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Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only)

  • Price: $7,499.00
  • B&H # SONEXFS700
  • Mfr# NEX-FS700U

Product Highlights

  • 4K Exmor Super 35mm CMOS Sensor
  • Capture 1920 x 1080/60p Video
  • NXCAM Recording Format (AVCHD)
  • LCD 3.5" Screen with VF Attachment
  • Up to 960 fps Super Slow Motion
  • ISO 500 (0 dB) to ISO 16,000 (30 dB)
  • Dual XLR, HDMI & 3G/HD-SDI Connectivity
  • FMU Port Supports Optional Memory
  • Future 4K Upgrade (Not Included)
 
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The Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only) is a fully professional large-sensor video camera. Hot on the heels of the FS100, this compact, highly modular camera uses a very similar-sized Super 35 CMOS sensor as the FS100. But as a marked improvement over that earlier model's sensor, the FS700 features a native 4K resolution sensor.

Unlike smaller, broadcast-style sensors or the larger "full-frame" sensors of some DSLRs, the NEX-FS700's imaging area matches that of standard Hollywood film cameras, providing complete compatibility with cine-style film lenses (sold separately). The sensor's large size offers a variety of other advantages, including increased control over depth of field, higher sensitivity in low light, lower image noise, and an exceptional dynamic range.

Able to shoot full 1080p video in a range of frame rates up to 60p, the FS700 provides the option of recording AVCHD footage onto SD card/MemoryStick or via the FMU (flash memory unit) port, or it can output 4:2:2 video (with embedded timecode) via HDMI 1.4 or 3G/HD-SDI to an external recording unit. Simultaneous recording to both is also possible when instant backup is called for. There's no stinting on audio, either, as the camera includes not only a shotgun microphone with mount/carrying handle, but dual XLR inputs for recording uncompressed, professional-level sound from an external source.

One unique feature for a camcorder of this class is the FS700's ability to record bursts of super-slow motion video at rates up to a whopping 960 fps. (These bursts range from 8 to 16 seconds, depending of the frame rate). Full-resolution recording is possible at up to 240 fps; at 480 and 960 fps, resolution is reduced.

The 3G/HD-SDI port will get expanded capability when a future firmware and hardware upgrade is available (not included). This will allow 4K output via the BNC as a data stream, which can be recorded to an optional Sony 4K recorder.

Other included features--such as a 3.5" LCD panel with detachable with viewfinder attachment, super sensitivity, a built-in ND filter and up to 960 fps super slow motion, all help to set this model in a class truly by itself. Not only will it intercut perfectly as a 2nd unit or B camera, it can stand on its own in applications as diverse as indie film, commercials, music promos and education.

ISO 500 (0 dB) to ISO 16,000 (30 dB) sensitivity
Cranks from 1 to 960 fps for fast motion to super-slow motion
Four ND filter levels: clear, 2, 4 & 6 stops
Four HyperGamma settings (same as F3)
WorldCam 50/60Hz systems
Exmor Super 35mm sensor 11.6-megapixles
Effective pixels (photo): approx. 8,400,000 pixels (16:9) or approx. 7,100,000 pixels (4:3)
Low aliasing (grossly over sampled HD)
Runs cool, no grain and no fan noise
Large buttons and switches with orange backgrounds for easy auto/manual distinction
Arri Rossette with micro-adjusting (for connecting grips, etc.)
Face detection
Auto/manual iris and focus with Sony lenses (lenses sold separately)
Features dual XLR inputs, a DC input, an FMU port for flash memory unit, SD / MemoryStick card slot, BNC connector and HDMI output
Removable grip features four easy-to-use buttons including Start/Stop, Photo, 4x/8x expandable focus and push-button auto iris
Display offers video/film selections for distance (meters/feet), sensitivity (dB gain/ ISO) and shutter (speed/angle)
BNC connector offers 3G/HD-SDI and a planned future firmware/hardware upgrade will enable 4K data-stream output
Camera supports 1920 x 1080/60p full HD recording and still image capture
Image Sensor 4K Exmor Super 35 CMOS Image Sensor (11.6MP)
Effective Pixels HD: 8,400,000 pixels
Photo: 7,100,000 pixels
Aspect Ratio HD: 16:9
Photo: 16:9 or 3:2
Resolution Not specified by manufacturer
Sensitivity ISO 500 (0 dB) - ISO 16,000 (30 dB)
ND Filter Switching Mechanism Clear
1/4 = ND.6 (2 stops)
1/16 = ND1.2 (4 stops)
1/64 = ND1.8 (6 stops)
Color Temperature Auto, One Push AB, Indoor (3200K)
Outdoor (5800K ± 7 positions)
Manual WB Temperature (2300 - 15000K, 100K step)
Super Slow Motion 120 fps
240 fps
480 fps
960 fps
Signal System 50/60Hz (NTSC/PAL)
LCD Monitor 3.5" (8.9 cm)
Screen Resolution Approx. 921,000 dots (1920 x 480)
Viewfinder Supplied VF tube for LCD
Shutter Speed Not specified by manufacturer
White Balance Not specified by manufacturer
Recording Media Flash Memory Unit (HXR-FMU128)
MS PRO Duo (Mark2 only)
MS PRO-HG Duo
SD/SDHC/SDXC (class 4 and higher)
Recording Formats PS max 28 Mbps, 1920 x 1080/60p, 50p (16:9)

FX max 24 Mbps, 1920 x 1080/60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p (16:9)
1280 x 720/60p, 50p (16:9)

FH approx. 17 Mbps (ave), 1920 x 1080/60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p (16:9)
1280 x 720/60p, 50p (16:9)

HQ approx. 9 Mbps (ave), 1440 x 1080/60i, 50i (16:9)

LP approx. 5 Mbps (ave), 1440 x 1080/60i, 50i (16:9)

HQ approx. 9 Mbps (ave), 720 x 480/60i, 720 x 576/50i (16:9, 4:3)
Video Recording Format MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 AVCHD Ver.2.0 (HD video)
MPEG-2 PS (SD video)
Audio Recording Format Linear PCM 2ch (48 kHz, 16-bit) (in HD)
Dolby Digital 2ch (48 kHz, 16-bit)
Recording/Playback Time Not specified by manufacturer
Input/Output Connectors 3G HD-SDI Output: BNC connecter x 1
HDMI Output: HDMI connecter (type A) x 1
Component Output: mini D terminal x 1
Video Output: RCA Pin x 1
Audio Output: RCA Pin x 2
Headphone Jack: stereo mini jack (3.5 mm) x 1
USB Port: mini-AB x 1
Audio Input 1 / Input 2: XLR 3-pin (female) x 2 (LINE/MIC/MIC +48V selectable)
Remote: stereo mini-mini jack (2.5 mm) x 1
Power Supply DC 7.2 V (battery pack)
DC 7.6 V (AC-DC adapter)
Power Consumption 9.6W (60i)
8.8W (50i)
Operating Temperature 32 to 104°F (0 to 40°C)
Storage Temperature -4 to 140°F (-20 to 60°C)
Dimensions (WxHxD) 5.7 x 7.0 x 9.3" (145 x 178.5 x 235.5 mm) including protrusions
Weight Body Only: 3.7 lb (1680 g)
Fully Loaded: 6.75 lb (3060 g)
Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only)
  • NP-F770 L-Series Info-Lithium Battery Pack (7.2v, 4400mAh)
  • Adapter / Charger
  • Microphone
  • Connector Cord
  • Viewfinder Tube
  • Large Eyecup
  • 1-Year Limited Warranty
  • REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

    by PowerReviews
    SonyNEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only)
     
