Hi,

Shooting my first music video (which is actually a narrative short film) and I'm considering these options:

1) Shoot on a 5DmkII for free.
2) Waive my fee and hire a FS700 (or something similar) for a weekend.

I'd like to do some super slo-mo flame work and am attracted to the FS700 for this reason.

I'm inclined to think that, having been redundant since March, the fee makes no difference, so I may as well invest in the best IQ I can afford.

Ideas, please, based on image quality, compatibility with Vegas Pro 11, and slo-mo comparisons (240 @ 1080 vs 50 @ 720). Happy to consider other cams.

Hi,
If the fee makes no difference go for the fs700.
Have been using the 5d mark III for about six months and after i got the fs700 I was amazed by the sharpness, dynamic range and the fine grain is just awesome (almost film like)

Between 240@1080 and 50@720 on the mark 3 there's simply no comparison.

As for compatibility with vegas 11 it depends on your hardware. Have no problem on and i7 2600k but my friend with a 6 core athlon has to render proxy files. But I think there's something wrong with his PC.


Get for the FS700 you won't regret it. Just take some time to choose a good picture style.

Ok, thanks for the advice - recommend a decent flat profile?

Is the FS700 easier to get to grips with - prob only have it for two days? What's the dealio with slo-mo and strobing?

Thanks again,

NR.

I really like the nLog Picture profile. http://noahyv.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24&Itemid=29
But I lowered the black level.
The camera is pretty easy to understand.

Cheers - any ideas about strobing/slo-mo? Guessing I need to match in multiples of 50 in UK or shoot unlit?

Here's a nice test of different light sources

First of all - you will get flicker on any shutter speed faster then 1/50. Some times I can go up to 1/100. But higher framerates require special lighting. I use Kinoflo. Be careful this camera produces more noise when in super slow motion mode, so don't underexpose.

Much appreciated. Def no budget for anything other than redheads and fresnels but I am to shoot naked flames unlit in slo-mo.

I'll watch the video properly once I find out what happens with Murray ;-)

Thanks again.

Ok, so we're using the FS.

We'll be in a relatively dark ex-factory under redhead tungstens/fresnels and weak LEDs. Can get a Kinoflow, if necessary. Will probably stick to 25P for lit scenes (50 for slo-mo) but will be using 100/200 for scenes with fire (unlit to save that strobing/flashing scrote).

What's the shutter speed rule? Double it for 180 degrees? Or just choose what I want for staccato or blurred action? Highest usable ISO?

Anything I should know about its quirks and foibles?

Thanks in advance.

You kinda have to double the shutter speed, but at super slow motion I found that it's not that important. Most lighting does not flicker at 100fps 1/100th so you'll have to test it out. Just don't be fooled by the video you'll see in the monitor when the camera is recording the slo-mo buffer (it's recorded at a double speed and the flicker is less visible). You'll have to open the visual index and review the clip from there at a normal speed. After review a clip in the visual index you have to re-enable the super slow motion.

I had a small shoot for a friend yesterday. I used ISO 2500 max(it was ok). But I recommend not to go higher then 1600.

BTW will you be using an external recorder?

Thanks for that. I'll stick to the double rule and see what happens.

No, internal recording. It's such a low-budget shoot, we can't even afford carriage, so are collecting!

Out of interest, what's the cam like in unlit conditions? Using a disused factory with plenty of windows but plenty of deep shadows, too. Planning on a heavy 'chiaroscuro' look (if possible) not rom-com floods, so was tempted to see if it'll fare well enough with natural light.

Ta.

Think I've just seen the answer to my question here:
Seems pretty robust, so I'll test it out.

Stupid question: the cam's approx APS-C, isn't it? That means I'll get the same FoV from my 550D, thus be able to frame and block using the Canon, yeah?

Yep

Cheers, man.

As it turns out, someone let us have a Steadicam to go with the FS, so all this is now the Cam-Op's problem! As a director, I s'pose I'd better stay on top of it, though . Either way, things are looking up.

I'd like to see how it turns out. Link the video as soon as it's complete

Sure thing. Not shooting til Mar 30, so a week or so after that. I'm not a pro, so don't expect Roger Deakins or anything!

Here, just for fun, a video that was shot with both the 5D MII and the FS700... Outside, self shooting...