F3 Problem - Pulsing/Strobing Image

M

maxhorn

New member
We used the F3 on a large commercial shoot yesterday, and although it was a first for many people in the camera department, everything seemed to go very smoothly. While reviewing rushes later in the evening (it was a day shoot), the editor noticed a slight pulsing/strobing in the highlights/sky on some of the shots (we noticed this throughout the day and called an F3 'expert' but they didn't think it would be a problem/didn't really know about this happening). What confuses me, is that it happens on some takes and not others, even though the set-up/settings had not changed. The shots it does happen on, it usually only happens for a few seconds then disappears - then it may reappear, but often not.

Very confusing, very scary, very frustrating.

We are able to cut around the problem, but the client has requested ALL rushes to be sent to them so they are going to want to know what the problem is when they eventually see it.

Has anyone experienced or heard about this problem?

Note: I'm not very technical but will try and answer any questions.
 
This is the first I'm hearing of this problem, its the color changing in the highlights? What was used to convert the footage? How are you viewing them?
 
- The colour remains unchanged
- Footage was converted at a high end post facility (not sure exactly how)
- Viewing them on HD monitor through AVID system
- Not sure about Auto Knee

Sorry I'm not much help
 
It would serve the community best if you had all the facts and details with you concerns. I would hope you could post some of the video so we can all understand what you're troubled with.
My questions would be, How many hours are on the F3 and was this a brand new unit that had the issue?

Here is a link with issues from another Sony product that uses the EXMOR sensors, The Ex1r here is said to be brand new,
http://vimeo.com/24555684
 
The only way for anyone to really help you is if you post the original footage that you're concerned with on here so we can view and evaluate it.
 
Auto knee was my first thought also, especially as there seemed to be no "F3 expert " on the shoot. How was the camera set -up, what gamma, what knee setting etc.? Also what do they mean by "pulsing"? I suspect though as often is the case that we will never hear any more details about this case. Hope I'm wrong though.
 
Check to see if the flicker reduce setting in the menus was on. Early Ex1's had this as default on and caused a similar sounding problem. Switch it to off. The F3 manual says:

It is recommended to set “Mode” to “Off” when shooting outdoors or under lighting that does not cause flicker. (It can be also “Auto,” but the compensation may not be done properly.)
 
Hi Guys,
I will post some footage up as soon as I am able. The commercial goes to air in a few days - then I will post up some of the rushes. Again I apologise for not being technical enough to fully explain the situation.
 
Not too much to look at here - I can only make sense of the sky shot. Don't what it is but it sure doesn't look a knee issue.
 
That looks really bad almost like you were shooting an old CRT monitor that had a spastic refresh rate... was this under natrual light or were you using some onboard LED or some old fluorescent.? It almost looks like some type of interference. That is really strange if it was natrual outdoor sunlight.... Looks like very bad flicker issue and it seems like it is the entire frame not just isolated to highlights in sky although it seems worse in that area obviously.
 
I've not heard anyone else talking about that problem with the F3, so I'd be inclined to let Sony look at it. Can you reproduce it easily? I think if others saw this, given the number of F3 users here, that we'd see a lot more response from others. Unless you were shooting under a fluorescent sun :)
 
Sorry I can't really show any more footage than what I have at this point. The sky shot is 100% natural light. Looks like I'll need to show this to Sony. Bummer!
 
did you happen to have a mag ballast HMI running nearby? i doubt one would make that kind of difference on a sky shot but ya never know. i have seen that exact kind of roll on an ex1 when using mag ballast HMI's. can't really spot it in the lcd either.


EDIT: i just remembered the "reduce flicker" feature on the ex1. it was more like a "introduce flicker" feature. i turned it off and forgot all about it. did they implement that crap into the F3?
 
I too have never seen this before, but it looks like either flicker reduction was on when it shouldn't have been or a fluctuation or hard frequency of electrical disturbance was near by or their is a problem with the A/D in the camera which means you need to send it in.
 
I'll take a stab at it....RF? Is it possible you were near an airbase or a location with powerful radar or transmitters?
 
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