Well, I finally did it. After FOREVER researching and trying to figure
out which camera I should buy for my video business to give me a 'bit
of an edge', I pulled the trigger and ordered the FS-100. Honestly,
I probably couldn't have gone wrong any way I chose (these days all
the cameras are amazing) but still, when I'm spending that kind of
money I get a little obsessive. It's being sent Fed Ex 2nd day
air (which in the language of Alaska means 4 days) so I should have
it early next week. I'll be sure to add video and impressions to
help everyone else out, as I'm glad so many people did for me.
When the closest dealer is about 1000 miles away, you don't have
the option to actually pick up the camera and play with
it, but at least I was able to see what it is capable of imagery wise,
so thanks to everyone who shared.

Also, if anyone is looking to buy one, give Omega a call. They have
the camera IN STOCK right now!! Great service, Alan totally rocks!
You can't go wrong giving them your business.

Hi Gabe, nice to hear.
Gotta love the internet for researching right? I had the same thing. Looking at all these different camera's and what they are capable of and sometimes lack... It's so difficult to make a decision.

I've always had video (shoulder mounted) camera's and was looking to this new DSLR market from a distance. Not long before I pulled the trigger for the NEX-FS100 I was thinking of buying a Canon 5D or 7D. But got lost in all the extra accessories you can add to make it easier (or nicer) to work with. In the mean while I started to read more about the Fs100 and AF101 and thought it would be nice to have a video camera with DSLR image quality, or somewhat similar. Then I started to see footage from these camera's and also watched the comparison videos from Philip Bloom. I think he really did a great job on showing the pros and cons of these camera's and it was really helpful in making a decision. I liked the image quality of the FS100, but wasn't a big fan of the form factor. But having the camera for a week now, I couldn't be happier with my decision. Everything you film with the camera looks like it's a great looking photograph with only one difference: it's a movie! You get used to this new shooting style really fast and it's a joy to work with a camera that delivers such high quality footage. Because in the end, the result is all that counts.

Darren,

Thanks for the response. I am in pretty much the same situation as you.
I am a admitted 'video guy' who shot on big cameras, and was thinking
about buying a Canon T3 or something to get the DSLR 'look', something
I could play around with and learn some new skills. But then...
just looking at all the images this camera was capable of....I finally
decided to go for it. I was starting to question my decision a little,
but you are among several others who have told me that it's video is like
'a photograph, only it's a movie.' That sounds just amazing,
now I'm even more excited to get it.

i'm waiting for mines to arrive, was on the hunt for a new cam almost went for a 7D or 5D im glad i waited for the fs100. what good ND filters or matte box you guys recommend for this cam??

I'm not sure yet which ND solution I will use. My camera is due to arrive
on Wednesday....ordered it Fed Ex 2nd day air on Thursday night last week.
I would probably either go with the Heliopan fader if I could find one
ANYWHERE to buy, or maybe a clip on mattebox with some strong ND. If you
put two square ND filters in a mattebox, does that introduce color shift
or image softening? Just wondering as I haven't ever done that before.

You can´t go wrong on the Heliopan. You get op to 6.6 stops. Believe me you need it.
I have a pair of Zeiss ZF2 f1.4 primes. On a sunny day to stay below f2.8 I need between 5 and 8 stops reduction in light. Stacking up 4x4 filters could cause problems with internal reflexions. I have been investigating on the availability of 4x4 filters and could not find a suitable solution. Either you get 1, 2, and 3 stops or you can get a big stopper 10 stops. 10 stops is to much in most situations and you are then left on stacking 2 or 3 filters.
I have bought a 77mm Heliopan for my Nikon 24-70 and 70-200 f2.8 SLR lenses and a 72 to 77mm step up ring for my Zeiss. I have also ordered a cheap matte box from India. I will use that because the Heliopan is preventing me from using the sunshades for my lenses.

The Heliopan are in stock here.
Heliopan Variograufilter ND 0,3 - ND 2,0 77mm Brenner - Alles für die Fotografie (http://www.fotobrenner.de/default.asp?UIDASP=20110609012748149685772126343&ARTNR=82209977&UG=352&Anzahl=78&Anf=31&Ende=40&SON=5&UE=10,41,352&MENPRO=&ES=)

I'd have no problem ordering from them if they'd ship to me......but, as I
can't understand the language, I'm not able to navigate the website.
Seems like here in the US, everyone is out of the Heliopan filter.

Thanks Brian for confirming my calculations here. I don't have my '100 yet, but I was doing some calculating and I was coming up with around 8 or 9 stops of ND being necessary to shoot wide open here in the Florida sun. Now I have to see what's available in 4x5.65 glass.....ugh.

