New FS-100 evaluation and video. at DVinfo.net

Gabe Strong · June 22nd, 2011, 03:50 AM

This is my first bit of shooting with my NEX FS-100. A few shots from
right after I got it, and then a couple from late at night. Also,
one test of the 'steadyshot' function to see how close to a
'steadycam' look I could get.

Ungraded, didn't have a clue what I was doing, just put the camera
together and shot a couple shots......then had to bring my daughter to
a softball game and shot the game....here's a couple random shots
from the game.

Nice camera.....unlike a DSLR it LOVES wide shots! Looks really nice
on them. Found myself trying to zoom with a nonexistent zoom rocker
when following moving softball players....but figured it out after
a little while. The kit lens is actually a decent run and gun lens,
the auto functions work much better than I thought they would.
I like the 'push auto' buttons, as you can have the camera in full
manual...hit the auto iris or auto focus button to see what the
camera 'thinks' and then tweak a little from there if you want,
or just leave it and the camera won't 'hunt' as it is now in
manual again. Very nice sensor, even the slow kit lens needs
some ND unless you like shooting in the F25 range in the sun.
The iris is smooth....no clicks or 'steps' like there was on
the AF100 with the 14-140 lens that I saw a friend use.
Build quality is middle of the road. I was expecting it to
be really crappy with all the complaints I had read, but it feels
no worse than a Panasonic HMC 150.....a friend of mine has that and it
feels almost the same to me. I wouldn't want to give it to a local
news station to use, or bang it around, but as a one person owner/operator,
I am nice to my gear, and it feels solid to me, I am confident that it
will be fine unless abused. If you dropped it off a tripod.....not
sure if it would break or not. I had heard so much about how light
it was, I was surprised at how solid and heavy it felt. I was expecting
some light 'toy' cheap plastic thing, and to me it felt like the
Panasonic HVX 200 or HMC 150 type cameras.

Low light is amazing as everyone has said. Gaining up doesn't add much
grain at all....it's crazy. Buttons are a little small, but I am 6'3
250 and I had no problems whatsoever pushing buttons with my fingers....
didn't need a pen. The only thing that bothers me, is the no ND filters.
Mostly, because I can't find the variable Heliopan or Tiffin in stock anywhere,
and I want one that doesn't introduce color casts and is SHARP at all focal lengths.
I know the Heliopan is $400 but it would be worth it to me to get a sharp ND
filter. I think the camera is destined to become a classic, the sensor is
just that good!

Derran Rootring · June 22nd, 2011, 09:52 AM

I see you already did some testing with the camera, looks nice!

I'm also searching for a good ND solution, but it also depends on how many different lenses you are planning to use. If you have 4 lenses, you might need 4 ND filters as well. Unless you can work with step rings.

Thanks for your evaluation. I'm sure it will be helpful for others who are looking into buying this camera.

Gabe Strong · June 22nd, 2011, 12:45 PM

Hmmm....couldn't you get a larger variable ND.....like a 77mm and use
step down rings for the smaller lenses like the 67mm ones? There
may be a reason that this isn't a good idea, but I thought it would
work well. A matte box that would swing out, would work well,
except that the largest ND I've seen as a square filter is 1.2.
You'd be likely to need more than that, the variable ND's offer
up to 8 stops, which is really nice on a camera that is
this sensitive. I've heard that 'stacking' square ND's isn't a
good option, but it might be ok, as long as your matte box had
more than one filter slot I guess. My guess, is that the market
will come up with several solutions to this, as this is a popular
camera.....we just have to wait for the market to catch up with
the camera, as the camera itself is just being released.

June 22nd, 2011, 03:50 AM	#1
Gabe Strong Major Player Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Juneau, AK Posts: 814	New FS-100 evaluation and video. This is my first bit of shooting with my NEX FS-100. A few shots from right after I got it, and then a couple from late at night. Also, one test of the 'steadyshot' function to see how close to a 'steadycam' look I could get. FS-100 test video on Vimeo Ungraded, didn't have a clue what I was doing, just put the camera together and shot a couple shots......then had to bring my daughter to a softball game and shot the game....here's a couple random shots from the game. Sydney's last game FS-100 test on Vimeo Nice camera.....unlike a DSLR it LOVES wide shots! Looks really nice on them. Found myself trying to zoom with a nonexistent zoom rocker when following moving softball players....but figured it out after a little while. The kit lens is actually a decent run and gun lens, the auto functions work much better than I thought they would. I like the 'push auto' buttons, as you can have the camera in full manual...hit the auto iris or auto focus button to see what the camera 'thinks' and then tweak a little from there if you want, or just leave it and the camera won't 'hunt' as it is now in manual again. Very nice sensor, even the slow kit lens needs some ND unless you like shooting in the F25 range in the sun. The iris is smooth....no clicks or 'steps' like there was on the AF100 with the 14-140 lens that I saw a friend use. Build quality is middle of the road. I was expecting it to be really crappy with all the complaints I had read, but it feels no worse than a Panasonic HMC 150.....a friend of mine has that and it feels almost the same to me. I wouldn't want to give it to a local news station to use, or bang it around, but as a one person owner/operator, I am nice to my gear, and it feels solid to me, I am confident that it will be fine unless abused. If you dropped it off a tripod.....not sure if it would break or not. I had heard so much about how light it was, I was surprised at how solid and heavy it felt. I was expecting some light 'toy' cheap plastic thing, and to me it felt like the Panasonic HVX 200 or HMC 150 type cameras. Low light is amazing as everyone has said. Gaining up doesn't add much grain at all....it's crazy. Buttons are a little small, but I am 6'3 250 and I had no problems whatsoever pushing buttons with my fingers.... didn't need a pen. The only thing that bothers me, is the no ND filters. Mostly, because I can't find the variable Heliopan or Tiffin in stock anywhere, and I want one that doesn't introduce color casts and is SHARP at all focal lengths. I know the Heliopan is $400 but it would be worth it to me to get a sharp ND filter. I think the camera is destined to become a classic, the sensor is just that good!

June 22nd, 2011, 09:52 AM	#2
Derran Rootring Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 204	Re: New FS-100 evaluation and video. I see you already did some testing with the camera, looks nice! I'm also searching for a good ND solution, but it also depends on how many different lenses you are planning to use. If you have 4 lenses, you might need 4 ND filters as well. Unless you can work with step rings. Thanks for your evaluation. I'm sure it will be helpful for others who are looking into buying this camera.

June 22nd, 2011, 12:45 PM	#3
Gabe Strong Major Player Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Juneau, AK Posts: 814	Re: New FS-100 evaluation and video. Hmmm....couldn't you get a larger variable ND.....like a 77mm and use step down rings for the smaller lenses like the 67mm ones? There may be a reason that this isn't a good idea, but I thought it would work well. A matte box that would swing out, would work well, except that the largest ND I've seen as a square filter is 1.2. You'd be likely to need more than that, the variable ND's offer up to 8 stops, which is really nice on a camera that is this sensitive. I've heard that 'stacking' square ND's isn't a good option, but it might be ok, as long as your matte box had more than one filter slot I guess. My guess, is that the market will come up with several solutions to this, as this is a popular camera.....we just have to wait for the market to catch up with the camera, as the camera itself is just being released.