Sony F900 vs Panavision HD900F and viewfinder question

Mike Krumlauf

Mike Krumlauf

Award Winning Filmmaker
Interested to see if anyone knew in depth what the internal differences were between the HDW-F900 and HD900F? The external differences are quite obvious but I was wondering if Panavision did anything to the optical block or menu system that would really differentiate the two models? I heard something about them putting a filter in front of the sensor to allow the camera to record RED colors better.. is this a filter that could be bought for a matte box?

Also, are there any third party viewfinders that would work with the VF pin connection on the F900 or possibly a cable adapter to allow newer viewfinders to work?
 
I think it just meant they had a Panavision Mount... What draws you to these two cameras from the dawn of HD as opposed to say a RED One or a Viper?


Mike Krumlauf said:
Interested to see if anyone knew in depth what the internal differences were between the HDW-F900 and HD900F? The external differences are quite obvious but I was wondering if Panavision did anything to the optical block or menu system that would really differentiate the two models? I heard something about them putting a filter in front of the sensor to allow the camera to record RED colors better.. is this a filter that could be bought for a matte box?

Also, are there any third party viewfinders that would work with the VF pin connection on the F900 or possibly a cable adapter to allow newer viewfinders to work?
Click to expand...
 
No i know for sure it was a bit more extensive than a mount and handle change...

...about your question, I owned a RED ONE MX for a year in 2015 and i absolutely hated it! One of the worst cameras i've ever owned. The viper.. i've always been interested in that camera since it was first out in the early 00s but they are so hard to come by to purchase. I love my 900 to death! That and the varicam 27H are two of my favorite cameras. Just personal preference i guess.
 
I shot with the Panavised F900 a few times but I am hard pressed to remember the mods they did to it. Definitely the viewfinder system was improved, and the quick release system on the bottom.

Next time I'm at Pana Woodland Hills I'll try to remember to take a snap of the F900 they have out on display in the lineup of legacy bodies.
 
Wow, I know the reds were fiddly but I thought the s35 was such a big step it was worth it... I still get excited if I see an old F900 but for me it’s just nostalgia. Thanks Charles, I’m advance... I’m interested to hear if there was anything different internally. I wonder who has old 2/3” primes sitting around for that camera ...
 
VER Chicago has a set of Zeiss Digiprimes that have been sitting in a locker for 10+ years. Nobody rents them anymore.. idk why they don't just sell them. I have a Optex Cinema Zoom HD B4 Lens which is beautiful! Rare piece of glass. the internal optics were by canon and everything else was optex.
 
CharlesPapert said:
Next time I'm at Pana Woodland Hills I'll try to remember to take a snap of the F900 they have out on display in the lineup of legacy bodies.
Click to expand...

Would love to see some indepth pics of their version being the nerd i am. That viewfinder system they made for the F900 is amazing as hell! I saw it in Telluride in its prime, very cool!
 
The DigiPrimes were(are) beautiful pieces of glass. I heard that after the s35 revolution started, some people were almost giving them away and some people couldn't even do that, so like that set, they sat and collected dust.

Those DigiPrimes would be beautiful on your F900 or Vari. Hell, I'd love to see them on MY VariCam.
 
the digiprimes and zooms were fantastic lenses. I'd have to say the optical quality is the same with this optex lens i have.. the build quality on the digizoom is much nicer though.
 
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