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  • Introduction

  • Lens & Imaging System

  • Front

  • Right

  • Back

  • Left

  • Compression

  • Media

  • Auto Mode

  • Zoom

  • Focus

  • Exposure

  • Aperture

  • Shutter Speed

  • White Balance

  • Gain

  • Color & Image Controls

  • Other Manual Controls

  • Ease of Use

  • Handling

  • Portability

  • LCD & Viewfinder

  • Audio Features

  • Connectivity

  • Conclusion

  • Photo Gallery

  • Specs

  • Introduction
  • Lens & Imaging System
  • Front
  • Right
  • Back
  • Left
  • Compression
  • Media
  • Auto Mode
  • Zoom
  • Focus
  • Exposure
  • Aperture
  • Shutter Speed
  • White Balance
  • Gain
  • Color & Image Controls
  • Other Manual Controls
  • Ease of Use
  • Handling
  • Portability
  • LCD & Viewfinder
  • Audio Features
  • Connectivity
  • Conclusion
  • Photo Gallery
  • Specs

Introduction

The NEX-FS700 is the clear successor to the Sony NEX-FS100, but the new model truly ups the ante. Sony also upped the price, as the FS700 is expected to retail for around $10,000 dollars. Last year's NEX-FS100, on the other hand, can be found at roughly half that price.

Lens & Imaging System

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The FS700 has an E-mount lens system that allows it to use interchangeable lenses from Sony's NEX line. This means the camcorder will work with the same lenses as Sony's mirrorless NEX cameras (the NEX-3, NEX-5, NEX-C3, NEX-5N, and NEX-7), as well as Sony's interchangeable lens Handycams (the NEX-VG10 and NEX-VG20), not to mention the NEX-FS700's predecessor (the NEX-FS100). While Sony's list of E-mount lenses is still in the process of growing, you can purchase lens adapters (usually at a low cost) to expand the FS700's compatibility beyond the NEX line. You can even buy an A-mount lens adapter directly from Sony for $199. The NEX-FS700 will be available with an 18-200mm kit lens (the lens shown in the photo above), or you may purchase the body only.

The image sensor on the FS700 got a big upgrade over the CMOS chip featured on last year's FS100. Sony calls the new sensor a "4K Exmor Super 35" CMOS imager, and it comes loaded with a whopping 11.6 megapixels. For HD video, the effective pixel count is 8.4 megapixels (enough to produce a 4K image), and the camcorder can even capture 7.1-megapixel still images.

Front

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Back

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Left

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Compression

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For recording Full HD video, the NEX-FS700 uses the AVCHD compression system. The camcorder also has the option of recording standard definition video using the MPEG-2 codec. When recording Full HD, the FS700 can use 60p, 50p, 60i, 24p, 25p, or 30p frame rates—all with embedded time code and audio. You can also output Full HD video directly using the 3G HD-SDI terminal with native 23.98, 25, and 29.97 progressive frame rates.

Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of different compression types.

There's also the presence of high-speed frame rates that produce what Sony calls "Super Slow Motion" video. You can record Full HD video with 120fps or 240fps frame rates that will produce video 5 or 10 times as slow as traditional 24p recording. There are also 480fps and 960fps options that are available at lower resolutions (Sony didn't have the official resolution specs for these frame rates).

You likely know by now that Sony is touting the NEX-FS700 as a "4K camcorder", but the camcorder won't be able to output 4K video until Sony provides a firmware upgrade. Sony claims this upgrade will enable the camcorder to output a 4K bitstream over the 3G HD-SDI terminal with an optional Sony 4K recorder. When this firmware upgrade becomes available, the Sony NEX-FS700 will position itself as the direct competition to Canon's new 4K model—the EOS C500 digital cinema camera. The difference is the Canon retails for three times as much as the Sony (a whopping $30,000).

Media

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The NEX-FS700 is equipped with a single SD memory card slot that works with SDHC/SDXC memory cards as well as Sony's Memory Stick cards. You can record Full HD video directly to this card, but you will not be able to record 4K video in this manner (4K output will only be available with the 3G HD-SDI terminal).

Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of different media types.

Sony's HXR-FMU128 flash memory unit will also be compatible with the NEX-FS700. This recording unit attaches directly to the back of the camcorder and gives you 128GB of flash memory to work with. The unit is available from a variety of retailers for around $670 dollars.

Auto Mode

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Unlike the Canon C500, which does not include an autofocus feature, the Sony NEX-FS700 has an autofocus function as well as a dedicated auto mode switch on the back of the camcorder. Flipping the switch to auto allows the camcorder to function with automatic exposure controls (shutter, aperture, and gain), but you can still set focus manually if you wish. There's a separate auto/manual focus switch up front (near the lens) that changes how focus is controlled. Since the FS700 has an interchangeable lens system, only specific lenses will function smoothly with the camcorder's autofocus and auto aperture control.

