These are very different cameras. One is small and compact with a Full Frame sensor, while the other is closer to the size of a cine camera and uses a Super35 sensor.
I think we need to wait until professionally shot review footage for both cameras is available on the web, so you have something to actually compare.
I am also waiting to see if the A7S II has the same 4K overheating problem that the A7R II camera has, because this could be an issue on any shoot that goes over an hour. ( fingers crossed that Sony has figured this issue out )
Agree with Guy; extremely different cameras. Vastly different codecs, very different color sciences (educated guess, but I imagine this will be the case given their past cameras), WAY different in size...totally comes down to preference. I love shooting with Cine Size cameras, but they are much harder to travel with, throw on a slider or small gimbal, etc. Many advantages to each camera (on paper), but like Guy said, I'd wait for reviews and also ability to rent. I always rent first before I make a decision.
Cameras can be like cars...value can go down drastically very quick! So putting the extra however many bucks to rent, and make SURE you love the camera and love working with it, is definitely a good starting point.
i think the ursa can be a decent (maybe not always reliable) A camera or even a B. But i think of a7sii as a 2nd, back up, B, or lo small setup camera.
If you're asking that, get an a7S II. They're not even sort of similar cameras, but if you're interested in the smaller form factor, it's probably the way to go.
BlackMagic cameras are overrated at best. (You get what you pay for, etc.) I've been burned a whole lot more by their products than by Sony's.
October 4, 2015 at 2:28AM, Edited October 4, 2:28AM
Really Black Magic Cams are overrated at best! So you're saying the ability to shoot ProRes and not be stuck with 8 bits 4:2:0 is overrated?
You know of a 3000 bucks cam that can give you a better footage for grading than any of the BMCs? Which one?
As long as they are not both available it's like comparing recipies, while the proof is in the eating of the pudding.
Having said that: you'll need to calculate what you need for both cameras to shoot properly, since the body alone might not be sufficient. Plus the hardware needs. If you want to edit RAW fast, it asks more from your system than more compressed codecs.
I would say more that they are not in the same league, if you want a working ursa kit with batteries, viewfinder, etc you are around 8k when the A7s with xlr is around 4k, just half the price. In the end it comes to what are your priority, if it was for me I would be happy to have both :-)
Sarabjit Singh Ji, I have an a7s used for $1600. Id advise getting one of those used and use the rest of the money on lenses/drone if you want. I went from a BMCC to this and theyre both exceptional in their own ways. It all depends on your lighting capacity. If you will light scenes go for a BM camera with the amazing colors/codecs it offers. They need lots of light. If you wont have much accessibility to lighting instruments go with the sonys. Theyre amazing with detail and slow mo capabilities. Really invest in lights/reflectors/lenses. Brand new cameras arent worth it to me anymore.
I'm interested in the Sony A7sII. For filming I want as close to a cinematic/filmic look of Technicolor & Eastmancolour as possible without ridiculous costs of Arris & REDs. So for me would a Blackmagic or a Sony be better? I'm still undecided
12 Comments
These are very different cameras. One is small and compact with a Full Frame sensor, while the other is closer to the size of a cine camera and uses a Super35 sensor.
I think we need to wait until professionally shot review footage for both cameras is available on the web, so you have something to actually compare.
I am also waiting to see if the A7S II has the same 4K overheating problem that the A7R II camera has, because this could be an issue on any shoot that goes over an hour. ( fingers crossed that Sony has figured this issue out )
Dave Dugdale Review of the Sony A7R II
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqjTSNOoLC0
October 1, 2015 at 5:53AM, Edited October 1, 6:05AM
Agree with Guy; extremely different cameras. Vastly different codecs, very different color sciences (educated guess, but I imagine this will be the case given their past cameras), WAY different in size...totally comes down to preference. I love shooting with Cine Size cameras, but they are much harder to travel with, throw on a slider or small gimbal, etc. Many advantages to each camera (on paper), but like Guy said, I'd wait for reviews and also ability to rent. I always rent first before I make a decision.
Cameras can be like cars...value can go down drastically very quick! So putting the extra however many bucks to rent, and make SURE you love the camera and love working with it, is definitely a good starting point.
October 1, 2015 at 2:27PM
i think the ursa can be a decent (maybe not always reliable) A camera or even a B. But i think of a7sii as a 2nd, back up, B, or lo small setup camera.
October 2, 2015 at 7:09AM
Apples and oranges.
October 3, 2015 at 4:40PM
If you're asking that, get an a7S II. They're not even sort of similar cameras, but if you're interested in the smaller form factor, it's probably the way to go.
BlackMagic cameras are overrated at best. (You get what you pay for, etc.) I've been burned a whole lot more by their products than by Sony's.
October 4, 2015 at 2:28AM, Edited October 4, 2:28AM
Explain Burn...
October 4, 2015 at 11:03PM
Really Black Magic Cams are overrated at best! So you're saying the ability to shoot ProRes and not be stuck with 8 bits 4:2:0 is overrated?
You know of a 3000 bucks cam that can give you a better footage for grading than any of the BMCs? Which one?
October 8, 2015 at 4:03AM
Burned how? We've owned our BMCC for a few years now and we've never had a problem.
October 9, 2015 at 4:24PM
As long as they are not both available it's like comparing recipies, while the proof is in the eating of the pudding.
Having said that: you'll need to calculate what you need for both cameras to shoot properly, since the body alone might not be sufficient. Plus the hardware needs. If you want to edit RAW fast, it asks more from your system than more compressed codecs.
October 5, 2015 at 4:59AM
There's only about a three pound difference between the two so it's not really apples and oranges, more like crabapples and Granny Smith.
October 6, 2015 at 6:05AM
I would say more that they are not in the same league, if you want a working ursa kit with batteries, viewfinder, etc you are around 8k when the A7s with xlr is around 4k, just half the price. In the end it comes to what are your priority, if it was for me I would be happy to have both :-)
October 8, 2015 at 5:14AM
Sarabjit Singh Ji, I have an a7s used for $1600. Id advise getting one of those used and use the rest of the money on lenses/drone if you want. I went from a BMCC to this and theyre both exceptional in their own ways. It all depends on your lighting capacity. If you will light scenes go for a BM camera with the amazing colors/codecs it offers. They need lots of light. If you wont have much accessibility to lighting instruments go with the sonys. Theyre amazing with detail and slow mo capabilities. Really invest in lights/reflectors/lenses. Brand new cameras arent worth it to me anymore.
October 6, 2015 at 2:45PM
I'm interested in the Sony A7sII. For filming I want as close to a cinematic/filmic look of Technicolor & Eastmancolour as possible without ridiculous costs of Arris & REDs. So for me would a Blackmagic or a Sony be better? I'm still undecided
November 29, 2015 at 9:31PM
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