F3: National spot on the F3

bill totolo

bill totolo

Veteran
It's too early to show you any screenshots from our shoot at Brooklyn's FireProof Stages last week, so here is a classic on-set photo of the DP posing with his camera.

I'm extremely satisfied with how the shoot went and the looks we achieved. This was truly an example of collaborating with your team. The director conceived the look, the CEO improved our blocking and framing to feature his corporate logo, and now the commercial is in the hands of the Post professionals. On this shoot our footage doesn't need to match existing footage but it appears after 20 seconds of footage shot simultaneously by another team in L.A.



The client owns a Sony PMW-F3, as do I, so the decision to shoot with that camera was made early on. I used a Fujinon Cabrio 19-90mm lens (provided by Blacklist Productions in L.A.) on my "A" camera, and my Duclos cine-modded Tokina 11-16mm on the "B" camera, mounted on a Western dolly.

Both cameras recorded out to AJA Ki-Pro mini's to 10bit ProResHQ 4:2:2 files using Sony's S-Log.

When I can release some screen caps of our footage I can go into further detail about lighting and other fun exercises such as the zen art of laying Marley board.
I'll also be posting over at my blog: billtotolo.blogspot.com
 
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I didn't do a proper lens test (there simply wasn't time). But from the field, the lens is extremely nice.

Having that range in a compact format that didn't require studio support, was sharp and contrasty, had servo zoom for quick setups, and back focus(!) is really the next gen zoom, I think.
It will be my go-to zoom rental, I only wish I could afford to own one as my very own. It also has a 114mm barrel which fit perfectly in our mattebox (O'Connor O-box)

It only lost contrast when I hit it with about 30+ Kino tubes, a handful of Mac 750's and a 5K, which I think is pretty damn good.
And I didn't experience any light fall off from the wide to the tele as measured on a wfm.
 
bill totolo said:
It will be my go-to zoom rental, I only wish I could afford to own one as my very own.
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Hmm..maybe I'll go nuts out and get one, and cut you deals so it can stay busy :-)

More seriously though, I'm starting to suspect this lens might change how much these new cameras expand into other markets. The 5/55 is kinda a tough sell for run+gun, especially to folks experienced in ENG, but the Cabrio might help create a new market.
 
Hi Bill,

What was your impression of the breathing on the Cabrio? I got to play with one just a little bit at the F55 roll out and it seemed like the breathing was pretty extreme.

I've been toying with getting one myself. Sure would be nice for handheld.
 
Kirk Miller said:
Hi Bill,

What was your impression of the breathing on the Cabrio? I got to play with one just a little bit at the F55 roll out and it seemed like the breathing was pretty extreme.

I've been toying with getting one myself. Sure would be nice for handheld.
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Most of our focus pulls were pretty minimal. Occasionally we had to do a rapid pull from 13' to 3' but it happened so fast as a performer approached the camera that any breathing didn't catch my eye. That's not to say it wouldn't be noticeable in a narrative scene.
 
Douglas Villalba said:
It may be a light zoom, but I would still use support unless it is resting on the O'Box. It is long enough that if you bump into it you could brake something.
By the way Is that Panasonic monitor SD?
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It felt very secure Douglas. Shorter than a lot of ENG lenses, though beefier, but about as heavy.

The monitor on camera is a Panasonic BT-LH900a, and I was monitoring from a 24" TV Logic.
 
Someone offered to make an interchangeable EF / PL mount for me if I purchased this lens.
Could be interesting. But did definitely see some pin-cushioning going on with it.
 
Some more gear shots:
 

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I'd love to see a frame grab of the lighting effect that star-shaped rig creates Bill.
 
Grug said:
I'd love to see a frame grab of the lighting effect that star-shaped rig creates Bill.
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You've seen it before, credit goes to DP Daniel Pearl who pioneered the style with Hype Williams:
 

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Looks great Bill. I love the way the highlights work. You and the F3 did very well.

PS. Those outfits would look great in a sci-fi movie. :-)
 
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