Sony HDR-FX7 or FX1? And then the housing…

Hi guys,

I’m looking to upgrade from my beloved but blatantly out-of-date setup to the world of HD, and could use some advice how best to spend my hard earned pennies…

I’m going to be shooting in a variety of locations including the UK and Red Sea, mostly for DVD production but possibly for broadcast at some point in the future. I have around a £5000 (I think that’s around $10,000) budget and want to get the right setup for that sort of money.

Important things are low light sensitivity and as adaptable a rig as possible.

So I’ve been checking out the forums and narrowed it down to the Sony FX1 or FX7. Both seem to turn out at around £5000 by the time you throw in the camera, housing, port, lighting, etc. I’d really like an LCD monitor as well.

From what I can gather, the FX7 is smaller, lighter and cheaper, but suffers from poorer low-light performance, whereas the FX1 is bigger and more expensive but you get more pro features for your money?

Then the housings; the Amphibico Endeavor for the FX7 looks sweet with a decent standard dome port, integrated LCD back-mounted monitor (is this bad? is top-mount better?) and a flip filter or diopter. But the Gates housing looks nice also (like mechanical controls after using my Ikelite for so long) but the standard dome port seems not worth it and the super-wide port is almost as much as the camera! As for the FX1, the Bluefin HD housing seems the way to go with flip filter AND diopter, but the standard dome port looks not up to much either…

Recommendations? Suggestions? What’s setup should I go for with my budget?

Hi Dave,

Welcome to the turmoil that is wetpixel..

If you spend a bit of time trawlling through these threads you will see a lot of your questions answered.

Different people, same dilemma

Dive safe

DeanB

Dave, as Dean says there is loads on the forum about this. Check out the recent Amphibico vs Gates FX7 thread. And prepare for your head to be done in by a very difficult choice indeed.

integrated LCD back-mounted monitor (is this bad? is top-mount better?

I think this partly depends how good your eyes are. I got along OK with an L&M Stingray which has a monitor back, but on the other hand I'm starting to feel my Gates 2.5" top mount monitor is slightly too close to me when i'm really trying to judge focus. Monitor back is more compact if you like to get into crannies. Top mounted can be better for heads-up shooting of pelagics.

As for the FX1, the Bluefin HD housing seems the way to go with flip filter AND diopter, but the standard dome port looks not up to much either…

As far as I know there is no standard dome port. The Bluefin ship with a flat port which you should only really think of as a macro port. You will be frustrated by it's field of view for anything else. The 80 degree wide angle port is plano-concave (flat on the front and concave on the back) and is excellent. I think of this as the "standard" port. The 100 degree super wide angle port is rather expensive and can give some distortion around the edges although Shawnh has got some nice results with it.

Hi Dave

Welcome to Wetpixel

From what I can gather, the FX7 is smaller, lighter and cheaper, but suffers from poorer low-light performance, whereas the FX1 is bigger and more expensive but you get more pro features for your money?

FX7 is very well featured. With the 20X zoom and a few other features the FX1 doesn't have, I wouldn't say the FX7 is that deficient feature wise. Is the 2/3 to 3/4 stop increase in sensitivity(depending on who you believe) worth the extra size, weight and cost?

Important things are low light sensitivity and as adaptable a rig as possible.

You may wish to consider the Canon XH series as well. As good as the FX1 in low light but better resolution and color. The only real limitation is housings, only Gates makes one for the XH.

Hi Dave Alden!

I was in the exact same situation at the start of the year. I shot with a TRV950 SD in L & M Bluefin. I couldn't decide between FX7 and FX1. The facility of HDMI out on the FX7 was good for me, but in the end I went for the FX1 due to better low light performance over the FX7 and the housings were established. Remember, everything is new on the FX7 front and not many shooters yet. The controls on the L & M are great and the window allowing you to view the monitor saves you the cost of an external monitor, plus you get manual white balance, rather than electronic. Debateable which is better, but i like the manual one touch over electronic. The gates housing on the FX7 does give you one touch white balance however.

According to other forums the lux level between the fx and the V1 is debatable because of the extra controls etc on the V1.. Alot of Ex FX1 users switching to the V1..

Just a thought

Dive safe

DeanB

Oh the turmoil. the anguish Dean must be going through.

To sum it up, all of the sub $8k 3 sensor cameras right now are pretty good. Each has their strength and weaknesses. None of them are so bad that it loses out significantly. Just depends on what your list of priorities. Write down what is important for you and the right camera is out there.

For underwater, any of these cameras work well. Lowlight is important but how often do you shoot natural light at 25+m in 10m viz where the 1 or 2 lux shows the noise difference. And if the subject is that rare, noisy or not, getting the shot is better than not getting it.

It's not an easy choice until you have a list of priorities, then the light comes much easier. Good luck.

No turmoil..Just trying to help with info from different sources...

I'm getting a red anyway...

Dive safe

DeanB

Thanks, that's a lot of useful information. I think I have more options to consider now than I did before! Priority list, here I come...

Oh the turmoil. the anguish Dean must be going through.

 

To sum it up, all of the sub $8k 3 sensor cameras right now are pretty good. Each has their strength and weaknesses. None of them are so bad that it loses out significantly. Just depends on what your list of priorities. Write down what is important for you and the right camera is out there.

For underwater, any of these cameras work well. Lowlight is important but how often do you shoot natural light at 25+m in 10m viz where the 1 or 2 lux shows the noise difference. And if the subject is that rare, noisy or not, getting the shot is better than not getting it.

It's not an easy choice until you have a list of priorities, then the light comes much easier. Good luck.

DeanB: You're getting a RED?!?!? A professor of mine just went to the recent NAB show in Vegas and they had a functioning model of it, plus she has seen TWO short films already shot with it and says it is just amazing....DAMN, I just bought that FX1 and L&M!!!!!! Think I could modify the L&M to fit the RED? A bit of Duct tape, perhaps?

So I’ve been checking out the forums and narrowed it down to the Sony FX1 or FX7. Both seem to turn out at around £5000 by the time you throw in the camera, housing, port, lighting, etc. I’d really like an LCD monitor as well.

Even though the FX-7 is a bit smaller, and a bit cheaper, the features of the FX-1 make up for the shortcomings. Low light ability on the FX-7 are worse, due to the smaller lens (62mm v. 72mm) and the smaller imaging chips. The CMOS imaging chips are supposed to be better in good light, but the size of the CCD chips in the FX-1 give better low light performance. Also, why the 4:3 aspect CMOS imaging chips in the FX-7? That would seem to negate some of the improved resolution. The FX-1 is native 16:9. I know the FX-1 is a little larger and slightly more expensive, but I think it would be worthwhile.

Good luck!

Max

One problem is that, unless Ron has got his Gates housing, none of us posting here have taken the FX7 underwater. The low light performance may not be a problem. It certainly behaved surprisingly well above water in moonlight conditions on my recent safari. The significantly lower combined weight of the camera and housing of the FX7 must also be taken into account.

Gates & Aquavideo are shipping, Amphibico are saying "this month".

So we will have to wait and see.

Roger

Other topside forums from Pro's have suggested the Low light difference is very slight. But the blacks in the V1 are better in the way of a less grainy picture.

But as Roger said we will have to wait and see. The proof is in the tasting...

Dive safe

Dean(stop kidding yourselves fx1 users)B

Don't hold your breath waiting for me. Gates is delayed another week. Even after I get it, I won't be shooting anything worthwhile until my August trip.

GASP !!!!

Thanks for telling me I was turning blue...

Dive safe

DeanB