10 Reasons to hate the Sony FS100

Cameras
Posted by Admin on 15, September 2011 with 50 Comments
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I’ve been in possession of a Sony FS100 for a month now and shot with it in the UK, the Maldives and South Africa and the peculiar annoyances of this camera are becoming increasingly pointed. So much so that I thought I’d write a two part entitled ’10 reasons to…’ because you need to know what there is to love and hate about the FS. Why? Because, along with the AF101, it’s the only credible alternative to a DSLR right now. This camera has some mighty strengths but wow does it have some minuses. It’s clear that the design has been heavily compromised as it tries to fulfill two needs and seems to have simply run out of time to solve the issues.

1. Build quality.

Nigel Cooper’s review of the camera on DV User focussed heavily on the camera’s poor build and I have to say, I felt it sounded like sour apples. After a month with the cam, holy crap is this thing badly made. The plastic is cheap quality, marks easily, the modular parts feel as if they’re about to snap off when you use the camera, not good. I’ve had Sony camcorders right through from the PD150 (a tank of a camera) through to the EX1 and you always felt you stood a good chance of getting three years service out of them. With the FS100 I can’t see beyond a year with it.

2) The microphone mount.

This attaches via the hotshoe, and offers two adjustable bars to help you put the mic in the right position. Except that in fact there’s really only one position you can actually put the bars. Why? Because you’re never ever going to want to shoot with a crappy Sony top mic. You’ll most likely be shooting with a proper shotgun mic and there’s really only one position you can actually set the bars up when you have a softie attached. The lateral bar is clamped with a quick release flip-up catch and it does the worst job I’ve ever seen of keeping the mic in place. It’s awful. Rolling with a mic perched on top is a nightmare.

3. The handgrip.

It’s all very well being able to break the camera down into small parts to pack away but it’s not great when you can’t put it back together again. I spend a small portion of every day swearing as I try and get the handgrip to attach to the body of the camera without destroying the threads. You have to flip up a rubber cover and rotate a stupid metal crank, hoping you’ve got the holes lined up properly. Adjusting the position of the grip means untightening and retightening the damn thing. Slow, badly designed and annoying. The grip operates the camera via a cable that plugs into the ‘remote’ port on the back of the camera and no thought appears to have been given to where this cable is actually going to go.

4. The viewfinder.

Up periscope. This thing attaches to the on-board monitor via some metal clamps which are flimsier than a Bill Clinton alibi. The monitor simply isn’t designed to carry that much weight or leverage. You can lock the monitor in place with a scroll wheel but it doesn’t really work. It’s the biggest joke of an already unfunny comedy of build quality nonsense.

5. Cable management.

With a top mic, a radio mic, the handgrip remote cable you’re in big trouble. The position of the XLR ports means one mic cable is always snaking around over the monitor and top buttons and the position of the only cable management grips (always crap on most cameras anyway) means that you actually can’t put any cables in it because the handgrip is in the way. Rubbish.

6. ND filter.

Lens choices on this camera are a nightmare, almost exclusively because of the ND filter situation. The FS100 is a low-light champion, even more so than your DSLR and this is great. Except that, with no built-in ND filters you’re now even more stumped than ever when trying to work out what lens to use with your new box. You’re almost press-ganged into buying a matte box and filters to use the damn thing. Or you just have to plump for the kit lens and live with it. ND is proving to be an all mighty pain in the ass.

7. Lens conundrums.

No Birger mount yet, so no iris control on EOS lenses. I have been using a dumb adapter with my EOS lenses when shooting in lower light situations, but once you get into daylight shooting you can forget about them. Even with a Fader ND you just can’t manage the light. I have a set of manual Zeiss primes but that means breaking out the matte box and those tiny little lenses just aren’t designed for that kind of work and it takes about 15 minutes to change a lens and get it set up right. Nightmare. The kit lens is very very well stabilised and you can shoot at 200mm handheld with no problem at all. Handheld, not shoulder mounted. As soon as you throw on a non-stabilised lens you can forget it so you’re locked into the kit lens for any quick and dirty run n gun stuff.

