PMW-F3 Footage

[Scanners286]

Convergence, a short film we recently shot on a preproduction PMW-F3 is up on Vimeo at http://vimeo.com/16898584 for those interested in seeing some footage from the camera.

Martin

[Fohdeesha]

password?

[TheReverend]

Password?

[Scanners286]

Sorry, password should be off now

[Fohdeesha]

Nice, that looked great. Highlight retention seems to be fantastic and I couldn't spot any noise! resolving power seems to be right up there. The grade seemed to really crush the blacks, would have been nice to see those left open a bit to scan for noise :)

It would be awesome if you would allow the mov to be downloaded on vimeo to really get a look at this stuff!

First "cam test" that's been posted recently that actually had me paying attention to the story, gave me a smile, well done!

[mcgeedigital]

Very well done and looks great!

Thanks!

[maranfilms]

Beautiful !! images and story!!!

[mcgeedigital]

What kind of glass was used?

[Scanners286]

Arri Ultraprimes. We had a set from 10mm - 135mm

[Centro]

It looks great!! though i'd love to see more deep focus LS

[vanvideo]

Great film! Congrats! The images the F3 creates matched the excellent story.

[henryolonga]

Now we are talking - this to me is the business. Dunno whether to go for the imminent RED stuff or this but this has me absolutley thrilled. Low noise, Great DOF control, well shot, beautiful pictures.

Martin - recorded to the SxS cards or to an off camera recorder? Question if I may - with a Nanoflash being 8 bit and the HD-SDI being ten bit - will that mean there will be some inevitable banding? Sorry if that is a dumb question.

Best wishes and well shot and these are absolutely wonderful images. Thanks.

[Scanners286]

Thanks for the kind words, it's really appreciated.

We recorded to an SRW-1 deck in HDCAM-SR via the 10 bit 4:2:2 HD-SDI. We were working in linear colour space with a Cine Gamma curve. We also recorded to the SxS simultaneously to give us copies for the offline in FCP. We then onlined using the HDCAM-SR masters via an EDL which we then graded.

The images you are seeing are derived from a Quicktime produced from the Baselight which I put together in FCP with the audio to get it online. I'm still waiting on the final final Quicktime from the master SR tape, but I don't think there will be much difference in terms of quality.

The HDCAM-SR stuff definitely looked better, but the SxS stuff looked pretty damned good. We'll probably post some ungraded SxS files in due course if people are interested.

We've started a blog at www.convergenceblog.co.uk if people are interested which might be a good place to post questions. Steve Lawes, the DoP, is going to be answering queries there too.

Hope this helps.

Oh yeah and it was 10 bit all the way ...

[Scanners286]

There's some more information about the UK press launch where we first showed the film this morning at http://www.televisual.com/news-detail/Sony-unveils-first-F3-footage_nid-214.html with a link to the launch film showing some more footage.

[Fohdeesha]

Thanks for the kind words, it's really appreciated.

We recorded to an SRW-1 deck in HDCAM-SR via the 10 bit 4:2:2 HD-SDI. We were working in linear colour space with a Cine Gamma curve. We also recorded to the SxS simultaneously to give us copies for the offline in FCP. We then onlined using the HDCAM-SR masters via an EDL which we then graded.

The images you are seeing are derived from a Quicktime produced from the Baselight which I put together in FCP with the audio to get it online. I'm still waiting on the final final Quicktime from the master SR tape, but I don't think there will be much difference in terms of quality.

The HDCAM-SR stuff definitely looked better, but the SxS stuff looked pretty damned good. We'll probably post some ungraded SxS files in due course if people are interested.

We've started a blog at www.convergenceblog.co.uk if people are interested which might be a good place to post questions. Steve Lawes, the DoP, is going to be answering queries there too.

Hope this helps.

Oh yeah and it was 10 bit all the way ...

So is the quicktime posted to vimeo from the xdcam ex offline files, or the sr?