Hi Dave,

I've had my 100 for a little over a week now and have been shooting using a Genus matte box (who also make variable ND filters) using a 4x4 linear polarizer in front of a circular polerizer. It's been working well so far as long as you're not shooting directly into the sun. The filter are not matched pairs, just what I already owned. DigiPro makes a 4x4 fader filter set for $499. that states 2-8 stops. I'll probably buy this set at some point, but for now I'm going to wait and see where the competition goes. Using a matte box may also give you a wider field of options down the road too.Just an idea... You're going to love the camera once you get past it's short comings. Even then, for 6k it's worth every penny and more.

Brian,

I found the Heliopan in stock and jumped on it. Now I am wondering
what to do for a sunshade. Do you have a link to what you went with?

Hi Gabe.

I have bought a cheap matte box from India.

From here:
DV City (http://www.dvcity.com/dvshop/home.php)

They are fairly cheap and has a usable quality.

You can get a mattebox with a rail system (recommended) or with adapter rings for your lenses.

Delivery time were a little less than two weeks.

Brian,

Thanks for the info. So you went with this one?

PROAIM MB-700 Matte box with dv rail system for EX3 EX1 5D MARKII 7D VX21000 JVC 100U DV DSLR CAMS (http://www.dvcity.com/dvshop/PROAIM-MB-700-Matte-box-with-dv-rail-system-for-EX3-EX1-5D-MARKII-7D.html)

The reason I am asking is because I am a little unsure how it all works together. So the Heliopan screws onto the front of your lens. Now you can
no longer use the sunshade that comes with your lens as the Heliopan is screwed on the threads. The Heliopan does NOT have threads on the front of
it? So you cannot buy a cheap $10 sunshade in the correct size to screw on
the front of the Heliopan? That is my assumption. So you get the 'cheap' matte box solution. Now you use the included rails to mount it so you don't
need to worry about how to clip in on to the front of the camera. Doesn't
that make it very hard to adjust the Heliopan filter when you want to vary
the amount of ND? Or is it still easy to access the twist function on the
Heliopan? Sorry for all the questions, I'm still trying to figure out
how it would all work together.

I didn't even think about the sun shade on the stock lens and how it attaches... I originally wanted to get a 77mm variable ND filter that would allow for a polarizer to attach to it as well - with a step down to 67mm. I didn't even think of how to attach the shade. So if we use a ND filter, we would need some sort of matte box?

That is my question as well. In my research, I've found this:

Cavision LH77 Lens Hood LH77 B&H Photo Video

It may work for a 77mm lens, and it's only $40. It might also attach
to the variable ND filter/step up ring on a 67mm lens and allow you to
turn the variable ND using the sunshade. Not sure how I'd feel about that,
I doubt the rubber sunshade weighs very much, but still, I'd be very
careful trying something like that. Really, I'm not to sure what to do,
until I get the filter and step ring here and can look at them.

Hi Gabe.

Actually I bought the mattebox by itself and two different rail systems. A light simple one and a stronger heavy one. The one you are referring to is something in between! The mattebox is the same.

Regarding adjusting the ND. It is possible to stick your fingers into the mattebox and make adjustments. It is not a perfect solution and your fingers get into the picture!

I am thinking about making some kind of leaver sticking out trough one of the filter slots on the mattebox so that I can adjust the ND from the outside.

This hole ND business is a pain in the a.. everything getting so complicated...

As a last remark. I have borrowed some 4x4 glass ND filters. It is extremely difficult not getting flare into the lens. It is always a fight to adjusting the flags and changing the camera angle to the sun. Even then it is not perfect. With the Heliopan there is no problems.

Brian,

You are using the heliopan with the FS-100? Do you find that 6.6 stops is enough? I was looking at some like the Tiffen ND that is 2-8 stops and still was unsure if it'd be enough. What are your thoughts? Thanks!

Also, is the heliopan polarized?

The Heliopan is a polarized ND filter.

In most situation 6.6 stop ND is enough.

If you are using the kit lens you will not need any more as it is f3.5 at the wide end.

I am using Zeiss 1.4 Nikon primes and in most situations I can stay below f2.8. In rare situations I had to stop down to f4. This being in pal land with a shutter speed of 50. If I set the shutter to 100 I can always stay at f2.8 or below.

With my 35mm lens at f4 I can still obtain a decent DOF.
At f1.4 the DOF is weary shallow and with the 85mm at f1.4 the DOF is only an inch or two, so stopping down to 2.8 is actually needed in most situations, unless you prefer a picture where only the eyebrows are in focus .
All this of course depends on the distance to the talent.

Does the Heliopan have threads on the front for attaching anything else?

Also off topic, do you find that with the FS-100's display, you can easily see what is in/out of focus? It's near impossible often times with my XH-A1.

