FS700 Slo-Mo

We needed to get to know our brand new Sony NEX-FS700, so what better way to do it than to shoot some high speed? This camera has to serve in many rolls on our new show, Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, and we can't wait to see Tony chowing down on some exotic local fare at 1/20th normal speed.

Since this is a gear blog, check out the specs below:
Camera: Sony NEX-FS700, ISO 500, 480 frames per second
Lens: Fujinon 19-90mm f/2.8 Cabrio and Canon 100mm f/2.8L Macro
Adapters: 16X9 Inc. PL to E-Mount and Metabones EF to E-mount

The FS700 can shoot full-res HD at frame rates up to 240 fps, but even at the higher frames rates the image holds together fairly well. At frame rates above 240, the manual states that "the image quality is deteriorated compared with the image with normal recording." We think it's line doubling in the 480 fps mode while it seems to be windowing the sensor for 960 fps. At any frame rate, if you shoot in 1920x1080, you end up with a 1920x1080 file to send to post. Thanks to Abel Cine in New York for sales, advice, and support. Thanks to Josh Ferrell for use of his face.

Music:

God's Big Noise (h+) / CC BY-NC-ND 3.0

5D MkIII/7D Side by Side ISO, Highlight Test

We performed a brief and basic side by side test of the Canon 5D MkIII and 7D to see the difference in performance at low light and high ISO, as well as highlights. Here are our results.
5D MkIII/7D Side by Side ISO, Highlight Test from ZPZ Equipment on Vimeo.

I'd like a Raph Melt with a side of chips, please!

Apparently, Raph begins to melt when you point both a 7D and a 5D Mk III at him at the same time...

GoPro HD Hero Tutorial Follow-up - SETTINGS MENU and MOUNTS

A while back, we posted our GoPro HD Hero Basics Tutorial, and now we're back with two new GoPro tutorials on the menu settings as well as on some of the mounts they offer.  We plan to update the video with more mounts in the future, but for now, we've included 3 of the most popular mounts we use on our shoots.  Enjoy.

Zoom H4n Recorder Tutorials

We've had a lot of interest in the Zoom H4n recorder lately, so we decided to record a couple of tutorials that answer frequently asked questions.


Hope they help!  Let us know if you have any questions!

Throwback Thursday: ZPZ Equipment Room Build

A little less than a year and a half ago, we moved our rapidly expanding inventory of camera gear down to the 2nd floor in search of a space that was just a wee bit bigger than the closet we formerly worked out of.  We've seen everyone from accountants to graphics to producers inhabit the 2nd floor; but here, Equipment still stands.

Equipment FAIL

From the sweltering jungles of Guyana to the snowy mountains of Alaska, our equipment often finds itself in, let's say, sticky situations.  This FAIL post is the first in a series that highlight just how hardcore our shoots are.  If you think these are bad, you should have seen the other guy...

Snapped EX3 handle -- Oops...

Broken-off EX3 mic mount -- this is our bread and butter

Really?!

No comment...

Sawed-off Pelican case handle -- yeah, we soon realized our mistake...

Bent step-down rings -- we're blaming this one on Tony...

This was a collaborative effort

REALLY?!?!