8. Kit lens.

The kit lens is actually very good. 18-200 is a very useful range for video work. It’s slow as hell though and you have to change the iris via a rancid scroll wheel on the side of the camera that reminds me of the bad old days of the PD150. It’s unresponsive, lacks feel and makes you feel like you have no control when shooting. I hate it. The focus ring on the lens is a weird fish too. It seems to make no sense, you easily overshoot focus, then suddenly you’re having to crank hard just to get where you need to be. The lens happily extends all by itself if you point the camera down. Oh dear.

9. Buttons.

Buy an FS100, get used to spending a lot of time flipping the camera round to look at the side and check where the buttons are. I’ve gotten so used to having aperture and shutter control right at my fingertips on the 5D it’s really irritating having to go back to punching through buttons and menus, particularly when setting up gain.

10. The screen.

Everything looks dull and lifeless on the on-board monitor. When you get back to the edit it’s always a nice surprise to see that you haven’t been shooting total crap. Where shooting on a 5D gets you excited as you monitor the picture, this is totally the opposite. Having an additional monitor makes a big difference, but this camera was supposed to be the lightweight, video focussed version of my DSLR. The monitor is touch screen and I can’t for the life of me work out why. It adds nothing to the functionality of the camera and the loss of resolution and clarity certainly could have been done without. Interestingly I had the same experience with the monitor on the F3.

The FS100 has many redeeming qualities which I’ll touch on in my next post, but this is a camera that simply doesn’t know what it’s supposed to be. It wants to be a cine camera, but it also knows that there’s a camcorder market out there that demands camcorder functionality and it’s tried too hard to meet the needs of that market. The result is a mess. Strip the camera back to being simply a cine focussed unit and you’ll find it starting to make a sense. The only problem is, when set next to the 5D it simply isn’t good enough. I’d preferentially shoot on a 5D over the FS100 for about 60% to 70% of situations, and I got it to send the balance the other way. Are we getting too greedy with out camera needs, or did Sony simply fire and forget?

 

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Jared Abrams is a cinematographer based in Hollywood, California. After many years as a professional camera assistant he switched over to still photography. About two years ago a new Canon camera changed the way the world sees both motion and still photography. He just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
  • http://twitter.com/videographer88 Mike Buonaiuto ✔

    Couldn’t agree more with this write it. The FS100 whilst being a good piece of kit, has some gigantic flaws – as if shooting isn’t time consuming enough! lol Nice blog post :)

  • http://twitter.com/3zr Henry Ezra

    Couldm’t disagree more than this. The one and only flaw is the price. If the price point is similar to 5DII or at least near, then this would be a 5DII killer.
    As so far as I know: 5DII also has awkward body for video camera (since it was designed for still) and no ND (just like FS100), no viewfinder (when recording, must have 3rd party solution), could use another lens system with adapter (as FS100 did, PL mount etc), No proper handle (have to use 3rd party rig/kit), has no proper microphone (have to use 3rd party), too much function on the menu (deep on menu not enough available button), moire and aliasing (even the anti moire filter not really do it perfectly, not on wide lenses), worse low light performance, etc.
    So, while 5DII has the same (at least similar) problem with FS100, it’s only a matter of price that separates the Sony and the Canon. So whose got more “gigantic” flaw here?

  • Pingback: 10 Reasons to hate the Sony FS100 « Wide Open Camera | Sony NEX Video Cameras | Scoop.it

  • Anonymous

    This seems like an unobjective opinion of someone who is used to DSLRs as their primary…if not only camera option.  Nothing wrong with that, but pros know that there isn’t one camera good for all uses, and each camera has its uses.  It’s silly to say you “hate” a camera system.  (I like how you don’t say “you” hate it, but rather imply that everyone else should hate it too)  It seems like DSLRs probably work best on your shoots.  Many types of shoots are perfect for the FS100, and many other are great for the 5dMkII, and others the Alexa is best suited..etc etc.  They ALL have positives and negatives depending on the project they are being used for. 

