Sony FS7

The Sony FS7 is very similar to the F5 in terms of its performance and flexibility.

As a medium-quality camera, the Sony FS7 has a lower physical build quality than the high-end F5, but at a substantially lower cost it holds up well within its market. For crisp, clean, 4K picture quality on a limited budget this is probably the best camera for you.

Our Sony FS7’s have been put through their paces in run-and-gun documentary shoots as well as short films and promos. The accompanied Zacuto shoulder rig and grip arm, along with its light-weight build, make the Sony FS7 a comfortable camera for shoulder-mounted shoots. Equally, it’s versatile menu system enables the Sony FS7 to provide high picture quality, varied frame speed and also Pro Res recording with the XDCA extension unit. It’s also worth remembering that the Sony FS7 camera, like the F5, has crop sensor mode. This still gives you a full 1080p high-definition picture but enables you to use super 16 and B format broadcast lenses with the appropriate adapters. These give you a massively longer focal range than you could possibly get with super 35mm lenses.

The kit lens 28-135mm at F4 is not especially fast but surprisingly sharp, significantly sharper than Canon lenses through a speed booster. All the controls are servo, although you can use a follow focus with it without having to attach a gear as surprisingly it will mesh with the rubber grip, the ridges of which are the right spacing. In addition to the 28-135mm we have a range of native E Mount lenses which work well with the Sony FS7 camera.

The Sony FS7 reflects years of intense conversations we’ve had with documentary shooters. In response, we completely redesigned the grip, improved the viewfinder, optimized the balance and refined the ergonomics. Of course, the Sony FS7 also reflects Sony’s expertise in 4K and HD codecs, Super 35 sensors and memory recording. The result is the ideal camera for documentaries—and the optimum tool for magazine shows, reality TV, unscripted TV and more.

Shoulder mount comfort

without rigs—or rigmarole

It’s ironic that so-called affordable cameras need to be outfitted with expensive rigs, cages, hand grips and accessory viewfinders before they can be properly handheld. The Sony FS7 is different. It was designed from a clean sheet of paper to rest comfortably against your chest or sit well on your shoulder. Zoom, Start/Stop and Assign controls are carefully located on the sculpted, telescoping smart grip. Sony supplies a proper viewfinder that’s perfectly offset to the left with a huge range of fore-aft adjustment.

α mount flexibility

Sony’s α mount lens system offers unsurpassed compatibility with both Sony and third-party lenses. The Sony FS7’s E-Mount can take Cinema lenses and SLR lenses with a third party adaptor, as well as Sony’s E-mount and A-mount lenses. So whether buying new lenses, or making use of lenses you’ve already purchased, the Sony FS7 makes it easy.

You can purchase the Sony FS7 on its own (PXW-FS7) or with lens (PXW-FS7K).

For size, weight, price and exceptional performance in moving images, the Sony SELP28135G is the perfect partner for the PXW-FS7.

Motorized zoom empowers you with smoother moves than you could accomplish by hand.

Click-free iris ring enables split exposures and smooth adjustment, even during a shot.

Minimized “focus breathing” fights unwanted image magnification during a take.

Constant aperture eliminates “zoom ramping,” unwanted exposure changes during a zoom.

Sony’s Optical SteadyShot® image stabilization reduces the effects of camera shake.

FS5

Meticulous optical design maintains axial image consistency across the zoom range.

Internal focus and zoom mean the front of the lens does not extend, so it will not interfere with your matte box.

Advanced Aspherical elements achieve extraordinary optical refinement while reducing size, weight and complexity.

SELP28135G is supplied as standard with PXW-FS7K.

General

Mass Approx 2.0 kg (body only)

Approx. 4.5 kg (with Viewfinder, Eyepiece, Grip Remote Control, BP-U30 battery, SELP28135G LENS, an XQD memory card)

Dimensions (W x H x D) *1 156 x 239 x 247 mm (body without protrusions)

Power Requirements DC 12 V

Power Consumption Approx. 19W (while recording XAVC-I QFHD 59.94P, SELP28135G Lens, Viewfinder ON, not using external device)

Operating Temperature 0°C to 40°C

32°F to 104°F

Storage Temperature -20°C to +60°C

-4°F to +140°F

Battery Operating Time Approx. 1 hrs with BP-U30 battery (while recording XAVC-I QFHD 59.94P, SELP28135G Lens, Viewfinder ON, not using external device)

Approx. 2 hrs with BP-U60 battery while recording XAVC-I QFHD 59.94P, SELP28135G Lens, Viewfinder ON, not using external device)

Approx. 3 hrs with BP-U90 battery (while recording XAVC-I QFHD 59.94P, SELP28135G Lens, Viewfinder ON, not using external device)

