2012-2013

So, I spent much of 2012 using the F3 with a Ki Pro mini, and without.

I suppose its not news to many readers that the F3 is capable of great looking picture, especially with cine lenses.

I have found that it gets even better looking with an offboard recorder. 

What was a surprise to me is that the camera is so low light sensitive.  While lighting design is always critical to getting a cinematic picture, I am very pleased at what can be achieved with very delicate amounts of light from soft sources and practicals.

Clips to come soon

Sony F3 now with S Log

So, I have been happy with my f3 and Ki-Pro Mini combination, but was intrigued by the S-Log upgrade option.

I was not sure I understood how shooting with the log curves worked, to be honest, and spent a great deal of time reading, looking at clips, etc.

As Sony made a great offer to owners of the camera who purchased within the period when I got mine, I took advantage of it.

For this upgrade, you send in documents to Sony's service center, and are put on a waiting list for them to upgrade your camera.

They call you, and you send it in.  Once they receive it, they call you to get payment, they service the camera, and ship it right back to you. In my case, from my shipping to the return of the camera was a 4 business day turn around.

Initial impressions:

Wow, the camera can almost see in the dark now!  With S-log enabled, and 12db gain, I can see detail in a very dark interior hallway!  Not sure I would use that image, as it's not pretty, but it is an image.

Basically, they also installed firmware 1.31 along with the S-Log unlocking (no card sent to me, but I use an offboard recorder anyway.

I am shooting a film in the next week with this camera, and am spending the next few days testing lighting and workflow. 

I will be using partial capability of the codec, as I have almost no fx shots, and am recording in ProresHQ422.

Watch this space for new notes!

ICG Local 600 Member

I have recently joined Local 600 as a camera operator.  This has seemed a natural progression for me, as I have been using film and video and now digital acquisition cameras for over a decade and a half, buying my first movie camera (a Bell & Howell 70krm) in 1992.  I find myself spending more and more of my time with studio and network fiction narrative productions, and look to transition into being on the principal unit, as well as the documentary unit.

THE LITTLE DEATH BTS CLIP

This is a brief introduction to Bret Wood's psychological drama period piece, "The Little Death."  It comes out in February on Kino/Lorber.  Please either buy a copy, or reserve it in your Netflix queue.  I am proud to have helped make a small contribution as a producer/dp of the BTS documentary interviews.

It is a very Mamet feeling movie, with undertones of sexual politics and philosophy.  And it is beautifully shot and art directed.  I would recommend it even if I did not know the director.

Features, EPK, BTS, Music Videos, Television? Yeah, I have done those.