The smallrig articulating arm and the core swx batteries have had the biggest impact on my camera rig - It's usually the smallest most boring things that give the most improvement! I be interested to hear any suggestions for other things I could try in my rig! Or if you have picked up anything you can implement in your own setup I'd love to hear about it. 📹💡 Don't forget if you're starting out - the camera doesn't make the filmmaker or cinematographer. Gear definitely matters in helping you achieve certain images, but you don't need the best or the latest to start out, produce great work or even make money. This rig has been years in the making for me!
It’s still a great camera and still has a lot to offer! For the price you can buy one used it stacks up well, and in the freelance world It’s still sought after by a lot of things like factual tv, live events and documentaries. Let me know if you have any other questions about it Mig!
So I’m currently looking to buy this cam to shoot short docs on. In hindsight would you have spent an extra 500 quid on the mk2 version or was this good enough for alll of your needs? I’m kinda stuck
Hi Earl - If you can get a great deal on the mark 2 I'd definitely consider it. I have used the variable ND system on the FX6 and FS5 and it is a big step up from the fixed stops on the FS7. The image is the same otherwise and usability is almost identical. The mark II has the locking e mount which is definitely more secure than the standard, but does make lens swaps a little bit harder when working on your own, you do get the hang of it after a while though (I've used the FX9 a fair bit that has the same mechanism) If I was buying today I'd absolutely still consider the Mark I unless the Mark II was a really similar price. :) Still a great camera! What sorts of docs are you looking to shoot? Send me a dm on insta @framedbylevi if you want to chat more. :)
Hey! I'm away from my FS7 at the moment but you'll want to set your HDMI to Monitor (MENU: Video - Output Setting - HDMI Target) then turn on menu displays, if I recall correctly it should just follow whatever the viewfinder is doing in this mode. Hope that helps!
For the rode wireless go I’m just using the belt clip to mount it into the cold shoe on the camera, and a rode “vlxr” xlr to 3.5mm adapter to get audio into the camera. :)
It obviously varies by market but the way I see it networks are still asking for and using the fs7 as it is predictable and known and can still put out a great image that is more than enough for network applications, although I think the FX9 and FX6 are both becoming more dominant and definitely have their perks being full frame etc. if you’re investing the money and want to futureproof the most and get a camera that is going to be the most versatile etc. I’d definitely look towards the FX9. I personally wouldn’t buy a brand new FS7 at this point in time unless I had a very specific project that it was required for and the network etc were requesting it to match other cameras and workflow and the budget was there for that, but a used FS7 represents real bang for buck still in my opinion, especially if you shop around and find one that is in the sweet spot of being used but perhaps not abused like some have. Again, definitely look at your own market and ask around what is being used but I think it still has a place in some segments. Hope that helps!
It obviously varies by market but the way I see it networks are still asking for and using the fs7 as it is predictable and known and can still put out a great image that is more than enough for network applications, although I think the FX9 and FX6 are both becoming more dominant and definitely have their perks being full frame etc. if you’re investing the money and want to futureproof the most and get a camera that is going to be the most versatile etc. I’d definitely look towards the FX9. I personally wouldn’t buy a brand new FS7 at this point in time unless I had a very specific project that it was required for and the network etc were requesting it to match other cameras and workflow and the budget was there for that, but a used FS7 represents real bang for buck still in my opinion, especially if you shop around and find one that is in the sweet spot of being used but perhaps not abused like some have. Again, definitely look at your own market and ask around what is being used but I think it still has a place in some segments. Hope that helps!
@@SettlersCoveLtd That makes sense! Sony are almost the victims of their own success as the FS7 is so well known, used and trusted many wouldn’t even consider that there is an alternative. I think the tide is turning though and it won’t be long until the FX9 or a successor becomes the go-to It is great that the FX9 has the super35 crop options too. Good luck deciding!
Just the metabones speed booster for Canon glass. It adapts straight from Canon EF to sony E with the speed boosting/field of view effects. Sony glass just mounts native to the camera. Hope that helps!
@@ingramlevi I want to use my e mount glass with the speedbooster but I think the distance between the lens and the sensor is too far with the speedbooster and an additional adapter to go back to e mount. I‘m going to shoot for Filmschool on the FS7 next week thats why I was asking. But thanks for your reply!
Yeah unfortunately it is a physics problem that you won’t be able to work around, and even if you could get around it the speed booster wouldn’t have the desired effect. Best of luck on the shoot with the FS7. Let me know if you have any other questions. :)
The smallrig articulating arm and the core swx batteries have had the biggest impact on my camera rig - It's usually the smallest most boring things that give the most improvement! I be interested to hear any suggestions for other things I could try in my rig! Or if you have picked up anything you can implement in your own setup I'd love to hear about it. 📹💡
Don't forget if you're starting out - the camera doesn't make the filmmaker or cinematographer. Gear definitely matters in helping you achieve certain images, but you don't need the best or the latest to start out, produce great work or even make money. This rig has been years in the making for me!
You can add timestamps in your video description for each part you cover so youtube can automatically add labeled chapters
Love this Video Levi and gotta love the FS7. Such a workhorse of a camera even if it’s a few years old now.
