This thing looks incredible.
4k240 (soon), more dynamic range with three base ISO’s, modern excellent AF, much bigger and better rear LCD.
Internal raw with files smaller than some H265 files!!
Can shoot 24p in RAW on SD cards. Wow.
I love how Sony prioritize this image quality while also prioritizing smaller file sizes / data rates. Especially now with memory prices skyrocketing.
Aside from not yet able to shoot stills, and no internal ND, it’s got everything else you could ask for in a small $5000 camera.
I'm probably going to get one. I've still been jumping between the A7V and Nikon ZR for video, but I have frustrations with both, especially the ZR, including its ratio of performance to data rates in R3D. And the h265 is pretty bad.
The A7V performs well enough at h264/5 but as I've been experimenting more with anamorphic lenses, it's kind of limiting. Plus it's lacking other video features (understandably being a photo-forward camera) that make it irritating at times. Still love it for photo though.
The XOCN C1 codec in the FX5 still comes with all the benefits, like 16-bit linear capture, open gate, desqueeze, dual gain, etc. while still keeping extremely low data rates. The ZR is 2.5X cheaper, but with its one flavor of RED RAW (its one major selling point) and its insane data rates, you find yourself having to buy larger CFB cards and other long term storage sooner than later. So the cost difference becomes smaller.
Anyway this is all I'm telling myself to justify the horrible case of GAS I'm suffering from right now.
It is a great camera and I am getting one, but the desqueeze situation for auto focus anamorphic is real bad. Basically if you use an autofocus anamorphic, like the new Blazar, it will disable auto focus and IBIS if you simply de-sequeeze in camera.
n8rv wrote:
Yep. I have found the ZR to be a really fun, unique camera almost exclusively when I'm in R3D Raw. Otherwise it's kind of a struggle, including for photography in general. I've managed to get some good ones, but otherwise it hasn't exactly been a joy to shoot photos with.
Meanwhile the A7V has been a smooth experience for photos, and honestly even also for video. Its video UX feels a lot more similar to how the FX series works (not at 100% parity but definitely more intuitive than I remember on the A7IV and A7RIV). I do find myself missing that ZR screen though. That thing is amazing and has spoiled me a little.
Anyway I'm on the same boat. Will probably keep the ZR around for a while, mainly to shoot R3D here and there until I see what the next gen A7S/FX offering does. ...Show more →
Im waiting to see what Nikon kicks out with their new H.265 codec.. and of course, their feature packed firmware 1.5 and 2.0
mard22 wrote:
It is a great camera and I am getting one, but the desqueeze situation for auto focus anamorphic is real bad. Basically if you use an autofocus anamorphic, like the new Blazar, it will disable auto focus and IBIS if you simply de-sequeeze in camera.
I saw. I wonder if they just presumed most people would still be using MF anamorphic, but yeah it's an oversight. Or maybe they couldn't implement on time for launch. Wonder how feasible it is to address that via a firmware update, especially as more AF anamorphic lenses start entering the market.
In the meantime there's external monitors or the M&C app as seen here (around 5:40):
?t=344
PixiPhotography wrote:
Im waiting to see what Nikon kicks out with their new H.265 codec.. and of course, their feature packed firmware 1.5 and 2.0
I'm also still holding on to the ZR for a bit. Understandably they're in totally different price brackets. But the ZR being branded a "cinema" camera and missing a lot of key things that are shipping with the FX5 is not a great look. Hopefully this lights a fire under them to get some major updates out in a reasonable time.
I’m guessing you’d spend the price difference between this and the Zr on storage space …As it looks like the Zr RAW video files will be 10 times larger than the Sony’s compact codecs. And still the Zr has that poor h.265 codec, inferior D.R. etc.
n8rv wrote:
I saw. I wonder if they just presumed most people would still be using MF anamorphic, but yeah it's an oversight. Or maybe they couldn't implement on time for launch. Wonder how feasible it is to address that via a firmware update, especially as more AF anamorphic lenses start entering the market.
In the meantime there's external monitors or the M&C app as seen here (around 5:40):
?t=344
I'm also still holding on to the ZR for a bit. Understandably they're in totally different price brackets. But the ZR being branded a "cinema" camera and missing a lot of key things that are shipping with the FX5 is not a great look. Hopefully this lights a fire under them to get some major updates out in a reasonable time. ...Show more →
padam19 wrote:
Firmware 2.0 is slated for August 2027.
That's not 'soon'.
Some testers have been given early beta firmware to demo the 4K240, so the feature actually exists.
That, plus having a clear roadmap and specified target dates is more reassuring than what Nikon has done with the ZR, aside from almost a year of vague "BIG THINGS COMING SOON" type claims.
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ronno wrote:
I read you can record RAW at 24P or so on SD cards - as the Sony codecs are so efficient.
Above that frame rate you need CFExpress apparently.
Yes. You'll get some kind of warning that it's not "safe media" and write speeds might be slower, but early testers have reported it works. Up to 30fps I think(?).
Great to hear. This is the first time in a long time (maybe ever?) where most of the day 1 YouTube onslaught footage for a prosumer level camera looks this good. Truly remarkable looking quality from everything I have seen, dynamic range and colors look spectacular for a camera of this size. Few stand outs below:
