Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

You will be surprised at how well it performs in low light whilst using the lowest ISO setting. The inclusion of the built-in ND filters are a huge time-saver. I can't tell you how many times I used them the first day I shot out on open water.

It's not apparent from the pictures but the LCD screen will swivel 180 degrees so you can monitor yourself if you happen to be the subject.

Some people commented that the camera is awkward to hold while filming—that's what the grip is for (comes with the camera). The grip attaches on a circular clamp for different holding configurations. Once that's attached there'll be no more awkwardness.

The best feature by far is the end-trigger for high frame rate capture. It allows you to constantly record the last 8 seconds of footage. This way you can wait for something to happen and after you see it simply hit the end-trigger (record button).

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

My 1st Sony so I'm still learning this camera. It's been out of the box now for one week and I have no major issues. Yes, ergonomics are part of that learning curve (the onboard monitor configuration, switch arrangement & menu structure). I'm satisfied with the image quality & low light performance and excited by the fast/slow video and focus transition features. I do have a concern with the construction of the N/D filter 'slide switch': the switch slides in to the camera housing in such a way that I believe it might introduce dirt/sand into the camera internals especially when returning it to the 'clear' position - just an observation. Overall I am very happy with the capabilities of this camera.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

Bought this camera mainly for high end corporate work and low end commercial. Will probably shoot a documentary on it this summer. So far I love the image quality as well as the fact that it takes many of my Canon primes with the Metabones adaptor. The 85L 1.2 looks really good for interviews. Frustrated by the lack of zoom rocker on the included lens as well as the limited ergonomics. I had to buy a handheld kit (Zaguta) as well as a second external monitor just for handheld shooting. All that being said, its a great price point for a potent 4K camera with amazing slo-mo.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

The camera produces beautiful images and it's slow motion is amazing. I've pretty much stayed at 240 fp to maintain HD quality but it shoots up to 960 fp at standard def. I would give it 5 stars but the 4k recorder is not available yet and when it does come out it's going to cost around 5k's. The firmware upgrade I think is going to cost up to 1K. Those are my dislikes along with the attachable viewfinder which is difficult to work with if your not on sticks. The lack of zoom control on the grip stinks as well... Overall, a great camera!

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

In my opinion this is the best camera on the market at this price point right now.
I love the image it produces and the Full 1080p hd at 240fps is amazing.

If you are looking to step up your game from the DSLR world this camera might be a perfect fit for you.
I couldn't recommend this camera more.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

Use the FS700 for shooting professional video for several high-profile clients. When it comes to cameras under 10K, the FS700 is a no brainer...it's hard to justify buying anyother camera in this price range. I have cannon glass, so I had to purchase an adapter to make those lenses work. Kind of a bummer, but well worth it in the end. The camera also needs someshort of rig inorder to properly use as a handheld solution.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

This camcorder is amazing! Coming from the Sony NEX-VG line, I found they did not have nearly enough features to making shooting fully customizable. I did not want to go with a DSLR because of all of the lost features (and you would end up having to buy a rig to add all of the stuff you lost anyway). The camcorder is gorgeous. Not only in the picture sense, but in the overall functionality. The design is excellent, and even after less than a week of using it, remembering where the buttons are, is becoming much much easier. The build in ND filters pretty much covers any lighting situation that you would need to address, and without having to buy an additional matte box. This is especially helpful when traveling, as everything can fit easily in a pelican 1510 case! The stock lens is very good, for what it is, and allows for diverse shooting when on the go! The mic that comes with it is good, and works well as a backup.

Like everyone else, the only issue with this camcorder really is the view finder, however, there has only been one shot that has posed extreme difficulty for me, and most shots, even hand held, are not an issue. BTW I am 6 feet 2 inches.

The slow motion is amazing, and one of the main reasons why I got the camcorder. The recording time (to copy the just recorded footage to the SD card) is not too bad, and totally tolerable, at around 20ish seconds (at 240fps). It also plays back the clip as it records it, so you can preview it easily. The camcorder is surprisingly light, only at around 5ish lbs with the stock lens, battery, mic, hand grip, and viewfinder. The hand grip is very sturdy, and have never felt like I was going to drop the camcorder, even with one hand. The handle on the top of the camcorder is also very strong and durable.

This camcorder shoots an AMAZING picture, and has a tremendous number of picture color settings for any kind of shot.

I use this camcorder in addition to a Glidecam HD4000, and a Pelican 1510 case. No extra weight plates are needed for the Glidecam 4000, however the weight will take some getting used to, but its definitely getting better with more practice.

