American Cinematographer - February 2017 - 84

New Products & Services
Sony Enhances FS7 Camera
Sony has expanded its FS Series Super 35mm professional
family with the addition of the FS7
II camcorder. The new model
builds on the original FS7's
strengths by adding
advanced
features
including
Electronic
Variable ND technology,
a lever-lock-type Emount, and a new
mechanical design for faster and
easier setup. The new FS7 II camcorder also supports Sony's
Alpha Mount System, which includes more than 70 lenses.
The FS7 II is designed for long-form shooting and production applications, especially documentaries and independent
features. Sony has also introduced an FS7 II kit model, which
includes a new E-mount Super 35mm lens (model SELP18110G)
that covers Super 35mm and APSC sensors.
The camcorder's Electronic Variable ND Filter system,
combined with its large sensor, delivers greater exposure control,
with the option of preset or variable operation modes. Variable
ND mode allows the user to vary the density of the ND filter
during shooting and to transition seamlessly between steps. The
camera's expanded ND operations also enable fine exposure
adjustment by relegating the iris to set the depth of field,
prevent soft focus caused by diffraction, and prevent color shift
caused by stacking multiple external ND filters. Preset mode,
useful in selecting the most appropriate filtration range for
changing light conditions, lets users assign three ND settings to
the filter turret. Auto ND mode is also available, allowing exposure to stay at a fixed level while adjusting the depth of field with
iris control.
The FS7 II's new E-mount gives users the ability to change
lenses by rotating the locking collar rather than the lens itself.
This means that in most cases lens-support rigs don't need to be
removed, saving time during a production.
The FS7 II also features several design updates for
comfortable and functional use in the field. The camera's "toolless" mechanical design lets users make on-the-fly changes to
the camera's setup and operation; for example, no tools are
required to adjust the Smart Grip or viewfinder positions. The
viewfinder eyepiece provides a third stabilizing contact point
when shooting handheld; durable square section rods and leverclamps on the LCD and camera body provide simple and precise
front-to-back VF adjustment while retaining level positioning.
The new E-mount Super 35mm lens available with the
FS7 II kit model is compact and lightweight, weighing only 2.4
84

February 2017

* SUBMISSION INFORMATION *
Please e-mail New Products/Services releases to
newproducts@ascmag.com and include full contact
information and product images. Photos must be
TIFF or JPEG files of at least 300dpi.

pounds. The 6x zoom, with an 18-110 focal range, uses a new,
fully mechanical/servo zoom switchable system that is capable of
snap zooms and entirely devoid of lag. The lens is compatible
with Sony's Alpha Mount System cameras, including the a7
series interchangeable-lens cameras and professional Super
35mm 4K camcorders such as Sony's FS7 or FS5.
The lens benefits from Sony's Smooth Motion Optics
design, which is developed to optimize performance during
motion-image capture. This lens design eliminates undesirable
characteristics and artifacts that do not affect still-image capture
but can severely limit a lens' usefulness for motion shooting,
such as ramping, loss of focus while zooming, breathing, and
optical axis shift.
The FS7 II supports the XQD memory-card format,
designed for capturing and transferring high-bandwidth, highresolution files. Sony has also introduced the QD-G256E XQD
card - with a 256GB capacity - which enables a recording
time of approximately 45 minutes at 4K 60p and 3.5 hours at
2K 30p. Combined with a read speed of up to 440MB/s and a
write speed of up to 400MB/s, users can shoot for longer without needing to change media cards.
For additional information, visit www.sony.com/fs7ii.
Arri Introduces Master Grips
Expanding its range of Electronic Control System accessories, Arri has announced four new Master Grip handgrips,
which offer fingertip control of Arri and third-party cameras and
lenses when shooting handheld.
Increasingly, the previously separate worlds of cine
and documentary equipment
are merging; additionally, small
cameras like the Alexa Mini
feature a reduced user interface, requiring external
camera controls. Responding
to these trends, Arri's Master
Grips combine effective
camera stabilization with
comprehensive lens and
camera control. Lightweight and built to Arri's quality standards,
the Master Grips are available in four versions: right-side and
left-side grips, with either a rocker for super-smooth zooming or
a thumb wheel for iris or focus adjustments.
Based on the classic Arriflex handgrips, the Master Grips
follow a proven ergonomic design. With controls that are easy
to reach but still protected from accidental triggering, they allow
for prolonged handheld operating without discomfort or strain.

American Cinematographer

http://www.sony.com/fs7ii

American Cinematographer - February 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Cinematographer - February 2017