Oliver Daniel

100% agree with this. To be honest, I've known a few people who can't be bothered with lighting. It's way above the camera choice. Onto topic though, this is a thread about camera choice. The first thing I think about when choosing cameras though is lighting. Same with lenses.

You've been shooting on my playground! Shame about the EM-5 II video quality. No one ever talks about the system in the Sony A7 II? Any good?

From what I've seen and know, the a7S is the "better" camera for video. (it depends what you shoot though really). 4k is a lovely feature, but there are more important things to consider. Some people go on about the suspect colour science of the a7S, but personally I find it very versatile due to it's capable organic look and dynamic range. It also makes a great b-cam if you rent something a bit more special. Keep your a7S and upgrade to the a7S II whenever it is released.

So I hear this camera is "soft" and is disappointing in video mode. Just wondering if any of you guys have used Crumplepop's Finisher plugin: http://www.crumplepop.com/finisher-fcpx-plugin/ I've been using it with GH3 and FS700 footage, and I have to say, it absolutely transforms the sharpness and clarity of your shots. The skin tones boost dramatically and the perceived resolution increases massively. (Don't use on a beauty shot though!) The only downside to the plugin is if you may lots of moire and noise, it can make it worse. Try it out!

Wow that's an incredible deal. As well as using the FS7, I've still been renting the FS700 using the internal AVCHD. Still lots of life left in this camera. I don't have £6000 cash but if anyone does - get it!

Hi Aaron, I think you will get approximately one hour per 128gb in XAVC-I.

Hi Ed, great storytelling. Forgot in 5 secs this was the NX1. I've been thinking of making little films about areas I explored in my childhood - so it's inspirational. I re-watched it silently to look at the footage quality - what is this ultra smooth highlight roll off I'm seeing? Cameras this size and price don't look like this!? The only reason I've not bought it is the H265. Please make more films with any camera. Try an iPhone next

I shot on RED twice and made some very average music videos. I switched to my GH3 for the shoots afterwards and I had a lot of fun and the videos were great! In the last 2 weeks, I've shot on the FS7, FS700, GH3, Blackmagic, GoPro and iPhone. My best video was shot on the GH3 because the idea on the GH3 was better than the others, had better lighting and better composition. What a shocking discovery!!

My client don't know anything about the cameras. They'll mutter RED, 4k and slo-mo from time to time - but that's about it. They just want high quality images and trust me to deliver. They care more about my ideas and creativity then my tools. I help create the ideas, I shoot, edit then deliver. All in-house. So "burning in" doesn't apply to me. Only tried Slog3. Personally my clients love the FS7 results because of the slo-mo and cinematic look achievable. The 10 bit is a big deal. It saved me on a shoot where the main image didn't work out and we ended up making a green screen from pale green rags and green gels to light it. The DIY screen was awful and blotchy but it really pulled off in post! My main rental houses have multiple FS7's and they are almost always booked out. One of them said that their Epic isn't going out because people are trying the FS7. So to answer you question... This camera is making major waves! Don't know if the C300 mk II will change that. I used the ND outside. Didn't notice anything, I couldn't really say as I've only done most of my shots in controlled lighting. You can balance the camera by using lighter lenses and putting a V-lock on the back. Used it this way, seemed fine although it was mostly on sticks that day.

I never ever understand why a lot of hobbyists online base their opinion of a camera on some Vimeo test footage where good lighting wasn't used. Sometimes I feel the geekiness of camera tech overshadows an understanding of using light effectively, and therefore creates some kind of laziness to the prospect of actually using a light source at all. How many people can admit they have bought more camera bodies they can chew, instead of investing in a decent set of lights that will last a decade? The improvement in image won't come from the camera, it will come from your understanding of shaping light and composition to portray emotions and messages in the story. Choosing the right camera is part of that understanding.

Tim - I have professional experience with the FS7. I don't own it yet, I'm just giving it some whirls on rental. I've been offered a handsome discount if I buy it, I think I defintely will be an owner very soon. I have a feeling the C300 mk II will be great but will cost £435,456,876. The colour bias is magenta - although I think this is being fixed in the next update. Noise - it's clean at ISO 2000. You have to be careful using Slog3 with 1080p slow motion modes. Noise city!You have to be strong to hold this camera for hours. I get knackered because of the weight on the right arm. I'm going to try it next time by adding another handle for my left hand and mounting the Silencer Trigger Follow Focus, so my left hand doesn't need to move. Aperture never changes after I hit record. Never used it on a gimbal. I use smaller DSLR size cams.ND's seem great to me. Used it on paid music video jobs. Clients were happy with the images HOWEVER one client was getting annoyed with the slow menus and crashes (the manager was stood near me watching me use it.) it was a difficult shoot so the added stress wasn't ideal. The camera can certainly be used bare bones. If handheld for a while, I would consider a 2nd handle for your left hand. Flesh tones are nice but need more work than Canon footage. Less "real", if that makes any sense. Canon out the box is great. The FS7 is the best all-in-one camera right now. It has a flavour of everything. It's great for corporates, music videos and documentaries. Great partner to the A7S.