This is a VIDEO camcorder, meaning it was NOT designed for pictures. If you want a picture camera, get a DSLR. This camcorder was made for video.

If you can buy this camcorder, or are close to, do not settle for anything less. You will be truly blown away by every feature.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

Shooting commercials and short films

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

Once this camera and I become friends, I'll be very happy. Until then, we are as strangers on a blind date, but it's nice knowing that there's a lot to look forward to.I'm used to a Sony Z5U and V1U. That's the kind of camera I'm comfortable using, given my desire to be up and shooting in seconds. However, these cameras have many drawbacks, primarily, the lack of interchangability of their mediocre lenses, and their wretched use of HDV. Why oh why could they not have given us the option to have shorter tapes as a tradeoff for better compression?So as far as image quality of the camera and the implementation of AVCHD, I am finding that this camera blows those HDV dinosaurs out of the water.The noise level is good. I keep my gain settings at (Low 0db, Mid 6db, Hi 9db) for general use, and will mess about with them if I have time. Since I "run and gun" and seldom know what situation I'll be in next, these are a good range, and even at 9db of gain, the noise is tolerable.Gotta watch those highlights! Even after some considerable (no, I'm not done yet) tweaking of the Picture Profiles, and settling for now on PP5, with Cinegamma 4, I find that there is LOTS of latitude with which to bring up the low and mids, but this camera does not overexpose in a pretty way, not in the details anyway, so DON"T DO IT!That said, a couple times I've really blown everything out, accidentally, and it makes a smooth, "heavenly" glow. This only works if the entire picture is blown out, however.Handheld, this camera is a nightmare out of the box. Obviously, you need a rig of some sort. I do very little handheld work, so this is not the end of the world.The viewfinder tube is a sad, ugly joke. About two days after getting the camera, I ordered a SmallHD DP4 EVF kit. This makes the camera bulkier, heavier, and harder to wrangle for those who like to move quick, but fighting with that stupid loupe is for the birds. VERY un-sexy, that!The LCD is small, and covered with fingerprints....heh. It's fairly clear and sharp, but is really only good for casual reference. The focus peaking is not as nice as with the Z5, and looks like it's drawn on with crayon...besides that, it's not that accurate, and because of the big fat lines around your subject (even on low intensity) you have no chance! The zebras are a little heavy, too....for some reason Sony is now using more pixels to express things that could have been expressed with finer lines. The kit lens is OK. Better in quality, I'd say, than the built-in lenses of the Z5 and V1, although without the great range those have. The manual focus is a little tricky, being a servo setup, and is speed-dependent. Takes some getting used to. The manual zoom is direct-coupled, and it IS possible to zoom manually in shot, but since the lens is not a parfocal lens, you also have to either use autofocus, or grow another arm if you are shooting handheld. Even on a tripod it's tricky.The lens exhibits a lot less chromatic aberration than I am used to putting up with....it's there, but not as in-your-face as the HDV cams. It also does have some noticeable barrel distortion at full wide, but again, not as bad.The lens is slow. Faster lenses are more fun.Resolution/detail seems certainly better than the HDV cameras, but NOT amazingly so. I was tempted to buy the PMW-200 when it came out instead of this FS700, but the lens-changing, slow motion, low light/noise and also little things like media and batteries affected my decision. I think the PMW-200, if anything like the EX1/3 cameras, would have been a better choice for resolution and detail. However, it should be said that the "look" of the clips from this camera are generally pleasing. I'm sure I will find better quality as I learn the camera, play with better lenses, and tweak the settings.The button placement was designed by an insane or sadistically creative person. This will take some time to learn. I feel embarrassed having to look at my camera to change a setting. Because this camera IS a fairly complex beast, with lots of settings and changes to make at any given moment (remember that I shoot moment to moment, so time spent fiddling with things is a shot that's getting away)I'm using more effort than I thought to get to oft-used switches, buttons, and menu settings.Rolling shutter? Yep. It's a CMOS sensor. Don't wave the camera around like an idiot, for one, but also, the problems with banding due to flashes, strobes, etc are present. I hope to be able to shoot lightning some day. When I first learned that the Z5U could not capture bright/close lightning without banding I was really bummed. Hopefully the Super Slow Motion (high frame rate) capture mode (with end trigger in this case) will allow for this to happen. I noticed that Alister Chapman's footage looked like it had banding too...at least with more control over the frame rate/CMOS refresh time, it will be minimized.I am BUMMED that the SSM trigger mode cannot be set to audio input, like it is on the Z5U. This is a great way to trigger. Sony: Please implement this!In fact, here is a Wish List for Sony that I've started:Wish List for Firmware Update:1. Manual "focus assist" when in Auto Focus2. Rebate or trade-in for Servo Zoom 17-200mm e-mount kit lens.3. Audio trigger (start, end, or end-half) for SSM recording (like on Z5U)4. Cache record function (that works in any frame rate, not just 60i, which I never use)5. Many more Picture Profile locations and the ability to name themNote that I mentioned the lens. Well, I feel that for some of us early adopters, the opportunity to opt for a lens WITH servo zoom would have been a plus. I will use the kit lens, for general work, but would really appreciate a servo zoom. Just after I got my box with the FS700 in it, I got a newsletter from B&H announcing an upcoming Sony camera, an E-mount, WITH a servo zoom! Had I known this was coming, I would have saved my [$] and put that toward this new lens (which is also 17-200mm) when it became available. I certainly won't buy it now, not without a trade-in program!I'm experimenting with Canon lenses, since my wife uses Canon bodies. For this I purchased a Metabones adapter, which works just fine.Battery life on the camera is fine, and the fact that it used the same batteries as my Z5 and V1 and light and PIX220, this was influential in my decision. It is not as easy on the batteries as the HDV cameras, and the charger they sent only has one slot, and seems to be kind of slow to charge.The Super Slow Motion mode is kinda neat. It is a pain to operate, and worse, to wait for the clip to be recorded to card after filling the buffer. I used this feature for a community event-the burning of a large basket, and the slow motion footage is really cool. However, as an event-coverage device, I would not recommend doing this like I was, since the time it takes to transfer each shot from buffer to card is time that is passing - shots missed. Better have another camera or two rolling while you mess with SSM!Ok - what...you still here? Wow. Anyway, I'll post updates if I discover anything new...or if the camera breaks. That's one other thing I failed yet to mention....besides being moderately heavy and lopsided, there is a certain "delicate" nature to the camera. The top handle and bottom mounts are very solid, but the control wheels, power switch, dangling wires, goofy mic mount, and the ND filter mechanism all feel - to re-use a word that is in many reviews of this camera already, "plasticky".In the end, I'm glad I got it, and I'm sure I will enjoy unraveling the secrets of its capabilities. However, I must be honest and say that it might have been wiser for me to opt for the PMW-200, as the Super Slow Motion, while cool, is a trick that will probably be one-upped in the near future by another camera or manufacturer, and the 4K promise will probably expose the limitations of this sensor, rather than giving us a solid 4k. I hope I'm wrong. I also hope Sony finds a way to record the 4k in-camera, and if not, then make it a SMALL recorder, and PLEASE, make it affordable!