    4.6

    (based on 21 reviews)

    Ratings Distribution

    • 5 Stars

       

      (15)

    • 4 Stars

       

      (5)

    • 3 Stars

       

      (0)

    • 2 Stars

       

      (0)

    • 1 Stars

       

      (1)

    95%

    of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

    Pros

    • Great picture quality (19)
    • Good in low light (14)
    • Easy to use (13)
    • Great sound (10)
    • Zoom range/performance (6)

    Cons

    • Complicated to operate (3)

    Best Uses

    • Movies/short films (17)
    • HD shooting (13)
    • Documentaries (11)
    • Weddings (9)
    • Low light (6)
      • Reviewer Profile:
      • Pro videographer (17)
      • Was this a gift?:
      • No (18)

    Most Liked Positive Review

     

    Very good first impression

    I had it now for 2 weeks and took it on two professional shoots and did a bunch of tests. First of all - yes - the slow motion is awesome and up to 240fps...Read complete review

    I had it now for 2 weeks and took it on two professional shoots and did a bunch of tests. First of all - yes - the slow motion is awesome and up to 240fps it is very, very clean.But it's not only about the slow motion. The image itself is clean and detailed and the latitude is noticeable higher than in my Canon DSLR. I realized it while working with the footage in post.The picture profile presets with the cinegamma setting really excite me and I have just started exploring them. What I noticed is that this is an amazing camera for narrative film and any form of creative video. I'm using a Metabones adapter with my Canon glass and it works very well but I'm still hoping for sony to come out with amazing lenses that work 100% with the camera.

    VS

    Most Liked Negative Review

     

    Very poor WB issue

    I have been doing my research before buying and there is a huge issue with both the 700 and 100 when they are taken underwater in a housing. The Red Channel is clipped and the...Read complete review

    I have been doing my research before buying and there is a huge issue with both the 700 and 100 when they are taken underwater in a housing. The Red Channel is clipped and the camera tried to compensate for this which leaves all the color all over the place. There is also an issue with this when using topside with some LED lights. I have emailed Sony and have not even received a reply which is typical for Sony. Unless this issue can be rectified you would honestly be better using a GoPro underwater and saving yourself $ for the camera and for the housing. Really a shame as this camera could have so much potential.

    Reviewed by 21 customers

    Sort by

    Displaying reviews 1-20

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    (0 of 11 customers found this review helpful)

     
    1.0

    Very poor WB issue

    By Paul Unique

    from Asia Pacific

    About Me Pro Videographer

    Pros

      Cons

      • Poor Image Quality
      • Poor In Low Light

      Best Uses

        Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

        I have been doing my research before buying and there is a huge issue with both the 700 and 100 when they are taken underwater in a housing. The Red Channel is clipped and the camera tried to compensate for this which leaves all the color all over the place. There is also an issue with this when using topside with some LED lights. I have emailed Sony and have not even received a reply which is typical for Sony. Unless this issue can be rectified you would honestly be better using a GoPro underwater and saving yourself $ for the camera and for the housing. Really a shame as this camera could have so much potential.

        Share this review

        (0 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

         
        5.0

        Can't go wrong

        By dawai692

        from williamsburg va

        About Me Casual User

        Verified Buyer

        Pros

        • Easy to Use
        • Great Picture Quality

        Cons

        • Price

        Best Uses

        • Documentaries
        • HD Shooting
        • Home Movies
        • Movies/Short Films
        • Travel
        • Weddings/Events

        Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

        I'm no film maker, but the fs700 is amazing. love the picture quality and ofcourse the slow motion!

        buy it

        • Was this a gift?:
        • No

        Share this review

        (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

         
        5.0

        Do not hesitate.

        By JadeSeal

        from NYC

        About Me Pro Videographer

        Verified Buyer

        Pros

        • Easy to Use
        • Good in Low Light
        • Great Picture Quality

        Cons

        • No Highlight Recovery

        Best Uses

        • Indoors/Low Light
        • Movies/Short Films
        • Tv

        Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

        I was considering this camera for a good long while. If you are shooting on a 7/5D or something and considering upgrading, the difference is completely night and day. The interface is clean and quick. Great in low light. The noise scarcely even looks digital. Very film-like camera. Surprisingly so. I haven't handled 1dc footage yet, but so far no canon product holds a candle to this thing. No moire. Anitaliasing is incredible. Very little in the way of rolling shutter artifacts.

        My ONLY complaint here is that when you are recording to AVCHD, the highlights are a bit unrecoverable if overexposed. Definitely air toward underexposure here if you are uncertain. Haven't tried SDI out yet.

        Bought this in an emergency situation for a TV spot I needed the slow motion for. Couldn't be happier, and wish I'd done it earlier. Would have brought my work up quite a bit.

        • Was this a gift?:
        • No

        Share this review

        (1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

         
        4.0

        Love it

        By RayRay

        from Anaheim, CA

        About Me Pro Videographer

        Verified Buyer

        Pros

        • Good Image Stabilization
        • Good in Low Light
        • Great Picture Quality
        • Great Sound
        • Great Zoom
        • Zoom range/performance

        Cons

          Best Uses

            Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

            I use this camera to shoot skateboarding and love it. I shoot with Canon lenses and the MetaBones "Speed Booster" is a must.

            I came from using the Panasonic HPX-170, so I can't stand it that FS700 won't let you mark the shots.

            The quality is great.

            • Was this a gift?:
            • No

            Share this review

            (1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

             
            5.0

            just wow

            By Gecofilms

            from Santiago, Chile

            About Me Pro Videographer

            See all my reviews

            Verified Reviewer

            Pros

            • Easy to Use
            • Good Image Stabilization
            • Good in Low Light
            • Great Picture Quality
            • Great Sound
            • Great Zoom
            • Zoom range/performance

            Cons

              Best Uses

              • Documentaries
              • HD Shooting
              • Indoors/Low Light
              • Movies/Short Films
              • Weddings/Events

              Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

              this is by far the best camera for the money; slow motion up to 960fps; usable for HD in 480fps, in Full HD 240fps; E mount, you can use any lens on it with cheap adapters; future 4K RAW for, so you'll get a 4K RAW camera for about double the price with slow motion; future lens with power zoom like 18-200mm sony pw... etc, etc

              • Was this a gift?:
              • No

              Share this review

              (2 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

               
              5.0

              Amazing camera

              By Gecofilms

              from Santiago, Chile

              About Me Pro Videographer

              See all my reviews

              Verified Reviewer

              Pros

              • Easy to Use
              • Good Image Stabilization
              • Good in Low Light
              • Great Picture Quality
              • Great Sound
              • Great Zoom
              • Large Clear LCD
              • Zoom range/performance

              Cons

                Best Uses

                • Documentaries
                • HD Shooting
                • Movies/Short Films
                • Weddings/Events

                Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                I owned this camera for a month now, and is a fantastic, but I mean FANTASTIC camera; the slow motion is very good and impresive, the E mount is the best in market, I own Nikon lenses, canon FD lenses, PL lenses, Canon EF lenses, alpha lenses; and all works with adapters, and E mount lenses too, is the most versatil camera ever, and with the future 4K upgrade will be better.