    I feel the FS100 is suited more for cinematic shoots, not handheld run n gun and event videography. With those thoughts in mind, your list could actually be considered POSITIVES rather than negatives for many DPs involved on cinematic style shoots:

    1)  The camera is lightweight.  I used it to shoot a concert and was surprised at how long I could go holding that thing.  I wouldn’t likely have the same experience with a “tank” of a camera.  In retrospect I would probably use probaly use a different camera (like an EX3) since the DOF was a challenge.  
    2)  Why make it removeable you ask?  Because every other video camera has the mic permanently attached…and it’s great to be able to strip the modular design down when necessary.  I ask, why not make mics removable?  When I’m wanting to attach the camera to a steadicam…I don’t want the extra weight…so this camera is perfect!
    3)  Again, at least it’s modular.  I love having the option of the handgrip if I need to handhold it, but for people like me who use sticks, steadicams, dollies, and jibs 99% of the time….it usually sits in the camera bag most of the time.  I’m glad I’m not stuck with a permanently attached grip.
    4)  The scroll wheel works just fine.  Keep in mind that the wheel is also underneath near the grip so you can tighten it down better using both your index finger and thumb.  I would take this LCD over the non-rotating/tilting lcd of a DSLR any day!!
    5)  “With a top mic, a radio mic, the handgrip remote cable you’re in big trouble.”  Have you SEEN a fully kitted out ALEXA or RED camera?  Or even a fully accessorized DSLR?  Or an accessorized camera of ANY type?  What makes the FS100 rubbish compared to any other camera?  At least you’re not having to attach a ZOOM recorder to your rig and having to sync in post!  And yes, you’re in trouble if you’re a one-man-band that doesnt know how to manage cables.  I always have an experienced AC with me who is a Godsend in this area and I highly recommend budgeting the same.
    6)  Lens choices are a nightmare?  What other camera system are you able to attach ANY lens in existence thanks to the adaptability of the Sony E mount?  I’ll take that advantage in trade for lack of ND anytime.  I can actually attach Canon FD lenses too!  The sky is the limit for lens choices!  I hear alot of grumbles for the lack of internal ND but Sony made the wise choice to make the camera apabtable to ANY lens type instead.  (the flange distance between the lens element and the sensor make it impossible for internal nd but possible for any lend type to be adapted)  By the way; RED, Alexa, and all 35mm cameras do not have internal ND filters…and these are considered the top professional cinema cameras used in Hollywood.  Do they complain about lack of internal ND?  Camera crews and DPs (and most DLSR users) are used to using external ND filters with matteboxes with their cameras.  Broadcast ENG cameramen, however, are used to internal ND so obviously this camera may not be their first choice for their ENG style shooting.
    7)  I doubt the FS100 is a good choice in this “dirty run n gun stuff.”  But for cinematic, dolly/steadical/sticks/jib shots it’s a dream!  Again, there isn’t one camera good for all types of shooting.  (PS: It takes you 15 minutes to change a lens?  You shoot with a 200mm lens handheld?  Hmmmm)
    8)  Don’t use the kit lens!  In my guide, I specifically state to buy your own glass and skip the kit lens.  http://crookedpathfilms.com/blog/2011/07/05/idiots-guide-to-the-sony-fs100/  This lens is NOT “actually very good.”  
    9)  Have you used the side buttons that you can customize to do any function you desire? This is an awesome feature!  You can even turn on/off zebras and peaking…something you don’t have in a DSLR. 
    10)  I haven’t seen any issues in proper color/contrast with the LCD compared to external monitors or even my NLE monitors.  But my monitors are all properly calibrated, are yours?  Just like the Canon DSLRs…the onboard LCD should give you the exact rendition of the colors being recorded.

    I’m not disagreeing with you in that your points are very valid for some types of shoots…but you cannot (and expect everyone else to) say that we should all ‘hate’ this camera.  That’s just plain silly.  This camera is a dream to use for some shoots and it’s isn’t best for others.  People must find the best camera for their situation, and keep their options open.  Knowing each camera’s strengths and weaknesses and determining what’s best for each shoot is the mark of a true pro.  

