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Colour Viewfinders for variCam
Just a quick note to inform fellow cows of some recent VariCam developments from the land ‘down-under’…
We are the Australasian distributors for the AccuScene viewfinders and as we are a rental house as well, it was a top priority of our to get the AccuScene to ‘talk’ to our Varicams. We’d been supplying our F900/3 cameras with the Sony 2.7″ HD Colour viewfinder for some time and as the question kept coming up, “why can’t I have a colour V/F on the Varicam…”
We decided it was time to explore all of the possibilities.
We did this successfully by using the AJA HD-SDI to HD component converter velcroed to the side of the camera. This is then plugged in to the Varicam V/F box supplied by AccuScene. We then run a normal 12v input in to device and ‘presto’… a full res colour viewfinder on the Varicam, with all menus and all the normal range of the usual viewfinder information.
One of the best things about this setup is seeing the look on our customer’s faces when they look through the viewfinder for the first time, 99.9% of them are completely overwhelmed at the quality of the image and conseqently they are instantly more relaxed about shooting on this format.
Interestingly, the exact same viewfinder system works on our Sony F900/3 cameras as well… albeit without the need for the AJA interface, but with the exact same picture quality. This also makes the Accuscene a powerfull constant between the two formats. If the DP gets enough confidence with the AccuScene and all of its own idiosyncracies, the transition from one format to the other is far less painfull.
The AccuScene is a very powerful tool on set, its ‘exposure mode’ function could be argued to be a better gauge of exposures than the traditional waveform monitor. Not only can it replace the need for a waveform on set, it can also replace the need for an expensive, power hungry HD reference monitor as well.
The image it produces is that good.
Coincidently, the AccuScene also works with the Viper system and of course, it is also fitted to the new Panavision Genesis cameras as well, now hows that for a cross platform device…?
If anyone would like to see photos etc of our system, or would like to buy/rent such a system, drop us an e-mail and we’d be happy to help.
Rgd’s
Andrew Timlin
Broadcam Pty Ltd –
HD & SD Broadcast Equipment Hire, Sydney, Australia.
http://www.broadcam.com.au -
4 Replies
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I saw the image from the accuscene at NAB. Color, contrast, and sharpness were amazing. Color viewing is essential to HD cinematography. The accuscene is an excellent product, but very expensive. I wish Panasonic could see how important this issue is… their recent effort to offer a color finder was terminated. This is unfortunate… once you see the image from the accuscene, you won’t want to shoot with the B/W finder.
Every Sony camera at NAB had a color finder on it.
Chris Bell, cinematographer
http://www.spotshooter.com
varicam owner/op -
Hi there
I’d love more info and any pictures you may have. I’m a DP/Lighting Cameraman in the UK and although I have not used the Varicam yet, I expect to shoot with one shortly.
Regards
Ian McCann
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Ian
If you can send me your e-mail details, I’ll send you some info and a couple of stills that I have of our setup. Are you aware that the AccuScene is actually made in Scotland? Do you get over to Scotland at all? If so, give them a call and I’m sure they will be happy to show you the product. (www.accuscene.com)
Talk soon…
Rgd’s
Andrew
Broadcam Pty Ltd –
HD & SD Broadcast Equipment Hire, Sydney, Australia.
http://www.broadcam.com.au -
Hi Andrew
Thanks for that. My email address is ianmccann@btinternet.com
Whereabouts isn Scotland and no I was not aware they come from Scotland.
Regards
Ian
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