                • Was this a gift?:
                • No

                Share this review

                (1 of 11 customers found this review helpful)

                 
                4.0

                I would buy this product again and again

                By zahrani

                from KSA

                Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                Good camera but ... the slow motion is good in daytime only .

                Share this review

                (3 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

                 
                5.0

                We Love it!!!

                By Timmy

                from San Francisco Bay Area

                About Me Pro Videographer

                Pros

                • Easy to Use
                • Good Image Stabilization
                • Good in Low Light
                • Great Picture Quality
                • Great Sound

                Cons

                • Limited Zoom

                Best Uses

                • Documentaries
                • HD Shooting
                • Movies/Short Films

                Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                We have a couple of Panasonic Camera's (200, 370, 3700) and havnt had a Sony for a while. We purchased this and a A99 and love them both.

                • Was this a gift?:
                • No

                Share this review

                (2 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

                 
                5.0

                A Great Camera to add to your DSLR pack

                By CS

                from Virginia

                About Me Video Enthusiast

                Verified Buyer

                Pros

                • Great Picture Quality
                • Great Sound
                • Large Clear LCD

                Cons

                • Complicated To Operate

                Best Uses

                • Movies/Short Films

                Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                The camera has a clear image. Using the Metabones adapter, it was easy to use my previously owned Canon lenses.

                • Was this a gift?:
                • No

                Share this review

                (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                 
                4.0

                Excellent product

                By Seventh Victory

                from International

                About Me Pro Videographer

                Verified Buyer

                Pros

                • Easy to Use
                • Good in Low Light
                • Great Picture Quality

                Cons

                  Best Uses

                  • Documentaries
                  • HD Shooting
                  • Movies/Short Films
                  • Weddings/Events

                  Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                  At Seventh Victory we are developing DVD releases that require the best optical quality we can achieve.I have been using a series of Sony cameras and have seen some good products that fell short in certain areas. The FS700 has addressed a number of the issues from its predesessors, is more intuitive to use, and possesses better colour representation.The image quality is stunning. It is early days and I am still learning the unit's abilities, however much is expected.The only reason for 4 starts is regarding the durability in the field. A better weatherproofing would be welcome. Having said that, the strength of the handle is most welcome. Some of the buttons could be less "plasticy", if that is a word.An all around excellent product.

                  • Was this a gift?:
                  • No

                  Share this review

                  (2 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

                   
                  4.0

                  Great Camera, poor menu selections

                  By Petras

                  from Los Angeles, CA

                  About Me Pro Videographer

                  Verified Buyer

                  Pros

                  • Great Picture Quality
                  • Slow motion
                  • Super 35 Sensor

                  Cons

                  • E-mount
                  • Limited Menu Options
                  • Plasticky
                  • Single Card Slot

                  Best Uses

                  • Documentaries
                  • HD Shooting
                  • Movies/Short Films

                  Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                  The camera itself is great, but I was disappointed with menu settings. after using an XDCAM EX1 it was shocking not to find a "last clip delete" button option, it has no selectable frame rates one by one. just someone's default presets, who assumed that you will be happy with those limitations. for instance, if i want to shoot in 40fps - I CANT. slow shutter selections also could be more versatile.Zebra is awful, also you cannot control what settings do you want to have on the display.hopefully they will fix these on firmware updates..

                  • Was this a gift?:
                  • No

                  Share this review

                  (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                   
                  5.0

                  Great, but SONY! Move the LCD!

                  By Rosh

                  from Bozeman, MT

                  About Me Semi-pro Videographer

                  Pros

                  • Easy to Use
                  • Good Image Stabilization
                  • Great Picture Quality
                  • Great Sound

                  Cons

                    Best Uses

                      Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                      I'm upgrading from a DSLR, so it's obviously wonderful in comparison. That said, I tried a few cameras before picking this one, and so glad I did. On top of all the wonderful features that have already been pointed out, it's so nice to be able to use all my old lenses. I've mostly been using it to film wildlife in Yellowstone and have had no trouble so far. Even with the awkward shape, you get used to it.

                      My one problem is the placement of the monitor -- I really wish they moved it to the side.

                      • Was this a gift?:
                      • No

                      Share this review

                      (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                       
                      5.0

                      Slow Motion Super Star!!!

                      By Jay Naked

                      from Wellington Florida

                      About Me Pro Videographer

                      Verified Buyer

                      Pros

                      • Easy to Use
                      • Good in Low Light
                      • Great Picture Quality
                      • Great Sound
                      • Large Clear LCD
                      • Super Slow Motion
                      • Very Nice Image

                      Cons

                        Best Uses

                        • Documentaries
                        • HD Shooting
                        • Indoors/Low Light
                        • Movies/Short Films
                        • Travel
                        • Weddings/Events

                        Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                        Where do I click to give this 11 stars? (it goes to 11! ) The Slow motion is un believable! The HD is superb! I can't wait to get the ENG zoom lens when it comes out...I just got a metabones adapter for the my canon lenses and it is a must to get to really utilize canon lenses with out iris control. I've only had the camera for 2 weeks, and the metabones for a few hours, but this is the best deal on the plantet... had to wait for a month to get, but worth every second and every penny! Thanks Sony, you guys out did it this time. Sure there are a few things I could wish for, but at this price, nothing comes close. This really is the game killer for other cameras....Get one...no don't get one, so I have less competition . Oh ya, the view finder is flimsy, but works great none the less. I will upgrade soon to a zacuto, but as long as I don't bump it, it works very well. I do not have a sony lens to test the stabilization, auto focus or other features connected to that, so I will leave opinion out for now....

                        • Was this a gift?:
                        • No

                        Share this review

                        (0 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

                         
                        5.0

                        Excellent Camera

                        By Johnny

                        from San Francisco

                        About Me Pro Videographer

                        Verified Buyer

                        Pros

                        • Easy to Use
                        • Good in Low Light
                        • Great Picture Quality
                        • Large Clear LCD

                        Cons

                          Best Uses

                          • Documentaries
                          • HD Shooting
                          • Indoors/Low Light
                          • Movies/Short Films
                          • Weddings/Events

                          Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                          I use it for documentaries.Interchangeable lenses is great.But I do wish it was easier to handhold while filming.

                          • Was this a gift?:
                          • No

                          Share this review

                          (6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

                           
                          5.0

                          Sony Does It Again

                          By Robert Davidson College

                          from Davidson, NC

                          About Me Pro Videographer

                          Pros

                          • Good in Low Light
                          • Great Picture Quality

                          Cons

                          • Complicated To Operate

                          Best Uses

                          • Movies/Short Films

                          Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                          Davidson College recently purchased the FS700 for college's film and media studies students.

