Sony NEX-FS100U Super 35mm Sensor Camcorder (Body Only)

Comments about Sony NEX-FS100U Super 35mm Sensor Camcorder (Body Only):

Excellent video quality low light capability is hard to beat.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS100U Super 35mm Sensor Camcorder (Body Only):

I make industril videos and paired with the right lens (sony zeiss 24mm fixed). This camera deliver stunning results. The color balance is amazing. the lattitude is like film, and it is sharp sharp sharp.
Unlike may other HD or equl to 35mm cams, this one has just the right number of buttons and adjustments.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS100U Super 35mm Sensor Camcorder (Body Only):

Sony has created a great camera and by implementing a very awkward body design, they have successfully kept it far away from their Event/News market products.Things I love:Image quality – very sharp with no moire or interpolation artifacts of any significance. (finaly,...thank God)Low light ability – This sensor is bright (even at 0db) and wonderfully clean at high gain amounts. (+18db on an already very bright sensor is still pristine!...even +30db has nowhere near the noise you would normally expect)Picture profiles – Nice set of picture profile options that allow you squeeze allot into it's tough AVCHD codec. (which holds up very well, even under light to moderate color grading)60p frame rate – love it, love it, love it.Full manual control - Iris, gain and shutter speed and the option of running any one or more independently on auto. (Create your own Auto/manual functions of the 3) Excellent lens options, including E mount lenses that run great on auto focus/Iris. You can easily adapt to any Nikon, Canon, Alpha and many others.Great audio control and options. – everything you could want including a good limiter option.Thinks I hate:Strange body design with screen on top.Handle that is,…I don't know. Just awkward feelingNo built in mics. Something Sony could have easily added but remember, Sony does not want their hand-held ENG camera sales affected by the FS100.Horrible bolt on rotating handle. It's just very, VERY weird feeling!Odd cable management and connector/jack placement.Overall, I'm getting used to the Fs100's foibles. The end result is the most important thing for me and I'm VERY happy with this camera's image quality and performance. This camera is very versatile and it is truly an extremely powerful tool for the patient videographer.At the current price?,..it's a steal. If you want this as a "run & gun" camera,..you will be very frustrated by it's ergonomics. (again, exactly as Sony intended it to be to protect it's other ENG cameras)

Comments about Sony NEX-FS100U Super 35mm Sensor Camcorder (Body Only):

For my kind of work, the FS100U is a clear champion of features, functions and capabilities. My personal BHPhoto interview many other magic eye balls [cameras in this price point] proved that the NEX-FS100u's combination of auto and manual controls, industry sounds connectivity and configurability, lens adaptions, media modals and physical style, put it way above the fray.

Certain to not meet everyone's needs, the FS-100U has the muscle in the area of visual control features that make it RIGHT for Indialists, Documentarians, and CraftsPeople that need to control everything, but want the lazyFare to accomplish shots with ease and breeze when possible.

One fine camera; the weight is right, the feel is right, the controls are where they are needed .. and it easily fits as a one or two person cinematic Kamakozee... taking Zero Prisoners!

Comments about Sony NEX-FS100U Super 35mm Sensor Camcorder (Body Only):

The Sony FS100 is simply an amazing camera. I was a 5D Mark II user for many years. That was a good camera and created beautiful images with a tremendous depth of field but with no XLR audio inputs, the camera created a lot of extra work and equipment to keep up with. When I first bought the FS100, I wasn't that impressed. As I got used to a real camera again and learned to dial in the right picture profiles, the camera got better and better. Granted, Sony doesn't have the greatest "out of the box" picture profiles. In fact things were very much on the yellow and green side which threw me off.

Look at the images side by side with any DSLR and the Sony clearly wins. It's simply in a different league. Paired with the metabones speed booster and the Rokinon Cine Lenses, the depth of field is as shallow as the 5D and the speed booster almost makes it full frame again.

I simply love the camera. I certainly wish it wasn't as plastic as it is and I really don't like the screen on the top of the camera but for the price, what you get is the best bang for the buck of any camera out there. I am tremendously pleased and with every shoot the camera gets better and better. I am looking to upgrade to the FS700 and keep the FS100 as my B camera. I love the Sony look and that's coming from someone who struggled to let to of the Canon color. Now, it looks artificial to me.

