F3: Timecode from a Sony PMW-F3 when sent to an HDMI recorder?

I

IronFilm

Veteran
Has any one had issues with timecode from a Sony PMW-F3 when sent to an HDMI recorder?

Am shooting a feature film at the moment with 2x Sony PMW-F3, and yesterday I couldn't get timecode working at all with A Cam.

Because they're F3 cameras which only do 8 bit internal but have 10 bit external, we were only using external recording with them.

I had no problem at all having correct timecode on B Cam's recorder, but we were using an SDI recorder on that one (an Atomos Samurai Blade).

However was impossible for me to get it working on the day with the A Cam recorder which was an HDMI one (an Atomos Ninja 2).

Has any one else encountered issues before with timecode from a Sony PMW-F3 over HDMI?
 
Pretty sure the HDMI port was intended primarily for the HDMI based viewfinders at the time. I believe the SDI port and the HDMI port on the right side of the back of the camera were 8 bit ports. The A and B HD-SDI ports were the ones to be used for recorders. The F3 predates the HDMI based recorders of which you speak.

There was a fair amount of discussion on this on the forums at the time the F3 was current.
 
I'm not sure that time code was even available as a standard over HDMI when the F3 was designed and released. If you're shooting s-log with it I would HIGHLY recommend coming out of the A-B ports as Dual Link 1.5G or as 3G (A only). Back in the day I shot a feature with my F3 using the C-D Gemini 444 recorder, and the image quality difference between the Gemini and the internal recordings was huge. (Yes, I had done a full day of comparison testing at the time.)
 
I've been outputting from HDMI on my F3 to the Black Magic Video Assist and capturing timecode fine. I'll check the camera settings later and get back to you. Have you tried switching cameras/recorders around?
 
I realise I've been capturing to the Black Magic VA via SDI, not HDMI, and timecode is exactly the same.

I tried HDMI and the Black Magic VA wouldn't record tc or even trigger, sorry to say.
 
Oh darn it, I am debating maybe I should pick up a secondhand BMD VA.

As yeah, I think that is the problem, the F3 is too old! Predates timecode over HDMI being normal.

Still, had a good and successful weekend shooting! :)


 
The HDMI on the F3 shouldn't be used for outboard recorders , its definatly 8bit, if you only option is the Ninja, use an SDI to HDMI converter to retain the 10bit data. The VA plus the F3 is awesome, you'll get 50p over 3G if you have the RGB key too :)
 
Yeah after posting this, and doing a little more digging, I realized this is a bad idea to record the HDMI output directly! Ooops, ah well
 
its a bummer tho ay, 10bit HDMI would be helpful at times.... I picked up another F3 from OZ (w/rgb key) and an 18-252 servoed lens, its a bit wacky, but optically its pretty good and it was cheap :)
 
Oh nice! I wouldn't mind that 18-252 if it was dirt cheap, wouldn't pay anything more than that as I suspect we'll never see another new FZ mount camera again. (seeing as how even VENICE is E mount now)
 
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