NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

I'll take a chance and post some information about the FS100. However, if someone who has never used it starts bashing the camera and arguing about meaningless technical specifications, I'll stop posting. A few people here seem to have an axe to grind and I merely ask that they keep that debate over on their own thread -- and not here. Fair enough? If not, they can have the soap box for themselves and I'll spend my time elsewhere.

A week before the 2011 NAB Convention, Sony sent a pre-production NEX-FS100 for me to shoot some demo footage for use in my F3/FS100 workshops they asked me to teach at the show.

The camera arrived on a Saturday morning. I set it up on my DSC test chart and created a custom Picture Profile that looked good to me. Please keep in mind that you should never judge a Sony camera right out of the box. You MUST create (or get) a Picture Profile or Scene File with a Sony camera if you expect the camera to perform at its best. That's the way Sony designs them, and it is the right way to do it.

All but 6-7 shots of this video were shot on that Saturday afternoon at various locations around Newport, Rhode Island.

I used a Novoflex E-Mount to Nikon adapter so that I could use my own Nikon lenses instead of the 18-200 f/3.5-6.3 lens that Sony sent with the camera. In my opinion, that lens is too slow for getting decent shallow depth-of-field . . . which is, after all, one of the main reasons for choosing a camera such as the NEX-FS100 that has a Super-35mm sensor.

The Nikon lenses I used were a 17-35mm f/2.8 and a 80-200mm f/2.8

Only the fishing boats and swan shots at 6:35 were taken with the stock 18-200mm lens.

Because the camera does not have any built-in ND filters of it's own, I used a $150 Genus Variable ND Polarizer filter to control the amount of light entering the lens. ALL shots, except for the indoor fruit basket were shot with the ND filter on the lens. I found that this filter actually allowed me much finer control over my exposure than if the camera had only a couple of built-in filter choices. What at first seemed like a big shortcoming of the camera, was quickly forgotten. I can use cheap step-down rings to use the same ND Polarizer on all of my lenses regardless of their native filter size.

No matte box was used.

All of the slow-motion shots were shot at 60fps at full 1920x1080 mode and recorded on the camera's onboard SD card. Full 1920x1080 @ 60fps is a unique ability of this camera compared to other Sony camcorders.

All shots in the video were recorded to the onboard SD card at 24Mbps. I will post comparison footage that was recorded simultaneously with a NanoFlash at 100MBps when I have time.

Only three shots, which are identified with supers had any color grading or post-processing applied to them. Everything else is straight out of the camera.

Keep in mind that this is a PROTOTYPE camera, and it is too early to make any final assessments of picture quality, features, etc. Let's wait until a production camera is released before we do that. I will not be comparing the FS100 to my PMW-F3 until that day comes, so don't bother to ask me my opinion on that subject.

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

Thank you very much for going to the effort of making that video Doug.

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

Hi Doug,

I haven't used a vari-ND so I have a couple questions:

1) do you use a 77mm or 82mm ND and then use step-down rings for smaller lenses?

2) Do these vari-NDs have any side effects on the image?

3) With a 77mm vari-ND and step-down ring, how does that affect using a lens hood?

4) With a 77mm vari-ND and lens hood connected, do you use something like an eraser to spin/adjust the vari-ND? (a trick I used with polarizers when I was a stills photog) Or does the hood need to be removed to adjust the ND?

On a side note, anyone considering lenses for this camera, the Sony G 70-200/2.8 has a cool little door on its hood for adjusting screw-in filters.

Thanks to your info about the vari-NDs, I am now considering this camera to compliment my EX3s and nanoFlash.

Which brings me to another question: can this camera cut well with the EX-cams?

And one last question to anyone who might know: with the Alpha adapter, how do you adjust the aperture and is the aperture adjusted in 1/3 stop increments like a stills camera?

Thanks!

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

Nice shots Doug.

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

Rats. Wish I'd known that eraser trick when I was out with my EX1r it's polarizer trapped behind the lens shade!!!

This isn't the answer to your question but in case it is a tidbit...as far as the Alpha lens adapter, there's a thumb wheel near the lens mount on the camera body that's for adjusting aperture on lenses that lack a manual ring. So if the alpha lens supports that, I think that's how it's done.

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

Very nice!

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

Doug:

Thanks for the great demo...

I find you comments on the variable ND interesting, as I had the extact same experience with my Canon 5D this last weekend in shooting an outdoor film. I mount the variable filters and attached a cheap circular rubber hood to the filter. I then would set fstop as I wanted, for depth of field desired, then adjusted the variable ND for exposure, using the false colors on my Marshall monitor as my gude. Worked very well.