Wow this thread got very personal. It's only cameras and "dog shit" talk! What's not to like? Onto the FS7.... the menus are really my only strong criticism of the camera for these reasons: The responsiveness is slow, which wastes time on a shoot. The naming scheme and menu arrangement is complicated - everything is everywhere. For example, I want to select codec and frame rates in the same menu option. This slows things down too, especially when you are shooting 4k and then need a slo mo shot. I would suggest ways to improve this by: Doing a complete overhaul of the user interface, structure of the menus and naming scheme. Improving firmware by making the buttons respond better. Do I think this is a deal breaker? Absolutely not - the menus are something you can get used to. It would be better to see an improvement - the camera is still the best option for the money and can match much higher priced cameras under skilled hands. I would 100% recommend the FS7 as it's a brilliant all-in-one solution, and can be upgraded to raw.

​True - nothing new like EM-5 stabilisation or NX1-does-everything features. Although I would still rather buy a Canon if my stills glass was mainly EF lenses. They know that too.

So many photographers are invested in EF lenses. Most of the photographers that shoot on my sets have Canon. Legacy Canon cameras are still "good enough". Definitely not dying. Just slower.

I don't know anything about the internal electronics concerning the buttons, but is it possible that Sony are able to keep the camera cost down by basically recycling the same electronics for that button layout? It just seems a bit dinosaur, mini DV age with a 2015 sheen. I don't own it yet, but I've been offered a substantial discount to buy it with some batteries and XQD cards. With a toolset this impressive, I don't think I can turn it down.

I'm glad you picked up the menus and button layout being "complete and utter dog shit." With the menus I feel like I'm reading another language, and with the buttons I feel I've forgotten how to use a camera. To open the media library on the card you have to select this tiny button called "Thumbnail"... just one of the many naming issues concerning functions on the camera. Overall it's a different story. You will get used to the crappy menus and buttons, you will be forced to. The quality of the tools on offer for this price is unbeatable. The only challenge is Slog3. Exposure needs to be pretty much PERFECT. But if you know what you are doing and have the talent, you will get amazing high quality results for years. Another thing is soul. I don't think this camera has it out of the box (like the Alexa, D-Bolex). But that will come from lighting, grading, composition. There is a lot of soul to give. Just feed it and the camera will deliver.

That looks great. I've been following your footage of this camera and I have to say you are the only person I've ever seen create cinematic quality visuals with the NX1. I've not bought one just based on the need to transcode from H265, I simply don't have the time. It's true that more people need to use it like you do as i believe there is some "magic" to unlock in that sensor somewhere. I've also read comments of people dismissing the slow motion function, looks fine to me! Good stuff.

Don't be fooled by the RED model. Sure they are amazing cameras that have shot Hollywood films but those films also had a huge crew. The shoots I've done on RED have been very slow (as I didn't have enough crew) and technicalities then came before creativity. Also if you want more accessories it costs a fortune. It's a hardcore system. I would only buy RED if I had the money to fund more crew members, and I had consistent decent budgets to play with. You also have to consider post-production. The raw workflow is one of the best. But it takes a lot of work and time. Time is money. Personally I think a much better option would be the Sony FS7. It's the best "all-rounder" camera available. It's the same sensor as the F5. It has high FPS. Wide DR. Slog3. 10 bit. E-mount. Lovely ergonomics. Great price. Good low light. You can film anything with it brilliantly, pretty much out the box! (You need a mic, cards and batteries). Also you can upgrade it to shoot in raw and higher FPS.

Well that's a load of rubbish. I wouldn't bet against an actual video camera from Panasonic to take on the FS7, C300 etc. Long overdue.

​Thank you! Believe it or not.... the green screen was a last minute crisis crunch - we made one in a hour and shot the footage in an hour too. Not the way I like to work. The image behind the pop star was meant to be a backlit projection, but the projector wouldn't work - next minute we were in a backstreet material shop and bought some green stuff for £10. Worked!

Hi Rich, check out the Scorpion Lights by Blind Spot Gear. You get 4 lights in a kit with high CRI, they are very flexible and can be battery powered with Sony NP batteries. The set also comes with a case, gels and some accessories for £895 + VAT. I contacted them as the website says out of stock, they said 10 days waiting list. http://www.blindspotgear.com/

​Hi Rich, I'll PM you instead and copy the emails I sent. Cheers

​Cheers JCS!

​ Yes thats the one! Thank you.

Seems to be a problem with Youtube embed. Tried again, doesn't work!