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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And this camera has done wonders beyond my expectation.

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

I do not regret it at all.

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

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

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

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

A GREAT LOW-LIGHT Camera.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I am using this product primarily for web commercials and a few web based shows.

The image quality is stunning. Low light performance is outstanding, especially since the inter-changeable lens system allows use of excellent lenses. DOF is also easy to control.

On-board audio is extremely usable. Dual XLR with phantom power allows it to replace the off-camera recorder in many circumstances.

Cons: No remote zoom or focus so you have to physically touch the camera to operate.

No ability to set auto-focus. Auto is set to center. While this causes complications, subject tracking is decent. This could probably be fixed in a firmware update, but I have not seen any reference to up-coming firmware from Sony.

1 SD card slot can be a limitation - but only after hours of shooting. The SSD (for backup recording) is proprietary and insanely expensive as the current discount was not available when I purchased mine.

The HDMI is 422 ( i think ), and lags a bit on monitors I've used. Not an issue, just something to be aware of.

Overall, it is an excellent camera with good quality. It is not perfect, but what is ?

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

For me this camera was a big jump. I have several consumer and prosumer cameras but wanted to jump into higher quality and have the ability to do professional work. I believe the large sensor of this camera produces very fine images, extremely rich color and very nice shallow DOF. So far I have found this camera to be excellent in low light conditions. Also, there is very little or no aliasing on all the things I usually notice aliasing on like shingles on a roof or bricks or clothing with patterns. I have to admit, there really is a film like quality to it as well. I shoot music videos and intend to do some Indy film (video) making. I also plan to do some event work, small time ads, maybe a couple of weddings. From what I've seen so far I think the quality will far outweigh any lack of features you might find in cameras at the same price or more. I got a screw on ND filter and use a sturdy tripod (don't have the full rail mounting system). I have all 3 E-mount lenses, but have only shot with the 18-200mm so far. I personally have not worked with a bunch of other professional cameras so I can only honestly compare it with lower cost cameras that I have used. When I was looking at this camera I was comparing this with the Panasonic AF100, Canon FS300 and the Sony EX1. I do green screen work, so I was attracted to the fact this exports 4:2:2 8 bit via HDMI. I do need to figure out what external recorder will be best, but the HDMI doesn't bother me. If I am in my studio or in a semi protected environment I'll use my monitor which is an HD flatscreen t.v., if I am moving around or in a more crowded environment I will just use the lcd screen and viewfinder tube, which I like quite a bit. Most of the criticism of this camera comes from people using 15 - 20 thousand dollar cameras. For me, the beautiful images outweigh the lack of other outputs, lack of built in ND filters and the "slowness" of the E mount lens. I love the general layout of buttons and controls. Very, very nice camera!

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

This vidcam is as advertised. Everything I was looking for in a professional level camera is here, with the exception of the ND filters. Battery life is excellent and the variety of lens that you can use is basically unlimited. This is not a camera to be held, so a tripod is necessary but that should be the case with any pro vidcam. I have to disagree with those that think the buttons are unusable due to their size and/or sensitivity. I find them to be easy to use and very responsive to touch. Very pleased with it.

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

I'm blown away by this camera! Unrivaled in every way... I have the NEX VG10 the AX2000 and now the incredible FS100U in my fleet.

The only thing I'm still figuring out is when importing how to retain the 60p integrity when most editors don't fully understand.

I will also take this opportunity to recommend buying the adaptors for using Nikon & Canon lenses. This sensor and Nikon glass make for an unbelievably real look.

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

This camcorder reminds me of my old Hasselblad. It forms the basis of whatever I want to achieve. The big sensor is like a large piece of film. It will keep up with the quality of any lens you plug onto it. I ended up getting the Sony zoom lens, so the kit would have been a better deal. I traveled with this and a Manfrotto monopod. The camcorder fits in a medium backpack and wasn't as heavy as I feared. The clips I shot in Moab and the Tetons were worth it. I had a lot of shots that seemed like way too much contrast but it wasn't a problem. The included microphone performs well. On fast pans I don't see any degradation of quality. Motorized zoom to work with the Sony lenses would be a nice addition. The LCD is too small, but given the format anything larger would be too big. I've ordered a monitor and arm for studio work. The memory unit is a great piece of mind, but way too expensive. The menus are laid out well and the touch screen is very nice. The programmable side buttons are great. So far (3 months) I'm very happy with this unit. Glad it came out when it did and I didn't buy a bunch of SLR video components. This should be a keeper even after newer generations are introduced.

