it is that good. I have a thread on here with examples of the video you get from it. There is no color cast, and there is no sharpness loss that I can see at all. This is the filter that Philip Bloom recommended on his blog, and I can see why. It goes from 1 - 6.6 stops. You can buy it in various sizes, I have the 77mm one with a step up ring for the kit lens. These threads have more info.


http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?254833-FS-100-Heliopan-depth-of-field-evaluation-video

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?254365-ND-filtering-for-the-FS100EK-advise-needed.../page4



All I can say is, I'm not sure how it works, it may be two polarizing filters reversed to counteract each other's effects, like a previous poster was saying. But I can't any bad effects
from using the filter at all. If I am shooting outside, it's on my lens, period. Yes, it's that good.

Yeah, I am not an expert on the variable NDs. A lot of folks have been great results with them. It is just a piece of kit that I have not chosen to use at this time. If someone is interested in using them, I do not want to discourage them from trying them.

 

[alaskacameradude]

Yeah, I am not an expert on the variable NDs. A lot of folks have been great results with them. It is just a piece of kit that I have not chosen to use at this time. If someone is interested in using them, I do not want to discourage them from trying them.

I'm not trying to rip on you or anything of the like. As a matter of fact, I have seen other variable ND's and I agree with you, I did NOT like how they looked! All I was saying, is that it seems
that a person can't paint all variable ND's with the same brush....I think there is a difference between the host of variable ND filters you can get out there. How could there not be? You can
buy some variable ND's for $40, and this Heliopan costs $400!!! There is a reason for that, from what I can see! It's hard because there is not much video out there showing what they look like
when they are being used. That's why I posted video showing what it looked like with and without the Heliopan and various focal lengths, cause I didn't see any video out there showing that yet.
That way people can look at the video and decide for themselves if they like how it looks. When you are spending $400 on a ND filter of all things, you want to make sure it is actually
pretty good, cause that is NOT cheap!

 

[David G. Smith]

I'm not trying to rip on you or anything of the like. As a matter of fact, I have seen other variable ND's and I agree with you, I did NOT like how they looked! All I was saying, is that it seems
that a person can't paint all variable ND's with the same brush....I think there is a difference between the host of variable ND filters you can get out there. How could there not be? You can
buy some variable ND's for $40, and this Heliopan costs $400!!! There is a reason for that, from what I can see! It's hard because there is not much video out there showing what they look like
when they are being used. That's why I posted video showing what it looked like with and without the Heliopan and various focal lengths, cause I didn't see any video out there showing that yet.
That way people can look at the video and decide for themselves if they like how it looks. When you are spending $400 on a ND filter of all things, you want to make sure it is actually
pretty good, cause that is NOT cheap!

+1

 

[gianx80]

So the cheapest solution for this camera is to buy three not variable filters ... $400 are too much for me at the moment

 

[robmneilson]

I understand that having ND's in camera is a nice feature, but why not invest in a decent matte box, and some 4x4 filters? I picked up an old Arri MB (that must be from the early 80's) on ebay for $200 and I'm pretty much set for life. So much easier than having to deal with variable ND's and screwing them onto lenses with step up rings etc etc.

 

[nyvz]

I understand that having ND's in camera is a nice feature, but why not invest in a decent matte box, and some 4x4 filters? I picked up an old Arri MB (that must be from the early 80's) on ebay for $200 and I'm pretty much set for life. So much easier than having to deal with variable ND's and screwing them onto lenses with step up rings etc etc.

I'd have to disagree, I always have my matte box on, but I never put 4x4 filters in it because I just leave my ND Fader on when I'm shooting exteriors. Step up rings are easy because they are cheap and you only have to put it on your lens once and then it lives there and then your lenses all have the same filter thread size. It is also far more convenient and less expensive to have one ND Fader than a whole set of NDs especially considering the time it takes to switch out ND filters to get roughly the right filtration compared to being able to turn the ND fader and quickly get exactly the right filtration level you want. And then there's the fact that if you use any lenses that change their length while zooming you have to have a special apparatus to make it work with a rod-mounted matte box that also increases lens-changing times.

If you only use primes or cine-glass and never run-and-gun then I could see how 4x4 filters might work well for you, but in the end you still might be able to get more flexibility at a lower price by using an ND fader.

 

[SergeSmArt]

Actually I never even look to Panasonic AF 100 side: 4/3 sensor size was "Dead Idea" from the begining... and when I look to Sony F3 I feel as I hate the size and design of it.. plus crazy price for camcorder without RAW format option ..
So.. when I look to FS 100 at the first time I was surprised with it's Modular Desing:

and .. when I've got it I found it even MUCH BETTER that I was hope ....

After few days of shooting tests and trying to find the best settings for it.. I found that this is ABSOLUTELY THE BEST COMBINATION OF IT'S PRICE AND QUALITY FOR TODAY!!
this REALLY IS "DSLR -KILLER" - Image Quality is SO MUCH BETTER than ANY DSLR , so I cannot belive my eyes!
NO MORE MOIRE and other artifasts, no more problems with sound connection ..and no more "12minutes" limitation of uninterrupted shooting !

Take a look to any files from 5D ... or 7D .. and compare it to Sony FS-100 files and you will see it.. . a specially for 7D 720p 60 fps files..

There was something about "better DR" on Sony F3.. a specially with "S-log".. but .. at first - I don't belive it.. and as second - to get this "magic S-log" option owners of F3 camera MUST TO PAY EXTRA $3,680.00 !!! :grin:
--> http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/784678-REG/Sony_CBK_RGB01_Optional_Software_Key.html

As far as I look carefully do not overexpose FS-100 files I feel I can do anything with it

..and .. I want to say something about crazy ND filters "problem" - I DON'T SEE IT! I use the same ND filters with my Canon 5D2, and you will need them with any RED or Alexa cameras as well..
and as far as I understand it - sometimes we will NEED to use GRADIENT ND filters - to make good exposure of bright sky and dark ground ... .. so .. any "arguments" of what kind of ND filters is "better" have no reasons at all .. for one kind of filing better 4X4 , 4X6 filters, for other situation better circular filters.. .... let's talk about something MORE INPORTANT.. ....as "stuttering"... for example !