john_d

Super impressed about the camera. In camera 4K recording is phenomenal. The 4K on the Samsung Galaxy phone looks good to me, so I expect this to be just as good.

Not gonna lie, didn't even know Samsung made mirrorless until now. Never meet anyone that owned one either. But I can really see myself owning this. Good job Samsung, F**k you Canon!

Mainly they are ergonomic quirks like not being able to assign APS-C or silent shutter mode to a custom button, or even the function menu for quicker access.

....

The video record button is really awkwardly placed, but bafflingly cannot be assigned to the C1 button next to the shutter release or the shutter button itself in video mode.

These two annoy me so much about Sony. They know that they can EASILY fix these by the time the a7s came out. This was the same thing I was complaining about on the a7r!

Let us customize those Custom buttons!

Crossing my fingers someone announces a cheaper 4k recorder for the a7s.

$2k for the Shogun is too rich for my blood. I'd rather put that kind of money to the gh4 is this is the only alternative.

via dpreview: link

Looks like we can record in crop mode and can do 120fps!

Additional Pro-Quality Video Functions
In video mode, the α7S can output 4K video4 at QFHD (3840x2160) to an optional external 3rd party 4K recorder, and can record full HD (1920x1080) at frame rates of 60p, 60i, 30p and 24p directly to a compatible memory card. Video modes can be changed from full-frame to APS-C (super 35mm equivalent) if desired, and in this crop mode, the camera can support high frame rate 120fps shooting at standard HD resolution (1280 x 720p), creating a 5x slow-motion effect.

The α7S camera is also equipped with S-Log2 gamma. Common to Sony's range of professional video cameras, S-Log2 expands the dynamic range by up to 1300% to minimize clipped highlights and loss of detail in shadows. Additionally, for the first time ever in a Sony α camera, the α7S adopts the workflow-friendly XAVC S recording format in addition to AVCHD and MP4 codecs. XAVC S format allows for full HD recording at a data rate of 50 mbps with lower compression for improved video quality.

Other specialist video functions on the new camera include a picture profile that can adjust settings like gamma, black, level and color adjustment, and can be saved for use in a multi-camera shoot. It also has Full HD and 4K base band HDMI® output, time code/user bit for easier editing, synchronous recording feature with compatible devices, various marker and zebra displays on both the LCD screen and viewfinder and can dual record XAVC S as well as MP4 (1280x720 @30p).

The camera also has a Multi-terminal interface shoe that is compatible with Sony's XLR Adaptor Microphone Kits (XLR-K1M plus a new model under development), allowing the use of professional microphone systems.

Slightly off topic, but hopefully this means there will be a lot of 3rd party accessories for the a7/a7r/a7s! Cages and 15mm rod mounts. 

And hopefully some hackers are excited about this camera!

I am hoping we can do ~120fps at 720p. Come on Sony! The Galaxy S5 and iPhone 5s can do it, why can't this?

Crossing my fingers and hope that Sony makes a battery grip equivalent to the GH4! Not sure if there are a lot of Sony users here in this forum, but am I the only one awkwardly reaching for record button? Why can't they just let us program start/stop video to one of the many Fn buttons?!

Btw, the current a7r xlr adapter + mic (XLR-K1M) is $800 USD. I am hoping for a cheaper (no mic!) XLR adapter version (similar to the Panasonic AG-YAGHG Interface Unit).

Dunno how much of a problem mic jack is for a camera of this price. I mean a lot of us are using dual audio and syncing with plural eyes anyways. 

To Sony, please make the video record button assignable to one of the Function button or the shutter! I hate the record button placement!

Didn't see this in the video, but is there a 'reversing direction' switch for this? For instance, if you are switching between Canon and Nikon lens, the direction of the focusing is opposites. But as a focus puller, when you are turning the knob towards you, it should focus closer. When you turn the knob away from you, it should focus away from you.

Have you considered the FS100? With the E-mount, you can adapt any lens on the market to it.

If I was in your shoes, Id buy this: http://www.adorama.com/US%20%20%20%20593956.html w/ a Metabones Speedbooster

You could sell the lens and use that money towards a speedbooster.

not mine, but one of my favorites: http://wistia.com/learning

really clean and simple.

 

 

Here you can see the movie recording button, which Sony keeps moving further away from the back panel, in order to prevent users from accidentally pressing it. The downside: now it's too hard to press.

source: http://***URL removed***/previews/sony-alpha-a6000/4

This is getting ridiculous from Sony. They should either put the video record button where the C1 is, or allow it to be programmed to C1 (or shutter) for those of us who use the Nex exclusively for video.