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

A lower cost fader ND filter from China is sold with this caveat: "Recommend to be used not more than focal length of 50mm as calculated in 35mm format. Not suits for tele lens. It may not be suitable for wide angle lens <24mm,35mm film format equivalent."


If this is true (?), then these filters are not a complete solution?

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

Thanks for the test. I have only one caveat. I see mainly in the sky some form of negative vignette (clearer) on the edges which is for my taste not that beautiful at all, the sky become more turquoise(near clipping) blue. You can clearly see it from shot at 21 sec and one really distracting on at 27 sec. I guess it is more to do with the polarizer than the camera.

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

Dear Doug,

I'm seriously considering the FS100 as the second camera to my EX1. Since you had an opportunity to play with the PP (even if only with a pre-production unit) - what your impressions are regarding the colorimetry and other picture characteristics from the viewpoint of inter-cutting with EX material?

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

Answers:

1) My polarizer is 77mm because that is the diameter of my largest Nikon lens.

2) Yes. Like any polarizer, they can affect that image in more ways than just making it darker. It's just something to keep in mind when shooting and to adjust the settings as necessary. Everything you can change on a camera has side-effects of one kind or another, and a polarizer is no different.

3) I don't normally use lens hoods on my Nikon lenses, but I suppose the filter might make it more difficult to use if I wanted to. If you want a lens hood, get a rubber shade that fits the diameter of your polarizer and move it from lens to lens with the polarizer. Easy.

4) The polarizer has a (removable) metal post extending from it that makes it easy to rotate the glass.

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

My Genus filter worked great with an 80-200mm lens.

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

Like any polarizer, these filters can affect the picture in good ways and bad ways. Just something to keep in mind and to work around. I agree that several of my shots are less than perfect, but I was moving pretty fast and it was my first day with the camera. I'm sure I'll get better at minimizing the negative effects of the polarizer. It's just a matter of getting the technique down. In situations where I have a lot of sky in the shot, I will probably use real ND filters in front of the lens instead of the polarizer.

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

I think the FS100 would cut in very easily with EX1 or EX3 material in a typical two-camera shoot -- as long as you weren't trying to match the exact same shot . . . which you'd never do in the real world.

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

Thanks Doug!

Two camera shooting of live classical music performance is my planned usage, so the EX1 and the FS100 should complement each other nicely...

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

Thnks, Doug. I can't wait until you get a production model so you can give it a thorough evaluation. Then, I can buy it off of you. ;-)

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

Doug, is there a limiter in the audio recording circuit?

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

The operation manual says yes, but I did not have time to try it myself.


AUDIO LIMIT
You can set the clipping-noise reduction function for CH1/CH2.

OFF Disables the function.

ON Enables the function.

� This function is available only when you set the AUTO/MAN (CH1/CH2) switches to MAN

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

Glen, don't count on it! :-)

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

That good, huh?

I may have to sell my Canon, in that case.

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

Doug, what's the timeline for the training DVD (chocked full of presets)?

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

Well so much for the fader ND filters causing the image to look
bad. I've never used them and had been told by others, that they
can cause the video to look pretty bad, but the stuff you shot looked
very nice. Thanks for the first hand look and commentary on the
camera!

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

That cracked me up. Yes, the testosterone runs rampid on this forum sometimes.

Very nice posting Doug. My goal is to replace all three of my cameras next year, I'm really hoping for something good by next year.

Good job.

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

Galen,

Thank you for asking. A training DVD for the FS100 is several months away. First I have to get a final production camera (not a prototype that is subject to being changed) and then it takes about 6-8 weeks of full-time work after that to produce a good training video. About 400 man-hours goes into the production so it is not something I can crank out overnight.

I am happy to say that our PMW-F3 training DVD will be shipping by the end of the month.
Mastering the Sony PMW-F3 training DVD


PS.
Thank you to everyone for the nice comments on my footage. I do enjoy reading the feedback and comments, but I don't want to bore everyone with replying to them. Just know that it is appreciated. Thanks.

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

Doug, what minimum speed of SD card is going to be appropriate for this camera.

Class 10, 20MB/s is working fine for the CANON DSLR's I have, the next step up is 30MB/s, and I see in the accessories for the FS100, B&H PHOTO is showing a 45MB/s card. But I've seen nothing official in the specs from SONY regarding this choice. Thanks.

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

Galen,

According the the preliminary operation manual that I have a copy of, Class 4 is good enough for normal shooting and Class 10 is recommended for overcranking. Cards have been tested and approved up to 64GB. SD, SDHC, SDXC, Memory Stick PRO Duo, Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo are all compatible.