All in all, the FS100 still is the best value of any camera available. The AVCHD codec has caused no issues, the SD card media is cheap, removable batteries last a long time, HDMI out allows for external monitors and EVFs, XLR audio inputs are to be celebrated and the sensor is quite impressive. Totally happy I moved away from the DSLRs and to a real camera. Thank you Sony!

Comments about Sony NEX-FS100U Super 35mm Sensor Camcorder (Body Only):

Sony should optimize some of their consumer camcorders for video like Canon 1920x1080 pixel size or at least near that, in order to have bigger pixels per sensor size ratio better light sensitivity. You can always use a photo camera for stills. This camcorder is great! But for a price!
The Case feels very cheap but the performance is great, excellent video and great light sensitivity!

Comments about Sony NEX-FS100U Super 35mm Sensor Camcorder (Body Only):

After my College bought 9 of these cameras for its media program and I was able to use them for a while I decided to purchase my own. At first I was puzzled by the boxy shape and though it might be uncomfortable for hand held shots and though it might need a shoulder rig. I was wrong, The camera is perfectly balanced and designed in such a way that all the controls fall in the right logical place for both hands and the viewfinder (more on it later) has exactly the right dimension and placement to reach your eye when you are in a normal upright position.
A word about the viewfinder. It is incredibly bright, large and makes focusing and framing a delight. Its position is adjustable. It is detachable from the LCD screen so you only use it when you need it, for example in bright outdoor situations. One nice feature is that you can simply lift the viewfinder to expose the screen (e.g. to show someone else) and the viewfinder then acts like a shade.
The most outstanding thing for me is the image quality. True, you must first modify the factory default profiles to get the best result, but once that is done you will be very satisfied by the great range of the sensor. Assuming of course that you have good glass on your camera.
Like most cameras at this level the NEX-FS100U features a lot of configurable options to fit your shooting style. Menus are clear and straightforward and the abundance of programmable buttons make it easy to adjust to most special situations.
On my wish list for this camera, hoping that Sony might implementi in a future firmware upgrade are: the ability to save single profiles instead of the entire set. A feature I absolutely love about its bigger brother, the F3, I would like the ability to overlay a reference frame for matching purposes. Also I would like the ability of choosing from a larger variety of grids or compositional overlays, perhaps user defined.
Another great feature is the ability to enlarge all the data displays, for example the audio levels, instead os relying on tiny representations.
I have tried a few professional mikes and the audio capabilities seem excellent although have not analysed further.
Summing up I have yet to find something I dislike about this camera, specially when coupled with excellent glass and other accessories like follow focus etc. THe college cameras have a couple of matched Zeiss zooms but my personal lens (other than some Nikon's from my still camera that I use with an adapter) is a Sony 16-50mm f/2.8 DT Standard Zoom Lens with which I am really happy.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS100U Super 35mm Sensor Camcorder (Body Only):

I use the FS100 with a Nikon adapter to extend my optical options in video.Like the way the camera can be stripped down or built up as needed. Overall thought out design is good. The NEX codec did not work as effortlessly in Final Cut Pro as advertised.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS100U Super 35mm Sensor Camcorder (Body Only):

Love the camera. Love the image quality. It takes some work to get that 'look' out of the camera. Adjust those picture profiles, it is actually alot of fun to learn what all of the settings do, and will only refine your craft. Good luck!

Comments about Sony NEX-FS100U Super 35mm Sensor Camcorder (Body Only):

First of all - the sensor, it can produce beautiful, shallow depth of field at high quality of the video.
You can attach almost any kind of lens to the camcorder via adapters, which makes this one of the best camcorders at this price range.
The only thing I do miss are ND filters, which aren't built in, but this can be fixed by external ND filters.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS100U Super 35mm Sensor Camcorder (Body Only):

