The new
PMW-F3 camcorder is designed for a range of digital production applications -- from
commercial, documentary, television and feature film production to markets such
as education, corporate and government and more.
“Sony
has a long and successful track record of developing digital production
technologies that give producers at any level access to the highest-quality
imaging tools and the right workflow for their needs,” said Alec Shapiro,
senior vice president, sales and marketing for Sony Electronics’ Professional
Solutions of America group. “With the new F3, we’re putting the full power of
our expertise to work for professional shooters, resulting in high-performance
digital capabilities at an ‘indie’ price.”
The new
compact camcorder has a basic list price of $16,000. That, combined with the
availability of a low-cost PL lens kit, which includes 35/50/85mm T2.0 fixed
focal length lenses, broadens
the camcorder’s range of potential applications and gives users more
flexibility in lens selection. For example, it is ideal for use as a 2nd
unit 35mm camera to complement to Sony’s F35 and SRW-9000PL, which are also PL Mount, S-35mm cameras.
The new
F3 camcorder is based on Sony’s XDCAM EX workflow and uses Sony’s SxS™
ExpressCard-based recording media format. Its Super 35mm CMOS imager delivers shallow depth of field, with high
sensitivity and low noise levels (ISO 800, F11; and S/N ratio of 63dB in
1920x1080/59.94i mode), as well as wide dynamic range.
The
camcorder offers shooters a wide range of image creation options. Through the
use of an HD-SDI dual-link output for
external recording (4:2:2 1080 50/59.94P as standard; and RGB 1080
23.98/25/29.97PsF as an option), footage shot with the F3 can be seamlessly inter-cut with content
shot on Sony’s F35 or SRW-9000PL cameras.
Additionally,
“S-Log” and “Hyper Gamma” can be selected. This can significantly increase the camera’s performance of dynamic range. S-Log is Sony’s unique approach to the raw “Digital Negative,” allowing
access to the full dynamic range of the Super35mm imager for maximum flexibility in
image manipulation during post production. This capability combined with the
widely used SxS format lets
users take advantage of already well-established XDCAM EX and HDCAM SR workflows.
Recording
formats include 1920x1080, 1440x1080, and 1280x720 at 23.98/25/29.97p,
50/59.94i and, in DVCAM mode, 25/29.97PsF and 50/59.94i. Shooters can also take
advantage of “slow” and “quick” recording, from 1 to 30 fps at 1920x1080 (17 to
30 fps in dual-link mode) and 1 to 60 fps at 1280x720 (17 to 60 fps in
dual-link mode).
The PMW-F3’s PL mount adapter can
accommodate both PL and upcoming Sony’s zoom lenses, and offers compatibility
with a variety of cine lenses such as Cooke, Fujinon and Zeiss.
As with all its digital motion picture production technologies,
Sony is also planning to introduce a compatible SR Memory Portable
Recorder for
the PMW-F3 camcorder. SR
Memory, Sony’s new high-speed, high-capacity card format will give users the
ability to record directly to the industry standard HDCAM SR codec using the SR
Memory Portable Recorder
connected to the F3 camera’s single-link and dual-link output.
The
camera will also support Look-up Table (LUT), unique for dailies and on-set
color management. Up to four LUT’s can be stored in the camera and stamped onto
the footage on the SxS card, simultaneously using the camera’s dual link output
with S-Log for the unprocessed image. This creates the perfect off-line,
on-line workflow combining the SxS and SR codec, with the SR Memory Portable
Recorder connected to
the F3 and recording to the SR codec.
The
PMW-F3 is just the latest stop on Sony’s digital 35 mm roadmap, continuing the
leadership position in digital motion picture production that was solidified
with “film style” cameras like the F23 and F35, and most recently with the
first camcorder to integrate the HDCAM SR format, the SRW-9000PL.
“Sony
cameras have shot everything from documentaries to big-budget blockbusters,
winning industry awards and totaling more than $12 billion at the box office,”
said Shapiro. “The F3 continues our history of innovation as the first
professional camcorder to integrate S-35mm technology in an affordable,
portable form factor.”
The PMW-F3 camcorder will be available in February 2011,
for a suggested list price of $16,000 (PMW-F3L, without lens) and $23,000
(PMW-F3K (with PL Lens kit).