I should add that I used a 32GB Hoodman RAW card with the FS100 and had no problems -- nor did I expect to. I've been using that card with my F3 a lot to test the reliability of today's SD cards.

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

If there are dedicated slots for SD cards and memory sticks, why couldn't the camera be programmed to record to both simultaneously? Canon finally got around to updating the XF300 firmware for simultaneous recording to two cards. Right now the literature implies simultaneous recording to one memory card and the optional drive.

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

Galen,

You can't record on two cards at once because there is only one slot. It accepts either type of card -- SD or Memory Stick.

There's a better way of simultaneous recording anyway, and that is with the HXR-FMU128
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/672424-REG/Sony_HXR_FMU128_HXR_FMU128_Flash_Memory_Unit.html
There's a recessed area on the right side of the camera where the drive just pops right in with no extra cables or power requirements. You woudn't even notice it was there. Then you can record up to 10 hours of footage at the highest bit rate on the drive. You can set it up to record on the drive and the memory card at the same time. Two copies, instantly.

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

Definitely a must have accessory, my guess is that they will never update this unit to USB 3.0, seems Sony and Canon never do minor changes to existing accessories like this.

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

I read on another site, the Genus ND filter is not a good option for wider angle lenses. Has anyone tried it with a 50mm or wider?

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

I guess a USB 3.0 version of the flash drive would not have much benefit, as USB 2.0 is faster than the speed SD cards work at, so I have heard.

When recording to both SD card and the 128GB optional flash drive, does anyone know what happens when one stops working? Is there a unwanted warning/interruption that you have to stop and deal with? I would hope you can just continue to record the action.

Not sure why Sony would not have just added a second card slot for dual recording instead of making people buy an expensive add on unit--is there any logic to this???

Lexar makes a 128GB SDXC card, that size is a good match for the optional recording unit, not sure if the FS-100 is compatible with 128GB SD cards. That would mean less time/problems fiddling with cards all day. But that's a lot of eggs to put in one basket though--less of a concern when using the backup drive.

I don't understand how the 128GB optional drive can record for 10 hours, I am getting maybe 80 minutes out of 32GB with my DSLR.

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

Hi Galen,

Only 80 minutes sounds very odd. With my EX3 at 35Mb/s plus 16bit uncompressed audio, I get 110 minutes on a 32GB SxS card. Your DSLR is only ~21Mb/s and far lower quality audio; so, you should get much longer recording times.

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

Just to add to what Steve already said, the FS100 is only going to record at 24Mbps in 30P and 24P recording modes, so that's how you end up with 10 hours on a 128GB drive.

Having one card slot isn't a problem for me because I NEVER have two cards loaded in a camera even if it does have two slots. If having only one slot shaves a few bucks and size/weight off of the camera, I say it was a great idea.

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

QUOTE: "I read on another site, the Genus ND filter is not a good option for wider angle lenses. Has anyone tried it with a 50mm or wider?"

Joe, whoever said that is misinformed. About 50% of the video I posted to start this thread was shot with a Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8 lens with Genus Variable ND polarizer. 17mm would certainly be considered wide angle. Yoiu should post the link to my Vimeo video on the other website and set the record straight. Misinformation, that goes unchallenged, about a camera hurts everyone who chooses to buy it later on down the road.

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

It doesn't sound odd, im not sure where you are getting 21Mbps, but if Galen is using canon DSLRs, standard bitrate for 1080p recording should be ~45Mbps, so ~90min should be about right for 32GB.

32000MB / (45Mbps / 8bitsperbyte) / 60 secondsperminute = 94 minutes

And for the NEX-FS100
128000MB / (24Mbps / 8bitsperbyte / 60 secondsperminute / 60 minutesperhour = 11.9 hrs

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

Thanks, Noah, I ran a 32GB card on a T2i, using the auto restart mode in Magic Lantern, and got the 90 minutes. Longer recording times on a given size SD card compared to a DSLR must be another plus for the FS-100.

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

About 50% of the video I posted to start this thread was shot with a Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8 lens with Genus Variable ND polarizer. 17mm would certainly be considered wide angle. Yoiu should post the link to my Vimeo video on the other website and set the record straight./QUOTE]

Have you tested the variable ND for IR contamination? It's an issue with standard ND filters used with CMOS cameras.

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

Sorry double post

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

No I didn't.

Re: NEX-FS100 demo footage shot for NAB
 

Early days yet, given time I expect they'll be done.