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

The FS700 is an amazing piece of equipment. The slow motion alone is worth it's weight in gold. Obviously, the higher you go for frame rate, the more light you need to "denoise" your image. Everything up to 480fps is solid. 960 is pretty much useless for all practical purposes.

I would not suggest using this as a handheld camera as the ergonomics aren't very good at all. You can chest-hold it and get a decent image, but unless you're 6'8", you'll be low for eye level.

Back to the slow-mo.. not only is this amazing when shot for it's purpose, but you now have a built in steadicam for handheld dolly shots. We drove around and filmed a building out of the window, while overcranking to 240fps. The outcome was awesome... add in a Warp stabilizer and you have a perfect dolly shot.

The glass: The stock lens is good, covers 18-200 which is good for run and gun. IF you want more, you'll need an adapter, as I'm guessing your nice glass is Canon, Nikon, Leica, Zeiss, etc.. We got the Metabones adapter as it allows you to still adjust the F-stops electronically thru the camera, just like the stock lens. The FS700 + Metabones Adapter + Canon L glass gives fantastic results.

Recording to SD cards has been flawless. We use Sandisk Class 10 30/MBs and no drops or corruptions. It writes .mts files which can go directly in Premiere Pro (you have to dig into the card to find them) or Log and Transfer with FCP 7. I don't know about or acknowledge FCPX.

My only gripes: The rocker zoom control doesn't work (yet). Sony will be adding this I'm guessing as a fireware update, but right now, it's disabled.
Again the ergonomics. If you're researching this you know about the monitor. The quality is great, but if you plan on shooting over your head at all, you'll need a chair, ladder or external monitor to see what you're doing.
Lastly, and this is just going to get better in years to come as the technology gets faster, but after you shoot slow motion, the camera needs to process (buffer) the frames. This takes time away from being able to grab the next shot right away. The time you have to wait is well worth it, as the slow motion is (again) awesome.

All in all, we're coming from EX1's and the 5D Mark III. I haven't taken either off the shelf since this came in. The Super-35 gives a razor sharp image with accurate color reproduction. When, not if, you start slow motion on everything... BE SURE TO LIGHT ACCORDINGLY. You won't be happy when you're slow motion is noisey from lack of light.

