This Sony camera seems to represent most of the factors that digital filmmakers have been asking of their Canon 7D and 5DMkII DSLRs...Super35-sized sensor, uncompressed 4:2:2 output via HDMI, long shot lengths (it's compatible with a 10-hour Sony HXR-FMU flash module), an interchangeable lens system, and built-in XLR ports for balanced (and controlled) stereo audio). I said seems, because it won't be released into the wild until July-ish, so there won't be many clips to judge it by.
This camera is about the size of a Hasselblad digital camera, which is also about the size of a Red Epic. So, the form factor should be very workable. While the list price is $6,800, some analysts predict that it will be released to go head to head with the Panasonic competition below, placing the price right around $5,000.
The current offering at this price point and with a comparably-sized sensor is the Panasonic AG-AF100, using the Micro 4/3" sensor from the very popular GH2 camera.
The AF100 has many of the same features as the FS100, and a similar form factor. The difference in sensor size...17.3mm x 13mm for the AF100 vs 25.1mm x 17.6mm for the FS100...is minimal, about 10%. In a side by side test, this would likely be visible, but I think they would cut well together.
There are purists who would suggest that the Sony would produce a more filmic image, but if the shallow Depth of Field that everyone talks about is what you're looking for, and the 5DMkII is all that you're really satisfied with, then what you're really talking about in motion picture camera terms is VistaVision, where the film runs horizontally instead of vertically. It's cool, but the vast majority of films that are actually shot on film shoot on a camera based on the vertical 35mm mechanism. Standard, anamorphic, or Super35.
For $5,000, either of these cameras should get you there just fine!
No comments:
Post a Comment