Zoom

Focus

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We said before that the FS700 does have an autofocus mechanism on the camcorder and it also has a face detection function. But, if you're a pro, it's likely that you'll be using manual focus at least part of the time with the FS700. The kit lens we worked with featured a solid focus ring that offered smooth and precise focus adjustment. To assist with manual focus, the FS700 has peaking features and 4x or 8x magnification assist as well.

Exposure

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In addition to control over aperture, shutter speed, and gain (ISO), the FS700 is equipped with a new neutral density (ND) filter system. The new design puts three ND filters on a wheel that rotates across the sensor "like a turret", according to Sony. The ND filter switch is located at the very front of the camcorder (just behind the lens mount), and has options for 1/4 (2 stops), 1/16 (4 stops), and 1/64 (6 stops) reductions.

In the control area near the back of the camcorder (on the left side) there are a few dedicated buttons that assist you with exposure control. One button brings up a histogram display and anther shows zebra patterns to point out overexposed areas within the frame.

Aperture

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A control wheel near the front of the camcorder controls the aperture (iris) when a compatible lens is attached to the FS700. The dial isn't huge and we weren't in love with the way it felt when we rotated it. We would have liked to see a larger dial than this for controlling aperture (same goes with shutter speed).

Shutter Speed

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The shutter speed dial is much like the iris dial we mentioned above, except the shutter speed dial is located near the rear of the camcorder and it is used to adjust a number of different controls. This is another dial we wish was larger, and we wish the camcorder had a dedicated dial solely for shutter speed. Although, the camcorder is already cluttered with buttons and controls, so it is possible that an extra dial would just make things more cramped.

White Balance

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To make it easy to switch between two white balance presets, the Sony FS700 is equipped with a white balance switch. If you've used a professional camcorder before, then you'll probably recognize this kind of switch. It is used all the time on pro and semi-pro models. Behind this switch is a manual white balance button and above it is a dedicated white balance button that lets you quickly access white balance presets and controls.

Gain

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Next to the white balance button is a Gain/ISO button that lets you adjust the gain control on the FS700. The range on the camcorder goes from 0dB (ISO 500) to 30dB (ISO 16000), and you can set gain presets that are quickly accessible via a gain switch. There are three preset options (low, medium, and high), so if you're repeatedly moving from dim indoor to bright outdoor light you can quickly switch from one gain level to another without having to go through an extensive menu system.

Color & Image Controls

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More advanced controls are found in Sony's Picture Profile settings, which let you manipulate and save your shooting settings. You can save up to 99 camera profiles to a memory card, which you can then share with other Sony camcorders to make sure your entire team is on the same page.

There's also a dedicated S & Q button that brings up a quick menu of speed and quality settings for your recording. We're happy to see a real button that helps with this kind of adjustment, as we hate digging through the menu to change things like this.

Other Manual Controls

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The high-speed recording options on the FS700 are probably the camcorder's most fascinating features. In addition to being able to choose from 120fps, 240fps, 480fps, and 960fps frame rates, you can also select when you want the camcorder to begin recording your slow motion clips. By this we mean you can select the recording to begin before, in the middle, or after you press the record button. Since the slow motion modes only allow for 8-second (240fps) or 16-second (120fps) bursts, this "pre-record" feature helps ensure you capture the action sequence you're looking for.

Ease of Use

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The Sony FS700 has more auto controls and features than some of the competition (like the Canon C500 and C300), but its boxy design and cramped button layout don't make for a very simple user experience. We didn't like the small aperture control dial, nor were we impressed with the shutter speed dial that doubles as an adjustment wheel for all sorts of things (including menu navigation). The customizable buttons on the left side of the camcorder are well labeled, and we loved some of the dedicated controls here, but we found it very difficult to access these buttons on the fly. Maybe the camcorder's design is just different than what we're used to, but it felt like controls weren't arranged properly for us to find them without taking our eyes away from the viewfinder.

Handling

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Without a lens, the FS700 looks like an extremely awkward camcorder. The back portion is shaped like a box and covered with buttons, and in front of this is a large, rounded barrel that houses the image sensor, ND filter, and lens mount. This boxy shape isn't ergonomically designed, but Sony includes with the camcorder an impressive (and removable) "active grip" that attaches to the right side of the FS700. This grip, which comes with a plush hand strap, has four buttons that give you quick access to important controls: a focus rocker, auto aperture push, still image capture, and a start/stop record button. We don't think the photo shutter button is necessary here, and we would have liked to see Sony incorporate some more important buttons—like a menu button—on this grip.