Recording Format (Video) XAVC-I mode: 4K 59.94P VBR, bit rate 600Mbps, MPEG-4 H.264/AVC

XAVC-I mode: 4K 50P VBR, bit rate 500Mbps, MPEG-4 H.264/AVC

XAVC-I mode: 4K 29.97P VBR, bit rate 300Mbps, MPEG-4 H.264/AVC

XAVC-I mode: 4K 23.98P VBR, bit rate 240Mbps, MPEG-4 H.264/AVC

XAVC-I mode: 4K 25P VBR, bit rate 250Mbps, MPEG-4 H.264/AVC

Recording Format (Video) XAVC-I mode:QFHD 59.94P CBG, bit rate 600Mbps, MPEG-4 H.264/AVC

XAVC-I mode:QFHD 50P CBG, bit rate 500Mbps, MPEG-4 H.264/AVC

XAVC-I mode:QFHD 29.97P CBG, bit rate 300Mbps, MPEG-4 H.264/AVC

XAVC-I mode:QFHD 23.98P CBG, bit rate 240Mbps, MPEG-4 H.264/AVC

XAVC-I mode:QFHD 25P CBG, bit rate 250Mbps, MPEG-4 H.264/AVC

XAVC-I mode:HD 59.94P VBR, maximum bit rate 222Mbps, MPEG-4 H.264/AVC

XAVC-I mode:HD 50P VBR, maximum bit rate 185Mbps, MPEG-4 H.264/AVC

XAVC-I mode:HD 59.94i VBR, maximum bit rate 111Mbps, MPEG-4 H.264/AVC

XAVC-I mode:HD 50i VBR, maximum bit rate 112Mbps, MPEG-4 H.264/AVC

XAVC-I mode:HD 29.97P VBR, maximum bit rate 111Mbps, MPEG-4

Recording Format (Video) XAVC-L QFHD 59.94P/50P mode: VBR, maximum bit rate 150Mbps, MPEG-4 H.264/AVC

XAVC-L QFHD 29.97P/23.98P/25P mode: VBR, maximum bit rate 100Mbps, MPEG-4 H.264/AVC

XAVC-L HD 50 mode: VBR, maximum bit rate 50Mbps, MPEG-4 H.264/AVC

XAVC-L HD 35 mode: VBR, maximum bit rate 35Mbps, MPEG-4 H.264/AVC

XAVC-L HD 25 mode: VBR, maximum bit rate 25Mbps, MPEG-4 H.264/AVCMPEG HD422 mode: CBR, maximum bit rate 50Mbps, MPEG-2 422P@HL

Apple ProRes 422 HQ: VBR, maximum bit rate 220Mbps, 4:2:2 10 bit

ProRes 422*2

Apple ProRes 422: VBR, maximum bit rate 147Mbps, 4:2:2 10 bit

Recording Format (Audio) LPCM 24 bits, 48 kHz, 4 channels (Recording/Playback ONLY 2channels)

Recording Frame Rate XAVC-I QFHD mode: 3840×2160/ 59.94P, 50P, 29.97P, 23.98P, 25P

XAVC-I HD mode: 1920×1080/59.94P, 50P, 59.94i, 50i, 29.97P, 23.98P, 25PXAVC-L QFHD mode: 3840×2160/59.94P, 50P, 29.97P, 23.98P, 25P

XAVC-L HD 50 mode: 1920×1080/59.94P, 50P, 59.94i, 50i, 29.97P, 23.98P, 25P

XAVC-L 35 mode: 1920×1080/59.94P, 50P, 59.94i, 50i, 29.97P, 23.98P, 25P

XAVC-L 25 mode: 1920×1080/59.94i, 50iMPEG HD422 mode: 1920×1080/59.94i, 50i, 29.97P, 23.98P, 25P 1280×720/59.94P, 50P, 29.97P, 23.98P, 25P

Recording/Playback Time XAVC-I mode 4K/QFHD 59.94P

When using QD-G128A (128GB): Approx. 22 minutes,

When using QD-G64A (64GB): Approx. 11 minutes

XAVC-I mode 4K/QFHD 50P

When using QD-G128A (128GB): Approx. 26 minutes,

When using QD-G64A (64GB): Approx. 13 minutes

XAVC-I mode 4K/QFHD 29.97P

When using QD-G128A (128GB): Approx. 44 minutes,

When using QD-G64A (64GB): Approx. 22 minutes

PXW-FS7

Recording/Playback Time XAVC-I mode 4K/QFHD 23.98P

When using QD-G128A (128GB): Approx. 55 minutes,

When using QD-G64A (64GB): Approx. 27 minutes

XAVC-I mode 4K/QFHD 25P

When using QD-G128A (128GB): Approx. 52 minutes,

When using QD-G64A (64GB): Approx. 26 minutes

Recording/Playback Time ProRes 422 HQ*2

“ProRes 422 HQ

59.94i/29.97P mode

When using QD-G128A (128GB): Approx. 60 minutes,

When using QD-G64A (64GB): Approx. 30 minutes”

