Sony FS-100 enters
Like a ring master’s flourish cued to a drum roll, Sony has announced its new large sensor camera.
But if you were hanging off purchasing a Canon 5D, a Panasonic AF100 or indeed an Sony F3 just in case this camera turned out to be better value, then this announcement won’t help you much, because as we write this there isn’t enough hard information to make that kind of decision.
But hey, we know the official model number. The frequently referred to NXCAM-35 or NX35 is now officially the NEX-FS100.
Thanks to a combination of drip feed announcements, pretty accurate worldwide speculation and grilling the local Sony guys at every opportunity we knew the FS100 would have the same basic sensor as the F3, be built on NXCAM – Sony’s prosumer AVCHD implementation – and it would have an proprietary Sony E-mount lens mount, that with the right adaptors, allows all sorts of different stills and cine lenses to be used.
What is new in this release is the official product images – and they pretty much reveal the same camera that we described in December after a sneak peek at the F3 launch.
Details of the included lens are also new: an E-mount 18-200mm F3.5 – F6.3 auto focus, optical SteadyShot zoom.
The camera also features an fast & slow motion up to 50fps at 1920×1080 HD resolution.
Unfortunately, there appears to be no built in ND filters, instead you’ll need to screw them on the lens or put them in a matte box when you open up the lens aperture outdoors to reduce the depth of field – one of the main reasons to purchase this camera in the first place.
And the other big news – not what we’d like to have heard – is that there’s no HD-SDI output for off-board recording. Instead there will be 4:2:2 HDMI output with a time code signal.
Sony have yet to confirm whether that will be an 8-bit signal like the Panasonic AF-100, but to be fair Sony are positioning this camera below the more expensive F3, which offers 10-bit HD-SDI output with an upgrade option for 4:4:4.
But while comparing features with the F3, we have to ask – what will the viewfinder be like? The
sequence of photos seem to show some sort of clip on dioptre for the LCD screen like the EX viewfinder that many were hoping for and F3 owners wish they had.
As soon as we get our hands on a working model we will find out.
Delivery is tentatively set for July, a little bit later than expected due to disruption in Japan.
The official Bullet Points:
- Exmor™ Super 35mm CMOS image sensor
- E lens mount (and most other popular mounts via adaptor)
- Full HD 1920×1080 AVCHD HD recording / MPEG2-SD recording
- Over- and under-speed recording
- XLR audio inputs (XLR x2)
- Detachable 3.5″ colour viewfinder
- On-board Memory Stick, SD memory card and optional HXR-FMU128 flash memory media
- Uncompressed HDMI output with time code for external 4:2:2 recorders
- NEX-FS100K includes E18-200mm lens, LCD viewfinder, power adapter, lithium battery (NP-F770), microphone (ECM-XM1) and wireless remote
Update: The US list price will be US$5850
Update: 23/3/11 Sony Promo Video
Update: 23/03/11
Update: 23/03/11
Full details at F-Stop Academy
Here are some more images
Link to official Sony USA site fs-100
Update: 25/03/11
Reviews
DVUser Nigel Coper
VideoMaker Magazine Daniel Bruns
Why is there an eyepiece viewfinder in the center, rear of the camera? Come ON!
It’s an accessory that clips on the LCD – might help if you watch the video/look at the specs before you post a disparaging comment…..
Indeed I see now there are videos, however I was coming from an ENG doco stand point where you may be coming from a film stand point.
I
No ND? So I’ve got to add a mattebox. Ugh.
I would rather have a mattebox than have a guy running around flagging the camera so you don’t get any lens junk
All the developing information on this product launch are being aggregated (along with videos) at:
http://www.nxcamhd.info
There are mirrors at:
http://facebook.com/nxcam
http://twitter.com/nexfs100
FYI, here’s the first review of the product, and it’s NOT good; pretty gutsy! He does contend, though, that aliasing is visible but not as bad as the AF100/AF101.
Does it autofocus continuously with the kit lens – i.e. tracking the subject?
Thanks for the write up… looks like a very interesting camera, shame it has been crippled a little. Surely 8 bit HD-SDI wouldn’t have stepped on the F3′s toes?
It must be a very difficult time for camera manufacturers, all of a sudden the market is demanding things whereas previously the manufacturers have dictated what will happen. And even more so for a company like Sony that has cameras at just about every level. The F3 starts to step on the toes of the F35 somewhat, and then this steps on the toes of the F3 – and thats not even factoring what impact it might have on the value perceptions of the leading ENG range.
We’ll have to wait and see exactly what is offered over that HDMI, but it seems mostly likely to be 8-bit, which will be good but could be better.
Yawn. Nigel Cooper’s a grump and is obviously not the right type of shooter to review this camera. At first his extremely negative outlook started to dim my hopes for the FS100 but then I came to my senses and realized just how unreasonable and fiddly his review is. As a shooter, I value image first and foremost. I can put up with dodgy build quality, hell I shot an HV20 for a few years….
i love it.