Modern HD camcorders from Sony for E-cinema

By Eldar Kalmykov

Review contents:

Computer with lens Camcorders of Hitachi-Denshi Company High Definition Ikegami camcorders Ikegami camcorders — a realization of any creative tasks Camcorders of the format D-9 and camcorder heads of the JVC Compact HD-camcorder JVC JY-HD10 with 720/30p format Professional DV series camcorders of JVC company New Panasonic camcorders High speed camcorders from Redlake (USA) New generation of the camera heads Sony DXC series New DVCAM camcorders from Sony Company Modern HD camcorders from Sony for E-cinema Camcorders of Grass Valley a Thomson Brand company

In assortment of the Sony equipment there are three models of HD-camcorders with built-in HDCAM recorder, as well as camera head for studio application and connections to external recording device.

In spite of high quality of the signal from studio head (uncompressed signal with 12 bit sampling), more popular in cinema production are camcorders. This is natural since filming requires the comfort of the work with camera not only in studio (in pavilion), but also in the field conditions, from shoulder, on crane, on Steadicam etc. In these cases a camcorder is much practicable, than studio head with triaxial cable, connected to external recording device.

Sony offers the following HDCAM models: HDW-F900 CineAlta, HDW-750P and HDW-730P. The first model is intended specially for cinema production (with the following printing on film), but models 750 and 730 are intended for shooting of documentaries, serials and other high-quality TV-production. The general features for all three camcorders are: recording in HDCAM format; the same type of CCD, allowing get the high resolution materials (1080 TVL); application of cassettes (40 min recording in the mode 50i); the cognate architecture and one-type blocks (the interfaces, tape transports, and so on).

HDW-F900 CineAlta

The leading model HDW-F900 CineAlta “was glorified” that exactly it has been initiated the mass transition of leading world cinema producers from film to electronic technology of shooting. It is well known that famous George Lucas has chosen these camcorders for production of the last two parts “Star wars”. This far from single example, when many known projects were shot by HDW-F900 camcorders. One of last are the participants of Kann film festival “Dogvill” by Larsa von Trier and “Suitcases for Tulisa Lupera” of Peter Grinuey, as well as “Simona”, “Vidok”, “Children of spy-2”, “Lucia and sex” and others. In Russia these camcorders are working actively in cinema as well, including such known producers as “Ugra” and UMP (the projects “Darkenning horsy”, “Fourth desire”, “Denuded nature”, “Failure of Puaro”, “Not even think!”, “Dream is not harmed”, “O’Key”, “Declamatory motion“, ‘Moscow saga’ and others.).

Marketologists from Sony have selected the CineAlta series from the general assortment of the HDCAM equipment. In contrast with other HD equipment (produced by Sony and other manufacturers), exclusive feature of CineAlta is a possibility of the reception of high resolution content (1080 TVL) with ‘cinema’ frequency 24 frames/sec and that is more important, with progressive scanning. The other camcorders with such possibility ‘in one vial’ are not available at the present market.

In contrast with usual 35-mm film, resolution of the picture shot by camcorder HDW-F900 is a little lower (1920×1080 against 2048×1540). However, as have been shown in the studies and by experience, after multiple steps of the processing (development, scanning, editing, positive printing and so on) the quality of film materials becomes comparable, but in some cases is the same. Thereby, 1920×1080 pixels is the level of video quality, which allows to transfer the material on positive film and then project of picture on big screen in the cinema. When shooting is in 24 frames/sec mode, then it is possible to transfer this content on film ‘frame in frame’. This is very important for timing of video row with sound. And, finally, recording with progressive scanning allows greatly drawing near ‘feeling from picture’ to cinematographic (cinelook). This is explained easily. Technically speed 24 frames/sec on film is closer to progressive scanning of camcorder with CCD, then ‘dynamics’ of picture from usual TV and videocamera with interlacing scanning is 50 semiframes/sec that differs from film, which is exposed as full 25 frames/sec.

Very attractive combination for many cinema producers is a quality of cinema picture ‘feeling’ (which provides by Sony HDW-F900) with comfort and flexibility of adjustments, which are usual for modern camcorders.