I am using this product primarily for even videography and business video production. So when I was looking for a better camcorder, specifically one that recorded on tapeless media and just had a higher quality to it, I was deciding between this camcorder and the Sony PMW-EX1R. Let's just say that after six months of having this camcorder, I realized that I should have gone with the EX1R all along. Ultimately, its the build/tech specs of the FS100, especially its E-Mount 18-200mm lens that are the problem. They are unwieldily. When the image is in focus, the quality is stunning. However, it is very difficult to focus and zoom properly because both have to be done manually to be effective. In other words, you have to physically touch the camera to operate the zoom and focus. There is no remote or auto zoom. Although there is auto-focus, it is always set to center, not the nearest object. Furthermore, and most importantly, it is slow. So all of this causes complications, such as poor subject tracking and DOF issues. Low light performance is outstanding however. The viewfinder is small and its location on the camcorder is difficult to access on a tripod or monopod, especially when panning down. Overall, it has its various pros such as high quality sound and picture. However, the con that outweighs everything is the difficulty of trying to reach said high quality because of all the improvements it needs, i.e. poor manual focus and zoom features and lack of proper auto functions.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS100U Super 35mm Sensor Camcorder (Body Only):

I use the FS100 on a variety of projects from fashion Shows to local Business Infomercials to low-budget commercials to multi-camera live events.

And this camera has done wonders beyond my expectation.

Before buying this camera I went through reviews upon reviews. And was at a stand still debate between this, the AF100 and a DSLR setup. After a long period of debate I decided to go with the FS100.

I do not regret it at all.

- Sure there isnt an ND filter, buy a variable ND filter. To tell you the truth, it's second nature when you get use to it and your hand is already on the focus, so a couple of inches to adjust the ND on a circular variable isn't an issue.

- Sure you don't have HD-SDi out, the HDMI to HD-SDI adapters like the AJA and Blackmagic setup work just fine and worked well with a Multi-camera layout.

The picture profiles are very easy to adjust. And the quality of the color, tonality, dynamic range and contrast are just perfect for camera in this form factor.

And having XLR plug ins is definitely a step up from a DSLR setup for me, especially on projects that have quick turn-arounds and deadlines.

A GREAT LOW-LIGHT Camera.

I wouldn't hesitate on this camera. Just make sure you buy the right lens adapter for the lenses you own.

And update the firmware. With the new Sony Firmware update a few more features have been added and made the camera even more enjoyable.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS100U Super 35mm Sensor Camcorder (Body Only):

This is my bread and butter and believe me B&H has always delivered .
Thanks for such a great service

Comments about Sony NEX-FS100U Super 35mm Sensor Camcorder (Body Only):

I really like it. I was a long 5D user and I just couldn't work with all he issues I had. I decided to go big and I got fs100. Great in low light, stunning resolution, 1080p 60p 8 bit, 4:2:2 output, ect one thing that a little bit I'm worried about is that it's a little bit plasticky. It doesn't feels like cheap plastic, it's really strong but it's still plastic.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS100U Super 35mm Sensor Camcorder (Body Only):

This is - for the indy filmmaker - the best upgrade path after graduating from DSLR cameras. It's brilliant. The picture quality of this camera is amazing. Granted, it lacks the DOF of a FF like the 5D2. However, the dof resembles that of a 7D. It's not razor thin, but it can get really thin with the right lenses.

The screen is limited and you will need a nicer field monitor - which is something you need regardless. Also, people complain about the placement of the controls. I'm indifferent as it doesn't bother me, however, I can see how it can be troublesome. The handle placement is an issue. It would do you well to buy a shoulder rig or cage setup.

XLR inputs, 1080/60p, S&Q... all very useful. If you don't buy the SSD HD, you won't be able to shoot 1080/60p natively as it will not record this format to SD card. If you want slomo and have to shoot on SD card, you'll have to use S&Q... essentially over cranking. It'll record 60fps in a 24fps container.

The one thing you will have to get used to is playing around with color profiles. You will need about 4... indoor, outdoor, extreme tungsten, extreme brightness/contrast (midday)... the native profiles aren't... the best.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS100U Super 35mm Sensor Camcorder (Body Only):

This camera is a dream come true. It is a video camera that thinks it's a movie camera... because it is. The super 35mm sensor offers the depth of field capabilities identical to film. It has an expansive dynamic range. Also it beats the pants off of any current DSLR video modes: no moire, no line skipping, and super sharp image. REAL 1080p. I can't say enough good things about this camera. The only real downsides are that it's not 4K, not raw, and the body isn't metal (but still feels very solid). It works great especially if you are on a budget and can't afford a Red camera (One, Epic, Scarlet, et al). Another big plus is you can mount virtually any lens you want to via the right adapter (Canon EOS, Nikon, Minolta MD, Minolta AF/Sony E mount, Canon FD, M42, PL, PV, the list goes on and on. Great camera!

