Sony A7s 4k with Atomos Shogun in a prototype housing

Eric Cheng has uploaded 4k test clip from the Sony A7s using the Atomos Shogun in a prototype Nauticam housing. No pics of the housing but the very short clip does show the prowess of the A7s, which is arguably the best low light camera there is now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrUsyMbKx20

You can also download the short clip from Vimeo:

Vimeo 4k download

Nice!

Finally a working housing with the Shogun and A7s.Even more remarkable is that the housing prototype was ready before the Atomos Shogun recorder. I finally got mine Shogun and I can't wait to get the housing. I hope the final version is not too bulky. Both A7s and Gh4 housing are nice and compact.

I have been shooting the A7s for a few months in just HD along with the Gh4. Gh4 has been fantastic with in camera 4k which is comparable to Canon 1Dc as the only DSLR type camera that could do that. I was dying to see the Ultra HD footage compared with the Gh4. The low light ability and DR of the A7s is just remarkable even at 8bit 422. Interesting days for UW video shooters.

Interested to hear what size battery the housing will fit. I'm finding the supplied battery flattens very quickly.

Sony A7s with Nauticam Shogun prototype from Cristian Dimitrius facebook page http://www.facebook.com/cdimitrius

Looks like it has room for a larger battery than the one that came with the Shogun?

The little battery that came with the Shogun is not going to last long in a dive. I am using the Sony NP F970 with the Shogun on land. The monitor is pretty power hungry. More so if using spinning disc and raid. Good thing is that the Shogun has many options for batteries including cine batteries with D-tap.

Tested mine with Samsung 850 pro SSD with 1 TB. Works No need to limit to Scandisk Pro SSDs. Samsung is so confident that this SSD will run and run they offered 10 years warranty!

The little battery that came with the Shogun is not going to last long in a dive. I am using the Sony NP F970 with the Shogun on land. The monitor is pretty power hungry. More so if using spinning disc and raid. Good thing is that the Shogun has many options for batteries including cine batteries with D-tap.

Tested mine with Samsung 850 pro SSD with 1 TB. Works No need to limit to Scandisk Pro SSDs. Samsung is so confident that this SSD will run and run they offered 10 years warranty!

What sort of recording time are you getting with the NP-F970 battery? I flattened the standard battery just by playing around with the settings options, although I tried most of the options.. In Aus the SanDisk Pro also comes with a 10 year warranty, before which time it will be either be lost, flooded or superseded.

edit for spelling

NP-F970 last over two hours. I was not recordiing all the time. Looking at other alternatives. the F970 sticks out quite a bit.

Harder to find SanDisk Pro in Singapore. Samsung seems to dominate and found in most electronic stores. Yeah I was wondering about the 10 years warranty. In two years never mind ten we will be using 3D holographic NanD chip with Peta bytes

I want to know how the manual white balance works on the a7s. I've heard that it isn't good....but nobody with first hand experience.

" I've heard that it isn't good...."

I guess you have to define "isn't good" . If you mean consistancy then no. If you mean the the Sony sensor is not providing good colour then that is not true. This is one sensor from Sony that is good for UW. The low light ability and full sensor readout definitely played a part. On the other hand It is difficult to get consistent UW back ground colour. Any UW video camera for that matter. Especially when combined with video lights.

I have used the A7s for two trips now. For ambient light at the shallows with out video light AWB works. MWB also works well.

If you follow Peter's thread he did a sterling job with some UW light filters and the MBW will at least be more consistant with back ground colour:

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=54683

I am hoping to get a prototype or full production housing for the Shogun. From top side tests this combo is really nice. You could practically shoot in total darkness with a lit match and the scene is still looked okay. Not many Camcorder or DSLR can do that like A7s yet.

Cheers

David

" I've heard that it isn't good...."

 

I guess you have to define "isn't good" . If you mean consistancy then no. If you mean the the Sony sensor is not providing good colour then that is not true. This is one sensor from Sony that is good for UW. The low light ability and full sensor readout definitely played a part. On the other hand It is difficult to get consistent UW back ground colour. Any UW video camera for that matter. Especially when combined with video lights.

 

I have used the A7s for two trips now. For ambient light at the shallows with out video light AWB works. MWB also works well.