I've had good results importing as XDCAM HD422 (50Mb).. you may want to do ProRes422, but the file size spikes.

Bottom Line: Game changing camera with unlimited potential, especially since we haven't even seen the 4k yet.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

I have been a videographer for several years and had last used the HVX200 as my main camera. I spent several months researching cameras both DSLRs and traditional camcorders. This camera was one of few that allowed interchangable lenses and did not have the drawbacks of DSLRs. Intially I was not wanting to switch from Panasonic as I had great results with the HVX200, but the sensor quality and slow motion sealed the deal. I am very happy with my purchase after a month of use and am actually suprised that Sony was able to keep this under 10k.

The only thing that I wish Sony would have changed is the weight distribution as the camera is very arkward to hold with out a stabilizer or tripod.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

I now have the FS700 to go with my FS100. This camera is amazing. Love the built in ND filters and of course the Super Slow Motion. It is absolutely incredible in low light. All of the upgrades from the FS100 to the FS700 are worth it. I primarily shoot corporate web videos and am currently working on a HS Football documentary. So far the FS700 has met all of my expectations and I would highly recommend this camera.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

i´ve had the fs700 for about a month now and still it is blowing me away. the 24/30 and 60p are super sharp,(4K sensor). A nice feature with the 60p, you can choose to slow it down 50% in real time in-camera or just shoot at normal speed. (also shoots 1,4,8,15, 48fps etc) great super35 chip which means super shallow dof. i use it mainly with a chinese e-mount to canon eos converter, and shoot with canon L and hasselblad lenses.

stabilization is good, it also has an active steadyshot along with the normal mode, BUT does´t crop the image like in earlier versions because of the 4K sensor.

obviously one of the most exiting features is the super slow motion at 240fps FullHD(gives RED an enormous competition) I use the 480fps as well, as it is near FullHD, the action at 480 is so stunning that one won´t notice the fair sharpness loss. 960fps is good fun but unusable in any project.

I also own a HXR-NX5 and the menus and options are almost identical, very nice, the fs700 has everything the nx5 has, + all the benefits from a dslr and the slowmo.. like the nx5 it has very detailed picture profiles to tweak the image for any right look.

the only glitch i found is my HDMI field monitor does not work with the camera in normal 30p shooting mode, it only works when i shoot in s/q mode(slow&quick) im sure this will be fixed in a firmware update.

overall... AWESOME

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

We've been doing test shoots with our new FS700 for an upcoming documentary feature. We use this with (2) 7Ds.Simple to use. Nice to be back with a video camera. Love the 60fps, as well as the 240fps.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

I have a small production company, and I can say right now coming over from a Panasonic HVX 200 and 5d Mk2 background this camera puts those to shame. It has the ease of use of my panasonic with the lovely large sensor advantages of a DSLR. The Gammas that it comes with are GREAT very cinematic and easy to grade even though it is AVCHD out the box. But it is totally amazing the latitude you can get from the AVCHD format that this camera really does utilize to the fullest. It plays nice with a Ki Pro Mini and its 422 8 bit output looks very good. So far i have used it for greenscreen work as well as live action stuff and it really is a beautiful camera. I can never shoot on a DSLR again. The autofocus is also surpisingly accurate, and i never thought i would say that on a large sensor camera. It's not as nice as a lot of 2/3 ENG cameras but what do you expect for [$]? The image stabilization is nice as well. And this goes without saying but the slow mo is AMAZINGLY good. At first I thought that 240P wasn't THAT slow, but man i must have been smoking something because 240P is pretty darn slow mo. The 480 is nice but you definitely get some noise and aliasing from the downsampling. My only 2 major complaints are #1 the diopter and "viewfinder tube" for the onboard LCD are a total joke and really do come across as completely useless. and #2 there are some cable management issues with this camera that annoying. But as a whole a total winner

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

I shot at 240FPS, and the footage are great. No artificial effects or drags. At 960 however the image is very poor, which was expected and mentioned in all other reviews. 6 assigned buttons are great and can be customize to individual liking. The ND filters are great additions to the camera. If you are familiar with other Sony cameras such as Z1 or Ex series, this camera is an ease to master. All menus are almost the same as those cameras. Use of the NP batteries is a huge plus. Audio inputs and control are easy to access and well located. HDMI, SDI, component and composite out put is well located in the back and nice to have them all. Supplied Sony Zoom is not that great and quality is poor. Very hard to focus. But overall a great camera.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

You will be surprised at how well it performs in low light whilst using the lowest ISO setting. The inclusion of the built-in ND filters are a huge time-saver. I can't tell you how many times I used them the first day I shot out on open water.