[Scanners286]

SR Graded, spat out of the Baselight in Uncompressed Quicktime converted to ProRes 4444 in FCP, bolted together with titles and sound then transcoded to H264 Quicktime in MPEG Streamclip and uploaded to Vimeo ...

... and relax ...

[Fohdeesha]

hehe gotcha! thanks for the detailed response

[bill totolo]

Looks very nice. Of course with bigger sensors everyone limits their dof to look like Klute!
BTW, I'm guilty as well.

[Scanners286]

For what it's worth I had to pull focus as well as direct so there was pain involved if that helps

[Barry_Green]

Scanners286, thanks for coming on and answering so many questions and providing such excellent details!

[Scanners286]

No problem, I'm just a punter like everyone else. I just made the movie because I was interested to see what the camera would do when I had access to it for a couple of days. I didn't get paid and I'm not trying to sell Sonys, I just want to use the best tools that I can to tell stories. If it was anyone else I'd be asking the questions.

[Lord Lawes]

Hi Guys,

My name is Steve Lawes, I'm the DP that shot Martin's film Convergence, I thought that I would add my voice to this thred and try and answer some of your questions about the PMW-F3 and talk about my experience. I have posted a short hands on review on the site http://convergenceblog.co.uk/ if your interested.

Regards

Steve

[Postmaster]

Great write up, thank´s for sharing.

One question:

Good Lord Steve, what have one to do, that Sony calls in and asks you, if you want to play with some unreleased toys,
that everyone else on the planet is drooling for?

best, Frank

[powervideo]

The HDCAM-SR stuff definitely looked better, but the SxS stuff looked pretty damned good. We'll probably post some ungraded SxS files in due course if people are interested.


That would be really good if you post even a graded version of the SxS version. Not many of us can afford to shoot on SR:violin:

[Postmaster]

Not many of us can afford to shoot on SR:violin:

SR is only MPEG4 anyway. Usually considered a consumer delivery codec here :happy:

Frank

[mcgeedigital]

SR is only MPEG4 anyway. Usually considered a consumer delivery codec here :happy:

Frank

Yes, if you consider 600 Mbit/s "consumer".

Please.

[henryolonga]

Yes, if you consider 600 Mbit/s "consumer".

Please.


I reckon there was a hint of sarcasm there hence the smiley but who knows.

Anyway thanks Martin and co for being so kind in sharing your experiences with this baby. It s a serious contender for my 2011 budget. Will definitely go check out the blog.

[Lord Lawes]

Great write up, thank´s for sharing.

One question:

Good Lord Steve, what have one to do, that Sony calls in and asks you, if you want to play with some unreleased toys,
that everyone else on the planet is drooling for?

best, Frank

Well Frank, I guess in my case it helped that I shot a successful TV show with Sony's F35,
But seriously, I was surprised myself. First time anybody has offered me a sneak peek.

Glad you liked the review.

I will speak to Martin, but I think it would be great to put up some of the XDCAM files for people to have a play with themselves

Best

Steve

[Postmaster]

I reckon there was a hint of sarcasm there hence the smiley...

I promise to use sarcasm tags the next time.

[RGBaker]

Looks very nice. Of course with bigger sensors everyone limits their dof to look like Klute!
BTW, I'm guilty as well.

Brother, you're dating yourself! And I resemble that response ...

[henryolonga]

All of a sudden we have a wave of really well shot videos of this camera. Sony could well teach Red a thing or too about delivery and Pana a little about viral marketing.

[Everts]

I will speak to Martin, but I think it would be great to put up some of the XDCAM files for people to have a play with themselves

Best

Steve


That would be great !
Thanks.

[Scanners286]

For those interested in hearing a little more detail about the film, I've blogged at www.convergenceblog.co.uk and I'm fine with sticking the offline up. We'll do it over the next day or two once people have had a chance to watch the finished film.

[Fohdeesha]

Stick the offline up! youd be a hero! well you already are!

I feel posting the ungraded offline and a couple mp4's off the sxs card will say tons to the people saying it only looks good because it was graded by a pro and recorded to SR.