Still, we do really like the hand grip and we like all the possibilities the grip presents. At NAB we saw the FS700 outfitted with light shoulder supports and simple arm extenders that let you bring the grip away from the camcorder so you can use it more like a traditional shoulder-mounted device. The grip can rotate to accommodate different shooting modes and you can even remove it completely if you don't want it in the way when the camcorder is mounted to a tripod. Like the grip mount, the handlebar on the top of the FS700 is also detachable. It stays in place by sliding into the cold shoe on the top of the camcorder and is secured by a pair of screws.

We found the FS700's menu system easy to read and fairly simple to navigate, and we were thankful to see so many dedicated buttons offering quick access to important controls on the camcorder. Unfortunately, we weren't all that comfortable with the FS700's button layout and adjustment systems for aperture and shutter speed, but this is a camcorder with a fairly unique design, so it may be that we simply aren't used to this layout.

Portability

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Sony hasn't released full weight and size specs for the new NEX-FS700, but representatives from the company told us it was marginally heavier and an inch or so larger than its predecessor, the NEX-FS100. The FS100 ran at 2.3 pounds (1040g) body only, which is fairly light for a professional camcorder. Of course, it seems we've been uttering that line all week here at NAB—practically every new pro model that hits the market is "fairly light" compared to previous years.

LCD & Viewfinder

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Instead of including a separate viewfinder and LCD on the FS700, Sony opted to include a viewfinder tube that attaches to the front of the camcorder's 3.5-inch LCD in order to allow users to switch back and forth between the two. This feature won't work well if you love to quickly switch between LCD and EVF shooting, but it does save space and can make the FS700 more portable.

The 3.5-inch LCD flips upward near the back of the camcorder, and the panel conceals the FS700's various audio controls when closed. We found the viewfinder tube did get in the way of the audio controls at times when it was attached, so you may have difficulty adjusting audio on the fly (but that's probably not recommended anyway). We weren't in love with the way the LCD sat at the back of the FS700, as its position didn't always feel comfortable when we held the camcorder. The viewfinder tube works much better, and lines up with your eye very well, when holding the FS700 with its right-side hand grip.

Audio Features

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The FS700 comes with a removable shotgun microphone that attaches to the tip of the camcorder's (also removable) handlebar. There are dual XLR inputs located near the front of the camcorder as well, and a headphone jack is located at the back of the camcorder.

To find all the audio controls and switches you must flip open the LCD panel on the back of the camcorder. Upon opening it you'll find a substantial set of controls that are otherwise hidden when the panel is closed. We found the viewfinder tube did get in the way of the controls at times (depending on the angle of the viewfinder), but the controls were easily accessible when the LCD was used without the tube attached.

Connectivity

Conclusion

If recording 4K video is what your heart desires, the Sony NEX-FS700 may be able to help you out. The camcorder can't officially record 4K video yet, but Sony claims the model is "4K ready", and all that stands in the way is a simple firmware upgrade to enable 4K output via the FS700's 3G HD-SDI port.

With an expected retail price of around $10,000 dollars, the Sony NEX-FS700 is actually priced competitively in the 4K camcorder market. At $5000, the JVC GY-HMQ10 is a cheaper option, but its 4K workflow solution is downright silly (it requires the use of four SDHC memory cards simultaneously). Then there are the RED Digital Cinema camcorders, which cost an upward of $15 grand before you count the cost of all the necessary add-ons. The Canon C500, which was announced at NAB right on the heels of the Sony FS700, has an expected retail price of $30,000 according to preliminary reports. All of these products are significantly cheaper than Sony's other 4K option—the F65 CineAlta camcorder—that is available for the princely sum of $65,000.

Concern about Sony's hazy details involving the NEX-FS700's 4K firmware upgrade are warranted, as Sony has yet to announce a solid date or plan for executing this upgrade. But when the upgrade does become available, the NEX-FS700 should position itself as one of the most affordable ways to shoot 4K. This capability, along with the FS700's intriguing slow motion record modes and E-mount interchangeable lens system, make us feel like this is a product well worth Sony's $10,000 asking price. But we can't say this for sure until we see its 4K ability in action—and that may not be for a while.

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Specs

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Meet the tester

Jeremy Stamas

Jeremy Stamas

Managing Editor, Video

@nematode9

Jeremy is the video expert of our imaging team and Reviewed.com's head of video production. Originally from Pennsylvania and upstate NY, he graduated from Bard college with a degree in film and electronic media. He has been living and working in New England since 2005.

See all of Jeremy Stamas's reviews

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