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The HDW-F900R is a high definition camcorder recording to the HDCAM format. It can operate at a range of frame rates, in both interlace and progressive scanning modes. It builds on the performance of the HDW-F900 and incorporates many features of the HDW-750P, including the mechanical chassis design.
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As usual with these guides, the general philosophy is to record as much information as cleanly as possible to the tape. There are many ways you can change the look of your pictures in camera, but unless you’re sure you’re going to get exactly the final effect you want, then you’re probably better spending time on lighting and composition.
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The following are the most important differences: HDW-F900R HDW-F900 HDW-750P Frame Rates 23.98P/24P/25P/29.97P 23.98P/24P/25P/29.97P 25P 50i 50i/59.94i/ 30P/50i/ 59.94i/60i Camera A/D 12 bit 12 bit 10 bit Output connections HDSDI, HD Y, options for HD Y,Pb,Pr HDSDI, HD Y, options...
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Things that affect the way switches, outputs and displays are configured. Not items that directly affect pictures, but affect the way the controls work. Paint Menu • Picture control. ‘The look’. Detail, Gamma, Knee etc. are all adjusted in this menu. Also has access to scene files to store and recall different ‘looks’.
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That’s probably enough. The files are very small, so you can use the smallest capacity memory stick you can find. Doesn’t have to be Sony (though files loaded from a Sony stick will of course give a much more pleasing look to your pictures). Memory stick duo or pro won’t work, but ‘magic gate’...
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3.5 Loading Files Load and save operations relate to file transfer to and from memory stick. Store and recall relate to file transfer within the camera. If you have a memory stick with setups already stored on it: Open the side panel and insert the memory stick. The red LED will light if the memory stick is recognised.
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Check the camcorder is set to the correct frame rate. Frame rate cannot be selected by loading files, as changing frame rate requires power down and power up. You can however store the frame rate you wish to use in a file, and you will get a prompt to change the frame rate during the file load process if it’s not set to the one associated with the file.
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The HDCAM format allows for many different frame rates. Progressive scan modes will give you similar motion artefacts (flicker and blur ) to film acquisition (see also the next section on use of the shutter.) In 50i mode you will have the same motion artefacts as with Digital Betacam, but at a much higher resolution of course.
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The gain selections available from the switch on the side of the camcorder can be programmed in the user menu just like other camcorders. A further option, available via the service menu, is to have the gain level displayed as an ISO / ASA sensitivity rating.
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SD monitoring of 1080/23.98P signals on a conventional NTSC monitor. This board also enables SD output to the HDW-F900R’s viewfinder or a monitor connected to the camcorder during 23.98P recording. With this function, users can check images on the viewfinder or monitor without the flickers that usually occur from 23.98P recording.
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There’s less range available on the F900R, and you can no longer artificially soften pictures. Setting detail below about –70 on the 750P / 730S introduces negative detail correction. For pretty much any Sony camera you can think of, you won’t go far wrong with the detail set •...
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The CVP file editor is a utility that allows you to create gamma curves in an excel type format, and convert them to a file format compatible with the camcorder. It is downloadable, free of charge, from https://www.ecspert.sony.biz/ecsite/center/registUserInfo?action=regulationsDirect You’ll need to register first, and nobody would suggest it’s a user friendly program, but you can create and load your own gamma curves.
15.0 Lenses The lens mount is the standard 2/3” bayonet mount, and all the main manufacturers provide a range of HD lenses, in film style and EFP variants, plus several sets of primes. You can of course use SD lenses on HD cameras, and they’ll function perfectly well. It does seem a bit like buying a very expensive hi-fi system and using some cheap speakers though.
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OPERATION MENU 01 OUTPUT SELECT Highest quality output for critical monitoring, or recording to external device. Max cable run approx HD SDI OUT on/off 60m. Uses power, so turn off if you need to conserve batteries. Composite video (VBS) or SDI selectable from this output, as long as the downconverter option is SD REAR BNC OUT VBS/SDI/off installed.
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07 ! LED On/off There’s a warning ! marker that will appear in the viewfinder according to the way this page is set. GAIN On/off If you set an item to ‘on’ , then the ! will appear if that function is SHUTTER On/off WHITE BAL...
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15 SET STATUS On/off The status toggle switch on the side of the camera pages through 3 status pages. STATUS ABNORML On/off The first page tells you what the ! warning is triggered by, second page tells you frame rate, video STATUS FUNC.
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03 BLACK Master black lifts or darkens low luminance areas of the picture. Also known as pedestal. MASTER BLACK -99 to 99 (0) Individual colour blacks change the colour balance in low luminance areas. R BLACK -99 to 99 (0) B BLACK -99 to 99 (0) MASTER FLARE...
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10 SD DETAIL There is a separate detail circuit for the down-converted SD output. Doesn’t affect recorded pictures. SD DETAIL Off/on SD detail acts after and in addition to the HD detail circuit. SD DETAIL LVL -99 to 99 (0) SD CRISPENING -99 to 99 (0) SD DETAIL WHITE LIMIT...
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MAINTENANCE MENU 01 WHT SHADING White shading is used to correct lens errors. SHADING CH SELECT R/G/B You need a high quality light-box or sphere to perform any white shading adjustment. OUTPUT SELECT Y/R/G/B RGB WHITE H SAW -99 to 99 RGB WHITE H PARABOLA -99 to 99 RGB WHITE V SAW -99 to 99...
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09 TIMECODE Auto/gene TC OUT DF/NDF DF/NDF EXT-LK DF/NDF Int/ext EXT-LK UBIT Int/Ext Fix/time LTC UBIT VITC UBIT Fix/time WATCH AUTO ADJ Off/on UBIT GROUP ID 000/101 10 VTR MODE REC TALLY BLINK Off/on REC START BEEP Off/on LCD DISP HOLD TIMER/off/cont LCD HOLD TIMER 1h/3h/8h...
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16 ND COMP ND OFFSET ADJUST Off/on CLEAR ND OFFSET Exec ND ADJUST MODE 17 FORMAT CURRENT 59.94i, 50i, 23.98P, 24P, NEXT 25P, 29.97P 18 VANC RX UMID LINE 1 UMID LINE 2 FILE MENU 01 USER FILE USER FILE LOAD Off/on USER FILE SAVE Off/on...
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F07 LENS FILE 1 LENS FILE RECALL LENS FILE STORE FILE ID SOURCE LENS NO OFFSET LENS AUTO RECALL LENS ID LENS MANUFACTURER F08 LENS FILE 2 LENS M V MOD -99 to 99 (0) LENS CENTRE H -480 to 479 (0) LENS CENTRE V -270 to 269 (0) OUTPUT SELECT...