Sony F23 -

James0b57 said:
Seeing how there is a “logo” scrape out, i am assuming thisnis one of those Panavised ones that were selling for $500 a few months ago.
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Oh really. That's interesting. Good to know. I just went to search on the net for a pic were the logo would go, you're right.

Lets see if there something different from the regular F23s.
 
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Yeah! Hopefully so!

But at the end of the day, i like the look of all kinds of cameras. The f23 is cool, but i feel the way that even an alexa is starting to look dated, that all these classic cameras are really nothing special anymore. That said, the skill you bring to a vintage piece of gear is what it is all about. That ability to overcome limitations, or even use the nostalgia to communicate an idea. That is what is cool!

I am looking at 16mm again as those cameras are now $1200 too! And with a lens and maga and batteires!
 
James0b57 said:
Yeah! Hopefully so!

But at the end of the day, i like the look of all kinds of cameras. The f23 is cool, but i feel the way that even an alexa is starting to look dated, that all these classic cameras are really nothing special anymore. That said, the skill you bring to a vintage piece of gear is what it is all about. That ability to overcome limitations, or even use the nostalgia to communicate an idea. That is what is cool!

I am looking at 16mm again as those cameras are now $1200 too! And with a lens and maga and batteires!
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I went for the F23 due to its film like rendition from its CCD sensor since in my case my ideal would be like you shoot 16mm though there's not labs around my area, so the F23 is my consolation price. Though, I agree, the person behind the camera is who makes it sing. For example, I had a client who couldn't afford a respectable package so we went with 5DMKII without the magic lantern hack. I just emulated a log like setting with the picture profile, found its proper ISO/ASA, visited the set, saw what type of lightning that would be needed, and voila...during the shoot my client was impressed with what I was able to deliver. I hope I'm able to deliver something similar or even better with the F23.
 
You can say “film like” all day, but it still clips like digital
 
James0b57 said:
Yeah! Hopefully so!

But at the end of the day, i like the look of all kinds of cameras. The f23 is cool, but i feel the way that even an alexa is starting to look dated,
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Hmm, dated how? You mean the camera body? Because if you mean the image it's basically like saying the color red or blue or whatever is looking dated. In other words makes no sense!
 
Congrats on the F23 purchase! That would be cool if it was a panavised model, although I dont think Panavision did extensive modifications to it like the F900 and F35 (genesis). You might have a PV Digital Primo B4 lens mount on the body which if you do youll need to replace it as you cant fit standard B4 lenses on it... I had to do this to my F900 because it had the PV mount on it.
 
Mike Krumlauf said:
Congrats on the F23 purchase! That would be cool if it was a panavised model, although I dont think Panavision did extensive modifications to it like the F900
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The modifications Panavision did to the F900 are not extensive and to many they were not really an improvement. Reason the Clairmont and Otto versions were preferred to many over Panavision's. Panavision's best marketing hook was the ability to use their lenses, as it normally is the case. But even that caused some problems in the beginning because their lenses were made for film and not for a prism 3CCD camera.
 
Sttratos said:
The modifications Panavision did to the F900 are not extensive and to many they were not really an improvement. Reason the Clairmont and Otto versions were preferred to many over Panavision's. Panavision's best marketing hook was the ability to use their lenses, as it normally is the case. But even that caused some problems in the beginning because their lenses were made for film and not for a prism 3CCD camera.
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Sorry to debate you on this but the modifications on the 900 from panavision are extensive. Most people believe the mods end at the external areas like the front plate and the handle. Panavision actually created a completely different OLPF with Sony and adjusted the pre amp and CCD gain board to get a more film like response from the red channel and a lower signal to noise floor. I will say in terms of build, PV's handle is the best out of any of the other ones like clairmont, etc.. but in terms of functionality i do like clairmonts the best because you had that reenforced front plate like panavision but they moved all the controls to the handle instead of making a portable menu control with a lemo cable like panavision.
 
Also wanted to point out that Panavision's lenses for the F900 were made special for the 900. They made a brand new line of primes and zooms for it which i believe were made from rehoused canon glass? Never did they market their 900 to accept super 35 lenses. You needed a P&S Technik Pro 35 adapter with a PV plate for that and those were just ridiculous.. so front heavy.
 
Mike Krumlauf said:
Congrats on the F23 purchase! That would be cool if it was a panavised model, although I dont think Panavision did extensive modifications to it like the F900 and F35 (genesis). You might have a PV Digital Primo B4 lens mount on the body which if you do youll need to replace it as you cant fit standard B4 lenses on it... I had to do this to my F900 because it had the PV mount on it.
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Thanks man! I'm going to check and see if it indeed was sent out with the primo mount (crossing my fingers it didn't, but if not, oh well I'll swap'em out).
 
