Wedding FS100 users at DVinfo.net

Chad Whelan · September 6th, 2011, 09:48 PM

Is anyone using this camera as their main cam for weddings? I am very much considering this along with the kit 18-200 lens. I will be migrating from a Z1 which has served me well, but finally ready to retire. I would love to hear from anyone and their thoughts who primarily shoot weddings.

Gabe Strong · September 6th, 2011, 11:13 PM

I don't primarily shoot weddings, but they are one of the things I
produce (along with corporate videos, TV spots, high school sports
and events and so on). I have done two weddings with the FS 100 since
I got it, it seems to work just great as far as I'm concerned.
Maybe a little learning curve coming from the Z1, but not bad
since you are looking at the kit lens. With that kit lens, it
will perform as close to a traditional video camera, as you can
get with a large sensor video camera, in my opinion. Decent
zoom range, nice smooth iris control, pretty decent 'auto' functions
and 'push button' auto focus and iris, really nice optical steadyshot.
It's a 'slow' lens, but with such a big chip, it makes up for that
and then some. If you are going to shoot outside, you will need
ND if you want to keep the iris opened up....even on the slow
kit lens. But yeah, all in all, a great camera and it can work
really nice for a wedding.

Chad Whelan · September 7th, 2011, 12:21 AM

How ironic Gabe, I just finished reading your review on Ken Stone, thank you for that. I figured the kit lens may be a good all around lens to start with and go from there. I was also looking at the sony 16mm f2.8 as a second lens, for weddings may be perfect for party shots walking around the dance floor. I have been researching ND filter options tonight too. Any opinions without using a matte box? Was looking at the Tiffen variable ND.

Gabe Strong · September 7th, 2011, 01:49 AM

Chad,

Thanks, I got one of the 'early' FS100's so when I was asked to write
that review, I thought it might help other people figure the camera out,
it's a new and different type of camera.

I think you have an excellent idea. That's what I did, got the kit
lens to start with, and it's actually pretty good. The 16mm F2.8
works pretty good for a steadicam shot....like on a Merlin or Blackbird
if you are on a budget, or a Pilot if you've got the funds. Those are
two good lenses to start with. I have been waiting a bit on buying
more lenses.....Sony just announced a new A to E adaptor (LA-E2) that
is supposed to enable autofocus on all A mount lenses....not sure
what else it does, but I wanted to hear more about it before I decide
what kind of lenses to buy. I'd like some fast zooms (2.8) or so,
but I want to be sure I can manually control iris before I buy
anything....and the more functions that will work with the camera,
the better. So in the meantime, I can shoot with what I have,
and once this new Sony adapter, and the upcoming Canon Birger
adapter come out, hopefully I can figure out what to buy.

As for ND, I have not used the Tiffin variable ND, but I have
heard it is good. I personally went crazy and bought the
Heliopan variable ND. It's pretty freakin spendy...I paid
$399 for it, and the price has went up. BUT, it is really
good! I first read about it on Philip Bloom's blog where
he called it the 'best variable ND I have ever seen'.
I have posted a video that shows that if you use it to keep
your F stop 'low' the difference in the shallow depth of field
you can get using the filter. However, you can ALSO
see there is no color cast introduced (I put a white sheet of
paper in frame so you can judge that) and no loss of sharpness,
even at 200mm!!!

If you are interested, here is the link:

FS-100/Heliopan depth of field tests By Gabe Strong On ExposureRoom

However, hard to get a hold of a Heliopan these days, I was lucky in that I beat the 'rush' of FS 100 buyers
looking to buy it. But I've heard lots of good things about the Tiffen, and honestly, that's the one I'd go
for if I couldn't get the Heliopan (or couldn't afford it) as Tiffen has a really good reputation with their
other products.

Chad Whelan · September 8th, 2011, 09:07 AM

So I just pulled the trigger! Will be here tomorrow, Wohoo!

Gabe Strong · September 8th, 2011, 01:51 PM

Chad,

Congratulations! You are going to LOVE it! You should print out
the picture profiles from AbelCine....they have 5 or 6 different ones.
I have them printed out and take them with me on shoots, so I can
dial in different PP's.