  • http://twitter.com/sammorganmoore Sam Morgan Moore

    Richard – I think Mr Skid is messing with you- I see some humour, and sense too in his post too
     Build quality – none of us know until it falls apart – plastic that distorts under impact can be stronger than metal that does notA bit of my 7d cracked off like an eggshell onceWe dont knowThe mic mount – I thew it awayAgree with Mr SkidHandle Now this is made of a plastic im allergic to – I threw it awayAgree with Mr SkidThe chimney pot – I cut it down to be a mini sceen shade so the onboard can become a psuedo directors mon while I watch on my DP6Disagree with Mr Skid With a lav behind the camera on my rig rails the XLRs are perfectly placedthe fact that the HDMI comes out the back is great, 

    With a DSLR the HDMI goes in your ear if the DSLR is on a rig

    Disagree with Mr Skid

    Lenses , Ive got a set of manual nikkors and setup up ring to make them all 77 front, Ive got 3 77 ND filters

    No MB  as lens swaps take too long

    No worries there

    Disagree with Mr Skid

     Kit lens – in its  own RnG no Hassle Ex1 style shooting way it is very very very good

    The iris wheel is yuk but a quick way to rack iris (between shots) is to hit the auto iris button twice which gets you in the ballpark in a moment

    Far better than pumping the iris wheel for a week to change a couple of stops

    Agree with Mr Skid

     buttons, in a way their recessed-ness means they dont get knockeed unlike the DSLR wheel

    Navigation by touch is not an option, which is a flaw

    The screen – its fine its better than a DSLR – its placement it utterley stupid in terms of handholding

    I could have placed it better using a blindfold a donkey and a pin

    For me the cam only works on sticks or built up to a proper shoulder rig with a Vlock at the back to counter balance

    In that configuration its the best ergonomics Ive ever had

    SMM

  • Anonymous

    Like I said, it’s not a good run ‘n gun / handheld / one-man-band camera.  But it’s clearly not designed for that.  Naturally there are things I would prefer to have on the camera…like the HDMI plug facing DOWN so as not to strain the cables, ability to zoom in 10x like the Canon DSLRs instead of 2x, ISO scroller instead of gain 3-position switch, and a waveform.  But come on…this camera is still nothing short of awesome and hardly something to “hate.”  This article is nothing more than an inexperienced author (no offense intended, but he states clearly he is NOT a DP) completely dismissing a camera he has no business dismissing. 

  • http://www.vimeo.com Paul

    Really, the Achille’s heel of this surprisingly widely-circulated blog posting is its conclusion:  the writer announces that he’ll stick with shooting on a 5D for “about 60 to 70% of situations.”

    Completely disqualifies everything he wrote.  I’m gonna venture to guess that he doesn’t actually own the NEX-FS100, thus was highly motivated to rip on it because the thing he actually owns is an old 5DmkII, which most serious filmmakers have long abandoned.

  • Anonymous

    I don’t think someone who uses a DSLR primarily for run n gun shoots, uses a 200mm handheld and complains about steadiness, struggles with cables, and has a disclaimer that he’s not a DP is qualified to decide which camera we should all dismiss. 

  • mm0000

         DSLR shooting is now a “style” – You can do many things that you cannot do with a “proper” cine camera when using a little DSLR/Digital Still camera.  Theb main thing is you can hide the fact that you are filming – this is a big deal for guerilla shoots (which, in my opinion is the best way for amateurs to cut their teeth). Next.. a few tradeoffs with DL:SR that you have to work around – namely focus monitoring while shooting (get used to slightly off focus).  
         But the main thing I have noticed is that the small size/weight of a DLSR vs quality you can get is the main reason to use them.  Everything gets a little easier when it comes to shooting… less people required to operate and more places you can shoot without getting into trouble.  
      I had my sights on the FS100 for a while, but I kept looking at the form factor and it seemed a step sideways from DLSR, not upwards.  With that new moire filter on a 5DMKII, you can do an amazingly versatile amount of stuff.
      I actually have started to enjoy NOT looking like a pro, with all my pro gear hanging off of me… and then producing pro quality work with these cool little tools. Then, when something does not go as well as I thought, or doesn’t look that great, I can blame the camera!  😉
    Thanks for the review of the FS100 – I think you made some real world points – it’ll be totally outclassed in a year.