                          So far, the camera has lived up to the hype and then some. Mated with the optional LA-EA2 E-Mount to A-Mount adapter and a set of fast Sigma primes, the camera has performed magnificently in low light. The slow-motion function is the best selling point though. Even at 920fps, the quality has been useable. At 120fps and 240fps the quality has been amazing.

                          The LCD positioning is a little awkward and having pre-assigned ISO settings is annoying. Would have been nice to be able to dial through the ISOs without having to assign them to a H-M-L switch. It defaults to 500, 1600, 3200.

                          Overall it is an AMAZING camera though. Very pleased with it.

                          • Was this a gift?:
                          • No

                          Share this review

                          (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                           
                          5.0

                          I think i am in heaven.....

                          By Frosty

                          from Perth, Australia

                          About Me Pro Videographer

                          Verified Buyer

                          Pros

                          • Easy to Use
                          • Good in Low Light
                          • Great Picture Quality
                          • Great Sound
                          • Large Clear LCD

                          Cons

                          • Complicated To Operate

                          Best Uses

                          • Documentaries
                          • HD Shooting
                          • Home Movies
                          • Indoors/Low Light
                          • Movies/Short Films
                          • Travel
                          • Weddings/Events

                          Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                          Bought this camera, as i wanted the high frame rate. But at first i really didn't like the ergonomics, but as you get used to it.... it really grows on you. I used to swear by my DSLR's, but now i dont want to pick them up. This camera with a good set on lenses is amazing(dont buy the standard one, its rubbish).

                          I am using it on a travel show at the moment around the USA(i am from AUS) and i have shot some of the most beautiful images i have ever shot in my life.

                          Can't recommend it enough.

                          • Was this a gift?:
                          • No

                          Share this review

                          (0 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

                           
                          4.0

                          Nice Camera

                          By crovin

                          from Grand Forks, ND

                          About Me Pro Videographer

                          Verified Buyer

                          Pros

                          • Frames per second
                          • Great Picture Quality

                          Cons

                          • Limited lens selection

                          Best Uses

                          • HD Shooting
                          • Movies/Short Films

                          Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                          We've only had the camera for a few days, but we've been playing a lot with the slow motion footage. So far we're very impressed with the images it provides, as well as the functionality and layout of the camera itself. My only real complaint is lack of lenses and powered adapters.

                          • Was this a gift?:
                          • No

                          Share this review

                          (23 of 26 customers found this review helpful)

                           
                          5.0

                          A Great Indie Camera

                          By Bill Zebub

                          from Clifton, NJ

                          About Me Pro Videographer

                          Verified Buyer

                          Pros

                          • Easy to Use
                          • Good in Low Light
                          • Great Picture Quality

                          Cons

                            Best Uses

                            • Documentaries
                            • HD Shooting
                            • Indoors/Low Light
                            • Movies/Short Films

                            Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                            I needed a camera with an interchangeable lens system. My movies are moving more toward the artistic and I can't compromise with the standard built-in zoom camera systems anymore.
                            Although I have a lot of great things to say, I will only mention things that are not commonly stated in reviews. So let me begin by refuting some of the negative things that amateurs have been saying. Yes, the LCD screen is more of for a documentary or wedding person. It sits on top of the camera. Unless you are a contortionist, you will find it hard to get some of those crazier angles. But you should get an external monitor anyway. Speaking of which, you should get an Atomos Ninja or Samarai. This captures uncompressed video, AND it acts as a monitor that you can place the way that you wish.
                            Why would you buy an external recorder? The native codec, when this camera records onto SD cards, is AVCHD, and it has a maximum bitrate of 28 Mbits/sec. That is not too shabby if you are making Bluray discs. But if you want your movie to be availabe on-demand, many vendors insist on at least a 90 Mbit/sec stream. Get a Ninja. It records uncompressed ProRes at way beyond what you would need, stream-wise.
                            I have seen some people complain that a camera that costs this much should already have that, and to them I say, "You are recording commercial footage, NOT a home movie, so INVEST!" The external recorder will pay for itself, that is, if you make movies that people buy, ha ha.
                            The super slow motion is something that no other manufacturer seems to be interested in developing, so this camera is your only chance to play with this ability at the prosumer level.
                            If you are shooting for DVD replication, you can stick with the SD cards, and then downsample. You will have the master in HD that is acceptable for Bluray replication as well. But I really recommend getting an external recorder for the aforementioned reasons.
                            I purchased this through the mail after being assured that the package is insured and that I would have to sign for it. When it arrived, I took it out of the box, skimmed through the manual, attached a 50mm lens, and went to a park to play. The camera has highly intuitive menu and buttons.
                            A few days later I went into my garage to test low light, extreme back light, and super high contrast (with firecrackers, matches, etc) and placed it on an Adobe Premiere timeline (for PC). There was no encoding. The workflow is a dream! I am not allowed to post links to the test-footage that I have shot, but there are many people like me who have uploaded video gold. The super slow motion will make you cry in adoration.
                            I can go on and on about how I have become ADDICTED to this camera. If you make movies, GET THIS! You will become reinvigorated. This camera will make you LOVE film-making!

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                            (12 of 13 customers found this review helpful)

                             
                            5.0

                            A Great Indie Camera

                            By Bill Zebub

                            from Clifton, NJ

                            About Me Pro Videographer

                            Pros

                            • Easy to Use
                            • Good in Low Light
                            • Great Picture Quality

                            Cons

                              Best Uses

                              • Movies/Short Films

                              Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                              I have been happily shooting movies in stnadard definition (over 50 titles) and have been keeping my eye on HD cameras over the past three years. Although I felt no compulsion to shoot in HD, I had lost cable TV offers due to standard definition, as well as many video-on-demand opportunities.

                              Earlier this year I saw beautiful footage that was shot by a fellow indie director. This made me decide that, without qustion, I would upgrade this year. The primary reason was the power of images shot with great lenses. My new camera MUST have interchangeable lenses.

                              At this prosumer level everyone knows that no single camera has it all. But this Sony model had the important things that I needed. Let me tell you why the negative things that people are saying aren't really negative at all:

                              I was worried about the AVCHD codec. If you shoot using SD cards, 1080 in 24p is maxed at a data rate of 24 Mbits/sec. This worried me because the video-on-demand vendors require at least 90 Mbits/sec. So why is this not a worry? Because you should get an external recorder, like the Ninja, which records uncompressed. Better color space, and powerful data rate. Using a Ninja or Samarai you also take care of the second gripe - the LCD screen on the Sony is more for documentary or how-to videographers. It's on the top of the camera, and if you shoot an extreme angle, you will be playing a guessing game unless you are a contortionist. If you get the Ninja you not only record at the best quality, you also get the monitor that you need. Don't be a baby about it. You're shooting commercial footage, not home videos, so just make the investment.

                              I've had this for about a week and continue to be astounded. The first thing that I did was to make a cup of coffee and breeze through the manual. Then I went to a public park and shot footage (onto an SD card) relying on my memory of the manual, as well as the extremely intuitive menu and buttons. I came home, extracted the footage, and coulnd't believe the easy workflow. It plays nicely with Adobe Premiere and After Effects.

