[John Sharaf]

Eric,

Of course this is the correct forum to pose such a query, but building a cyc wall is a pretty unique construction job and outside of the biggest markets you’ll be hard pressed to find a building contractor who has done it before. The actual cost will be determined by the contractor’s bid. The construction design of a coved wall to floor is not too diffucult, just time consuming and requires some skill. The finishing is plaster and again must be applied in a skillful manner. If you are in a big market, where there are cyc studios, I’d recommend inquiring from them who did the work.

JS

[John Sharaf]

Manual for PDW-F355 is on Sony website. Only difference to 350 is dual sided discs and double the record/play time. Here’s link:

https://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/micro-xdcam/cat-broadcastcameras/product-PDWF355L/

JS

[John Sharaf]

Everyone (including Mr. Size) is being very blasee about the application of the ND (or combination 85Nd gel) on the outside of the windows. Obviously you want to do it on the outside to minimize reflections of you lighting instruments, but depending on the type of window, it might be difficult or even impossible to attach the gel so that it doesn’t wrinkle and/or blow in the wind. Sometimes it takes cutting it to fit the panes (like on a window with many small panes in frames) and still this might require black paper tape to fix leaks. I’ve usually found ND9 (three stops) to be the correct amount (using daylight HMI’s inside) but that’s another issue. The ultimate solution is Plexi panels (either ND or 85 combinations) which cost about $200 for a 4×8′ piece and this solves all the problems, and with careful handling and storage are the ideal solution for reuse (as you mentioned on successive weekends). It’s unlikely you’ll be able to reuse or store the gel without destroying it, so I believe, even though the initial cost might be significant, in the long run this might be the best and most elegant solution.

JS

[John Sharaf]

HMI’s make little or no heat and draw about 25% of the power of a comperable tungsten unit, not even considering the color temperature issue. It’s true that they are more expensive, but in most cases are the best, most efficient and elegant solution to day interior shooting.

JS

[John Sharaf]

Andy,

I recently had occasion to send in a PDW510 for software upgrade and Sony replaced the V-groove mount under warranty. You’re story reveals a weakness in the Sony communication system, such that service bulletins are a subscription service for which you must pay. At some point, maybe within your one year warranty, the battery bracket replacement was announced there. Only the biggest of the full service dealers will have the infrastructure to alert their fleet of the upgrade, everyone else is on their own. In this case, I’m sure if you persist and/or ask to speak with the product manager or service manager, you’ll discover the reason(s) for the hardware change. In any event, I’d recommend that you do it; power issues can not only ruin your shoot but can have disastrous effect on the camera.

JS

[John Sharaf]

I hope they’re still under warranty; if so send them in! I’ve never heard of such a problem, but you should definitely involve Panasonic in a solution. Talk to the service manager or product manager.

JS

[John Sharaf]

Dan,

How is this tale turning out? It might be informative for those of us in the forum who might have such an occurrence in the future.

Thanks,

JS

[John Sharaf]

Are they intermittent black squares from material shot on a Varicam?

JS

[John Sharaf]

Dale,

I don’t know about turning down any work in this climate. I would have countered by offering three technicians (two camera and one sound) and the two Varicams for the $3000/day. Two days, that’s $6000. Now of course, as you know, my wife does sound, so all I’d have to spend is about $1000 for the other operator and I net $5000. I’d take that any day. Of course I’d warn the client that the short crew might require a little longer setup and tear down do there might be some false economy, such that the overtime might actually pay for another guy on the crew, and let them decided how they want to proceed.

JMHO,

JS

[John Sharaf]

Michael,

Panasonic has taken some liberty with this product to badge it as a “Varicam” because as your query suggests, it’s capable of only 30 framers per second as the highest frame rate in the progressive mode. It’s my understanding that the the imager overheats when faster frame rates are attempted and are thus locked out. It also might be an issue of recording bandwidth, namely the ability to write 1920×1080 sixty times per second.

The 2700 on the other hand does recreate all the functionality of the original Varicam and adds a better recording format (AVC-I) and full horizontal resolution (no sub sampling down to 980 from 1280)in the recording format.

JS