James Miller

Hi John, even if you drop a screwdriver on the sensor unit as I have done on the 5Dmk2 (tiny mark, never to go) you won't get close to the sensor.

You would have the sensor 1 or 2 layers of an optical low pass filter (OLPF, a blur filter) that would be sandwiched with IR cut filter (blue aqua colour you see) then you have a IR coating (red shimmer colour). Then you have the ND filters including a clear filter (to maintain back focus). Then there is an optical (removable) piece of glass above this.

So quite alot to get through before you touch the sensor.

On the FS100 there is no additional protection above the OLPF and IR filter. Just like the DSLR when the shutter is up.

Thanks TJ, worried about the 'over bite' of the camera, the bottom plate comes forward.

But you work around and use it. It's actually feels (as in feeling) like a Canon DSLR when whacking. It's smallish so no problem on size and weight.

I used the small VF only so I could steady her. But lens whacking is all about edgy movement and it worked well.

What I loved is I could see light and dark with detail!. Not, 'lets hope for the best'.

You actually becomes attached to it if you know what I mean, part of the romance of it I suppose.