Kicking off our blog in fine form is our first series, “In Our Bag”, where we take a look at what kit we use and why. What better place to start than the central part of any kit bag: the camera. Let’s dive in.
The Camera: Sony ILCE-7S2
What?
The Sony A7Sii (as it’s more commonly referred to) is a mirrorless camera aimed at independent filmmakers and production companies. With a body weighing in at less than 600g, it is comparable in size to a consumer DSLR. That’s about where the comparison ends, though.
Why?
Having learned our trade on Canon DSLRs, we joined many filmmakers in casting off our brand loyalty in favour of a camera that gave us the freedom to do what we wanted to do. That’s the Sony. This camera takes almost every feature you’d expect in a shoulder-mounted video camera and scales them down to a camera that is extremely portable and versatile. It boasts specifications and image qualities that rival many mid-level cinema cameras and Electronic News Gathering (ENG) systems. This allows us to produce videos which are fully broadcast compliant as well as cinematic in look, all in one handheld package. As you can probably tell, we love this camera.
One of the many films we have shot with the Sony A7sii.
On shoot using the A7sii with Atomos Shogun Inferno, a combination that packs a punch!
Who?
Both James and Will. But Will got his first. Just sayin’.
When?
This is the perfect go-to camera for both of us at Stage 3 Films; it forms the basis of almost every shoot we do. Having two at our disposal allows us to seamlessly cut together a multi-camera shoot, saving time on set and giving an extra dimension to the edit. There are occasions, however, when a project brief (or our creative vision) calls for a camera with specific attributes or specifications. For times like these, the A7Sii whiles away its time as a secondary camera.
Will on shoot with that A7sii, don't get distracted by the shorts!
We are not the only ones who are fanatical about this camera, so if you’d like to learn more about the camera and its ins-and-outs, check out these links:
https://www.cinema5d.com/sony-a7sii-review-impressions-footage/
http://philipbloom.net/blog/a7sii/
http://filmin5d.com/5-tips-for-the-sony-a7s-ii/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFFD6Ktuo6U