Premium Members Michael Stumpf Posted March 25, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 Okay, as it turns out, my show starting next month is most likely going to use the Sony (from Panavision). Again, like my questions with the Varicam I just used, I've seen this camera, but have yet to fly it. Advice would be great. Which downconverter works best for it? What should I look out for? Any special cables I should be sure to get, or have made? Any special issues? What about a low mode bracket for it? etc, etc. Also, is there any place I can compare specs between the two cameras? It's funny, I work almost exclusively in film, but all of a sudden 2 of my last 3 jobs have been in video, And my next two jobs (one commercial and the feature) are both on video. Strange :blink: I knew I should of brushed up on these cameras when they first came out a few years ago! Thanks, Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members jay kilroy Posted March 25, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 Micheal I have only used this camera once but it was a week long shoot. The down converter I used was an "ICON". It was great, easy to use and simple to set up. The best part was it was small and light. I put a little strip of velcro on it and slapped it right to the bottom of my stage. Good luck. jay Here is a link to a rental house but it has some specs for you. http://www.fvesco.com/rental/video/icon.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Ari Gertler Posted March 26, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 26, 2004 Panavision has constructed a very solid Low/Mode bracket for their 900. They also seemed to have stuffed a 7 pound lead weight in the camera, when compared to the non Panavised Sony 900. Make sure to get an extra cable from Pana that powers up the downconverter (camera to D.converter), as this seems to be a week link. Ari Gertler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brad Grimmett Posted March 26, 2004 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 26, 2004 Micheal I have only used this camera once but it was a week long shoot. The down converter I used was an "ICON". It was great, easy to use and simple to set up. The best part was it was small and light. I put a little strip of velcro on it and slapped it right to the bottom of my stage. Good luck. On every HD job I've done the camera has had a downcoverter on the back of the camera with the battery attached behind that (except with the Miranda). Panavision does this as well, so don't worry about it. It just makes the beast a few inches longer. The only cables I would worry about are start/stop cables. If it's a panavised job they can tell you what you need as far as start/stop cables. I suspect Fred Davis could tell you what you would need for Fuji or Canon lenses....or any other lenses I'm sure. Good luck, and have fun with the "Sky King" of cameras. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry McConkey Posted March 26, 2004 Report Share Posted March 26, 2004 I don't know how available the new systems are, but I used the latest version of a Panavised Sony about 5 weeks ago from Woodland Hills and it was Great!! Much, much lighter and Steadicam friendlier than the original version. Very stiff and lightweight 15mm rod system for motors from a very light and strong baseplate. Downconverter that is virtually built in (screws into the top right back surface of the camera) as well as being small and light. I was using the Tiffen HD monitor for operating, and only used the downconverter for on board recording and video transmission so I can't really give a good evaluation of the converter for operating. Overall, this is now a great system for professional film style operating with the size and weight convenience of a video camera. I loved it. Larry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Davis Posted March 26, 2004 Report Share Posted March 26, 2004 The only cables I would worry about are start/stop cables. If it's a panavised job they can tell you what you need as far as start/stop cables. I suspect Fred Davis could tell you what you would need for Fuji or Canon lenses The interface with the SONY lens is the ubiquitous HIROSE 12-pin. Alternately, some Canons have that big 8-pin. I stock both parts, and can fashion the cables, or provide pinout info for those in a DIY mood. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Dan Coplan Posted October 19, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 For those of you who have flown the F900, how did it go with batteries? I'm about to fly one and I hear it's a battery hog. I have Trimpacs and will be powering the camera, Evertz downconverter, BFD, and wireless video. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Eric Fletcher S.O.C. Posted October 19, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 For those of you who have flown the F900, how did it go with batteries? I'm about to fly one and I hear it's a battery hog. I have Trimpacs and will be powering the camera, Evertz downconverter, BFD, and wireless video. Dan You're screwed. I used to run a Hytron 120 and a hytron 50 paralleled (I know all about dis-similar capacities, they were rental batts) and I would get MAYBE 45mins of run time with them. The F900 can draw 9 amps at idle and 11 amps recording Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Alec Jarnagin SOC Posted October 20, 2006 Moderators Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Dan, Yes, it is a power hog. See what batteries come with the camera. If you can use them on your battery hanger, do so. I recently bought an Anton Bauer to V-lock adapter (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home;jsessionid=F4STn2n7G0!-374292840!1161302547430?ci=1&sb=ps&pn=1&sq=desc&InitialSearch=yes&O=RootPage.jsp&A=search&Q=*&bhs=t&shs=IDX+A-AB2E&image.x=0&image.y=0) for those situations where the camera comes with V-lock batteries. Trimpacs won't last two minutes with that camera! I should add that I also made up cables that go from my junction box video/power port (4 pin Lemo) to AB power tap female so I can power many down converters from this port, splitting power consumption between multiple batteries. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Afton Grant Posted October 20, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Hey Dan, I'll echo the previous two replies about it being a power hog, and trying to power your AKS separately. On a good note, I've worked with the F900 quite a few times. I have yet to break out one of my batteries for the shoot (to power the camera anyway). It will probably come with several Hytrons, or more. If not, the rental house should have them and if you can suggest the production rent them, do so. Be sure to keep unused batteries on the charger. Best of luck, Afton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Burton Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Might be worth mentioning to take the eyepiece off to save some power :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinThwaites Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Hi Dan The Evertz that I know is also a power hog on its own, it also makes the camera very long. If you can use something else (Miranda? AJA?) you will do yourself a favour. Robin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Thomas English Posted October 25, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 Panavision have got the tiniest tiniest miranda that goes in the side of the camera and give s an ntsc SD signal. It is as big as a box of matches, hardly absorbs any power. It s great. It s very old. It s down sides are the screen splits on whip pans and there is a tiny tiny delay, both are very forgivable considering the benifits. I did a feature on it and I loved it. It was in panavision london last Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Eric Fletcher S.O.C. Posted October 25, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 It s down sides are the screen splits on whip pans and there is a tiny tiny delay, both are very forgivable considering the benifits. I did a feature on it and I loved it. It was in panavision london last That "Tiny" Delay is 1/4 of a second Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Thomas English Posted October 28, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted October 28, 2006 1/4 s ! I did not realise/feel it was that long but could have been. I think we had this thread ages ago now. I did the job on it and it was fine as well as a lot lighter. Prep. day..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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