How does RED One compare with Sony HDW-F900 ?

[cinemano]

Hello

Can anyone tell me how a RED one would compare to the Sony 900 HD camera used for later film transfers.. in terms of side by side image comparisons?

[Craig Bowman]

Rent one of each and see for yourself by shooting under identical circumstances.

[Zakaree Sandberg]

it doesnt

[laguun]

Hello

Can anyone tell me how a RED one would compare to the Sony 900 HD camera used for later film transfers.. in terms of side by side image comparisons?

Both are excellent cameras for film out. You can see houndreds of movies shot on the Sonys, just rent out some dvd/bluray or visit a cinema.

The main differences are the Depth of field, Red choice from S35-2/3, Sony 2/3 and S35 only with adapter. The resolution of red is higher, however both cameras resolve above typical theatrical 35mm exhibition.

If you intend to shoot greenscreen, with 900 its recommendable to directly record uncompressed to disk, in order to bypass the resolution limiting tape recorder.

For doc the 50 min recording time of the sony are good to have (red is at <5 min in 4k, <20 min in 2K right now), however the 900 will only shoot up to 1080i60 while the red goes up to 2Kp96, which is great for slowmotion.

Workflowise they are very different, sony does everything -in- the camera in realtime and record/digitize/playout etc are all realtime in its max quality. The red has a raw basing workflow which allows you to access the image data later on in postproduction in more detail, however it requires "developping" time.

I agree with the statement that its best to check out both for yourself, but if you want 35mm DOF go for red instead for a sony with 35mm adaptor.

[David Birdy]

We have a shoot-out planned in the spring with one Varicam, one F900,
one 35mm film camera and one RED... I expect the RED to do very well.
This test will have have multiple stages including following a race car.

David

[chuck colburn]

The Sony is heavier.

[laguun]

The Sony is heavier.

?

The actual formfactor (F900R/790/750) is ~11 lbs (with tape & battery), red is at ~10?

Are you referring to the older & discontinued F900(without R)?

[laguun]

We have a shoot-out planned in the spring with one Varicam, one F900,
one 35mm film camera and one RED... I expect the RED to do very well.
This test will have have multiple stages including following a race car.

David

Poor Varicam - are you shure putting this 1,2 K camera in that shootout is fair?
I would compare RED in a testshot rather with thomson viper/panavision genesis.

I would recommend to test the 900R also with discrecording (if you use the 900R with tape, you will measure the tape, not the camerahead - when run via hd-sdi its 10bit uncompressed, via tape its 8 bit reduced). We often use discrecording (or SR) for critical shots, the quality improvement is relevant.

[David Birdy]

Poor Varicam - are you shure putting this 1,2 K camera in that shootout is fair?
I would compare RED in a testshot rather with thomson viper/panavision genesis.

I would recommend to test the 900R also with discrecording (if you use the 900R with tape, you will measure the tape, not the camerahead - when run via hd-sdi its 10bit uncompressed, via tape its 8 bit reduced). We often use discrecording (or SR) for critical shots, the quality improvement is relevant.

You have a valid point..However this test is built around my clients needs.

They are currently using the makes and models of the cameras I described, so it's relevant to their needs. It's a comparison with the cameras they currently use.

[Nick Bennett]

I've not had chance to compare the two camera's as my Red hasn't arrived yet but my F900R looks pretty good with the Pro35 and Zeiss super speeds,

I have a clip at: www.hdcrew.co.uk

It's not test footage and it's aslo compressed but it should give you some idea of what it looks like.

Nick

[Michael Brennan]

Results from any serious f900 v RED comparison tests by larger rental companies have not been released.

I'm assuming that there exists a reticence to distribute tests from the Beta 1 camera now that the production model has just become available.



Mike Brennan

[diondruyts]

Is it not rather sad that we seriously compare the RED wit an ordinary HDCAM camera.
Was it not not initially the idea to build a camera that would be the best Digital Cinema Camera in the world?
Talking about inflation...

[Álex Montoya]

Welcome to the forum, Dion.

[Jonathan Smiles]

Hello

Can anyone tell me how a RED one would compare to the Sony 900 HD camera used for later film transfers.. in terms of side by side image comparisons?

No comparison, keep in mind I was HD Supervisor for Earth the Planet Earth feature film which had significant amount of Varicam and F900. Currently I am RED Camera Supervisor on a major feature.

The F900 HDCAM tapes are 8bit 1440x1080 3:1:1 equivalent colour sampling and the images can be noisy. You Red footage would be 12bit 4096 wide.

So the Red footage has more detail, better colour clarity, shallower depth of field.

[Patrick Tresch]

Iaguun!!!

You have to edit your post.

RED made headlines again...
RED RAID extand recording time.

See you.

Pat