 

If you follow Peter's thread he did a sterling job with some UW light filters and the MBW will at least be more consistant with back ground colour:

 

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=54683

 

I am hoping to get a prototype or full production housing for the Shogun. From top side tests this combo is really nice. You could practically shoot in total darkness with a lit match and the scene is still looked okay. Not many Camcorder or DSLR can do that like A7s yet.

 

Cheers

David

Thanks David. I will be curious to see how the WB compares specifically to Canon. Which imo is pretty good at the MWB. It really is a shame. The Sony A7s looks to be a good camera, and with the shogun, eliminates the issue of internal 4k recording. I could live with the metabones adaptor to use the Canon glass I have. But the MWB is kind of a show stopper, as I am not a fan of wide angle with lights (if not needed).

How is the blue water banding on it?

I would like to stick with Canon, but they are not moving at the speed that I would like. A 1DC like dslr should have been released by now, and if there was one in the $3k range, I would buy one tomorrow. Rumors for a 4k from canon are out there....but you never know with them trying to protect their cinema line. I also like the full frame sensor. Which is why the sony is disappointing.

Which brings me to the GH4. Which looks like a capable camera, but I am still not sold on it. The video I have seen has been nice, but I wouldn't say it is better than what my old 5dII produces....I still prefer the looks of the canon. Heck, I think some canon footage looks better than RED footage. Of course alot has to do with post color grading etc...

Dustin

I am missing the 5diii in some situations. Especially with Magic Lantern installed. However I have sold them. Not regretting getting the A7s. It suited my needs.

The 1Dc is dropping in price. Around 7k. Used market about 4k. I am very tempted. Then there is the C300.

The GH4 is an all rounder. I am happy with it too.

All the cameras I mentioned could do fantastic stuff. Just depends on what you prefer really.

I think this is the time when shooters really just go out and shoot and make great stories.

Cheers

David

Hi dear all,

As far as I concern with Shogun now, is the battery life. I did search the Atomos forum and one of the link come up with the reply from Atomos :

"The Shogun's final power draw ended up being more significant that originally expected. This is why you're getting shorter than expected battery life, and we're currently looking into ways we can solve this for current and future customers. Keep an eye out for updates. The charger should go to green-red after about 5 hours of charging. It sounds like yours is not behaving normally and I'd like to send you a replacement. Please send me your address and we'll get one out to you.".

I am doing some test with the Atomos charger and 3rd party dual battery charger, see if there is any different with the battery life ended up.

But it is so annoying with the low battery warning started just 15 minutes after start recording, then the battery can run for another 30-45 minutes.

For land use, you simply swap another battery, but for underwater use, this is just make me mad.

I just wish Nauticam can see this problem and give us a bigger battery room for NP970 to install.

Lastly, I am so lucky to buy the 512G Transcend SSD, that the SSD do not run, unless you switch the Shogun on first, before you insert the master caddy.

Actually this is the known issue for Shogun already, but I don't see that on their SSD check list before I brought the SSD.

Wait for the update, or buy another SSD instead !!!!! Poor me.

Cheers

Edmond

Hi Edmond! Long time no see!

Look forward to seeing your results!

Still using your GH4 and BMPCC? (And Ninja2)?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I am missing the 5diii in some situations. Especially with Magic Lantern installed. However I have sold them. Not regretting getting the A7s. It suited my needs.

 

The 1Dc is dropping in price. Around 7k. Used market about 4k. I am very tempted. Then there is the C300.

 

The GH4 is an all rounder. I am happy with it too.

 

All the cameras I mentioned could do fantastic stuff. Just depends on what you prefer really.

 

I think this is the time when shooters really just go out and shoot and make great stories.

 

Cheers

 

David

Where are you seeing $4k for used?

Local Camera Store in Singapore selling used cameras. I was offered one 1DC body only - used. Around USD 4K (Excl. 7% for GST). I did not take it as I have two of the Sony A7 series. I doubt its still there now as it was before Christmas.

Still new ones are dropping in price. I think once Canon launch the 54 MB DSLR and may be the 5D MIII replacement the 1DC may drop further.

Cheers

Local Camera Store in Singapore selling used cameras. I was offered one 1DC body only - used. Around USD 4K (Excl. 7% for GST). I did not take it as I have two of the Sony A7 series. I doubt its still there now as it was before Christmas.

 

Still new ones are dropping in price. I think once Canon launch the 54 MB DSLR and may be the 5D MIII replacement the 1DC may drop further.

 

Cheers

That would have been a fantastic deal. I wish I could find one for that price.