The Perfect Sony FS5 II Setup
For the past month and a half, I’ve been going back and forth on using different tools for shooting stills and video. The Nikon D7100 with the Cineflat color profile, then the Canon 5D Mark IV without C-Log. While this has been great for very quick run and gun video, some projects have a need for a higher production value. When it came time to chose a camera that could be small, but powerful, flexible to most situations. After narrowing it down to a few bodies, one choice became glaringly obvious.
The Sony FS5 II takes an already impressive feature set from the first model and gives you everything right out of the box. Multiple record triggers across the body and handle, space for huge batteries and super light weight. With the E Mount being so adaptable, using EF-to-E mount adapters opens the amount of available lenses to use with the camera. This includes Canon EF cameras, and Sigma EF lenses mounted on the Sigma MC-11 adapter. For very quick setup, I use the 18-105mm f/4 Power Zoom lens from Sony. It allows me to use the zoom rocker on the handles to frame my shot, something I would have to do manually with other lenses.
One of the most important features that this camera has is its RAW output over SDI. SDI is a broadcast level cable connection that allows RAW recording on the FS5 II to an external recorder, such as the Atomos Shogun Inferno. Recording in RAW, much like in shooting in RAW, provides a much greater opportunity to edit footage in post-processing. With SDI out from the FS5 II into the Shogun Inferno, it’s possible to record in cinema resolution and color formats.
For audio, I’m using the RODE NTG1 Condenser Mic hooked up to the XLR 2 input on the front of the camera. It gives me super clean audio that I can work with in post.