September 6th, 2011, 09:48 PM	#1
Chad Whelan Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Deep River, Connecticut Posts: 261	Wedding FS100 users Is anyone using this camera as their main cam for weddings? I am very much considering this along with the kit 18-200 lens. I will be migrating from a Z1 which has served me well, but finally ready to retire. I would love to hear from anyone and their thoughts who primarily shoot weddings. __________________ ___________________________ www.ChadWhelan.com

September 6th, 2011, 11:13 PM	#2
Gabe Strong Major Player Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Juneau, AK Posts: 814	Re: Wedding FS100 users I don't primarily shoot weddings, but they are one of the things I produce (along with corporate videos, TV spots, high school sports and events and so on). I have done two weddings with the FS 100 since I got it, it seems to work just great as far as I'm concerned. Maybe a little learning curve coming from the Z1, but not bad since you are looking at the kit lens. With that kit lens, it will perform as close to a traditional video camera, as you can get with a large sensor video camera, in my opinion. Decent zoom range, nice smooth iris control, pretty decent 'auto' functions and 'push button' auto focus and iris, really nice optical steadyshot. It's a 'slow' lens, but with such a big chip, it makes up for that and then some. If you are going to shoot outside, you will need ND if you want to keep the iris opened up....even on the slow kit lens. But yeah, all in all, a great camera and it can work really nice for a wedding.

September 7th, 2011, 12:21 AM	#3
Chad Whelan Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Deep River, Connecticut Posts: 261	Re: Wedding FS100 users How ironic Gabe, I just finished reading your review on Ken Stone, thank you for that. I figured the kit lens may be a good all around lens to start with and go from there. I was also looking at the sony 16mm f2.8 as a second lens, for weddings may be perfect for party shots walking around the dance floor. I have been researching ND filter options tonight too. Any opinions without using a matte box? Was looking at the Tiffen variable ND. __________________ ___________________________ www.ChadWhelan.com

September 7th, 2011, 01:49 AM	#4
Gabe Strong Major Player Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Juneau, AK Posts: 814	Re: Wedding FS100 users Chad, Thanks, I got one of the 'early' FS100's so when I was asked to write that review, I thought it might help other people figure the camera out, it's a new and different type of camera. I think you have an excellent idea. That's what I did, got the kit lens to start with, and it's actually pretty good. The 16mm F2.8 works pretty good for a steadicam shot....like on a Merlin or Blackbird if you are on a budget, or a Pilot if you've got the funds. Those are two good lenses to start with. I have been waiting a bit on buying more lenses.....Sony just announced a new A to E adaptor (LA-E2) that is supposed to enable autofocus on all A mount lenses....not sure what else it does, but I wanted to hear more about it before I decide what kind of lenses to buy. I'd like some fast zooms (2.8) or so, but I want to be sure I can manually control iris before I buy anything....and the more functions that will work with the camera, the better. So in the meantime, I can shoot with what I have, and once this new Sony adapter, and the upcoming Canon Birger adapter come out, hopefully I can figure out what to buy. As for ND, I have not used the Tiffin variable ND, but I have heard it is good. I personally went crazy and bought the Heliopan variable ND. It's pretty freakin spendy...I paid $399 for it, and the price has went up. BUT, it is really good! I first read about it on Philip Bloom's blog where he called it the 'best variable ND I have ever seen'. I have posted a video that shows that if you use it to keep your F stop 'low' the difference in the shallow depth of field you can get using the filter. However, you can ALSO see there is no color cast introduced (I put a white sheet of paper in frame so you can judge that) and no loss of sharpness, even at 200mm!!! If you are interested, here is the link: FS-100/Heliopan depth of field tests By Gabe Strong On ExposureRoom However, hard to get a hold of a Heliopan these days, I was lucky in that I beat the 'rush' of FS 100 buyers looking to buy it. But I've heard lots of good things about the Tiffen, and honestly, that's the one I'd go for if I couldn't get the Heliopan (or couldn't afford it) as Tiffen has a really good reputation with their other products.

September 8th, 2011, 09:07 AM	#5
Chad Whelan Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Deep River, Connecticut Posts: 261	Re: Wedding FS100 users So I just pulled the trigger! Will be here tomorrow, Wohoo! __________________ ___________________________ www.ChadWhelan.com

September 8th, 2011, 01:51 PM	#6
Gabe Strong Major Player Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Juneau, AK Posts: 814	Re: Wedding FS100 users Chad, Congratulations! You are going to LOVE it! You should print out the picture profiles from AbelCine....they have 5 or 6 different ones. I have them printed out and take them with me on shoots, so I can dial in different PP's.