Something is nagging at me to go back to smaller sensor

[IronFilm]

1 minute ago, IronFilm said:

When it comes to camera bodies though, you've got the Sony FX30 which is arguably "the best" APS-C body there is today for pro filmmaking. But what is there for photograhers??? There is only the Sony a6700 at the top of their ranks, it's certainly falling far short of being a truly pro body.  

If Sony is to take APS-C photographers seriously I'd say at the minimum they need to put an APS-C sensor inside an a7 series body. (although of course their dream would be an APS-C sensor in an a9 body, but doubtful that will happen)

Although then again, perhaps I could argue Sony has kinda abandoned pro APS-C filmmakers, just like APS-C photographers.

Where are the APS-C replacements for the FS5/FS7/F5/F55???? 

I really feel like "an FX60" (an FX6 with a FX30 sensor) is needed if Sony wishes to show they truly are committed to the workingman S35 videographer.

At the moment he only has these four options:

1) use an ancient camera, such as the FS7

2) use the prosumer grade FX30

3) stretch his budget to get a Sony FX9, then use it only in S35 mode

4) ditch Sony and jump to another brand (RED Komodo X? Blackmagic Design URSA Mini Pro? Canon C70?)

[Andrew Reid]

On 12/21/2024 at 6:15 AM, IronFilm said:

Although then again, perhaps I could argue Sony has kinda abandoned pro APS-C filmmakers, just like APS-C photographers.

Where are the APS-C replacements for the FS5/FS7/F5/F55????

You mean Super 35mm. It's not called APS-C in filmmaking.

Sony have not abandoned crop sensor customers... it's the other way round, customers abandoned Super 35mm.

There's been a big shift to full frame. Surely you have noticed this.

There's not really a very big Super 35mm range of E-mount lenses from Sony, it's all about the full frame cinema lenses now.

Also with a full frame camera you get both formats in one sensor. Has been this way since the a7r II.

There's no need to box yourself into one crop sensor format any more.

The FX30 was a very nice gift to people who still prefer Super 35mm, and wanted a lower-cost solution to FX3.

On 12/21/2024 at 6:15 AM, IronFilm said:

I really feel like "an FX60" (an FX6 with a FX30 sensor) is needed if Sony wishes to show they truly are committed to the workingman S35 videographer.

Just use a crop mode instead.

On 12/21/2024 at 6:15 AM, IronFilm said:

At the moment he only has these four options:

1) use an ancient camera, such as the FS7

2) use the prosumer grade FX30

3) stretch his budget to get a Sony FX9, then use it only in S35 mode

4) ditch Sony and jump to another brand (RED Komodo X? Blackmagic Design URSA Mini Pro? Canon C70?)

The FS7 II is still a current model.

https://pro.sony/en_UY/products/handheld-camcorders

FS5 II is still very capable as well.

A lot of those who need a crop sensor might be better off with a 1" camcorder anyway.

Canon C70 would also be a good option.

[IronFilm]

15 hours ago, Andrew Reid said:

You mean Super 35mm. It's not called APS-C in filmmaking.

Sure, I know that, but also the terms are kinda interchangeable-ish, especially when talking about the low end of filmmaking such as FS5/FS7 cameras.

The majority of the lens I use myself on my FS7 would be marketed as APS-C not exclusively as S35.

15 hours ago, Andrew Reid said:

Sony have not abandoned crop sensor customers... it's the other way round, customers abandoned Super 35mm.

There's been a big shift to full frame. Surely you have noticed this.

Why use the photographer's terminology of FF rather than saying VV / LF? 

Same point here as with APS-C vs S35. The terminology is kinda-ish interchangeable, and we all know what each other means when one or another is used.

And in the professional world of filmmaking, then S35 is still reigning supreme. 

ARR 35 is the dominant preferred choice when possible. The older ARRI ALEXA Mini is still very popular. Even the Sony VENICE still gets very frequently used in S35 mode, to ensure compatibility with S35 lenses. And when it comes to RED, then I personally by far see the RED Komodo (or Komodo-X) used far more often than I see RED's VV cameras on set. 

15 hours ago, Andrew Reid said:

There's not really a very big Super 35mm range of E-mount lenses from Sony, it's all about the full frame cinema lenses now.

Has Sony ever made any Super 35mm lenses?? 

Aside from their sadly discontinued PL mount lenses (a pity they discontinued them! Prior to the explosion of chinese PL lenses on the market, then the Sony PL lenses were the best value PL lens set you could buy. So I wish more of them were still being sold, so thus more of them would exist on eBay, and it would be easier for me to get more lenses to further build up my set), and discontinued 18mm-252mm, and their still current 18-110mm lens (which also gets branded as APS-C) then I don't think Sony has made any other lenses which are explicitly marketed as S35?

Sony simply has never been a big maker of cine lenses, in any format. (but yet, they've made more for S35 than they've made for VV/LF)

16 hours ago, Andrew Reid said:

On 12/21/2024 at 7:15 PM, IronFilm said:

I really feel like "an FX60" (an FX6 with a FX30 sensor) is needed if Sony wishes to show they truly are committed to the workingman S35 videographer.

Just use a crop mode instead.

I wish! But then I can't shoot 4K with the FX6, if a S35 lens is being used. 

16 hours ago, Andrew Reid said:

https://pro.sony/en_UY/products/handheld-camcorders

That's curious it's still listed there. Anyway, you can't buy a new in stock FS7mk2 from B&H, Adorama, AbelCine, CVP or anywhere else I tried to look. 

16 hours ago, Andrew Reid said:

FS5 II is still very capable as well.

Image quality is kinda lacking by 2024 standards, can't even do 4K 10bit internally.

16 hours ago, Andrew Reid said:

A lot of those who need a crop sensor might be better off with a 1" camcorder anyway.

While the likes of a Sony PXW-Z90 has some overlap with the FS5/FS7/FX30/"FX60" user, they really are quite different! (heck, these users also have some overlap with VENICE & ARRI 35 users. Doesn't mean one of these cameras are always an appropriate substitute for the other)

16 hours ago, Andrew Reid said:

Canon C70 would also be a good option.

It's Canon, not Sony, further proving my point Sony has kinda abandoned the S35 / APS-C filmmaker.