January 28, 2009
With its film-style ergonomics and broad dynamic range, Sony’s F23 digital cinematography camera was a popular production tool for motion picture and television projects in 2008, with that trend continuing into 2009.
The camera was used to shoot several upcoming productions, including Tekken, Public Enemies and Final Destination 4, as well as many of 2008’s box office successes, including Cloverfield, Quarantine and Speed Racer.
On the TV schedule, the camera is behind the scenes of Privileged, Weeds, Gossip Girl, The Starter Wife and Knight Rider, among others.
“The F23 has excellent dynamic range, handling highlights beautifully with a film-like quality,” says Glen MacPherson, director of photography for Final Destination 4, the first digital 3D action movie to be shot on location instead of primarily behind a blue or greenscreen. “It’s also virtually noiseless in the shadows, and the 2/3-inch image sensor is ideal for shooting 3D. The F23 is my camera of choice for all those reasons.”
The F23 camera uses three 2.2-megabit 2/3-inch type progressive CCD imagers and a 14-bit analog-to-digital converter. The system supports multiple 1080 formats, including 24fps and 60fps in progressive mode.
“The F23’s feature sets are expanded from our previous 24p cameras,” says Rick Harding, senior manager in Sony Electronics’ Content Creation Systems Group. “It can shoot true variable frame rate [exposure time matches frame rate] and speed ramping [1fps to 60fps]. These functions are available to the director on the set in real time and can be immediately reviewed. There is no post step required. These features, along with compatibility with ARRI accessories, ultimately mean familiar operations, higher quality images, lower production costs and more footage at the end of the day’s shoot.”
The camera delivers 12.5 stops of latitude. Cinematographers can also work in log mode, a camera setting that “allows for an even more film-like shooting experience,” according to Harding.
Sam Nicholson, founder and CEO of Stargate Digital, worked with the F23 on Knight Rider. He notes the cost- and time-saving advantages of working with the camera’s dockable recorder, since it requires no reloading in the field and its “perfectly integrated speed ramps that go from 0 to 60fps at the turn of a knob, minimizing the need for on-set adjustments.”
Nicholson is working with the F35 as VFX DP for a pilot drama called Defying Gravity, a fictional space epic about the first manned space mission across the solar system.
“The real attributes of the F23 and F35 are their bullet-proof HDCAM SR workflows,” adds Nicholson. “These are the most smoothly integrated cameras on the market.”
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