Oliver Daniel

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!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MXwQ6Md41A

​There seems to be a problem with the embed... maybe Andrew can sort it? It's happened before.

My next FS7 video released: http://www.eoshd.com/comments/topic/8034-my-2nd-music-video-on-fs7-released/

I'll cut to the chase.... my role on this shoot - lighting, shooting, grading and editing. (There are about 4 stock footage shots which aren't mine, these weren't shot on the FS7). Camera was FS7 with Canon L series 16-35mm and 50mm prime w/Speedbooster Lights were Kino Flo Diva 401s and Arri Juniors. Software FCPX. Verdict on using the camera.... much better than my first try. It's a beast. Best all round camera for the money right now.

​ The FS700 is very annoying to use bare bones - the placement of the screen is very stupid. The FS7 is simply superior, you don't need a rig. It has a grip, shoulder pad and side monitor.

​ Hi Ed, nice to see you are thinking about lights. Lighting is almost everything! I pretty much use the same lighting kit on every shoot - 2 Kino Flo Diva 401s, 3 Arri Juniors (650w) with diffuser and Tecpro Felloni Bi-Colour LEDs. I want to get some Scorpion Lights, they may be of interest ; nice, flexible and battery powered : http://www.blindspotgear.com/

​ I don't have enough experience with the camera yet to recommend LUTs. The best shutter angle/speed depends on what you are shooting. A lot of my work is fast paced so I tend to increase when I need to. But 1/50 is recommended for narrative.

​That's a tough question to answer. Cinematic depends on a lot of things, from grading, lenses, composition, lighting... And also personal taste. One persons cinematic could be another persons cheap TV look. If I was to say, the FS7 is very capable of "cinematic""quality, and can contend with much higher priced cameras. It's not as easy to get a "look" out of the box then a C300, you need to do a lot of work in post really. The Slog3 can look a bit plastic if you don't do your homework. but it can look very organic.