It's not apparent from the pictures but the LCD screen will swivel 180 degrees so you can monitor yourself if you happen to be the subject.

Some people commented that the camera is awkward to hold while filming—that's what the grip is for (comes with the camera). The grip attaches on a circular clamp for different holding configurations. Once that's attached there'll be no more awkwardness.

The best feature by far is the end-trigger for high frame rate capture. It allows you to constantly record the last 8 seconds of footage. This way you can wait for something to happen and after you see it simply hit the end-trigger (record button).

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

My 1st Sony so I'm still learning this camera. It's been out of the box now for one week and I have no major issues. Yes, ergonomics are part of that learning curve (the onboard monitor configuration, switch arrangement & menu structure). I'm satisfied with the image quality & low light performance and excited by the fast/slow video and focus transition features. I do have a concern with the construction of the N/D filter 'slide switch': the switch slides in to the camera housing in such a way that I believe it might introduce dirt/sand into the camera internals especially when returning it to the 'clear' position - just an observation. Overall I am very happy with the capabilities of this camera.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

Bought this camera mainly for high end corporate work and low end commercial. Will probably shoot a documentary on it this summer. So far I love the image quality as well as the fact that it takes many of my Canon primes with the Metabones adaptor. The 85L 1.2 looks really good for interviews. Frustrated by the lack of zoom rocker on the included lens as well as the limited ergonomics. I had to buy a handheld kit (Zaguta) as well as a second external monitor just for handheld shooting. All that being said, its a great price point for a potent 4K camera with amazing slo-mo.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

The camera produces beautiful images and it's slow motion is amazing. I've pretty much stayed at 240 fp to maintain HD quality but it shoots up to 960 fp at standard def. I would give it 5 stars but the 4k recorder is not available yet and when it does come out it's going to cost around 5k's. The firmware upgrade I think is going to cost up to 1K. Those are my dislikes along with the attachable viewfinder which is difficult to work with if your not on sticks. The lack of zoom control on the grip stinks as well... Overall, a great camera!

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

In my opinion this is the best camera on the market at this price point right now.
I love the image it produces and the Full 1080p hd at 240fps is amazing.

If you are looking to step up your game from the DSLR world this camera might be a perfect fit for you.
I couldn't recommend this camera more.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

Use the FS700 for shooting professional video for several high-profile clients. When it comes to cameras under 10K, the FS700 is a no brainer...it's hard to justify buying anyother camera in this price range. I have cannon glass, so I had to purchase an adapter to make those lenses work. Kind of a bummer, but well worth it in the end. The camera also needs someshort of rig inorder to properly use as a handheld solution.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

This camcorder is amazing! Coming from the Sony NEX-VG line, I found they did not have nearly enough features to making shooting fully customizable. I did not want to go with a DSLR because of all of the lost features (and you would end up having to buy a rig to add all of the stuff you lost anyway). The camcorder is gorgeous. Not only in the picture sense, but in the overall functionality. The design is excellent, and even after less than a week of using it, remembering where the buttons are, is becoming much much easier. The build in ND filters pretty much covers any lighting situation that you would need to address, and without having to buy an additional matte box. This is especially helpful when traveling, as everything can fit easily in a pelican 1510 case! The stock lens is very good, for what it is, and allows for diverse shooting when on the go! The mic that comes with it is good, and works well as a backup.

Like everyone else, the only issue with this camcorder really is the view finder, however, there has only been one shot that has posed extreme difficulty for me, and most shots, even hand held, are not an issue. BTW I am 6 feet 2 inches.

The slow motion is amazing, and one of the main reasons why I got the camcorder. The recording time (to copy the just recorded footage to the SD card) is not too bad, and totally tolerable, at around 20ish seconds (at 240fps). It also plays back the clip as it records it, so you can preview it easily. The camcorder is surprisingly light, only at around 5ish lbs with the stock lens, battery, mic, hand grip, and viewfinder. The hand grip is very sturdy, and have never felt like I was going to drop the camcorder, even with one hand. The handle on the top of the camcorder is also very strong and durable.

This camcorder shoots an AMAZING picture, and has a tremendous number of picture color settings for any kind of shot.

I use this camcorder in addition to a Glidecam HD4000, and a Pelican 1510 case. No extra weight plates are needed for the Glidecam 4000, however the weight will take some getting used to, but its definitely getting better with more practice.

This is a VIDEO camcorder, meaning it was NOT designed for pictures. If you want a picture camera, get a DSLR. This camcorder was made for video.

