IronFilm

I recommend you put completely 100% out of your head any thoughts about how "future proof" your ability to use your camera in 5 years will be. We're moving at a far too fast a pace for that to matter. And cameras are far too cheap for that to matter. Instead pick what is right for you right now. (or perhaps in the next 6 months, or 12 months, but don't be looking any further out than that) Look at a couple of examples: Sony PMW-F3 is a camera that I just purchased last week for not much more than a grand, yet less than five years ago this camera cost US$20,000! (when you factor in the s-log upgrade) This was one of the hottest cameras back then, and was very very pricey. Now consider the Panasonic GH2, also only less than 5 years old, and also was for its time the hottest camera around and cost a not terribly dissimilar amount to what a GH4/NX1 costs today. How much do they go for now? Only a couple of hundred bucks or so. Conclusion: in 5 years time you'll be able to pick up the (former) hottest tech for pennies on the dollar, and also you'll be able to affordably buy new tech which is leaps and bounds ahead of it.

​I'd disagree about rolling shutter to be in the cons column. Because in 1080p mode it has the best control over rolling shutter of any! (right up with Arri Alexa level quality). Yeah 4K is bad, but manageable, you can always switch over to 1080 if the situation calls for it. Mainly it is lack of mainstream NLE support that is holding me back from picking up a NX1. But if I see it at the right price I will anyway! BMD cameras are amazing (I own a BMPCC, which I reckon is their best one they sell currently), but not what I'd recommend as a person's first ILC or as their only camera. I agree the D750 is nice :-) But unless a person is doing half or more of their pro work in still photos too, then I wouldn't recommend it over a NX1/GH4/A7s/BMD. Careful... if you play the "next camera" waiting game... you'll find yourself waiting forever! *IF* you are going to play the waiting game, at least pick up a cheap as NEX-5N / GH1 to hold you over and keep you busy until that "next camera" does come along.

I agree, this is one reason why I was considering getting a Sony FS100 / Panasonic AF100 (though I ended up with a Sony PMW-F3 instead, for basically the same price). Even though they only produce an image similar to a Sony NEX-5N / Panasonic GH1 (which is more than adequate for many purposes, so you can get by with them), they do have the "real gear" look to them. And they're so incredibly cheap, you can quickly recover their cost vs renting. Agreed again :-) A Sony A6000 / A5100, Nikon D5200, or Panasonic GX7 / G6 are amazingly great value!

I've almost completed my initial kit out for now. The last remaining items I still need to decide on buying is: a second dovetail (one for the tripod, one for the monopod. The camera already came with one dovetail), a fluid head for the monopod that can handle 10kg or more, and maybe a tripod (as I expect my current one won't quite handle the full set up). Haven't looked enough into which fluid head, so still quite clueless as what to get! I'd appreciate any suggestions? Am considering a couple already, but they're only capable to a max 8kg payload, which I suspect in a worse case scenario could come up a couple of kilos short. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pro-JY0506-video-DSLR-Camcorder-Fluid-Tripod-Head-Drag-slider-rail-max-8KG-load/121491999464 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Miliboo-MYT801-Pro-Tripod-Monod-Ball-Head-Quick-Release-Plate-for-Canon-Nikon-/271837439808 I'm looking at one of these dovetails: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lanparte-15mm-Slide-Dovetail-Plate-230mm-Long-For-Tripod-Baseplate-DSLR-Rig-BMCC-/370856985673 http://www.ebay.com/itm/45cm-long-Dovetail-Plate-Arri-standard-with-1-4-20-3-8-Hole-InnoCamera-/171787795433 http://www.camtreerigs.com/camtree-19-15mm-base-plate-with-dovetail-tripod-plate-arri-standard.html http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/891108-REG/Wooden_Camera_WC_151100_Safety_Dovetail_8.html/prm/alsVwDtl http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1100200-REG/lanparte_dp_15_dovetail_plate.html This is the tripod I'm considering: http://www.came-tv.com/came15t-pro-carbon-tripod-for-red-epic-cage-dslr-rigs-p-573.html This is almost the same price as a new A7s in NZ (& I got mine for quite a bit less):http://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/video-cameras/professional-cameras/auction-911356034.htm You're not in NZ however, but look around and I expect with enough effort and time you'll be able to find similar deals on your local marketplaces. Just takes time and patience, and a bit of initiative. (I googled the seller and hunted about, so I could contact him directly and work out a deal in person rather than just going via the auction) ​ ​Thanks, that reminds me now that I should add IR-cut filters to my shopping list.

