First test with A7S 120fps
 

My A7S arrived yesterday so I shot a quick test with kids in the neighbors pool.

My main intent was to see how well XAVC-S handled the splashes, which have historically caused problems with AVCHD (as have all high-detail, high-motion scenes). With the new codec, blocking was minimal. Overall, a good result and a very useful slow-motion mode. Yes, there is also some aliasing present in the high-contrast areas, but I don't believe it's any more than the FS700 shows in its overcrank mode. Nice that it also records at 120fps with full audio.

This short was shot with AWB (which wasn't completely spot-on as you can tell) and a custom profile using cinema gamma. I did a quick and dirty grade - bumping up saturation and pushed down blacks a bit so the lighter scenes matched the darker ones. This was filmed during sunset in mostly shadows. I didn't shift any colors so you can still see the AWB variations.

Oh, and this was all shot at ISO 2000.

Re: First test with A7S 120fps
 

Looks good! What was the rest of the setup? (i.e. lens, support)

Re: First test with A7S 120fps
 

That was shot with the Sony Zeiss FE 24-70 with OSS on (I also wanted to see how it looked) and the camera was handheld without any additional rigging.

Re: First test with A7S 120fps
 

So you now have the A7R and the A7S? How would you compare the video from both of these? I know the S is primarily designed for video but is the difference noticeable when shooting 1080P? I don't think I will have a use for 4k for quite some time. You are in a unique position to advise on the differences of these two cameras. Thanks for sharing! Joe

Re: First test with A7S 120fps
 

I haven't shot much with the A7S yet. However, its picture is much more comparable to the video-only FS100 (which I also own) and is likely even better. I have shot video with the R as a b-camera to the FS100 and the line-skipping sensor makes it a less-than-ideal substitution for the FS100 (and, by extrapolation, the A7S). That said, the A7R is light-years better than any of the VG-series cameras, the A99 or the A77. (all of which I've used.) The moire and aliasing are surprisingly well controlled on the A7R.

If I had to pick just one, I would own just the S since I make my living with video and only occasionally shoot photos for clients. As for the R, the still photos are jaw dropping and it really makes me happy taking photos again. Being able to edit 36MP stills is a mind-blowing experience.

I'll be filming a drift event on the 18th and that will be my first run-and-gun experience with it as a primary camera. Fingers crossed.

Re: First test with A7S 120fps
 

Ryan,

Thanks for the input. I truly enjoy your work and look forward to hearing about your experiences using the A7S in a couple weeks. Joe

Re: First test with A7S 120fps
 

Philip Bloom said the video on the Sony A6000 is better than on the A7r.

>>>
I love my A7r for stills and use it a lot, but almost never for video. In fact, the Sony A6000 has better HD video than it, but stills wise…
>>>

The evolving review of the Sony A7s now with extreme low light video. | Philip Bloom

Re: First test with A7S 120fps
 

What was that about the A6000? I couldn't hear you because the A6000 doesn't have any audio input.. And we all know that any good video is more than 50% about good audio ;-)

Re: First test with A7S 120fps
 

But as a b-cam, that might not matter much...

Re: First test with A7S 120fps
 

And it's pocketcam, surely we can't expect it to have xlr ports as well, all it needs to do is to record audio to sync up with other camera's and if it matches up imagewise then you have a very portable b or c cam.

Re: First test with A7S 120fps
 

Sony audio adapter:

XLR Adapter and Microphone Kit - XLRK1M Review | Sony Store U.S. - Sony US

I am researching to see if the audio adapter works with the A6000.

About the thread topic here, there is only 720 120fps in XAVC mode, right? I couldn't find it on AVCHD or MP4 mode last night...

Re: First test with A7S 120fps
 

so we are the 23rd now :-)
no sign of impatience though...

Re: First test with A7S 120fps
 

No pressure. :)

I forgot I was scheduled to film the Dodge Hellcat in Portland these past few days - which is pushing back the edit from FD.

As a consolation prize, here's a still frame from the A7S with the Hellcat (their new 707hp production Challenger) yesterday - some minor grading applied:

http://www.drivingsports.com/v2/?attachment_id=1341

Re: First test with A7S 120fps
 

Drift video posted with comments to the "show your work" forum.

Double-posted here for courtesy: Sideways in Seattle: FD Round 5 | Driving Sports TV

Re: First test with A7S 120fps
 

approved :-)

especially liked the shallow dof shots at the beginning.
and the slomo is perfect for this kind of shooting. very nice..
thks for posting.

Batteries held up a little?