Here is a short list of digital service functions for adjusting of Sony camcorder HDW-F900 CineAlta:

• Stop motion: applied together with animation and modelling;
• Tele-file: intended for recording of service information about shot material in automatic and manual modes (data about time of the shooting, date, scene number, cassette number). Recording is produced on special chip, built-in in marking sticker on cassette, under each striking the Rec and Return keys. The sticker with built-in chip is named as Tele-file. Recording is produced by non-contact induction method by special devices built-in in camcorder. Reading of information from Tele-file on camcorder is possible, HDW-F500/M2000/2100 board, as well as by means of special devices;
• Multi-Matrix: gives to operator a possibility to tune color settings and change them. Multi-Matrix allows choosing the certain spectral length (the color) and changing the curve of intensity within 22.5°, as well to adjust the level of saturation of the separate spectral components;
• All settings are possible to record on memory card and transfer on any other camcorder. This possibility is key forming setting for devices HDW series. As a matter of fact, this is nothing else than tuning of gamma-curve depending on concrete requirements. Never earlier before appearance of the camcorders for electronic cinema ‘cinema-makers’ could not so simply and quickly work with picture. Earlier this task partly was resolved by change of the film type and applies of compendium filters;
• Digital adjastment of the color temperature (DCTC). The function DCTC allows to install the necessary color temperature of the picture by simple adjustment of camcorder regardless of real nature of scene luminosity. Aside from color correction this regulation is possible to use in creative purpose for reception of ‘warm’ or ‘cool’ picture. In combination with built-in cartridge with four color correction filters the function DCTC allows do without additional compendium color correction filters;
• Function of automatic adjastment of the white balance: automatically traces the change of balance and adjusts it in fluctuation conditions of color temperature of shooting scene. When it is desired this function can be switch out;
• Automatic turning to brightness of the object (Auto knee): allows automatically to analyze luminosity of all parts of the frame and to adjust the gain and sensitivity of the camcorder for maximum correct processing of the picture. This function particularly needs for shooting of objects with unfavourable illumination (for instance, dark person on bright background).

All tuning is possible (and it is necessary!) record on memory card Memory Stick. Then if will appear need to reshoot the scene through big time gap, it is possible easy renew all adjustments and get the picture, greatly close to original. Recording of settings on memory card allows during shooting if required to change different camcorders without additional expenses of time for over-adjustments or, for instance, to carry out multi-camera shooting with equally adjusted camcorders.

HDW-F900 is intended not only for shooting of the material and following transfer on film, but also for the further use of this material in TV with different standards. For this aim there are different camcorder modes:

• 50i — interlaced, 50 Hz. Recording in this mode is easy translated in standard television signal PAL;
• 25 psf — progressive, 25 Hz. It is applied in many countries, working in PAL, where cinema film is shot at 25 frames/sec. Also in this mode there is a possibility of lowering transformation of the videosignal to 625 lines/50 fields corresponding to TV signal PAL;
• 60i, 59.94i, 29.97 PsF, 30 PsF: the modes for provision of content compatibility with local NTSC version (USA, Japan etc.).

Thereby, camcorder CineAlta is applicable for decision of many tasks of cinema and TV production. Moreover, the unified modification of the camcorder for any market (USA, Japan, Europe, and Asia) is existed.

HDW-F900 is compatible with many additional devices and accessories, which fall into ‘gentleman set’ of any cameraman. Nearly all of these are made by outside producers, which are orientated on CineAlta as on standard of the camcorder for cinema. The specific lenses pertain to list of such accessories for cinema production (variolenses, cinestyle, lenses with fixed focusing and 35-mm cinema lenses PL-mount, set up with help of the special adapter), ‘cinema’ viewfinder of the type ‘tubule’, color liquid-cristal viewfinder-monitor, mounted on camcorder, additional adapters for increase of monitor (up to 4) and sound (up to 8) outputs, as well as compendiums and filters of the different purpose.

HDW-730P

The camcorders Sony HDW-750P and HDW-730P are not simplified version of HDW-F900. They have its own design concept, which is linking with concrete production tasks.

These camcorders have had some options, providing comfortable application at shooting of materials for television. For instance, when optional board HKDW-701 is using, we can get an usual SDI-output and to connect inexpensive video monitor or to copy the material directly to any VTR by PAL standard (naturally, the VTR would be equipped by SDI-interface). At 700 series camcorders in standard modification the HD SDI interface is presented.

HDW-750P

Due to small dimensions and low weight the HDW-730/750P is comfortable for using by reporters.

These camcorders have not the possibilities required for compatibility of content with cinema film. So HDW-730P has only mode 50i, HDW-750P works in mode 50i or 25PsF.

Besides, the decrease of the price of these camcorders in comparison with CineAlta is reached by sound quality reduction (from 20 to 16 bits) and using 10-bit ADC (instead of 12-bit).

Sony HDW-730P is designed for production of the news and TV-programs, but Sony HDW-750P can be used for shooting of the high-quality television production (the serials, travel programs, etc.). The camcorders Sony HDW is compatible with wide-spread accessories, broadly applying in all TV-companies: with standard accumulator batteries with fastening by V-lock, lens with 2/3" bayonet fastening etc.

Material provided by D&K Corporation