If you can buy this camcorder, or are close to, do not settle for anything less. You will be truly blown away by every feature.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

Shooting commercials and short films

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

Once this camera and I become friends, I'll be very happy. Until then, we are as strangers on a blind date, but it's nice knowing that there's a lot to look forward to.I'm used to a Sony Z5U and V1U. That's the kind of camera I'm comfortable using, given my desire to be up and shooting in seconds. However, these cameras have many drawbacks, primarily, the lack of interchangability of their mediocre lenses, and their wretched use of HDV. Why oh why could they not have given us the option to have shorter tapes as a tradeoff for better compression?So as far as image quality of the camera and the implementation of AVCHD, I am finding that this camera blows those HDV dinosaurs out of the water.The noise level is good. I keep my gain settings at (Low 0db, Mid 6db, Hi 9db) for general use, and will mess about with them if I have time. Since I "run and gun" and seldom know what situation I'll be in next, these are a good range, and even at 9db of gain, the noise is tolerable.Gotta watch those highlights! Even after some considerable (no, I'm not done yet) tweaking of the Picture Profiles, and settling for now on PP5, with Cinegamma 4, I find that there is LOTS of latitude with which to bring up the low and mids, but this camera does not overexpose in a pretty way, not in the details anyway, so DON"T DO IT!That said, a couple times I've really blown everything out, accidentally, and it makes a smooth, "heavenly" glow. This only works if the entire picture is blown out, however.Handheld, this camera is a nightmare out of the box. Obviously, you need a rig of some sort. I do very little handheld work, so this is not the end of the world.The viewfinder tube is a sad, ugly joke. About two days after getting the camera, I ordered a SmallHD DP4 EVF kit. This makes the camera bulkier, heavier, and harder to wrangle for those who like to move quick, but fighting with that stupid loupe is for the birds. VERY un-sexy, that!The LCD is small, and covered with fingerprints....heh. It's fairly clear and sharp, but is really only good for casual reference. The focus peaking is not as nice as with the Z5, and looks like it's drawn on with crayon...besides that, it's not that accurate, and because of the big fat lines around your subject (even on low intensity) you have no chance! The zebras are a little heavy, too....for some reason Sony is now using more pixels to express things that could have been expressed with finer lines. The kit lens is OK. Better in quality, I'd say, than the built-in lenses of the Z5 and V1, although without the great range those have. The manual focus is a little tricky, being a servo setup, and is speed-dependent. Takes some getting used to. The manual zoom is direct-coupled, and it IS possible to zoom manually in shot, but since the lens is not a parfocal lens, you also have to either use autofocus, or grow another arm if you are shooting handheld. Even on a tripod it's tricky.The lens exhibits a lot less chromatic aberration than I am used to putting up with....it's there, but not as in-your-face as the HDV cams. It also does have some noticeable barrel distortion at full wide, but again, not as bad.The lens is slow. Faster lenses are more fun.Resolution/detail seems certainly better than the HDV cameras, but NOT amazingly so. I was tempted to buy the PMW-200 when it came out instead of this FS700, but the lens-changing, slow motion, low light/noise and also little things like media and batteries affected my decision. I think the PMW-200, if anything like the EX1/3 cameras, would have been a better choice for resolution and detail. However, it should be said that the "look" of the clips from this camera are generally pleasing. I'm sure I will find better quality as I learn the camera, play with better lenses, and tweak the settings.The button placement was designed by an insane or sadistically creative person. This will take some time to learn. I feel embarrassed having to look at my camera to change a setting. Because this camera IS a fairly complex beast, with lots of settings and changes to make at any given moment (remember that I shoot moment to moment, so time spent fiddling with things is a shot that's getting away)I'm using more effort than I thought to get to oft-used switches, buttons, and menu settings.Rolling shutter? Yep. It's a CMOS sensor. Don't wave the camera around like an idiot, for one, but also, the problems with banding due to flashes, strobes, etc are present. I hope to be able to shoot lightning some day. When I first learned that the Z5U could not capture bright/close lightning without banding I was really bummed. Hopefully the Super Slow Motion (high frame rate) capture mode (with end trigger in this case) will allow for this to happen. I noticed that Alister Chapman's footage looked like it had banding too...at least with more control over the frame rate/CMOS refresh time, it will be minimized.I am BUMMED that the SSM trigger mode cannot be set to audio input, like it is on the Z5U. This is a great way to trigger. Sony: Please implement this!In fact, here is a Wish List for Sony that I've started:Wish List for Firmware Update:1. Manual "focus assist" when in Auto Focus2. Rebate or trade-in for Servo Zoom 17-200mm e-mount kit lens.3. Audio trigger (start, end, or end-half) for SSM recording (like on Z5U)4. Cache record function (that works in any frame rate, not just 60i, which I never use)5. Many more Picture Profile locations and the ability to name themNote that I mentioned the lens. Well, I feel that for some of us early adopters, the opportunity to opt for a lens WITH servo zoom would have been a plus. I will use the kit lens, for general work, but would really appreciate a servo zoom. Just after I got my box with the FS700 in it, I got a newsletter from B&H announcing an upcoming Sony camera, an E-mount, WITH a servo zoom! Had I known this was coming, I would have saved my [$] and put that toward this new lens (which is also 17-200mm) when it became available. I certainly won't buy it now, not without a trade-in program!I'm experimenting with Canon lenses, since my wife uses Canon bodies. For this I purchased a Metabones adapter, which works just fine.Battery life on the camera is fine, and the fact that it used the same batteries as my Z5 and V1 and light and PIX220, this was influential in my decision. It is not as easy on the batteries as the HDV cameras, and the charger they sent only has one slot, and seems to be kind of slow to charge.The Super Slow Motion mode is kinda neat. It is a pain to operate, and worse, to wait for the clip to be recorded to card after filling the buffer. I used this feature for a community event-the burning of a large basket, and the slow motion footage is really cool. However, as an event-coverage device, I would not recommend doing this like I was, since the time it takes to transfer each shot from buffer to card is time that is passing - shots missed. Better have another camera or two rolling while you mess with SSM!Ok - what...you still here? Wow. Anyway, I'll post updates if I discover anything new...or if the camera breaks. That's one other thing I failed yet to mention....besides being moderately heavy and lopsided, there is a certain "delicate" nature to the camera. The top handle and bottom mounts are very solid, but the control wheels, power switch, dangling wires, goofy mic mount, and the ND filter mechanism all feel - to re-use a word that is in many reviews of this camera already, "plasticky".In the end, I'm glad I got it, and I'm sure I will enjoy unraveling the secrets of its capabilities. However, I must be honest and say that it might have been wiser for me to opt for the PMW-200, as the Super Slow Motion, while cool, is a trick that will probably be one-upped in the near future by another camera or manufacturer, and the 4K promise will probably expose the limitations of this sensor, rather than giving us a solid 4k. I hope I'm wrong. I also hope Sony finds a way to record the 4k in-camera, and if not, then make it a SMALL recorder, and PLEASE, make it affordable!