  • mm0000

    I should mention that I have used a couple GH13’s on shoots – they weigh about a pound, I can throw them on carmounts, shoulder rigs, sticks very quickly. My WHOLE shoot can be carried by me in one car run.  I do lens changes in 10 seconds, even with follow focus attached.  Vari ND is the fastest way to deal with light, setting exposure changes while filming in seconds(tradeoff is slight fringing/skin tone flattening).  It is the fastest way to work, and if you get good at it, when it comes time to use a proper pro cine camera/rig, you’ll really notice the difference in these shooting “styles”. – Basically the same quality for the viewer, vastly different amount of effort required.

  • http://www.needcreative.net Paul Antico

    Guys keep in mind this is the 10 things he hates; he also has a 10 things he loves counterpost coming. I agree with most of these points. I’ve been heavily shooting with this camera for a doc at work virtually every day in many different scenarios (interviews, planned shots on tripod, slider, timelapse, and run n gun). 

    The camera isn’t best for run n gun. It’s more of a cinema a/k/a take your time camera. This is not to say it can’t be adapted to different uses but it is not without compromises that I feel Sony only made to keep the price of the camera down.

    The internal LCD is definitely off btw; it can cause one to underexpose. And it’s needlessly muddied by it’s touch screen layer which is 100% patently useless for this camera.

    These issues are not show stoppers, however. Every camera has it’s flaws. I think the plusses on this cam outweigh the minuses in the end; i.e. the image can be stellar (though it can be very difficult to get there) and all the obvious improvements over DSLR shooting are there. Sound,etc. That said I do however think even for 5K (which is expensive to many) this camera should have been better built.

  • http://www.elskid.com/ El Skid

    Hi Richard. Thanks for the comments. The positives are now posted. I never said we should hate the camera, just writing up my experiences of the camera in a way that I hope gives people some idea of what it’s like to live with the thing.

    Let me just state for the record that I’m not a director of photography and would never call myself my one because I think that does a disservice to the great directors of photography I’ve worked with as a director. I spend about 45% of the year shooting these days so I would hope that gives me at least some room to deliver what I would hope are considered opinions.

    You’re clearly experienced and ten years of shooting music videos, commercials, TV and extreme sports films clearly hasn’t given me the kind of experience that qualifies me to have an opinion in your eyes. I’d happily send over a reel and a CV but you appear to have made your mind up already about the kind of author I am!

    Once again, thanks for the comments, kept me very entertained on the way to my shoot in Mauritius, on the way from my shoot in Cape Town, none of which count as experience by the way!

    Robin (the tea maker…)

  • http://twitter.com/sammorganmoore Sam Morgan Moore

    Price

    I have a 5d and bought a Tascam recorder which was not reliable

    I then bought a wonderful Sound Devices recorder which was reliable

    5d and SoundDevices702 costs more than the FS100

    If you account for the cost of synching in post the FS100 becomes even cheaper

  • Pingback: 10 Reasons to love the FS100 « Wide Open Camera | camera

  • Robin Schmidt

    Hi Paul, read the follow up article, 10 reasons to love this camera. The point I’m making is that it’s a camera whose strengths are very strong and whose weaknesses are very weak. 

    I do own the FS100, I also own a 5D, I’ve owned a 7D, an EX1, a PD150, a Z1 and, really, if most serious filmmakers have long abandoned the 5D then why are we all still talking about it? 

  • Robin Schmidt

    Hi Richard, 

    this is a blog, not a news site. Opinions are subjective, that’s the whole point. 

    You’re very good at dismissing me as a filmmaker and as a camera person, for which I applaud you. I’m now going to have to inform my current employers that the person they’re paying to shoot for them all over the world is in fact not a true pro, according to your very clear set of principles. 

    I’ll also have to inform Canon that they were simply wrong to make me a pro video envoy last year. I’m sure they’ll take that very well.

