Sony HDW-F900R User Manual

Sony Digital Camcorder

HDW-F900R

CineAlta

– Liberating Movie Producers

CineAlta – a name that proudly symbolizes the bond between

cinematography and Digital high-definition imaging. It distinguishes a

Sony family of products and systems that offer new levels of creativity

in the production, postproduction, and exchange of motion pictures.

It also brings together the quality and universality of 24-frame

cinematography with the real-time capabilities, efficiency, and

flexibility of Digital high-definition technology.

And it stimulates the convergence of Motion Picture Film and Digital

high-definition production on a global basis.

CineAlta products, delivering cinema-quality pictures at selectable

frame rates, are simplifying International Program Exchange by

minimizing the need for standards conversion. They are also opening

up entirely new possibilities for international co-production. Movie

making has been liberated by the creative empowerment of the

cinematographer. It is facilitated by real-time HD image evaluation

on-set, instant replay of full-color high-resolution digital “takes,”

real-time image optimization while shooting, a 50-minute shooting

load, and most importantly, by the significant cost-benefits associated

with this digital medium.

CineAlta products provide a seamless bridge between 24-frame film

originals and a final 24P digital master, giving each frame of film a

one-to-one correspondence with progressive HD frames. The CineAlta

environment readily interfaces with the computer graphics world,

liberating postproduction. And the final liberation is achieved through

the direct color conversion of progressive 24P masters to film, and to a

host of other international digital HDTV and SDTV distribution formats.

Exploring

In 2000, Sony set a groundbreaking milestone in the motion picture industry by introducing the HDW-F900 camcorder, which enabled high-definition digital images to be recorded onto digital tape at 24 frames per second. This totally new concept of 24P-based digital recording, together with the enabling Sony products, was named “CineAlta”, and has since been embraced by an ever-broadening spectrum of producers, directors, and cinematographers all over the world. The HDW-F900, the first CineAlta camcorder, has served as an invaluable tool in movie and television program creation, bringing a new, higher level of picture quality, efficiency, and flexibility to the production process.

After the introduction of the HDW-F900 model, Sony has been continuously enhancing the CineAlta line by attentively listening to the customers’ much diverse requirements. One of the most remarkable evolutions of the CineAlta line was the introduction of the HDC-F950 RGB 4:4:4 cameras and the HDCAM-SR format in addition to the HDW-F900 and its companion HDCAM-format VTRs. This new system concept was born of the requests of moviemakers working on highly exacting special effects sequences and producers creating elaborate commercials for

cinema and television presentation. With these CineAlta products using the HDCAMTMand HDCAM-SR formats, Sony offers an outstandingly comprehensive range of high-quality gears, which allows customers to select most appropriate equipment depending on their requirements for picture quality, budgets, applications.

This highly respected HDW-F900 camcorder has now evolved into the next-generation HDW-F900R, offering a variety of further enhanced functionalities. The HDW-F900R camcorder records images in accordance with the CIF (Common Image Format) standard, which specifies a sampling structure of 1920 x 1080 active pixels (horizontal x vertical). Plus, as well as recording at 24P, the HDW-F900R camcorder is switchable to record at 25P, 29.97P progressive scan, and also at 50 or 59.94 Hz interlaced scan. The camcorder also provides a comprehensive range of features for creative shooting such as enhanced gamma features and colorimetry controls. Plus, the design of the HDW-F900R is

highly compact and lightweight, giving

users higher levels of mobility and comfort when shooting.

To further enhance

the creative and

operational versatility of the camcorder, a

wide range of optional accessories are available. These include a picture cache board, a 2-3 Pull-down

and down converter board, and a

slow-shutter board.

In combination with

its renowned 24P capability and

attractive cost efficiency, all of these

great functionalities make the

HDW-F900R the perfect solution for

shooting television series,

documentaries, commercials, as well as motion pictures.

New Creative Ways of Movie and TV Program Production

Motion-capture for Cinematic Image Making

Creative Versatility

This is the area where film and video have, up until now, differed most. Every film camera exposes a succession of still images (most usually 24 frames per second) that, when projected, effectively reproduce motion. Because of the time required for a film transport to move from frame to frame, half of the action is not registered and this gives material originated on film its specific footprint. On the other hand, many of digital cameras record interlaced images where two fields with temporal offset are used to capture one frame. This covers almost the entire action, giving a smoother motion portrayal than film images captured at lower frame rate. When an HDW-F900R is set to a 24P frame rate and with a shutter speed of 1/48 second, it captures moving pictures in precisely the same manner as the film camera and produces results with the same motion footprint as footage shot on film. The overall result is comparable to 35 mm film origination. As well as a 24P frame rate, the HDW-F900R has a unique range of optional frame rates available. The progressive CCD sensor is able to capture progressive images at frame rates at

23.98, 24, 25, and 29.97 frames per second. Traditional interlace material can also be captured when an HDW-F900R is set to field rates of 50, and 59.94 Hz interlace. The extent of these frame rates provides the ability to shoot in both the film and television program genres. It also offers the means for some creative speed change for special effects (for example shoot at 29.97P and playback at 24P slow motion).

The 24-frame progressive capability of the HDCAM format converges digital and film imaging, offering a new and novel creative flexibility for prime time television production, commercial production, and movie-making. Since Sony introduced the HDCAM format in 1997, it has been field proven worldwide, as a technology that offers highly mobile, compact, and exceptional-quality 1080/60i digital acquisition and recording solutions. This reliable and robust format consistently delivers superb picture quality and is efficiently packaged onto 1/2-inch tape.