​Carl Ziess ZF.2 for sure.

oops, and forgot to say it came with 2x 32gig SxS cards too :-D

So long as you can sing "lalalala lalalala" and cover your ears as you pretend raw / slow motion (beyond 60fps that is) / 4K doesn't exist, then with a Sony F3 you're good to go for years to come!! ;-) Oh, and its weight is a bit of a pain if you want to go with gimbal usage. But then I've got my BMPCC for that purpose. Or I suppose a person could get a Sony A7s for the same reason for when they want a gimbal shot (though an A7s costs way more than I paid for my F3 today). Everything else can be a niche hire/borrow scenario. At least for the next couple of years, then I'll likely have moved up in the world and will be able to pick up either a Sony FS7 or URSA Mini 4.6K on the cheap! ;-) Relatively speaking compared to their current prices.

Ummm... actually I ended up getting it for only US$1.2k! :-o *AND* it comes with the absolutely fantastic Tilta baseplate with a lightweight dovetail and V mount battery plate. (just these parts are worth several hundred!) So yes, I now possess my own personal F3! :-D ​ ​Oh wow, I was just checking out that film last night! Didn't realise that is you. Got to LOVE the internet how it brings the world closer and allows me to talk directly to the guy who made it :-) Looking forward to seeing it on VoD/DVD when it comes out!

​It is always much much much better idea to spend more on lenses, and less on the camera body. Get even a Panasonic G6 on sale, or a second hand GH2, and leave the rest of your budget for areas that matter such as a few nice lenses.

​*THIS*, it is the direction I am going in. I'm going to pick up Sony F3 for a similar price to an old Canon 5Dmk2 (once you've kitted that out with a basic cheap audio recorder and monitor, to at least pretend to match the same basic functionality of a F3!). How could a person say no?? I was planning to (somehow???) get an URSA Mini 4.6K at a stretch, but now my plan will be: 1) once I magically win lotto / get rich, then I'll get an URSA Mini 4.6K 2) once the first price drop happens to the URSA Mini I'll get one (like what happened with the BMPCC, BMCC, and BMPC4K to a greater or lesser extent). 3) once URSA Minis start showing up on the second hand market at a decent discount So in other words, I'll let my F3 last me some 12 to 24 months, and then I'll jump on an URSA Mini 4.6K :-)

j.f.r. What did you prefer about the F3's image vs the A7s?

I believe they're worth it, I blogged my reasoning in getting Rokinon Cine DS in Nikon F mount here: http://ironfilm.co.nz/rokinon-cine-lenses/ I assume the v2 Samyangs are the same as the new Rokinon Cine DS series but with Samyang branding.

Bit late now, but I'd have advised to get the cheaper D5200 instead (same sensor basically) so you could've got the sigma 18-35mm immediately, as that is what you'll do in the long run anyway.

They're too expensive for my tastes! (I'll be using my Nikon F Mount set of Rokinon Cine DS lenses) Unless they're found for a fraction of the cost. Also apparently Sony's first generation of PL lenses had quite a few issues, so I'd avoid them unless theyre going dirt cheap. But their current new version on sale at B&H are greatly improved, and one of the best bang for buck PL lens sets you can find!

Came across this interesting comparison from an owner of both an F3 and a RED Scarlet (which would be waaaaaay outside my price range to consider a Scarlet!): http://timurcivan.com/2012/04/an-examination-of-sony-f3-and-red-scarlet-a-direct-comparison/ <<The biggest problem i have is deciding between the two cameras. The RED is simply razor sharp, has a punchy slick look, and has the easiest onset ergonomics and workflow. The footage is 16bit 4K RAW. I mean, the camera is the size of a Hassleblad and gives you amazing images. The F3 on the other hand, is night vision, which makes for simpler indie shooting on lower budgets where you dont have access to bigger units. It also has more useable dynamic rage, and its color is in my opinion the best in digital right now short of the Alexa. ( Though REDColor3 is REALLLLLY good!) Case in point, in the skin tone test you just watched, the color of the wall in the F3 footage is completely accurate. Thats exactly what my wall looks like, but looks quite magenta in the RED footage. If I fight the magenta with a bit of green, the skin tone gets thrown out of whack. This green/magenta balancing act is a definite pitfall of the RED, even with REDColor3. This real issue is that it comes down to image quality. I find myself, shooting films and documentary on the F3, but commercials, music videos, and corporate spots on the RED. When it needs to look natural, i use the F3. When it needs to look crisp and slick, RED.>> This guy's logic is in a similar-ish headspace to where I am at too (C100 vs BMCC vs F3): http://www.craigspenceley.com/dr-dynamic-range-love-chose-buy-sony-f3/

Whoa... why do you own *three*? How do you think it is better than a C300? How do you find the weight of the F3, it makes even the C300 look small, which concerns me (as when I've used the C300 I find its weight a little daunting at times to handhold).

Does a Sony F3 still make sense to people in 2015? Because have you seen on eBay lately just how cheap they're going? :-o You can pick up a Sony F3 for similar pricing to a new BMCC. The expensive SxS media puts me off, but this appears to be an easy way to avoid that expense: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/786662-REG/Sonnet_SD_SXS_E34_SDHC_Adapter_for_SxS.html For the only extra grand or so over the cost of a Panasonic AF100 or Sony FS100 it would seem like a Sony F3 is worth it if you're looking for an older large sensor camcorder on the ultra cheap. (as I've been seriously looking into getting an AF100 for only a grand, just so I can have an "impressive" pro looking camera to impress the brides/guests at wedding shoots, with the rest of my kit being 1x GH4 + 1x GH2 + 2x GH1. I know images is all that should matter, and appearances shouldn't matter, but in real life first impressions do matter. If a few extra hundred dollars to get an AF100 over GH2 with the same image quality, then leads to more bookings, that it is money very well spent. But then this logic dangerously leads me down the path to spend even more on a Sony F3... as then I could use the F3 on serious jobs too) For context, I also own a kitted out BMPCC (that I love love) but it can look like a glorified smartphone to some people :-/ (until they see the images produced! But again, first impressions do matter and last)

​The new firmware allows it to do automatic restarting I believe. Which for many people can at least overcome most of the annoyance with the 30 minute limit for B cam usage.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1067862-REG/transcend_ts128gcfx650_cfast_2_0_cfx650_flash.html Only ​US$299 for a BMD approved 128gig card! This is as cheap as the Wise "deal" (mistake) which everybody went nuts over (and they're not BMD approved!).

I reckon competition vs other low (or even no!) budget video guys is rife in such areas (Facebook groups / Craigslist). My plan is a mix of old fashioned door knocking plus modern online advertising (YT/FB/Google/etc).

What is your marketing plan, how do you intend to reach your target market?

Awesome, Transcend is entering the CFast market. More competition, going to lead to lower prices. "The CFX600 cards are available in 128GB($249), 256GB($499) and 512GB($949) capacities. " http://www.camerasharp.com/transcend-to-release-cfast-2-0-cfx650600-memory-cards-for-professional-4k-uhd-video-recording/

jakefarmer_om, did it force itself to turn off when that happened?

Good luck! Sounds similar to my plan I've got here in Auckland (NZ) to team up with a friend

alpha4k ;-)