    But of course, you won’t care about that, because you’ve already judged me based on one article I’ve written, and thrown in a very clever plug for your own site. 

    Good work, sir. I feel utterly belittled and very foolish, and you should feel very proud.

  • Steve Conry

    I don’t see the personal attacks that you are seeing Skid. Just a pretty good rebuttal to your concerns about the camera. It seems clear the camera isn’t perfect, but it is possible that depending on your application it might be just what many needed as a replacement for shoots that previously were dslr territory.

  • Richard Allen Crook

    First of all, I’m sorry to offend. It’s truly not my intention to belittle you. I hope you can accept my sincere apologies for that. I also wrote this prior to your 10 things to love, so I guess I mistakenly took this post as a complete camera bash, which rubs me the wrong way. I’ll admit that I jumped the gun on that since I mistakenly took a defensive stance on this. Something I won’t do again! Not that it’s an excuse…just hopefully see it from that point of view.. My point was that almost every negative about any camera out there could be seen as a positive by others, that’s all. Sorry to offend again Robin!

  • Robin Schmidt

    Calling me out as an amateur and not a true pro doesn’t qualify? Okay, cool. 

  • Robin Schmidt

    If it’s clearly not designed as a run and gun camera then why have they tried so hard to make you believe it can be one? 

    Contrarily, I find I can shoot with it just fine as a run n gun, and, yes, handheld 200mm shots are perfectly possible with the IS on that kit lens. Not an everyday occurrence but if I employed you on a shoot and you failed to get a shot because you weren’t prepared to push what a lens and camera can do, then I wouldn’t be very impressed. 

    My point, as it has been all along, is that this camera is great and awful in equal measure, and in that regard, it shares much in common with DSLRs. 

  • http://twitter.com/3zr Henry Ezra

    That’s exactly my point there :)

  • http://www.elskid.com/ El Skid

    Hi Richard, thanks for coming back. I understand where you’re coming from, I should have made it clearer in the opening to the post that it was a two parter with a for and against. I don’t call myself a DoP for the simple reason that I feel it cheapens the work of those who genuinely are DoP’s, earning a living lighting and shooting work as their sole profession and experts at it. I’ve been shooting for as long as I’ve been directing, nearly 11 years now, and I consider myself pretty experienced in these kinds of cameras working on lots of different types of production.

    I wouldn’t have bought the FS if I didn’t think it had a place in the work I do, I think it’s a conflicted camera, but I can live with that.

  • http://wideopencamera.com Jared Abrams

    Not sure why this comment was flagged. We are working to get it out there. We do not censor our comments section. Feel free to speak your mind. We will fix this ASAP. We apologize for the delay.
    Thanks.

  • http://www.crookedpathfilms.com Richard Allen Crook

    Been trying to respond but my posts keep disappearing.

  • http://www.shawnlam.ca Vancouver Video Production

    I have to agree with several of your points.  The handgrip is useless and the top position of the LCD is horrible as well.

  • http://www.shawnlam.ca Vancouver Video Production

    I have to agree with several of your points.  The handgrip is useless and the top position of the LCD is horrible as well.

  • Blind Monk

    Of all the things you mention here, not a single issue (to hate), is of any substance. I for one find this camera to be quite a treat, and at its price range, I’m quite pleased with mine. Glad to know you have a 10 reasons to love -all of which way out weigh the downfalls.

  • http://www.elskid.com/ El Skid

    That was kind of the point of the piece. The downsides are pretty weighty, but they’re more than made up for by the huge positives. Which is actually a good thing. But there are some glaring issues with the camera as you buy it. You have to admit that.

  • Me

    i think your a wanker

  • Holubfilm

    I GOT THE RIG AND WITH EXTRAS YOU NEED LIKE A MONITOR AN EXTERNAL RECORDER IT WHACKS THE COMPETITION ON PRICE.  BOTTOME LINE.

  • http://twitter.com/elskidblog El Skid

    I think you’re right. And it’s good that you pointed it out too.

  • http://twitter.com/elskidblog El Skid

    I agree. There’s still much that bugs me about it.