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

I upgraded from my canon t2i and the difference is night and day. Simply incredible. One of my favorite features is the ease of the use of the S&Q feature. The gain creates VERY low noise. A much better experience than the Panasonic AF100.

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

I'm using this camera mainly to shoot documentaries, short-films and music video clips. It works great on low-light conditions and the fact that you can accessorise it with pretty much anything is great.
On the downside is the shape of it, just not very ergonomic. It also has heaps of buttons that takes a while to get used to. But once you start shooting with it you just forget about this and is not really an issue.

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

I needed a camera that had the film-like look of a DSLR but after a year of solid work on the Canon 7D, I started becoming very frustrated with the limitations of DSLR shooting. I followed this camera since it was first revealed and was pretty sure I was going to get it. Similar to a DSLR, this camera is not designed at all like what we think of as a video camera. This can be a pro or a con depending on what you are doing at the moment. If you mostly shoot handheld and don't want to buy any sort of rig, this camera is going to feel pretty awkward for you i think. But it is designed to be modular and succeeds at that. You can, with a few extra purchases, make this into whatever you need it to be for any particular shot.
Picture quality is brilliant. LOW LIGHT is stunning. 1080 60p for slow motion without aliasing. But the best thing for me is that I now have xlr inputs and don't have to sync all my audio on projects where that is just silly. That alone makes me feel like I've just come up for air.
The big gripe that I have at the moment is that I can't use any of my Canon lenses until an expensive adapter is finally released. I blame myself for not investing in manual apature lenses when i bought the 7D. Live and learn.

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

I use this camera for commercial work, TV advertising, corporate videos and videoclips. Recently I'll start a documentary work and this little Super 35 amera is lightweight and discrete, perfect for it.I love the fact that I can use my old Nikon, Canon and Contax-Zeiss prime lenses with a few cheap adaptors. the form factor is different but comming from the photography world this is very similar to holding a Mamiya or Hasselblad 6x6 camera, just a matter of beeing used to it.Using SDHC cards is a big advantage compared to the wallet breaker that were the P2's from my old PanaHVX200.Some "pros" doesn't like the buttons feeling but once more is a thing of being used to what you are, this is not an Arriflex, it's a [$] small mighty camera full of lowlight and color handling capabilitiees for a new generation of filmmakers.

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

I bought the camera for a documentary project I'm working on. I wanted a camera with a short depth of field in order to separate my interview subjects from the background. and a small form factor to allow my subjects to be less intimidated by a piece of equipment looming at them. I'm happy with those aspects so far. I could have bought a DSLR, but it would not have given me on-board XLR's, good on board audio control, or the ability to shoot hours at a time. The low light capability is something I'm also happy with.

The design is something that will take a little getting used to, but at this point the price and the short DOF outweigh the design limitations for me.

While the camera is aimed at pros, Sony has not made (or caught up with making ?) enough lenses available with e-mounts yet. The ones that are available have their limitations in sharpness, lack of constant aperture, etc. requiring the purchase of other types of lenses and adapters. Even the Sony alpha mounted lenses give one limited control. The one on-camera control they offer, iris control, is not smooth, resulting in loud, clicking aperture changes-something almost completely unusable in a live situation.

The lack of NDs is a bit disconcerting, forcing users to buy matte boxes or circular NDs filters.

Another limitation is the lack of a sturdy grip for lifting the camera. I also was surprised that the camera does not include Firewire. Could be that Sony is moving away from iLink in favor of USB and other connectors. Having component and HDMI is nice, however.

I'd also like Sony to work with some more NLE producers to help them be able to handle AVCHD natively without relying on 3rd party converters.

All in all, I'm happy for now for the purpose that I need it for, namely sit-down interviews and the potential to rent it to others.