                              Another selling point for me was the SUPER slow motion. I checked with other manufacturers and it seems that nobody else is interested in going down this path, at least not in the prosumer level. So it as a matter of, get this, or just be happy with the twixtor plug-in (which is a lot of fun, but nothing compares to seeing every nuance of a match igniting or of something getting demolished). I love the surreal and the abstract, so this super slow motion capability was enough to make me choose this over every other option.

                              I won't go into other aspects that are described in various reviews (good aspects, by the way). I just feel that it's necessary to negate any of the crybaby statements that some people are making. Get a Ninja, and commit some time to learning this amazing device. Every moment that I have spent learning/practicing has been a pleasure.

                              I would like to recommend buying the Sony 50mm lense. It's only around $300. Tha aperture is not too shabby (1.8) Play with THIS lens, not the zoom lense (I bought the model without the zoom and invested in several other lenses, including the Zeiss 24mm for $1,100). Anyway, the 50mm will open up some of the image capabilities. You can capture some wondrous footage. The depth of field will make you salivate.

                              With this camera I feel that I have graduated. It filled me with a new excitement for movie-making. This will happen to you too.

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                              (7 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

                               
                              5.0

                              Very good first impression

                              By Jan Becker

                              from Los Angeles, CA

                              About Me Pro Videographer

                              Verified Buyer

                              Pros

                              • Good in Low Light
                              • Great Picture Quality
                              • Great Sound

                              Cons

                              • Bad monitor placement

                              Best Uses

                              • Documentaries
                              • HD Shooting
                              • Movies/Short Films
                              • Weddings/Events

                              Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                              I had it now for 2 weeks and took it on two professional shoots and did a bunch of tests. First of all - yes - the slow motion is awesome and up to 240fps it is very, very clean.But it's not only about the slow motion. The image itself is clean and detailed and the latitude is noticeable higher than in my Canon DSLR. I realized it while working with the footage in post.The picture profile presets with the cinegamma setting really excite me and I have just started exploring them. What I noticed is that this is an amazing camera for narrative film and any form of creative video. I'm using a Metabones adapter with my Canon glass and it works very well but I'm still hoping for sony to come out with amazing lenses that work 100% with the camera.

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                              REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

                              by PowerReviews
                              SonyNEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only)
                               
                              4.6

                              (based on 21 reviews)

                              Ratings Distribution

                              • 5 Stars

                                 

                                (15)

                              • 4 Stars

                                 

                                (5)

                              • 3 Stars

                                 

                                (0)

                              • 2 Stars

                                 

                                (0)

                              • 1 Stars

                                 

                                (1)

                              95%

                              of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

                              Pros

                              • Great picture quality (19)
                              • Good in low light (14)
                              • Easy to use (13)
                              • Great sound (10)
                              • Zoom range/performance (6)

                              Cons

                              • Complicated to operate (3)

                              Best Uses

                              • Movies/short films (17)
                              • HD shooting (13)
                              • Documentaries (11)
                              • Weddings (9)
                              • Low light (6)
                                • Reviewer Profile:
                                • Pro videographer (17)
                                • Was this a gift?:
                                • No (18)

                              Most Liked Positive Review

                               

                              Very good first impression

                              I had it now for 2 weeks and took it on two professional shoots and did a bunch of tests. First of all - yes - the slow motion is awesome and up to 240fps...Read complete review

                              I had it now for 2 weeks and took it on two professional shoots and did a bunch of tests. First of all - yes - the slow motion is awesome and up to 240fps it is very, very clean.But it's not only about the slow motion. The image itself is clean and detailed and the latitude is noticeable higher than in my Canon DSLR. I realized it while working with the footage in post.The picture profile presets with the cinegamma setting really excite me and I have just started exploring them. What I noticed is that this is an amazing camera for narrative film and any form of creative video. I'm using a Metabones adapter with my Canon glass and it works very well but I'm still hoping for sony to come out with amazing lenses that work 100% with the camera.

                              VS

                              Most Liked Negative Review

                               

                              Very poor WB issue

                              I have been doing my research before buying and there is a huge issue with both the 700 and 100 when they are taken underwater in a housing. The Red Channel is clipped and the...Read complete review

                              I have been doing my research before buying and there is a huge issue with both the 700 and 100 when they are taken underwater in a housing. The Red Channel is clipped and the camera tried to compensate for this which leaves all the color all over the place. There is also an issue with this when using topside with some LED lights. I have emailed Sony and have not even received a reply which is typical for Sony. Unless this issue can be rectified you would honestly be better using a GoPro underwater and saving yourself $ for the camera and for the housing. Really a shame as this camera could have so much potential.

                              Reviewed by 21 customers

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                              (0 of 11 customers found this review helpful)

                               
                              1.0

                              Very poor WB issue

                              By Paul Unique

                              from Asia Pacific

                              About Me Pro Videographer

                              Pros

                                Cons

                                • Poor Image Quality
                                • Poor In Low Light

                                Best Uses

                                  Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                                  I have been doing my research before buying and there is a huge issue with both the 700 and 100 when they are taken underwater in a housing. The Red Channel is clipped and the camera tried to compensate for this which leaves all the color all over the place. There is also an issue with this when using topside with some LED lights. I have emailed Sony and have not even received a reply which is typical for Sony. Unless this issue can be rectified you would honestly be better using a GoPro underwater and saving yourself $ for the camera and for the housing. Really a shame as this camera could have so much potential.

                                  Share this review

                                  (0 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

                                   
                                  5.0

                                  Can't go wrong

                                  By dawai692

                                  from williamsburg va

                                  About Me Casual User

                                  Verified Buyer

                                  Pros

                                  • Easy to Use
                                  • Great Picture Quality

                                  Cons

                                  • Price

                                  Best Uses

                                  • Documentaries
                                  • HD Shooting
                                  • Home Movies
                                  • Movies/Short Films
                                  • Travel
                                  • Weddings/Events

                                  Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                                  I'm no film maker, but the fs700 is amazing. love the picture quality and ofcourse the slow motion!

                                  buy it

                                  • Was this a gift?:
                                  • No

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                                  (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

                                   
                                  5.0

                                  Do not hesitate.

                                  By JadeSeal

                                  from NYC

                                  About Me Pro Videographer

                                  Verified Buyer

                                  Pros

                                  • Easy to Use
                                  • Good in Low Light
                                  • Great Picture Quality

                                  Cons

                                  • No Highlight Recovery

                                  Best Uses

                                  • Indoors/Low Light
                                  • Movies/Short Films
                                  • Tv

                                  Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                                  I was considering this camera for a good long while. If you are shooting on a 7/5D or something and considering upgrading, the difference is completely night and day. The interface is clean and quick. Great in low light. The noise scarcely even looks digital. Very film-like camera. Surprisingly so. I haven't handled 1dc footage yet, but so far no canon product holds a candle to this thing. No moire. Anitaliasing is incredible. Very little in the way of rolling shutter artifacts.

                                  My ONLY complaint here is that when you are recording to AVCHD, the highlights are a bit unrecoverable if overexposed. Definitely air toward underexposure here if you are uncertain. Haven't tried SDI out yet.

                                  Bought this in an emergency situation for a TV spot I needed the slow motion for. Couldn't be happier, and wish I'd done it earlier. Would have brought my work up quite a bit.