[Isaac_Brody]

Footage looks fantastic, crisp, clean, and sharp.

[Razz16mm]

Yes, the short flm looked beautiful. Great lenses, good high end recorder, good high end grade and post, and very talented skilled shooters. Quality will tell. Has that classic high end Sony Cinealta video look with 35mm DOF, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. The question is what will a practical indie field package actually cost for shooting and finishing from the on camera SXS media and how will that look? How will it stand up in post?

[Scanners286]

Go on then, we've posted the offline on Vimeo. Hit the blog www.convergenceblog.co.uk

[Luiz R]

Looks fine (considering it was re-compressed by Vimeo), but I am finding it hard to believe someone will buy this camera and not use HDSDI/HDMI. Just get a Ninja for 1K.

Anyway, this camera is simply excellent, very versatile and I am sure it will deliver an utter high quality video if you use great lenses and recorders. But I would like to see what can be done with the Sony lenses included in the 23K package. The way Sony is marketing it, it seems you should just get the 16K body and rent a few Arri Primes.

[fisherman1]

Lord Lawes, Scanner286:

I am very impressed about the quality of the video you had made. Thank you for making, and sharing it.

May I ask couple of question about the camera and the shooting, please ?

- are there any image stabilisation in the camera ? If there is IS inside, did you like it ? Or it will be lens only IS (like in other medium range cameras) ?

- after you turn on the camera, how much seconds needed to fully working and recording ?

- how is the balance of the camera when you handheld ? I am talking about the traditional style, life right hand is in the grid, left hand supporting the camera from the bottom (around the tripod mounting screws).

Is is heavy, unconfortable in handheld mode, or did you like it ?

- is there any settings in the menu about the sharpness settings ? did you tried it ? What was your experience about this ?

- have you tried only prime lenses ? I am looking for some information about how the zoom lenses can work with this cam with the zoom rocker button.

- how is the automatic / factory settings works with this camera ? I am trying to find out if this camera is usefull for run-and-gun instant recording work (wedding, social events, ENG work, etc)

- if you remember: what f settings have you used on the lens for the scene starts at 2:00 (young boy walking next to the fence) ?

- i guess there is gain control in this camera. Have you tried it ? Which is the acceptable level (+6, +12, etc)

- are there any noise reduction in the camera ? If there is, have you tried it, did you like it ?

- with the default battery, how many minutes/hour is the battery life ?

Thank you for your answer.

[Duke M.]

Some of those questions were answered in Martin's blog, such as:

"It needs a better baseplate. They need to sort it out for handheld – it’s like my EX1"

Probably a third party base plate like Olof's, with a wing to hold a Nano or KiPro would resolve both just as it does on the EX1.

My impression from the Sony lit was that the zoom wasn't out yet.

[Scanners286]

Okay, I'll try and answer what I can that I don't think has been covered in the blog and is relevant to a pre-production camera.

The F3 seems to have the same SteadyShot as the EX1/3. We turned it off.

Cam takes 4-5 seconds, I'd say, same as EX1/3 ...

Handheld, hit the blog. Needs a support and some kind of viewfinder attachment like you can get for the EX1. I think 3rd party things will appear after the launch. I've got a sock loupe, that works.

There is the usual detail setting in the menu. We turned it off.

Run and gun is fine, the camera is pretty straightforward, but it's got 35mm depth so you have to stay on your toes focus-wise. Don't think I'd shoot a wedding on one, but I'm sure people will. As a doco camera, I think it's going to shine.

We had 9dB in some shots. You can see the noise, but it's better than the EX1/3. On SR it's stunning.

Can't answer that noise reduction thing, didn't delve too far into the menus as we didn't have time and didn't test. All we did in the menus is turn stuff off. We're like that.

Battery is the same as the EX1/3 lasted the same. Three will get you through the day.

Cheers

Martin

[fisherman1]

Okay, I'll try and answer what I can that I don't think has been covered in the blog and is relevant to a pre-production camera.



Thank you Martin!