“ProRes 422 HQ

50i/25P mode

When using QD-G128A (128GB): Approx. 72 minutes,

When using QD-G64A (64GB): Approx. 36 minutes

ProRes 422 HQ

23.98P mode

When using QD-G128A (128GB): Approx. 74 minutes

When using QD-G64A (64GB): Approx. 37 minutes

Recording/Playback Time ProRes 422 HQ*2

ProRes 422

59.94i/29.97P mode

When using QD-G128A (128GB): Approx. 90 minutes

When using QD-G64A (64GB): Approx. 45 minutes

ProRes 422

50i/25P mode

When using QD-G128A (128GB): Approx. 108 minutes

When using QD-G64A (64GB): Approx. 54 minutes

ProRes 422

23.98P mode

When using QD-G128A (128GB): Approx. 112 minutes

When using QD-G64A (64GB): Approx. 56 minutes

Lens

Filter Diameter 90 mm

Focal Length 28mm to 135mm

Focus Internal

Iris Nine blades (circular perture) F/4 to F/22 (click or click-less)

Lens Mount Sony E-Mount

Zoom Ratio 4.8x

Note SEL-28135G 28-135mm lens is supplied as standard with PXW-FS7K model. PXW-FS7 model is supplied without lens.

Camera Section

Imaging Device (Type) Super35 type Single-chip Exmor CMOS

Effective Picture Elements 17:9 4096 (H) x 2160 (V)

16:9 3840 (H) x 2160 (V)

Built-in Optical Filters Clear, 1/4ND, 1/16ND, 1/64ND

Sensitivity (2000 lx, 89.9% reflectance) Video Gamma: T14 (3840 x 2160/23.98P mode 3200K)

ISO Sensitivity ISO 2000(S-Log3 Gamma D55 Light source)

Minimum Illumination 0.7 lx (+18dB,23.98P,Shutter OFF,ND Clear, F1.4)

S/N Ratio 57 dB (Y) (typical)

Shutter Speed 1/3 sec to 1/9,000 sec

Slow & Quick Motion Function XAVC-I mode 3840×2160: 1 to 60 frames (59.94P, 50P, 29.97P, 23.98P, 25P)

XAVC-I mode 1920×1080: 1 to 180 frames (59.94P, 29.97P, 23.98P)1 to 150 frames (50P,25P)

XAVC-L mode 3840×2160：1 to 60 frames (59.94P, 50P, 29.97P, 23.98P, 25P)

XAVC-L mode 1920×1080: 1 to 120 frames (59.94P, 50P, 29.97P, 23.98P, 25P)

White Balance Preset, Memory A, Memory B(1500K-50000K)/ATW

Gain -3, 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 dB, AGC

Gamma Curve STD,HG,User,S-log3

Input/Output

Audio Input XLR-type 3-pin (female) (x2), line/mic/mic +48 V selectable Mic Reference: -40, -50, -60dBu

SDI Output BNC(x2), switchable with 3G-SDI/HD-SDI

SMTPE292M/424M/425M

USB USB device, mini-B (x1)

Headphone Output Stereo mini jack (x1) -16dBu 16Ω

Speaker Output Monaural

DC Input DC jack

Remote Stereo mini-minijack (Φ2.5 mm)

HDMI Output Type A (x1)

Option 4-pin, Type A for W-LAN (x1)

Monitoring

Built-in LCD Monitor 8.8cm (3.5 type) Approx. 1.56M dots

Built-in Microphone

Built-in Microphone Omni-directional monoral electret condenser microphone.

Media

Type XQD Card slot(x2)

SD Card slot(x1) for saving configuration data

Supplied Accessories

Supplied Accessories Boyd Cap (1)

Viewfinder (1)

Eyepiece (1)

Grip Remote Control (1)

USB wireless LAN module IFU-WLM3 (1)

Wireless remote commander (1) (RMT-845)

WA Adaptor Bracket (1)

MPA-AC1 AC Adapter (1)

BC-U1 battery charger (1)

BP-U30 battery pack (1)

Power cord (2)

USB cable (1)

Operating Guide (2)

CD-ROM “Manuales for Solid-State Memory Camcorder” (1)

Notes

*1 The values for dimensions are approximate.

*2 ProRes requires optional extension unit ”XDCA-FS7”

Fashion and Freedom

Shot in and around SLV Studio 1 on 2x Sony FS7s with Canon 24-105mm lenses and Arri Alura 18-80mm lens.

dir: Marie Schuller

dop: Franklin Dow