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                                  • No

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                                  (1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

                                   
                                  4.0

                                  Love it

                                  By RayRay

                                  from Anaheim, CA

                                  About Me Pro Videographer

                                  Verified Buyer

                                  Pros

                                  • Good Image Stabilization
                                  • Good in Low Light
                                  • Great Picture Quality
                                  • Great Sound
                                  • Great Zoom
                                  • Zoom range/performance

                                  Cons

                                    Best Uses

                                      Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                                      I use this camera to shoot skateboarding and love it. I shoot with Canon lenses and the MetaBones "Speed Booster" is a must.

                                      I came from using the Panasonic HPX-170, so I can't stand it that FS700 won't let you mark the shots.

                                      The quality is great.

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                                      • No

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                                      (1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

                                       
                                      5.0

                                      just wow

                                      By Gecofilms

                                      from Santiago, Chile

                                      About Me Pro Videographer

                                      See all my reviews

                                      Verified Reviewer

                                      Pros

                                      • Easy to Use
                                      • Good Image Stabilization
                                      • Good in Low Light
                                      • Great Picture Quality
                                      • Great Sound
                                      • Great Zoom
                                      • Zoom range/performance

                                      Cons

                                        Best Uses

                                        • Documentaries
                                        • HD Shooting
                                        • Indoors/Low Light
                                        • Movies/Short Films
                                        • Weddings/Events

                                        Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                                        this is by far the best camera for the money; slow motion up to 960fps; usable for HD in 480fps, in Full HD 240fps; E mount, you can use any lens on it with cheap adapters; future 4K RAW for, so you'll get a 4K RAW camera for about double the price with slow motion; future lens with power zoom like 18-200mm sony pw... etc, etc

                                        • Was this a gift?:
                                        • No

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                                        (2 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

                                         
                                        5.0

                                        Amazing camera

                                        By Gecofilms

                                        from Santiago, Chile

                                        About Me Pro Videographer

                                        See all my reviews

                                        Verified Reviewer

                                        Pros

                                        • Easy to Use
                                        • Good Image Stabilization
                                        • Good in Low Light
                                        • Great Picture Quality
                                        • Great Sound
                                        • Great Zoom
                                        • Large Clear LCD
                                        • Zoom range/performance

                                        Cons

                                          Best Uses

                                          • Documentaries
                                          • HD Shooting
                                          • Movies/Short Films
                                          • Weddings/Events

                                          Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                                          I owned this camera for a month now, and is a fantastic, but I mean FANTASTIC camera; the slow motion is very good and impresive, the E mount is the best in market, I own Nikon lenses, canon FD lenses, PL lenses, Canon EF lenses, alpha lenses; and all works with adapters, and E mount lenses too, is the most versatil camera ever, and with the future 4K upgrade will be better.

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                                          • No

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                                          (1 of 11 customers found this review helpful)

                                           
                                          4.0

                                          I would buy this product again and again

                                          By zahrani

                                          from KSA

                                          Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                                          Good camera but ... the slow motion is good in daytime only .

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                                          (3 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

                                           
                                          5.0

                                          We Love it!!!

                                          By Timmy

                                          from San Francisco Bay Area

                                          About Me Pro Videographer

                                          Pros

                                          • Easy to Use
                                          • Good Image Stabilization
                                          • Good in Low Light
                                          • Great Picture Quality
                                          • Great Sound

                                          Cons

                                          • Limited Zoom

                                          Best Uses

                                          • Documentaries
                                          • HD Shooting
                                          • Movies/Short Films

                                          Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                                          We have a couple of Panasonic Camera's (200, 370, 3700) and havnt had a Sony for a while. We purchased this and a A99 and love them both.

                                          • Was this a gift?:
                                          • No

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                                          (2 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

                                           
                                          5.0

                                          A Great Camera to add to your DSLR pack

                                          By CS

                                          from Virginia

                                          About Me Video Enthusiast

                                          Verified Buyer

                                          Pros

                                          • Great Picture Quality
                                          • Great Sound
                                          • Large Clear LCD

                                          Cons

                                          • Complicated To Operate

                                          Best Uses

                                          • Movies/Short Films

                                          Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                                          The camera has a clear image. Using the Metabones adapter, it was easy to use my previously owned Canon lenses.

                                          • Was this a gift?:
                                          • No

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                                          (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                                           
                                          4.0

                                          Excellent product

                                          By Seventh Victory

                                          from International

                                          About Me Pro Videographer

                                          Verified Buyer

                                          Pros

                                          • Easy to Use
                                          • Good in Low Light
                                          • Great Picture Quality

                                          Cons

                                            Best Uses

                                            • Documentaries
                                            • HD Shooting
                                            • Movies/Short Films
                                            • Weddings/Events

                                            Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                                            At Seventh Victory we are developing DVD releases that require the best optical quality we can achieve.I have been using a series of Sony cameras and have seen some good products that fell short in certain areas. The FS700 has addressed a number of the issues from its predesessors, is more intuitive to use, and possesses better colour representation.The image quality is stunning. It is early days and I am still learning the unit's abilities, however much is expected.The only reason for 4 starts is regarding the durability in the field. A better weatherproofing would be welcome. Having said that, the strength of the handle is most welcome. Some of the buttons could be less "plasticy", if that is a word.An all around excellent product.

                                            • Was this a gift?:
                                            • No

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                                            (2 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

                                             
                                            4.0

                                            Great Camera, poor menu selections

                                            By Petras

                                            from Los Angeles, CA

                                            About Me Pro Videographer

                                            Verified Buyer

                                            Pros

                                            • Great Picture Quality
                                            • Slow motion
                                            • Super 35 Sensor

                                            Cons

                                            • E-mount
                                            • Limited Menu Options
                                            • Plasticky
                                            • Single Card Slot

                                            Best Uses

                                            • Documentaries
                                            • HD Shooting
                                            • Movies/Short Films

                                            Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                                            The camera itself is great, but I was disappointed with menu settings. after using an XDCAM EX1 it was shocking not to find a "last clip delete" button option, it has no selectable frame rates one by one. just someone's default presets, who assumed that you will be happy with those limitations. for instance, if i want to shoot in 40fps - I CANT. slow shutter selections also could be more versatile.Zebra is awful, also you cannot control what settings do you want to have on the display.hopefully they will fix these on firmware updates..

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                                            • No

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                                            (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                                             
                                            5.0

                                            Great, but SONY! Move the LCD!

                                            By Rosh

                                            from Bozeman, MT

                                            About Me Semi-pro Videographer

                                            Pros

                                            • Easy to Use
                                            • Good Image Stabilization
                                            • Great Picture Quality
                                            • Great Sound

                                            Cons

                                              Best Uses

                                                Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                                                I'm upgrading from a DSLR, so it's obviously wonderful in comparison. That said, I tried a few cameras before picking this one, and so glad I did. On top of all the wonderful features that have already been pointed out, it's so nice to be able to use all my old lenses. I've mostly been using it to film wildlife in Yellowstone and have had no trouble so far. Even with the awkward shape, you get used to it.

                                                My one problem is the placement of the monitor -- I really wish they moved it to the side.

                                                • Was this a gift?:
                                                • No

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                                                (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                                                 
                                                5.0

                                                Slow Motion Super Star!!!