The state-of-the-art, Sony HDCAM compression scheme is a frame-based digital compression strategy, where every frame of the signal is treated as a single entity. HDCAM maintains exceptionally high picture quality and multi-generation robustness for both progressive and interlace signals.

Advanced digital pre-filtering and dynamic bit-allocation for luminance and chrominance components (based on the statistical analysis of the picture content) are combined with a mild compression ratio of 4.4 to 1 to give a total on-tape recorded data rate of a modest 185 Mb/s at 60i. This, in turn, provides high-integrity camcorder recording in hostile environmental conditions.

The frame rate switchability of the camcorder allows 24, 25 or 30 progressive frames per second capture as well as a choice of either 50 or 60 Hz interlace – all at the push of a button. In the same way that a film camera runs longer at a lower frame rate, the HDW-F900R records longer runs when operating at the lower frame rates. Consequently a BCT-40HD cassette, records up to 40 minutes of 60i or records up to 50 minutes of 24P, cinema-quality, material. The costs of the HDCAM tapes are much less expensive than those of film, bringing tremendous cost benefits in shooting.

The HDCAM Format

The Art of Image-making

The progressive scan CCD sensor at the heart of the HDW-F900R marks a significant advance in Sony HAD CCD technology. It is a development that now makes possible image capture over a range of frame rates, so that their quality is at the highest possible level. This progressive scan CCD sensor provides a sensitivity of f10 at 2,000 lux (at

59.94i) providing subjectively noise and grain-free pictures. At 24 fps, with a 1/48-second shutter speed (equivalent to a 180º film camera shutter setting), the exposure index of the HDW-F900R is approximately equivalent to 300 ISO*. It allows the acquisition of gain-free imagery in deeply shadowed areas of a scene. Superb CCD highlight-handling greatly extends the Exposure Latitude of the camera allowing directors the dramatic freedom to shoot and capture extreme highlights in otherwise low-key scenes.

Based on Sony’s own measurements.

The Mastery of Signal Processing

Picture Tonal Reproduction is substantially enriched in the HDW-F900R by the adoption of an advanced CCD with a wide dynamic range and a 12-bit A/D converter that is then followed by powerful, high-speed, Advanced Digital Signal Processing (ADSP). ADSP allows the active manipulation of many picture parameters to expand the use of in-camera effects.

New Ergonomics

As part of Sony’s continuous efforts to make the design of our camcorders to be user-friendly and practical, stylish and appealing, the design of the new HDW-F900R has been greatly refined to increase the comfort and versatility. One of the most significant features in the HDW-F900R design is the camcorder’s compact size – the length of the camera body is 20% shorter compared to the previous model. In addition to its compact size, the HDW-F900R provides HD-SDI output directly from the camera body, moving from analog outputs of the preceding model. The more compact nature of the camcorder makes it extremely easy and flexible to use when shooting in space-constrained locations, such as in a car. The HDW-F900R is also extremely lightweight –

2.6 kg lighter than the previous model. Even with the viewfinder, battery, cassette, microphone, and a small variable or fixed-focal length lens, the total weight is only approximately 5.4 kg (12 lb). The streamlined design inherits the superb weight distribution and balance from the previous model, yet provides much higher mobility, making the camcorder particularly suitable for hand-held shots. It also sits comfortably on the shoulder and can be more easily carried. The HDW-F900R incorporates a B-4 lens mount that facilitates quick lens replacement, which is also reinforced to support heavy lenses. All switches, meters, and indicators are positioned in the most logical places for optimum functionality and ease of use. It can be readily mounted on a Steadicam™ system or mounted on a tripod, geared-head, or motion-control system. This compact and lightweight camera opens new possibilities for creative camera work, while delivering uncompromising picture quality.

Internal Light System

A two-pin socket in the HDW-F900R provides up to 50 watts of power from the attached lithium-ion battery. This can be used to power a variety of ancillary devices, including a front-light that can be mounted on the upper part of the handle. The power can be switched on and off manually or, when in Auto mode, it can be set to be synchronized with the operation of the Record button.

Cassette Loading

The cassette loading of the HDW-F900R is fast, simple, and reliable. It takes less than 5 seconds* for cassette change. This facility and long recording runs (40-50 minutes depending on the selected frame-rate) offer higher levels of efficiency on location. The loading mechanism is robust and designed to be dust-, moisture-, and drip-resistant. The vertical cassette loading also helps to minimize the risk of airborne contaminants from entering the loading mechanism.

Based on Sony’s own measurements.

Extended Clear Scan

The Extended Clear Scan function is particularly useful when shooting scenes that contain computer or TV screens as it minimize the horizontal bars that can appear. The ECS shutter speed is continuously variable. When the camera is operated at 24P with a 1/48second shutter speed, it exactly emulates the motion blur of a film camera operating at 24 fps with a 180º shutter.

High Quality Audio Recordings

The HDW-F900R is equipped with a range of balanced audio interfaces; an analog 5-pin XLR connector for stereo audio output, two 3-pin XLR connectors with selectable MIC/Line level input, and the front microphone input. The two 3-pin XLR connectors can also be switched to accept four channels of AES/EBU digital audio input.

Optical Filter Wheels

For the optical picture treatment, two independent filter wheels (each with four filter positions) are provided on the HDW-F900R, one with for Neutral Density (ND) and one with Color Correction (CC) filters are installed.

Safety Zone Marker

To allow for individual production requirements, the HDW-F900R provides a Safety Zone Marker user adjustable for any aspect ratio.

Simulated image

+ 14 hidden pages