  • Q808

    I own the FS100 as well, and I agree with many of your points. However, I do believe that this camera is specifically intended (and marketed) for indie filmmaking and less for videography or broadcast video, hence the lack of a zoom rocker. A point that was made at its unveiling. 

    I agree that the monitor is in an odd place and difficult to use with a shoulder rig, but that’s what external monitors are for. I also agree with your review of the stock lens. I have a VG10 that has the same lens and it is a piece of crap when it comes to the action, but it does deliver a nice crisp picture. 

    The great thing about using Nikon DX lenses with the FS, is since they have almost no difference in focal length, I can shoot locations, test shots or compose with my DSLR. This means that I don’t have to worry about translating focal lengths, lugging around the FS and I can see what my shots will look like with a particular lens. And now with the new firmware update, we will be able to adjust the ISO setting.

    Unfortunately, the way Canon has designed their lenses you lose the ability to control the internal/electronic aperture lenses with the so-called, “dumb” adapters. My Nikon G lenses work with specific adapters that aperture releases and allow you to control the aperture by turning the lens barrel (but you have to guesstimate the aperture setting). 

    To reiterate, I agree with your cons concerning the FS100, but I feel that it’s a great camera for what it is. Especially at its price range with its features.

  • Isaac

    If youre not director of photography, dont talk so fuckly about the FS 100.

  • Gerardo Campos

    all you hate, is just love for me: https://vimeo.com/34489652
    https://vimeo.com/34623758
    https://vimeo.com/35061280
    https://vimeo.com/36319227
    I love it because is really modular, and is very strong, uufff is so strong; 2 days ago my little girl (2 years old) get in to my studio and I didn’ realise that she goes directly to the camera that was on a tripod, and she lose it up one leg of the tripod in a second, the the camera with all go to the floor so fast, no one can stop it, the sound was terrorific… ohhh my wallet start to cry in a second… I screem “nobody move please!!!!” I pick the camera up and start to check it out; and the camera was OK, nothing happened, nothing… is working in perfect conditions. I remember about 8 year ago a cameraman have the same problem in an event (not with a kid, but with the tripod leg) and the camera went to the cementery. I dont know if you have the chance to put the pieces appart to see how is the camera build; if you can do it then do it, you wil see that is metal covered by plastic, is not just plastic.
    OK, is not the perfect camera for all situation, wich one is?
    This camera is best for cinema type work thats why the HDMI is 444, so if you have a Cinedek you can record at 444 color space, wich camera in this price range have that????
    So, if I put togeter the good and bad in this camera, I will run to buy my second NEX-FS100 if I need it.

  • Justindub84

    Pure ignorance. There is no such thing as a bad camera, only poor use.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1191624656 Tashindra Lal

    OMG What a stupid review. El Skid got hammered by just about every one on his feedback. dude you got to spend more time using the camera.

  • Al

    You’ll be happy to know that I gave the SONY reps a bunch of hell when they debuted the camera here in L.A.  Especially the lack of ND, the ridiculous viewfinder if you can call it that.  And also the fact that it didn’t shoot 25p or 50p.  I work with lots of European crews and they need those framerates.

    SONY had a lame excuse for everything.  They “surprizingly” fixed most of the nightmare on the FS700 (I know that doesn’t help you much).  But they still insisted on that lousy viewfinder.  Oh well, maybe the FS1001 will be better.

    Don’t let the detractors get to you.  It’s tough to admit the flaws in such an expensive purchase.  Many are in denial. 

  • Jessejvanderpool

    Never used the camera but I know many people who work in rental and say it comes back broken half the time. Sounds like a light duty camera with a heavy duty sensor, guess that’s how they keep their price point.

  • Monty

    I think your comments are well said and not that I have any ill feelings toward Sony, I do feel we are being given a lot of junk marketed with a lot of hype buy most manufacturers. I’m still waiting for a camera to make me want to buy it. I shoot with the 7d now and even with its limitations it still does the job well. So why should I spend thousands of dollars on a camera that isn’t going to be a classic. It cracks me up when a new camera hits the market and you read all the comments…wait a year and read them again, then you see what the camera is really worth.