                                                By Jay Naked

                                                from Wellington Florida

                                                About Me Pro Videographer

                                                Verified Buyer

                                                Pros

                                                • Easy to Use
                                                • Good in Low Light
                                                • Great Picture Quality
                                                • Great Sound
                                                • Large Clear LCD
                                                • Super Slow Motion
                                                • Very Nice Image

                                                Cons

                                                  Best Uses

                                                  • Documentaries
                                                  • HD Shooting
                                                  • Indoors/Low Light
                                                  • Movies/Short Films
                                                  • Travel
                                                  • Weddings/Events

                                                  Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                                                  Where do I click to give this 11 stars? (it goes to 11! ) The Slow motion is un believable! The HD is superb! I can't wait to get the ENG zoom lens when it comes out...I just got a metabones adapter for the my canon lenses and it is a must to get to really utilize canon lenses with out iris control. I've only had the camera for 2 weeks, and the metabones for a few hours, but this is the best deal on the plantet... had to wait for a month to get, but worth every second and every penny! Thanks Sony, you guys out did it this time. Sure there are a few things I could wish for, but at this price, nothing comes close. This really is the game killer for other cameras....Get one...no don't get one, so I have less competition . Oh ya, the view finder is flimsy, but works great none the less. I will upgrade soon to a zacuto, but as long as I don't bump it, it works very well. I do not have a sony lens to test the stabilization, auto focus or other features connected to that, so I will leave opinion out for now....

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                                                  • No

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                                                  (0 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

                                                   
                                                  5.0

                                                  Excellent Camera

                                                  By Johnny

                                                  from San Francisco

                                                  About Me Pro Videographer

                                                  Verified Buyer

                                                  Pros

                                                  • Easy to Use
                                                  • Good in Low Light
                                                  • Great Picture Quality
                                                  • Large Clear LCD

                                                  Cons

                                                    Best Uses

                                                    • Documentaries
                                                    • HD Shooting
                                                    • Indoors/Low Light
                                                    • Movies/Short Films
                                                    • Weddings/Events

                                                    Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                                                    I use it for documentaries.Interchangeable lenses is great.But I do wish it was easier to handhold while filming.

                                                    • Was this a gift?:
                                                    • No

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                                                    (6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

                                                     
                                                    5.0

                                                    Sony Does It Again

                                                    By Robert Davidson College

                                                    from Davidson, NC

                                                    About Me Pro Videographer

                                                    Pros

                                                    • Good in Low Light
                                                    • Great Picture Quality

                                                    Cons

                                                    • Complicated To Operate

                                                    Best Uses

                                                    • Movies/Short Films

                                                    Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                                                    Davidson College recently purchased the FS700 for college's film and media studies students.

                                                    So far, the camera has lived up to the hype and then some. Mated with the optional LA-EA2 E-Mount to A-Mount adapter and a set of fast Sigma primes, the camera has performed magnificently in low light. The slow-motion function is the best selling point though. Even at 920fps, the quality has been useable. At 120fps and 240fps the quality has been amazing.

                                                    The LCD positioning is a little awkward and having pre-assigned ISO settings is annoying. Would have been nice to be able to dial through the ISOs without having to assign them to a H-M-L switch. It defaults to 500, 1600, 3200.

                                                    Overall it is an AMAZING camera though. Very pleased with it.

                                                    • Was this a gift?:
                                                    • No

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                                                    (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                                                     
                                                    5.0

                                                    I think i am in heaven.....

                                                    By Frosty

                                                    from Perth, Australia

                                                    About Me Pro Videographer

                                                    Verified Buyer

                                                    Pros

                                                    • Easy to Use
                                                    • Good in Low Light
                                                    • Great Picture Quality
                                                    • Great Sound
                                                    • Large Clear LCD

                                                    Cons

                                                    • Complicated To Operate

                                                    Best Uses

                                                    • Documentaries
                                                    • HD Shooting
                                                    • Home Movies
                                                    • Indoors/Low Light
                                                    • Movies/Short Films
                                                    • Travel
                                                    • Weddings/Events

                                                    Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                                                    Bought this camera, as i wanted the high frame rate. But at first i really didn't like the ergonomics, but as you get used to it.... it really grows on you. I used to swear by my DSLR's, but now i dont want to pick them up. This camera with a good set on lenses is amazing(dont buy the standard one, its rubbish).

                                                    I am using it on a travel show at the moment around the USA(i am from AUS) and i have shot some of the most beautiful images i have ever shot in my life.

                                                    Can't recommend it enough.

                                                    • Was this a gift?:
                                                    • No

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                                                    (0 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

                                                     
                                                    4.0

                                                    Nice Camera

                                                    By crovin

                                                    from Grand Forks, ND

                                                    About Me Pro Videographer

                                                    Verified Buyer

                                                    Pros

                                                    • Frames per second
                                                    • Great Picture Quality

                                                    Cons

                                                    • Limited lens selection

                                                    Best Uses

                                                    • HD Shooting
                                                    • Movies/Short Films

                                                    Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                                                    We've only had the camera for a few days, but we've been playing a lot with the slow motion footage. So far we're very impressed with the images it provides, as well as the functionality and layout of the camera itself. My only real complaint is lack of lenses and powered adapters.

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                                                    • No

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                                                    (23 of 26 customers found this review helpful)

                                                     
                                                    5.0

                                                    A Great Indie Camera

                                                    By Bill Zebub

                                                    from Clifton, NJ

                                                    About Me Pro Videographer

                                                    Verified Buyer

                                                    Pros

                                                    • Easy to Use
                                                    • Good in Low Light
                                                    • Great Picture Quality

                                                    Cons

                                                      Best Uses

                                                      • Documentaries
                                                      • HD Shooting
                                                      • Indoors/Low Light
                                                      • Movies/Short Films

                                                      Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                                                      I needed a camera with an interchangeable lens system. My movies are moving more toward the artistic and I can't compromise with the standard built-in zoom camera systems anymore.
                                                      Although I have a lot of great things to say, I will only mention things that are not commonly stated in reviews. So let me begin by refuting some of the negative things that amateurs have been saying. Yes, the LCD screen is more of for a documentary or wedding person. It sits on top of the camera. Unless you are a contortionist, you will find it hard to get some of those crazier angles. But you should get an external monitor anyway. Speaking of which, you should get an Atomos Ninja or Samarai. This captures uncompressed video, AND it acts as a monitor that you can place the way that you wish.
                                                      Why would you buy an external recorder? The native codec, when this camera records onto SD cards, is AVCHD, and it has a maximum bitrate of 28 Mbits/sec. That is not too shabby if you are making Bluray discs. But if you want your movie to be availabe on-demand, many vendors insist on at least a 90 Mbit/sec stream. Get a Ninja. It records uncompressed ProRes at way beyond what you would need, stream-wise.
                                                      I have seen some people complain that a camera that costs this much should already have that, and to them I say, "You are recording commercial footage, NOT a home movie, so INVEST!" The external recorder will pay for itself, that is, if you make movies that people buy, ha ha.
                                                      The super slow motion is something that no other manufacturer seems to be interested in developing, so this camera is your only chance to play with this ability at the prosumer level.
                                                      If you are shooting for DVD replication, you can stick with the SD cards, and then downsample. You will have the master in HD that is acceptable for Bluray replication as well. But I really recommend getting an external recorder for the aforementioned reasons.
                                                      I purchased this through the mail after being assured that the package is insured and that I would have to sign for it. When it arrived, I took it out of the box, skimmed through the manual, attached a 50mm lens, and went to a park to play. The camera has highly intuitive menu and buttons.
                                                      A few days later I went into my garage to test low light, extreme back light, and super high contrast (with firecrackers, matches, etc) and placed it on an Adobe Premiere timeline (for PC). There was no encoding. The workflow is a dream! I am not allowed to post links to the test-footage that I have shot, but there are many people like me who have uploaded video gold. The super slow motion will make you cry in adoration.
                                                      I can go on and on about how I have become ADDICTED to this camera. If you make movies, GET THIS! You will become reinvigorated. This camera will make you LOVE film-making!