I'll jump in here for a second. First, I have emailed a couple of these
questions to Charlie at Hedlerusa.com, which is where I was able to find
the Heliopan filter. He told me that there was a third party company
that was 'thinking' about making a sunshade which would slip over the end
of the filter, but that was all the info he had. I understand that the
filter does NOT have threads on the front of it to attach anything else.
However, I have heard so many good things about it, how it introduces
no color cast, and is pin sharp, that I decided it was a must have
for the FS-100. It wouldn't seem to be too hard to make a sunshade that
would fit on a 77mm filter, but maybe I am wrong. I am guessing
that third parties are going to step up here as they see opportunity
to make some money.

As regards the FS-100, the LCD screen on it is VERY good (I think the resolution is
1920x480). You can usually tell what is in focus, and if you aren't sure, you just
hit the 'expanded focus' button which zooms in 2x to give you even more detail to tell
if you are focused or not. It's the best LCD screen I've seen, probably the same one
from the EX-1/3 line.

So if I bought the fs-100 with the kit lens for $5600, the Heliopan ND filter for $400, 32 GB SDHC card @ 30mb/s for $90, and an extra Sony NP F970 L series @ 6600 mAh battery for $50, then I'd be looking at $6,140 to start up with this camera.

Anything else I'm forgetting?

Ryan,
Were do you find a new sony 970 for $50.00

Dan

Sony NP F970 Camcorder battery - Li-Ion 6600 mAh - $46.95 (http://www.ecrater.com/p/11454224/sony-np-f970-camcorder-battery#)

It's the L series (You can see on the package) and 6600 mAh. As far as I can tell, it's a legit deal. I could be wrong however.

So if I bought the fs-100 with the kit lens for $5600, the Heliopan ND filter for $400, 32 GB SDHC card @ 30mb/s for $90, and an extra Sony NP F970 L series @ 6600 mAh battery for $50, then I'd be looking at $6,140 to start up with this camera.

Anything else I'm forgetting?

Well, you're pretty much right. I myself didn't get a 32 gig card because
I already had two 16's and an 8 for my HD Hero Cam. I had always bought
Class 10 cards just in case I got a 'big' camera that would need the
speed. Now I'm glad I did. I also had several of the big sony batteries
already that I use on my PD-150 (yes, my PD 150 still is getting work
for me). I'd maybe add in the cost of a step up ring, which are pretty
cheap. I bought a 67 to 77 step up ring so I can use the 77mm Heliopan
instead of the 67mm one. The kit lens is 67mm, but if you want
to get other glass later, it might be better to get the bigger filter now,
then it will work with the bigger lens's as well (I see a 70-300 F2.8
that has 77mm threads that I may want, as well as a 24-75 F2.8). Otherwise,
you will be stuck buying another ND filter for the larger lens. Still,
although 6 grand is NOT cheap, if you think about what cameras had a
super 35 chip before the F3 and FS100 came along? I'm guessing we
are talking 150-250 grand here, so really it's pretty amazing!

Are all step up rings made equal? Any advantages of one over another (assuming they are all 77 to 67).

I think the cheaper step up rings can have a tendency to 'bind' or stick
on the threads, or get crossthreaded. I went with Tiffin as they have a
good reputation and it wasn't 'that' much more. I think I bought the
step up ring for $20 or $30.

I've shot with big cams and now I've been shooting with a 7d. The audio recording being the biggest problem, but I get around it without much trouble.

The video quality is fine. It's so small I love that. Plenty of lenses, even cheap ones do great.

Low light is great.

I was so close to purchasing a fs-100 but started to cool-off about buy it.

3-pin xlr's mic inputs must be great.

Not having nd filters doesn't bother me. I was going to use manual Rokinon prime lenes that have manual focus and iris rings on the lens. A variable nd screw-on works fine. Already bought one just to try it out with my 7d and the lens is great.

I don't run & gun so manual everything appeals to me.

I would love a pep talk from someone if I'm missing something by not buying the fs-100.

Even if audio and video are improved witha fs-100 it's so good with the 7d do I really need to upgrade?

monty

Monty,
Just wander around the forums and you'll probably hear many of the ways the FS100 is an improvement over the traditional DSLRs.
My biggest ones are things like long record time, full res output for live monitoring, easily being able to use the camera viewfinder and an external client monitor simultaneously, a camera that doesn't overheat and force you to shut down until it cools down, ability to easily adapt cine lenses when needed, time code, 1080/60p, no interline problems, minimal jellocam effects when compared to a DSLR, less noise at increased gain, the ability to record to a NanoFlash, etc.
If none of these things have ever bothered you, then I'm thinking you haven't shot much video with a DSLR.
The more video I shot sith DSLR's, the more I knew I wanted to be shooting with a real HD video camera instead...