nofilmschool » f3

Choosing Neutral Density Filters with Infrared Protection: Necessary or Overboard?

Dave Kendricken — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 00:30:19 +0000

At this point, solid state image sensors have matched or exceeded film in a lot of ways, including light sensitivity, responsiveness to shadow detail, and overall dynamic range — but that doesn’t mean our chips aren’t susceptible to certain problems previously avoided by the nature of emulsion. Indeed, ‘sensitivity’ nowadays means something different altogether — and with the virtual necessity of neutral density filters as a result, this often means vulnerability to infrared pollution. Unless you like shooting at f/22 or you’re already using the Aaton Penelope Delta, you may also require an IR filter with your ND. AbelCine has recently shared a great rundown of which cameras suffer the most from IR pollution — and what filters work best to correct each. (more…)

How Do the Canon C300 and Sony F3 Compare in Low Light?

Ryan Koo — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:43:20 +0000

Cameras have been getting more and more sensitive, so it follows that low light tests are a nice showcase of the latest in camera technology. Here, Sebastian Wiegärtner pits the Canon C300 against the Sony F3 (with S-Log) and Canon 7D: (more…)

1080P Camera Shootout: ARRI ALEXA vs Sony F3 (S-Log) vs Canon 7D

Ryan Koo — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:59:49 +0000

I’m always up for a demo of the Sony F3′s S-Log mode, especially when compared to the much more expensive but similar ARRI ALEXA. The F3 has been called a “mini ALEXA” in S-Log mode, and I suppose you could call the Canon 7D a “mini F3,” though no one’s claiming the 7D can hold up to the big boys — it’s here as a reference for HDSLR shooters. Here’s the test, carried out by Hello World Communications using Cooke Panchro lenses: (more…)

The Sony F3 Gets New Zoom Lenses and Another Stop of Exposure with Firmware Update

Ryan Koo — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:02:08 +0000

Has anyone done an official dynamic range test of the Sony F3 with its amazing S-Log firmware enabled? I heard it was 13.5 stops, but now Sony is claiming firmware version 1.20 will add another stop by utilizing Exposure Index S-Log mode (more on this after the jump). Also, Sony will be coming out with two zoom lenses for the F3, making use of the camera’s zoom rocker. Plus, the CBK-3DL01 3D Link option will add the ability to link two F3s together for 3D use, but will apparently cost $5,500. While the F3 is a hell of camera, something tells me that if Sony wants to remain competitive in terms of pricing, after November 3rd they might want to think about their firmware pricing. If you want S-Log and 3D, that’s a total of $9,000 in upgrades on top of the camera’s $14,000 price tag. Then again, if the new S-Log mode does add another stop of exposure, that would put it even with the ARRI ALEXA — and that camera is $75k. (more…)

Sony Releases Details of New NXCAMs, Upgrades the F3 to a 'Mini ALEXA,' and Previews 8K (!) Camera

Ryan Koo — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 02:36:47 +0000

When Sony announced the details of their NEX-VG10 camcorder, I said they were bringing a knife to a gunfight. Times have changed. Sony presented in Japan today a number of their next generation of indie/documentary-friendly cameras, and it’s clear that this time around Sony is bringing a gun to a gunfight. A bunch of guns, as it were. Their just-shipping F3 is already being called a “mini ALEXA” by some, and is going for RED’s jugular (don’t let anyone tell you different). Sony also has several more cameras on the way, and they’re setting their sites on the post-HDSLR market. (more…)