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                                                      (12 of 13 customers found this review helpful)

                                                       
                                                      5.0

                                                      A Great Indie Camera

                                                      By Bill Zebub

                                                      from Clifton, NJ

                                                      About Me Pro Videographer

                                                      Pros

                                                      • Easy to Use
                                                      • Good in Low Light
                                                      • Great Picture Quality

                                                      Cons

                                                        Best Uses

                                                        • Movies/Short Films

                                                        Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                                                        I have been happily shooting movies in stnadard definition (over 50 titles) and have been keeping my eye on HD cameras over the past three years. Although I felt no compulsion to shoot in HD, I had lost cable TV offers due to standard definition, as well as many video-on-demand opportunities.

                                                        Earlier this year I saw beautiful footage that was shot by a fellow indie director. This made me decide that, without qustion, I would upgrade this year. The primary reason was the power of images shot with great lenses. My new camera MUST have interchangeable lenses.

                                                        At this prosumer level everyone knows that no single camera has it all. But this Sony model had the important things that I needed. Let me tell you why the negative things that people are saying aren't really negative at all:

                                                        I was worried about the AVCHD codec. If you shoot using SD cards, 1080 in 24p is maxed at a data rate of 24 Mbits/sec. This worried me because the video-on-demand vendors require at least 90 Mbits/sec. So why is this not a worry? Because you should get an external recorder, like the Ninja, which records uncompressed. Better color space, and powerful data rate. Using a Ninja or Samarai you also take care of the second gripe - the LCD screen on the Sony is more for documentary or how-to videographers. It's on the top of the camera, and if you shoot an extreme angle, you will be playing a guessing game unless you are a contortionist. If you get the Ninja you not only record at the best quality, you also get the monitor that you need. Don't be a baby about it. You're shooting commercial footage, not home videos, so just make the investment.

                                                        I've had this for about a week and continue to be astounded. The first thing that I did was to make a cup of coffee and breeze through the manual. Then I went to a public park and shot footage (onto an SD card) relying on my memory of the manual, as well as the extremely intuitive menu and buttons. I came home, extracted the footage, and coulnd't believe the easy workflow. It plays nicely with Adobe Premiere and After Effects.

                                                        Another selling point for me was the SUPER slow motion. I checked with other manufacturers and it seems that nobody else is interested in going down this path, at least not in the prosumer level. So it as a matter of, get this, or just be happy with the twixtor plug-in (which is a lot of fun, but nothing compares to seeing every nuance of a match igniting or of something getting demolished). I love the surreal and the abstract, so this super slow motion capability was enough to make me choose this over every other option.

                                                        I won't go into other aspects that are described in various reviews (good aspects, by the way). I just feel that it's necessary to negate any of the crybaby statements that some people are making. Get a Ninja, and commit some time to learning this amazing device. Every moment that I have spent learning/practicing has been a pleasure.

                                                        I would like to recommend buying the Sony 50mm lense. It's only around $300. Tha aperture is not too shabby (1.8) Play with THIS lens, not the zoom lense (I bought the model without the zoom and invested in several other lenses, including the Zeiss 24mm for $1,100). Anyway, the 50mm will open up some of the image capabilities. You can capture some wondrous footage. The depth of field will make you salivate.

                                                        With this camera I feel that I have graduated. It filled me with a new excitement for movie-making. This will happen to you too.

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                                                        (7 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

                                                         
                                                        5.0

                                                        Very good first impression

                                                        By Jan Becker

                                                        from Los Angeles, CA

                                                        About Me Pro Videographer

                                                        Verified Buyer

                                                        Pros

                                                        • Good in Low Light
                                                        • Great Picture Quality
                                                        • Great Sound

                                                        Cons

                                                        • Bad monitor placement

                                                        Best Uses

                                                        • Documentaries
                                                        • HD Shooting
                                                        • Movies/Short Films
                                                        • Weddings/Events

                                                        Comments about Sony NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only):

                                                        I had it now for 2 weeks and took it on two professional shoots and did a bunch of tests. First of all - yes - the slow motion is awesome and up to 240fps it is very, very clean.But it's not only about the slow motion. The image itself is clean and detailed and the latitude is noticeable higher than in my Canon DSLR. I realized it while working with the footage in post.The picture profile presets with the cinegamma setting really excite me and I have just started exploring them. What I noticed is that this is an amazing camera for narrative film and any form of creative video. I'm using a Metabones adapter with my Canon glass and it works very well but I'm still hoping for sony to come out with amazing lenses that work 100% with the camera.

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                                                        • No

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                                                        Required item: Recording media is not included. A memory card is required to record your footage.

                                                        SanDisk -  8 GB SDHC Memory Card Extreme Pro Class 10 UHS-I
                                                        • Price: $20.95
                                                         

                                                        Lenses & Lens Adapters

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                                                        Required item: AA lens is not included, and is required to use this camcorder.

                                                        Sony -  SEL24F18Z 24mm f/1.8 E-Mount Carl Zeiss Sonnar Lens
                                                        • Price: $1,098.00
                                                        Receive 2% Reward
                                                         

                                                        Batteries & Power Adapters

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                                                        Always keep a spare battery handy so you won't get caught without power.

                                                        Sony -  NP-F970 L-Series Info-Lithium Battery Pack (6300mAh)
                                                        • Price: $109.90
                                                         
                                                        Pearstone -  NP-F975 L-Series Lithium-Ion Battery (7.2V, 7200mAh)
                                                        • Price: $84.95
                                                         

                                                        Microphones & Audio Adapters

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                                                        Focus your sound with a high-quality microphone. Audio quality can make or break your video.

                                                        Rode -  NTG-2 Kit with Shock Mount and XLR Cable
                                                        • Price: $299.95
                                                         

                                                        Bags & Cases

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                                                        Carry, organize and protect your investment with quick access to your gear.

                                                        Pearstone -  Digital Video Camcorder Bag
                                                        • Price: $74.95
                                                         

                                                        Boards & Interface Cards

                                                        Expand your camcorder's recording capabilities.

                                                        Sony -  AXS-R5 Recorder
                                                        • Price: $5,350.00
                                                         

                                                        The Sony HXR-IFR5 4K recording interface is required on the Sony NEX-FS700. (B&H# SOHXRIFR5)

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