New Sony NEX-FS100

[Crosby!]

"The NEX-FS100 is a new E-mount professional camcorder equipped with a Super 35mm CMOS sensor specifically designed for shooting motion pictures ideal for commercials and music videos, as well as action scenes in budget drama for example.The large-format sensor's high sensitivity enables it to produce footage with shallow depth of field similar to that of a film camera."



Product brochure: http://www.sony.co.uk/res/attachment...7480643259.pdf

Product info: http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/cat-bro...ras/cat-nxcam/

[Crosby!]

To add to the above post, here's a video blog on it by Den Lennie from F-Stop Academy on Vimeo:



From the Sony press release on it:

BASINGSTOKE, UK, March 23, 2011 – Sony today revealed two new professional camcorders based on extensive customer feedback in the “NXCAM™” line-up. The NEX-FS100E is a new E-mount professional camcorder equipped with a Super 35mm motion picture sensor and is a further addition to Sony’s 35mm line-up. The HXR-NX70E is the world’s first rain and dust proof professional HD camcorder and is ideal for use in unforgiving environments. Sony’s expanding NXCAM line-up, including the existing HXR-NX5E provides a superb solution to many shooting applications.

The NEX-FS100E – Digital Super 35mm made affordable.

Originally announced in November 2010, Sony can now reveal the full specifications of the new NEX-FS100E. The NEX-FS100E is equipped with an ‘Exmor™’ Super 35 CMOS sensor specifically designed for shooting motion pictures. This large, super 35mm equivalent sensor is capable of producing footage with a shallow depth of field similar to that of a film camera. Thanks to this cutting edge sensor technology, it is possible to record the image in 1080/50p AVCHD format as well as capturing 1080p quality slow and quick motion.

“The NEX-FS100E NXCAM Super 35mm camcorder enables budget content creators and videographers to experience a new level of cinematic expression” said Bill Drummond, Strategic Marketing Manager, of Sony Professional. “Sony has responded to professional user feedback to create this new camcorder with an ergonomically designed body and accessories offering really flexibility in use.”

The NEX-FS100E adopts the Sony E-mount interchangeable lens system used in the “α” series NEX-5, 3 and NEX-VG10E “Handycam®”. It’s very short flange back distance (the distance between lens mount surface and sensor surface) allows various “α” A-mount lenses be mounted via a mount adaptor (LA-EA1). It is also possible to attach a huge range of other lenses, such as PL mount lenses using third-party mount adaptors*. With such flexibility, users will be able to experiment with numerous creative options by exploiting the characteristics of different optics.

* Not all types of adaptors and lenses are guaranteed. For details, please ask the adaptor manufacturers.

The NEX-FS100EK lens kit model comes supplied with the E18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS zoom Lens which gives users optical Steadyshot™ and auto focus.

The NEX-FS100E accepts affordable and readily available Memory Stick PRO Duo™ or SDHC cards. It is capable of recording images at various frame rates providing the added creative freedom of slow and quick motion with full HD. The camera operator can simply adjust the frame rate without using converters or editing software, making the camera ideal for commercials and music videos, as well as action scenes in budget movies for example. The grip, handle and hybrid LCD viewfinder are detachable also making it ideal for handheld scenes and shooting in confined locations.

[Halsu]

Looks pretty darn nice! And rather affordable too... at around 6K bucks this seems good value for the money.

[cgbier]

Just put an eyepiece (ala EX3) on the LCD, and this will be a fine cam.

[Timbit]

An AF100 contender?

[Ian-T]

It's going to be around $4,500 not $6,000.

[cgbier]

Still roughly 4500 more than I have now....

[Noir]

Footage looks very film-like.

Not sure about the camera itself. Really slow kit lens. EVF isn't angled well, XLR ports are weirdly positioned, no ND filters blah blah blah...

[dcloud]

heres my take on this
fs100: video camera fitted on a dslr body
af100: dslr fitted on a video camera

FS100 has a great sensor on a body i dislike (except for EVF)
would i use it? if theres a proper mattebox and 4x4 filters.. i dont want to keep swapping nd filter on the damn thing. swap lens, swap nd filter FRAK!

[Halsu]

It's going to be around $4,500 not $6,000.

Not true according to the product page:
http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/cat-bro...ras/cat-nxcam/

$5,850.00 without lens, $6,550.00 with lens.

[Timbit]

Still much more than I have...

[Noir]

Apparently, internal ND filters aren't possible for a sensor this big in a body this small.

I like the picture it puts out much more than the af100 but there's too many other "cons" for me to consider it.

As for the price, prosumer Sony products often go for about 600-1000 below MSRP so the $5,850 body only might end up "only" being $4,850.

Would you rather have one of these or two 5DM2's with money left over?

[zagnut]

Still much more than I have...

Me either. But I think everyone knows what I'll say about a Sony cam anyways.

But besides my hatred for Sony products, and the price, this looks like a neat camera.

Would you rather have one of these or two 5DM2's with money left over?

I'd rather have one 5DM2 and a couple of L lenses.

[Halsu]

Would you rather have one of these or two 5DM2's with money left over?

Definitely one of these. Looks like a tool i'd be pretty happy to work with. Working with 5dMII is tedious, too much effort goes into fighting against the shortcomings of the camera as a video tool (which it isn't, even if it's used for it quite often) instead of actually concentrating on the work, IMO.