Thanks Brandon. It really is still a great camera, even if the FX6/9 have their appeals. Good job finding my side project too. ;)
@4:50 I love the rear mounting option you've got for the stock viewfinder monitor!
Yeah it works really well! So cheap and simple but effective. :)
I’m still shooting with an FS700R and it rocks. There’s no substitute for good cinema cam.
34 subs!? This video is bloody fantastic, don't take your foot off the pedal, this content is great!
Thanks so much Petrol Poodle! So glad you like it.
I like this! I’ve been wanting to get into cinema cameras the fs7 seems like a good idea still in 2021
It’s still a great camera and still has a lot to offer! For the price you can buy one used it stacks up well, and in the freelance world It’s still sought after by a lot of things like factual tv, live events and documentaries. Let me know if you have any other questions about it Mig!
You can buy a FS7 for cheaper than an a7Smk3 now!
What settings do you do for Run and Gun? (format, recording mode, codec, etc)
So I’m currently looking to buy this cam to shoot short docs on.
In hindsight would you have spent an extra 500 quid on the mk2 version or was this good enough for alll of your needs? I’m kinda stuck
Hi Earl - If you can get a great deal on the mark 2 I'd definitely consider it.
I have used the variable ND system on the FX6 and FS5 and it is a big step up from the fixed stops on the FS7. The image is the same otherwise and usability is almost identical. The mark II has the locking e mount which is definitely more secure than the standard, but does make lens swaps a little bit harder when working on your own, you do get the hang of it after a while though (I've used the FX9 a fair bit that has the same mechanism)
If I was buying today I'd absolutely still consider the Mark I unless the Mark II was a really similar price. :)
Still a great camera! What sorts of docs are you looking to shoot? Send me a dm on insta @framedbylevi if you want to chat more. :)
How did you change the menu to be shown on your external monitor. I want to do that on my HDMI monitor
Hey! I'm away from my FS7 at the moment but you'll want to set your HDMI to Monitor (MENU: Video - Output Setting - HDMI Target) then turn on menu displays, if I recall correctly it should just follow whatever the viewfinder is doing in this mode.
Hope that helps!
hey i appreciate this video
Thanks so much for letting me know Joshua! I really appreciate it
What adapter are you using for the Rode Wireless Go?
For the rode wireless go I’m just using the belt clip to mount it into the cold shoe on the camera, and a rode “vlxr” xlr to 3.5mm adapter to get audio into the camera. :)
Should I still buy the FS7 Mark 2? I’m an ENG shooter and documentarian. Are networks still asking for FS7’s? Thank you.
It obviously varies by market but the way I see it networks are still asking for and using the fs7 as it is predictable and known and can still put out a great image that is more than enough for network applications, although I think the FX9 and FX6 are both becoming more dominant and definitely have their perks being full frame etc. if you’re investing the money and want to futureproof the most and get a camera that is going to be the most versatile etc. I’d definitely look towards the FX9.
I personally wouldn’t buy a brand new FS7 at this point in time unless I had a very specific project that it was required for and the network etc were requesting it to match other cameras and workflow and the budget was there for that, but a used FS7 represents real bang for buck still in my opinion, especially if you shop around and find one that is in the sweet spot of being used but perhaps not abused like some have.
Again, definitely look at your own market and ask around what is being used but I think it still has a place in some segments.
Hope that helps!
It obviously varies by market but the way I see it networks are still asking for and using the fs7 as it is predictable and known and can still put out a great image that is more than enough for network applications, although I think the FX9 and FX6 are both becoming more dominant and definitely have their perks being full frame etc. if you’re investing the money and want to futureproof the most and get a camera that is going to be the most versatile etc. I’d definitely look towards the FX9.
I personally wouldn’t buy a brand new FS7 at this point in time unless I had a very specific project that it was required for and the network etc were requesting it to match other cameras and workflow and the budget was there for that, but a used FS7 represents real bang for buck still in my opinion, especially if you shop around and find one that is in the sweet spot of being used but perhaps not abused like some have.
Again, definitely look at your own market and ask around what is being used but I think it still has a place in some segments.
Hope that helps!
Thank you for your reply! I feel strong about the FX9 but so many networks and documentaries are still asking for FS7 but the future is here.
@@SettlersCoveLtd That makes sense! Sony are almost the victims of their own success as the FS7 is so well known, used and trusted many wouldn’t even consider that there is an alternative. I think the tide is turning though and it won’t be long until the FX9 or a successor becomes the go-to It is great that the FX9 has the super35 crop options too. Good luck deciding!
Do you use a metabones ultra and than an adapter for your e mount glas?
Just the metabones speed booster for Canon glass. It adapts straight from Canon EF to sony E with the speed boosting/field of view effects. Sony glass just mounts native to the camera. Hope that helps!
@@ingramlevi I want to use my e mount glass with the speedbooster but I think the distance between the lens and the sensor is too far with the speedbooster and an additional adapter to go back to e mount. I‘m going to shoot for Filmschool on the FS7 next week thats why I was asking. But thanks for your reply!
Yeah unfortunately it is a physics problem that you won’t be able to work around, and even if you could get around it the speed booster wouldn’t have the desired effect. Best of luck on the shoot with the FS7. Let me know if you have any other questions. :)
@@leviingram Thank you!