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

The FS700 is an amazing piece of equipment. The slow motion alone is worth it's weight in gold. Obviously, the higher you go for frame rate, the more light you need to "denoise" your image. Everything up to 480fps is solid. 960 is pretty much useless for all practical purposes.

I would not suggest using this as a handheld camera as the ergonomics aren't very good at all. You can chest-hold it and get a decent image, but unless you're 6'8", you'll be low for eye level.

Back to the slow-mo.. not only is this amazing when shot for it's purpose, but you now have a built in steadicam for handheld dolly shots. We drove around and filmed a building out of the window, while overcranking to 240fps. The outcome was awesome... add in a Warp stabilizer and you have a perfect dolly shot.

The glass: The stock lens is good, covers 18-200 which is good for run and gun. IF you want more, you'll need an adapter, as I'm guessing your nice glass is Canon, Nikon, Leica, Zeiss, etc.. We got the Metabones adapter as it allows you to still adjust the F-stops electronically thru the camera, just like the stock lens. The FS700 + Metabones Adapter + Canon L glass gives fantastic results.

Recording to SD cards has been flawless. We use Sandisk Class 10 30/MBs and no drops or corruptions. It writes .mts files which can go directly in Premiere Pro (you have to dig into the card to find them) or Log and Transfer with FCP 7. I don't know about or acknowledge FCPX.

My only gripes: The rocker zoom control doesn't work (yet). Sony will be adding this I'm guessing as a fireware update, but right now, it's disabled.
Again the ergonomics. If you're researching this you know about the monitor. The quality is great, but if you plan on shooting over your head at all, you'll need a chair, ladder or external monitor to see what you're doing.
Lastly, and this is just going to get better in years to come as the technology gets faster, but after you shoot slow motion, the camera needs to process (buffer) the frames. This takes time away from being able to grab the next shot right away. The time you have to wait is well worth it, as the slow motion is (again) awesome.

All in all, we're coming from EX1's and the 5D Mark III. I haven't taken either off the shelf since this came in. The Super-35 gives a razor sharp image with accurate color reproduction. When, not if, you start slow motion on everything... BE SURE TO LIGHT ACCORDINGLY. You won't be happy when you're slow motion is noisey from lack of light.

