F900 Test Footage

Interesting to see such an old (but high end!) camera being used in 2018

What inspired you to buy this (assuming it was a recent buy)? And what lenses are you using with it?
 
The F900 is def not dead in 2018! The image is def still up to the task, esp if you are using the HDSDI out instead of the tape deck. As for what inspired me, it's a camera I always wanted since I first saw one when i was a kid at the Telluride Film Fest back in (i believe) 2002 and I got an opportunity to get one for way below what it is still worth and I took it. I see cameras like cars.. i can either invest in a brand new honda civic or an 16 year old lambo... :D. The F900 and the Varicam (which I've owned for 3 years now) are both amazing tools.

Note: I've owned the varicam for 3 years. I got the 900 within the last month. ;)
 
Mike Krumlauf said:
Looks fine to me Doug. Thanks.
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Well, it's your call because it's your footage, but I respectfully disagree. Unless you are purposely underexposing for some creative reason, there is no way that footage would pass muster for any network production or high-end corporate video that I've ever worked on. Way too dark and murky even for that time of day. But it's your call.
 
I think there are two questions here..

1) Is this artistically what the OP wanted?

2) Could that look have been got cleaner by opening up iris and pulling down exposure in post?
 
I think Doug has a good point.
But Morgan might have a point too.
It is unclear what the OP wants to show, but presuming it is the quality of the camera the footage doesn't represent a 80.000 camera I think.
I would like to see the same shots with sunny weather/ better light or other exposure.
 
I know a few films that have underexposed their shots for creative or narrative reasons... this was just a simple and fast, non scientific test done out my window to test the SDI signal from the backing of the 900.. thats it. I also have no intention to ever work in the television industry so i'm not worried about if my work meets the requirements of that or not. As i said above the video, this is just a test, something quick and dirty.. if this was a freelance gig i did as a DP i'd understand your nit picking but its not. I'm in the process of uploading some quick ungraded daylight shots to show you guys since one of you asked for it..
 
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Again, nothing to be taken serious. I'm still working on perfecting a group of settings that I like and that compliment the SD lens I'm using in terms of sharpness. The images are a little too bright for me, but, i was testing leaving the ND off and stopping the lens down to reduce CA. This is untreated, ungraded footage so its rough and the edge enhancement is not really doing any favors here for the lens so don't nit pick.. :b

 
Very cool to see a throwback! I got my "HD Certification" on the F900 in like 2003/4. The Coppola family donated one to my school and I was blown away by what could be done digitally.

Congrats on the purchase! Looking forward to see you put it in action!
 
Yeah man, its a fantastic camera and the quality you can get out of the SDI blows the tape compression and HDCAM codec out of the water. Sadly, the tape deck on my camera is dead in the water, the door won't open and the motor runs when you hit eject and then nothing happens and i get an error message.. how i got the unit so cheap! Not like i have any use for the tape deck anyway.
 
Mike Krumlauf said:
The F900 is def not dead in 2018! The image is def still up to the task, esp if you are using the HDSDI out instead of the tape deck. As for what inspired me, it's a camera I always wanted since I first saw one when i was a kid at the Telluride Film Fest back in (i believe) 2002 and I got an opportunity to get one for way below what it is still worth and I took it. I see cameras like cars.. i can either invest in a brand new honda civic or an 16 year old lambo... :D. The F900 and the Varicam (which I've owned for 3 years now) are both amazing tools.

Note: I've owned the varicam for 3 years. I got the 900 within the last month. ;)
Click to expand...

A bit like me and my Sony F3!

Although I wouldn't dare go as far back as an F900 :-o

Well, maybe if I spotted one for just a couple of hundred bucks then I certainly could not resist.
 
That i did indeed. the 900 and HDCA-901 SDI box together were well under 1,000 bucks. :) I paid less for my 900 than i did for my varicam by a landslide.. granted.. i got my varicam 3 years ago and the prices were different then.
 
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