Den from F-Stop Academy was lucky enough to be one of the first shooters to get his hands on the new NEX FS-100 camera from Sony, the little brother to the PMW-F3 camera (they reportedly share the same sensor). He’s posted an incredible 18-minute camera system walkthrough, behind the scenes footage, and a completed music video shot with the camera. Watch below.
Some key notes I took away from the video:
* Modular, chunky design with detachable handle, mic, and viewfinder.
* Top-mounted touch-screen LCD, fully swivelable (LCD doubles as viewfinder)
* Standard Sony L-Series 970 batts, Den said they got 7hrs on a single batt
* Proper camera controls and menus similar to EX-series.
* Accessible hard-button for Slow & Quick Motion, 50p and 60p capability.
* SD media, Memorystick, and the HXR-FMU128…a 128GB Sony SSD (w/ 10hrs record time).
* Super35-sized CMOS sensor, Den estimates sensitivity at around 800 ISO
* Format is AVCHD 24-28Mbit/s
* HDMI output @ 4:2:2 (8-bit)
I’ve also quickly skimmed Nigel Cooper’s review of the NEX FS100E, and he’s noted some interesting things as well:
* No built-in ND filters (due to short flange distance?)
* Around 780 lines resolution on the chart
* Clean image, less aliasing than Panasonic’s AF101
* Plastic-feeling build quality and small buttons, wobbly handgrip (issues due to pre-production camera?)
* Weight is 1.04 kg body, or 2.66 kg w/ batt, kit lens, viewfinder and grip
* Recording frame rates: HD PS (28Mbps) 1920×1080/50p, HD FX (24Mbps) 1920×1080/50i, HD FH (17Mbps) 1920×1080/50i, HD HQ (9Mbps) 1440×1080/50i, HD LP (5Mbps) 1440×1080/50i, HD FX (24Mbps) 1920×1080/25p, HD FH (17Mbps) 1920×1080/25p, HD FX (24Mbps) 1280×720/50p, HD FH (17Mbps) 1280×720/50p, SD/STD HQ (9Mbps) 720×576/50i
* E-Mount, current lens lineup includes: 16mm F2.8, 18-55 F3.5-5.6 and 18-200 F3.5-6.3
* E-mount can be adapted to A-Mount with LA-EA1 adapter, retaining electronic lens functions. Also third-party adapters for PL, Nikon and Canon FD
I’ll have more thoughts on this camera after I get a chance to more thoroughly look over Nigel’s and other reviews. Crews.tv has a few more stills of the camera and further thoughts.