No mic or headphone input (same as Nex 6). The Nex 7 has a mic input, so I guess this A6000 is more of a Nex 6 update? Only mic option is to buy Sony's ECM-XYST1M stereo microphone that attaches to the multi interface hotshoe.

I wish a 3rd party interface with a mic input could be made for the Nex line, similar to this DIY: 

Canon could do almost anything possible, if they wanted. They just don't care enough for this segment.

This is so true. Canon is letting Sony catch up and beat them. Canon doesnt care for this segment and this mk2 isnt a necessary upgrade.

When 4K becomes the rage (seeing as the Samsung Note 3 can shoot 4K), Canon needs a 4K camera in the 3K pricing.

I really hope this camera takes off and is adopted by the masses (ie; indy filmmakers, schools, bloggers, news people)!

I can totally see this being my next purchase! That xlr makes this a really nice package! I'm glad I mostly shoot on a monopod.

okay, so after some more digging, here are some people who have bought it and their thoughts: 

http://www.bmcuser.com/showthread.php?7479-EF-to-M43-Speedbooster-generic-on-ebay

http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/9086/rj-lens-turbo-m43-adapters/p1

http://lenscraze.blogspot.co.il/2014/01/focal-reducer-072x-with-ef-mount-m43.html

I just bought it and it should arrive around Feb 20 (seller is away due to closing of postal office, chinese new year).

Ill update when it arrives. From what I have read so far, it doesnt match up to the Metabones (but its 1/3 of the price, so I can't complain too much.)

Here is an even cheaper one: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/190965096361?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

 (Seller has better feedback).

Thoughts?

This is from an earlier look at the camera. In my retail camera, which is a final unit (I bought it from a Sony shop), you can't assign the video record button to C1 or any other button.

 

It's a ridiculous decision by Sony.

 

Also I don't see the logic in moving the record button to an awkward position AS WELL AS having the ability to turn it off in the menus. Surely the photo-hardcore guys who hate video so much can just turn the damn button off in the menus and not hassle the rest of us with their out of touch stupid feedback they gave to Sony on the matter.

Andrew, since you are in touch with Sony, could you tell them they are pissing off videographers with the stupid placement of the record button (even on the Nex 6)?

They need a firmware update to allow you to set C1 (on the A7R) and Fn (on the Nex 6) as the record button. This is a simple firmware update and a huge oversight on Sony's behalf. They want to advertise it as a stills/video hybrid but makes it so difficult to record video....

Thankfully there’s a more accessible custom button on the top plate where the record button usually is, which you can assign video recording to. 

-http://www.eoshd.com/content/11324/look-new-video-features-new-sony-a7-a7r-rx10

Okay, I tried to google to see if I could program C1 for movie record, but I can't (google brought up that link).

Am I doing something wrong or can you actually program C1 for movie record and I am just an idiot?

 

 

We believe that the $39,999 US price (correction $35,114.57 price) does not include any lens mount, battery plate, microphone holder or the sliding shoulder pad. These are all optional accessories that must be purchased at extra cost.

-http://www.newsshooter.com/2014/01/31/arri-sets-amira-pricing-who-will-pay-it-asks-matt-allard/

Okay, I first thought that the ergonomics of the Arri AMIRA was awesome. Turns out all of those are just extra accessories.

I think you can make a camera of your choosing to be similar to that with the same accessories from them. I like the lens with the zoom rocker attachment to it, the sliding shoulder pad. Add this to something like the BMCC could give you similar ergonomics.

That's a really clever way to add to the story, especially with the limitations that you mentioned. Definitely gonna copy this technique and use it for the future.

 

 

• Awkwardly placed video record button, almost impossible to press whilst holding camera grip

This! After the photographers complained the NEX 7 record button was accidentally being hit, Sony has gone out of their way to place the record button in the most awkward position ever!

They didn't even let you customize the record function either! (Easy fix with a firmware update). I want to program C1 to record (even better would be allowing me to use the shutter button to record, but that could be problematic). C1 would be a great place to allow you to start/stop video!

For me, the A7R is a really nice little package. Having manual control with audio and headphone is amazing! Im so glad I'm not so picky with image quality like most professionals. None of my clients care about moire (then again, i try to avoid it). A lot of my clients understand the 'full-frame look' and want that. They don't understand anything more technical stuff (ie; moire, rolling shutter) which is great  for me because I personally don't pay too much attention to that. Cinematography and lighting is where I spend more time focusing on.