[dcloud]

Apparently, internal ND filters aren't possible for a sensor this big in a body this small.

I like the picture it puts out much more than the af100 but there's too many other "cons" for me to consider it.

As for the price, prosumer Sony products often go for about 600-1000 below MSRP so the $5,850 body only might end up "only" being $4,850.

Would you rather have one of these or two 5DM2's with money left over?

its probably because of the focal flange of the e mount which was designed to make small compact mirrorless cameras. ironically it didnt benefit the big cam they made...
the distance between the lens and sensor is so small, nd filters wouldnt fit.

[zagnut]

ironically it didnt benefit the big cam they made...
the distance between the lens and sensor is so small, nd filters wouldnt fit.

The Sony R&D guys never cease to amuse me.

[cgbier]

LOL, half-baked as usual...

[Timbit]

Me either. But I think everyone knows what I'll say about a Sony cam anyways.

Hehe! Yeah, I would like to see Canon's challenge to interchangeable lenses.

Would you rather have one of these or two 5DM2's with money left over?

I'd take the same as zagnut.

[cgbier]

Hehe! Yeah, I would like to see Canon's challenge to interchangeable lenses.

I'm not a big fan of Canon DSLR, but if they wanted to cannibalize their DSLR sales, they could come up with something in a snap. They have the body already (XH). Just needed to put in the larger sensor and change the mount.... and, of course, get rid of the tape drive.

[zagnut]

I'm not a big fan of Canon DSLR, but if they wanted to cannibalize their DSLR sales, they could come up with something in a snap. They have the body already (XH). Just needed to put in the larger sensor and change the mount.... and, of course, get rid of the tape drive.

They will. I'm still saying that spring next year they will have an APS-C video camera. Possibly this fall.

[dcloud]

wish i could have the sensor of this thing on an af100 body (with 1:1 magnification)
perfect cam.

[Gillvane]

I like this over the af100. The footage looks nicer to me. I'd describe it as a bit creamier than the af100, and the look is what counts.

No nd filters? Well, put on some nd filters, big deal. yes, it would be nice to have them built in, but depends on what you're doing. If ENG run and gun, go for the af100 and the nd filters. If you're doing something more narrative, you should have time to put on an ND filter.

Put an atomos ninja on it and you got 4:2:2 so you're good to go.

Who needs more than that if you're shooting low budget?

[simulacro]

Put an atomos ninja on it and you got 4:2:2 so you're good to go.

some people say that the camera outputs 4:4:4 through HDMI

http://www.cinema5d.com/viewtopic.php?f=88&t=29791

http://vimeo.com/22491707

By: Sebastian Wöber

Last month Sony presented their NEXFS-100. Only here at NAB did I realize that this camera outputs 4:4:4 through hdmi. Connect that to the Atomos I reported about yesterday and you will have the one camera many of us have been dreaming of.

It will set you back by $5000-$6500 and will be available this summer. Obviously, due to the high price point dslrs will remain our friends. For hobby shooting, no budget productions and occasions like weddings you'll probably wanna go with that Canon, but if you wanna add a level of pro-ness you'll instantly be in the defeat RED and Alexa league with this one.

Why am I saying this?

- 4:4:4 output through hdmi
1080p at up to 60fps
no moiré
no rolling shutter
xlr audio input and controls
attachment for ENG style shooting
high res, very sharp onboard monitor and viewfinder
attach any lens with 3rd party non-glass adapters
it’s a video camera and will please you in that sense

And, as far as I’ve heard from people who have attended the Zacuto camera shootout, the F3 (same sensor as FS100) has better lowlight and image quality than Alexa, RED, 1DmkIV and a bunch of other cameras. I’ve seen some lowlight on the FS100 and it blew me away hard! What a neat side effect.

So now go on and hate me all u want, but unless Canon brings out something better/more affordable quick (and my guess is that this will not be a dslr) my next production will be done on this one. No more renting RED, what a relief

[dcloud]

- 4:4:4 output through hdmi
1080p at up to 60fps
no moiré
no rolling shutter
xlr audio input and controls
attachment for ENG style shooting
high res, very sharp onboard monitor and viewfinder
attach any lens with 3rd party non-glass adapters
it’s a video camera and will please you in that sense

-it outputs 4:2:2 8 bit through hdmi. that has been confirmed by the japanese engineer from sony and other people who have had the camera. check dvxuser
-rolling shutter exists on all cmos cams. even on the red. Alexa has very very minimal.
-like the af100, this isnt great for ENG shooting. specially without the built in ND filters and a gain base of 800ISO
other than these stuff, everythig you said is correct.

imo, doesnt matter what cam your using. its the shooter not the camera no built in ND filter would definitely slow me down on a shoot though.. i super want the sensor though

[dop16mm]

I want, I just hope the street price is somewhat lower as expected. What sucks is that Canadian dealers never drop below list, so I hope they end up dropping list price some. I only do narrative, or planned set-ups so a stack of Nd's for exteriors is not that big a deal. Until you've seen it you can't imagine how revolutionary a base asa of 800, and clean for as high as it goes really is. It can see brighter than the naked eye. You'll be able to light with very small units, mixing realistically with location light, just enough to shape things and make it look good.

I only wish that sony had an affordable companion camera like panasonic has with the af-100/gh2. Maybe in another few months they'll blow the doors off the industry and put the same chip again in the nex-20, and include 24p. We can dream right?