Mike Krumlauf said:
Sorry to debate you on this but the modifications on the 900 from panavision are extensive. Most people believe the mods end at the external areas like the front plate and the handle. Panavision actually created a completely different OLPF with Sony and adjusted the pre amp and CCD gain board to get a more film like response from the red channel and a lower signal to noise floor. I will say in terms of build, PV's handle is the best out of any of the other ones like clairmont, etc.. but in terms of functionality i do like clairmonts the best because you had that reenforced front plate like panavision but they moved all the controls to the handle instead of making a portable menu control with a lemo cable like panavision.
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Ok fair enough. It seems is just a case of we having a different idea of what extensive means. I knew about the filter and the different curves etc. I just don't consider that extensive. Because there is really not a lot of difference in the image itself. Episode 2 still looks horrible, specially when you compare to F23 material. So does anything ever shot on the F900 or 900F I ever seen. Watching today they don't hold up at all like F35 and Genesis material do.

About the lenses, in the beginning they did use or tested the camera with their film lenses and it caused problems. So they developed something for the camera later. This is what I was talking about.
 
Sttratos said:
Ok fair enough. It seems is just a case of we having a different idea of what extensive means. I knew about the filter and the different curves etc. I just don't consider that extensive. Because there is really not a lot of difference in the image itself. Episode 2 still looks horrible, specially when you compare to F23 material. So does anything ever shot on the F900 or 900F I ever seen. Watching today they don't hold up at all like F35 and Genesis material do.

About the lenses, in the beginning they did use or tested the camera with their film lenses and it caused problems. So they developed something for the camera later. This is what I was talking about.
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While I will agree that the F23/35/and panavised 35 (genesis) are far superior cameras on a technical level, I am going to disagree with you stating everything shot on a F900 or 900F looks like crap. of course I will say I believe i've been able to get some great results with the camera and in a high budget professional setting films like Once Upon A Time in Mexico, masked and anonymous, Collateral (sure noisy compared to todays standards but still beautiful), Coppola's Tetro, The Quiet (ASC David Mullen), and a few others all show the filmic qualities of the F900.

Also, the work done by the BBC with the F900/3 on their earth and life specials are fantastic! The key thing i've found that really allows a user to a more filmic look is the digital praxis gammas like the cineon curve.. i've been able to get 12.5 stops out of the sensor and it grades beautifully.

I will agree with you that episode 2 is not a great example of the 900F nor digital cinema as a whole but you have to remember they were using prototype versions of the F900 and it was almost 20 years ago. The f900 and its workflow have gone leaps and bounds since then as well as the board upgrades in the mid 00s which improved signal to noise and DR functions. The 900F and F900 are (IMHO) beautiful cameras for all kinds of work from Narrative, doc, news, and tv and if used right can still produce a beautiful image that holds up in 2019.

Last thing.. i have spoken to friends at panavision numerous times about the 900F and never was it mentioned that they tried using their 16mm or 35mm glass. They were using third party b4 glass and found it inferior at the time so they rolled out the digital primo line.
 
Yup that's me on Instagram.

I need to get some lenses before I'm able to get some shots from this puppy,so it will be a while. Sorry gents.

Though, I'm excited about the camera. I've being looking through its manuals, and whatever write ups done on it to find the proper ASA to shoot with. I see most mention its between 250-400 with 320 being the ideal. Chatted with Jo kami whose been in DVX before and had the F23. He mentioned that I could push it 3+ and be able to get nice footage from it. it goes along with Alfonso Parra's write up that I found. after I get the rest of the items, I'm going to test this out, especially since I'm doing this in 4.2.2. 10bit instead of 4.4.4. due to not having interface box.
 
Oh cool!

Ah man, should have let me buy it and then I could have sold it to you with a lens for the same price. haha!


Well, best of luck. I am not on instagram, so I will subscribe to this thread and maybe see your stuff then. But no pressure. These cameras are just for fun, so if you are not enjoying it for your personal endeavors, then what's the point, right?
 
James0b57 said:
These cameras are just for fun, so if you are not enjoying it for your personal endeavors, then what's the point, right?
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Totally! While I do get some work with my modified 900, the personal work is really where it's at! I enjoy every min i'm behind the beast paid or unpaid! :D
 
@mike, i’ve had a panasonic sdx900 for a while now, and have been surprised by its image quality, but just acquired an OG Varicam 27, and woah! Big step in the right direction. All the mojo of that era! I like having a lofi camera around, but the ssx900 and similar sd cameras just don’t scale very nicely on giant digital tv’s these days, so the 720p varicam is in a sweet spot. I’ll post some stuff soon. I have it paired with a SD zoom to further smooth the image. I definitely like the images you get with your 900F. Also, i am back in the F35 game. Hope to start shooting with it asap.
 
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