Comments about Sony NEX-FS100U Super 35mm Sensor Camcorder (Body Only):

The camera is great, I shot with an HPX-170 and a 7D before and this takes the best of both worlds for me. Things that this camera doesn't have that I wish it did are: dual card slots, internal mics, SDI out, built in ND filters, and a sturdy top handle. The viewfinder on the top is a little strange if you are trying to film with the camera over your head but I'll probably buy an external monitor.

To get around not having built in ND filters, I bought a variable ND filter that I can screw onto my lenses. I like it even more than having built in filters.

If you do documentary shooting or any run and gun work, getting the kit lens is a big help even though its a little slow and not super sharp.

Overall this is a great camera and I'm really happy with the images and the potential it has. Its low light capability is awesome.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS100U Super 35mm Sensor Camcorder (Body Only):

This camera is the most bang for the buck. I use Contax Zeiss primes on it, and the image looks incredible. I recently shot for a week in Haiti with the FS100, and the latitude was so necessary in a place with extreme highlights and dark black colored skin tones. I don't want to shoot with anything else now, and I also own a 60D, 7D, and an AF100.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS100U Super 35mm Sensor Camcorder (Body Only):

I bought this camera and expected the great things the reviews stated. When I received the camera, I tested the Canon lenses and thought the DOF was great. Then i use the camera on a test shoot and really saw the downside of the camera. The picture profiles weren't the easies to color correct and I simply thought the camera was a downgrade from the Canon 5D Mark ii. I returned the FS100 and purchased the Canon 7D. (for the 60fps) I really wish the FS100 would have worked out but couldn't test fully since the hourly limit would't allow me to. It had a super sharp image and I loved the AVCHD. I would sacrifice the H.264 nonsense for the shallow DOF.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS100U Super 35mm Sensor Camcorder (Body Only):

I've been a Published Pro-Photographer for more than 20 years. Now, I've only had this unit for 2 weeks so I'm very "Green" with regards to it. Usability, Easy. I crushed a Nikon DSLR Body while traveling through China over the summer so I needed another.
The Question in my head was; Do I by another DSLR or go Video with the ability to use my F-mount Lenses with a converter and have the ability to pull stills from the videos or continue the path I had been familiar with? My choice was Obvious when I read the product reviews and such for this unit. Yesturday I used the unit for a ceremony for an Officer in town who was retiring and I must say it was fantastic...I used my Tamron Sp AF 14mm 1:2.8 and my AF VR Nikkor 80-400mm 1:4.5-5.6D with the f-mount adapter (sold Seperately) and although the Auto-Focus Control does not work with the F-mount adapter I was still able to make all the necessary adjustments while filming with ease.
good points...I'm moving into a new world of Film and Media and I still have the ability to pull stills from this unit with ease.
Bad Points: No Vibration Reduction Capabilities with F-Mount Lenses or Auto-Focus Controls
the lenses I have with Motion Stabilization do not work. You must have E-Mount lenses for the proper functionality.
I have used the slow Motion function with the SONY SDXC card and it works fine. Actually used it to film my dog taking a____....Odd??? Absolutely! but, it did capture the slow motion just fine hahaha although you do have to pay very close attention to the instructions, the length of time for the Slow Motion function is adjustable..so be sure to read and practice before you get into a situation where you need a longer exposure time than may be programmed in the unit.
Filters and barn doors are a must on this unit if you are using F-mount lenses...I am not using E-mount lenses so I can not comment on anything with regards to those.
I am satisfied with my purchase the Sony Guys have been more than helpful with Tech Support..if I have a problem with the unit "Technically" they are a phone call away and really easy to talk with to solve the issue.
I don't want anyone else to buy this unit because I love it so much and don't want the competition however, It is a GREAT unit for what I am looking for down the road and with the direction film is going, This is the Unit to have if you are looking for something of quality at a minimal price.
I am still Learning a I'm sure it will take me at the very least a year to accomplish what I would like to learn. I am looking forward to it. I also takes me into a new world of Adobe Products (Adobe Primer CS%..which I have still not purchased) My system was Adobe Photoshop and InDesign. Now I have to make the switch. So another learning curve.
I also suffered Optical Nerve Damage back in 2002. so with this Unit and the LCD and also the ability to plug and play on a monitor is a serious Plus for me..I am Back in the GAME!!