A three way tussle between the Arri Mini, the Sony F55 and VENICE.
There has been a lot of assumptions made on the sensitive subject of weight regarding the Sony VENICE versus the rest. Now this has been in the Doco world as quite frankly, in features and dramas we're going to load the camera up with every accessory and gadget we can.
So in basic form with Zeiss CP3 Primes, basically to make them look right. The Primes are all the same weight. Shoulder mount, 15mm bars, viewfinder. Ability to power them from a V Lock. The Mini needs a cage system for the viewfinder and handle, plus back bars for a V Lock Adaptor.
Sony F55 with Sony DVF-EL100 OLED Viewfinder
Zeiss 35mm CP.3 PL Mount
Vocas 0350-2207 / 15mm Bars
5.37kg
Sony VENICE Base with Sony DVF-EL200 OLED Viewfinder
Zeiss 18mm CP.3 PL Mount
Vocas 0350-2207/Venice adapt/15mm Bars
7.40kg
You could take the PL Mount off the VENICE and use E Mount Lenses or adapt to EF. This would save you 450g.
Arri Mini with Arri MVF1 VF
Zeiss 21mm CP.3 PL Mount
ARRI Cage/Cheese Plate/Handle/Shoulder Mount/VF Mounting BKT/15mm Bars
Hawkwoods V-Lock Plate
NO Audio Block
NO Control Panel
6.78kg
So, for less money (about £10K) than the Mini, you can get the Sony VENICE doco kit. It will weigh 600 grams more but you do get an audio block, control panel, 8 step ND filters and a plethora of video connectors. To change the VENICE kit into a Full Frame, Anamorphic, RAW Recording System you will need to spend about £13k, that will buy you the Full Frame License, Anamorphic License and R7 recorder. To change the Mini the same way you need to sell the Mini and buy a LF at about £80k.