  • Monty

    I think your comments are well said and not that I have any ill feelings toward Sony, I do feel we are being given a lot of junk marketed with a lot of hype buy most manufacturers. I’m still waiting for a camera to make me want to buy it. I shoot with the 7d now and even with its limitations it still does the job well. So why should I spend thousands of dollars on a camera that isn’t going to be a classic. It cracks me up when a new camera hits the market and you read all the comments…wait a year and read them again, then you see what the camera is really worth.

  • Gecofilms.cl

    In first place you sound like someone who never touch the nex-fs100; i own one since 10-2011 and work with it a lot, you can see a lot of my videos here https://vimeo.com/gecofilmschile/videos and I can tell you this camera is really modular, then you can make it as a tank or really light for rec and run; the low light is fantastic, no camera in the market are close to this one for the price, the only one near is the canon c300 and cost 3x the fs100; the slow motion is great at 60fps over 24p in 1920×1080; cameras like 7D or 5DmkII have about the half of resolution of the fs100 and noisier in hi iso, but ok they cost less and they are less, they have moire and aliasing, they record in line skiping, they have about 8 stops of latitud (fs100 is about 11,5 stops of latitud), so of course fs100 cost more but is not an expensive camera; is a great tool for profesional work and lerning courve in to Super 35mm sensor cameras.

  • Visphoto

    I think you are nothing coming from no ware. Your father cave you a camera and no you think you are a photographer and you can say what you want to who ever (My opinion of you personally) I have been sponsored by Canon, they can make mistakes too LOL. It is obvious that your experience is small town video cameras and your knowledge is almost none. Thats why you complain so much. Agsame!! Baby ….

  • Huiasong

    The tripod mount base on the camera (the part under the Iris and focus buttons) is very flimsy I have discovered. I’ve had it attached to a tripod and carried it aroud on the tripod which has resulted in the whoe mount falling off revealing sheared screw mount in the camera body. When I took it apart I couldn’t believe how flimsy the structure and plastic is that is supposed to carry  or be the pivot for the weight for the whole camera and lens.  The plastic around one screw hole  split open.  This should have a solid metal base to screw into.

    Stephen

  • duh

    If you heed anything on this post with regards to getting the FS100 then you’re even more clueless than he is.  (This entire site seems a bit dopy and totally predictable.  At least that britzacuto guy tempers his bs.)

    I was searching for FS100 replacement parts and saw this entry’s ridiculous title and had to read it.  For higher end use, this class of camera has about a 2-3 yr cycle before being obsolete.  If you’re looking for certain builds in a Sony then go to the F3, but that will get you different issues and a different price.  Everything from the Alexa to the iPhone have issues. 

    And, seriously, footage didn’t look like that on set/in the field but blew your socks off reviewing/screening in post?  So, WideOpenCamera, knowing their readership, decided to run it?

    People flappin’ around, “I’m a director.  I’m a DP.  I’m an editor,” is ridiculous.  You’re videoJocks.  Nothing wrong with it, but live it and love what you are: camera op, aspiring this/that/theotherthing.  After meaningful experience and a body of work then think about waving titles around. 

    People who can’t do review.  People who really can’t do blog.

     

  • Paco Lupo

    El Skid  – you are an asshole – same words Manolo says to Tony Montana in Scarface

  • jack of all trades

    if you were going to shoot in the uk, south africa and maldives again what camera would you choose for the same gig again today?  for a one man band so needs to have nd filters, xlr audio inputs, nice look etc. be interested to get your views. 

  • Bla8237

    Stop being a crybaby. You sound like a bitch. What Richard said seemed highly appropriate in regards to the poor article you wrote. Amateur. 

  • vinarkj.com

    I just shot this in April with the fs100. I personally love the results we got! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5NU4S_1MP4

  • Derrick Perrin

    I have shot with the FS100 for 3 years now. It has made a lot of clients happy and made me a lot of money. Thanks for the article.
    A real grip like a Zucuto will take care of the handle / mic issue. A real lens takes care of all other shortcomings.

    -Derrick