PMW-F3 Test

This Saturday I firsted on a test/short film with the new Sony PMW-F3. It was a two camera test the other body being the Sony SRW9000 PL which is a cross between being a digital cinema camera and ENG.

The PMW-F3 is a beauty. I am a sony guy and have always loved there gear, the only problem has been Sony can look too video. Thats kind of a idiot statement since it is video and not film but digital cameras from companies like Panasonic and RED tend to look a little more filmic in terms of how there sensors produce images. I love the EX-1 but with the work I have done with it has always been with a 35mm Adaptor.

Well now we can bypass the adaptor since the F3 is a super 35mm sensor that can take PL mounted lens and also still lens (I think adaptors are coming out in the future to allow for Nikon, Canon, etc). On this shoot we were working with a set of old Arri Variable primes and the 3 sony lens kit (35mm, 50mm and 85mm) that comes with the F3 if you buy the more expensive package.

The menu system is exactly the same as the EX-1 for the most part, takes SxS cards, shoots 1920x1080 and slow motion still has to be done at 720p. Changes are of course the sensor and ability to attach cinema lens. Also the camera is like most of the new digital cameras coming on very good at low light levels. We didn't do any night stuff but the DP was telling me he tested at 6400 and was amazed by how clean it was at that level. As of now the camera has been said to be rated natively at a 800.

For this shoot we had a pretty ridiculous rig that was a pain in the ass. We were going to a nano flash in order to record to 4:2:2 and at 220 mbs with that we had to set up this crazy zacuto rig with the arri variable prime (which is basically a zoom lens) it was almost like setting up a 12-120 zoom on a 35mm camera system. Actually a 35mm camera system in that set up is much more friendly than what we had with the PMW. Without a external recorder it records at 35mbs (RED's highest is 42) 4:2:0 and 8 bit. But with a new sony recorder coming out you will be able to record in Log, 10 bit and 4:2:2.

We also got to use those new lens that sony include with the more expensive F3 package. They are really nice. There big barrel, light, and open to a 2 almost like a Cooke (though not as nice of glass of course). It was a pretty fun shoot and nice to get to know the camera a bit I'd love to get a day with it to test out its ISO's more and possible shoot with a very high quality piece of glass.

Def. a camera I hope to shoot with.

RED MX & Law and Order CI

Finished a real fun video for the rock group Mr. Dream this weekend. Really great song and a great conceptual video from Anthony Sylvester. Also this marked my first time using the MX sensor on the RED. It took a few shoots to finally get to use it but it def makes the RED a beast.

Everyone has seen the tests and know that the MX has improved noise and DR. Though a lot of people recommend shooting at a 800 ISO which is pretty high for a bright day exterior and did leave me a little worried about IR pollution because of stacking ND's (and I didn't know if we would be able to get a Hot Mirror Filter or IRND combo).

I shot at a 640 ISO and either had a HM filter with a .9 or a HM combo + 1.2 since both days were sunny. Inside I shot at a 800 ISO and switched to 1,000 for some high speed scenes. At 1,000 the sensor is incredibly clean. Latitude is also greatly improved, I could see right off the bat that more information could be captured in the highlights as well as the shadows. Is it comparable to film? I still would say no, but the MX is def in the top 2 of digital cinema cameras in my opinion.

Thanks to my great crew for helping out.

Last Friday I camera PA'd on Law and Order Criminal Intent. Its fun to get on union shoots as a camera pa. You get to learn and experience what it is like to work on a union crew for a big job and you make union contacts. Its def helpful with preparing for the union test. CI shoots with the Alexa but its Panavised. I haven't been a a Panavision shoot so it was really cool to finally get on one and see how there gear works. This was my second time on a job with the Alexa and it is a amazing f'ing camera.