I've had good results importing as XDCAM HD422 (50Mb).. you may want to do ProRes422, but the file size spikes.

Bottom Line: Game changing camera with unlimited potential, especially since we haven't even seen the 4k yet.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

I have been a videographer for several years and had last used the HVX200 as my main camera. I spent several months researching cameras both DSLRs and traditional camcorders. This camera was one of few that allowed interchangable lenses and did not have the drawbacks of DSLRs. Intially I was not wanting to switch from Panasonic as I had great results with the HVX200, but the sensor quality and slow motion sealed the deal. I am very happy with my purchase after a month of use and am actually suprised that Sony was able to keep this under 10k.

The only thing that I wish Sony would have changed is the weight distribution as the camera is very arkward to hold with out a stabilizer or tripod.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

I now have the FS700 to go with my FS100. This camera is amazing. Love the built in ND filters and of course the Super Slow Motion. It is absolutely incredible in low light. All of the upgrades from the FS100 to the FS700 are worth it. I primarily shoot corporate web videos and am currently working on a HS Football documentary. So far the FS700 has met all of my expectations and I would highly recommend this camera.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

i´ve had the fs700 for about a month now and still it is blowing me away. the 24/30 and 60p are super sharp,(4K sensor). A nice feature with the 60p, you can choose to slow it down 50% in real time in-camera or just shoot at normal speed. (also shoots 1,4,8,15, 48fps etc) great super35 chip which means super shallow dof. i use it mainly with a chinese e-mount to canon eos converter, and shoot with canon L and hasselblad lenses.

stabilization is good, it also has an active steadyshot along with the normal mode, BUT does´t crop the image like in earlier versions because of the 4K sensor.

obviously one of the most exiting features is the super slow motion at 240fps FullHD(gives RED an enormous competition) I use the 480fps as well, as it is near FullHD, the action at 480 is so stunning that one won´t notice the fair sharpness loss. 960fps is good fun but unusable in any project.

I also own a HXR-NX5 and the menus and options are almost identical, very nice, the fs700 has everything the nx5 has, + all the benefits from a dslr and the slowmo.. like the nx5 it has very detailed picture profiles to tweak the image for any right look.

the only glitch i found is my HDMI field monitor does not work with the camera in normal 30p shooting mode, it only works when i shoot in s/q mode(slow&quick) im sure this will be fixed in a firmware update.

overall... AWESOME

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

We've been doing test shoots with our new FS700 for an upcoming documentary feature. We use this with (2) 7Ds.Simple to use. Nice to be back with a video camera. Love the 60fps, as well as the 240fps.

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

I have a small production company, and I can say right now coming over from a Panasonic HVX 200 and 5d Mk2 background this camera puts those to shame. It has the ease of use of my panasonic with the lovely large sensor advantages of a DSLR. The Gammas that it comes with are GREAT very cinematic and easy to grade even though it is AVCHD out the box. But it is totally amazing the latitude you can get from the AVCHD format that this camera really does utilize to the fullest. It plays nice with a Ki Pro Mini and its 422 8 bit output looks very good. So far i have used it for greenscreen work as well as live action stuff and it really is a beautiful camera. I can never shoot on a DSLR again. The autofocus is also surpisingly accurate, and i never thought i would say that on a large sensor camera. It's not as nice as a lot of 2/3 ENG cameras but what do you expect for [$]? The image stabilization is nice as well. And this goes without saying but the slow mo is AMAZINGLY good. At first I thought that 240P wasn't THAT slow, but man i must have been smoking something because 240P is pretty darn slow mo. The 480 is nice but you definitely get some noise and aliasing from the downsampling. My only 2 major complaints are #1 the diopter and "viewfinder tube" for the onboard LCD are a total joke and really do come across as completely useless. and #2 there are some cable management issues with this camera that annoying. But as a whole a total winner

Comments about Sony NEX-FS700UK Super 35 Camcorder with 18-200mm Lens:

I shot at 240FPS, and the footage are great. No artificial effects or drags. At 960 however the image is very poor, which was expected and mentioned in all other reviews. 6 assigned buttons are great and can be customize to individual liking. The ND filters are great additions to the camera. If you are familiar with other Sony cameras such as Z1 or Ex series, this camera is an ease to master. All menus are almost the same as those cameras. Use of the NP batteries is a huge plus. Audio inputs and control are easy to access and well located. HDMI, SDI, component and composite out put is well located in the back and nice to have them all. Supplied Sony Zoom is not that great and quality is poor. Very hard to focus. But overall a great camera.