Zsigmond James

I've just found some behind the scenes Video on youtube, and the only camera that I can spot, is the Alexa.

Even if they did shoot some scenes on F65, It seems rather bizarre that a production would choose to mix an F65 with Alexa....

and then only credit the F65.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tURA2M9VjXM

According to the IMDB technical specifications ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4972582/technical?ref_=tt_dt_spec)and various marketing posts by Sony Cinealta's Twitter(https://twitter.com/SonyCineAltaEU/status/822415916982009857) account which also state that Split was shot on the F65

And yet, despite all of the aforementioned, according to the DOP himself; Mike Gioulakis at a recent Q&A, he only mentioned the Arri Alexa XT and Fujinon Zooms as the camera/lens combo used to shoot the picture.

I'm wondering if this was a botched endorsement deal, or just a complete misunderstanding?

I currently only have the A7S II, quite enjoying it.

 

Previously owned:

 

Sony F900

Sony F35

Sony F65

Sony HDR-FX1 :D

 

ARRI D-21, 435, 535, SR3

Moviecam Compact & SL

I had no idea that you had gotten rid of your F65. Going in for a Non-Sony Camera?

Very interesting James. As someone who's finally made his way over to owning an Arri (after having owned a bunch of Sonys), I'm very intrigued by what sent you in the opposite direction?

Well, what initially drew me to the Sony F65 over the Alexa XT, was the 2014 Palme d'Or winning film; Winter Sleep, I really fell in love with texture and colors that the camera delivered. Before that point, I was on the fence.

Now having owned the both F65's for a couple of years, and having often faced a total lack of support from Sony when things go awry with their camera systems, I'm again on the fence as to whether to jump ship for the SXT or wait for Sony's next flagship announcement...

Which I've heard through a valid source will be 4th quarter 2017 with release in early 2018.

Super 35
Arriflex Xtreme 435

Digital super 35

x2 Sony F65's
(Former) Sony F35
(Former) Alexa EV Plus
(Former) Arri D21

Mirror-less
Leica SL
Sony A7RII

 

they should work for any particle based contaminant including liquids but it is of course possible to enhance the effect with for example activated charcoal if needed. is that the main air intake for the camera and how large airflow it is generally?

 

a blower unit like the ones used by industrial painters, asbestos workers, etc. could be used with the filters, so that the camera fan does not need to work harder with them. the filters cost a bit of course (I believe one would need from 3 to 6 gas mask filters for this depending on the airflow) but it would definitely be much less per day than sending the camera to the Service Centre every week, especially with the daily budgets in the productions the F65 is generally used in

I'm currently near the end of a shoot with 2x Sony F65s and we have experienced this exact problem. We have been using oil-based SPFX atmosphere in our sets heavily.

 

We've sent the cameras back to the local Sony Service Centre twice to have the OLPF cleaned in each camera. The blue-ish tinted filter in front of the mechanical rotary shutter is not the OLPF. It is actually a Band Pass Filter. Cleaning that did not solve our blooming issue. The OLPF actually sits between the mechanical rotary shutter and the sensor. As a result, you need to take apart the entire optical head block of the camera to service/clean it. This is absolutely not advisable to do in the field without proper technicians. The cameras need to be sent back to Sony and cleaned in a dust-free clean room.

 

I've been talking to a senior service engineer for the HD and Digital Cinematography Camera Systems Department at Sony in New Jersey. He apparently has cleaned lots of F65s that come out of rental houses in LA, especially after they have been used in dusty and sandy areas like New Mexico. And he says he finds mostly dust on the OLPF.

 

Based on my experience so far, it appears the sensor area is not entirely sealed to the exterior environment. There are two air filters below the lens mount (see attached picture) where the air intake is. Changing them out might help.

 

But my opinion is that if those air filters can't even filter out fine dust/sand particles, there is no hope of it filtering out even finer contaminants like oil-based SPFX atmospheric haze.

 

As far as I understand it, Sony has significantly reduced the amount of support they provide for this camera. Finding parts (such as the air filters mentioned above) is difficult. I have a colleague that finished a shoot recently with this camera and had to bring along a technician to clean the sensors every night. They even tried to get support from Sony Japan with limited success.

 

I feel cinematographers and camera assistants need to know this is a problem for this camera. Even after our second sensor clean, the problem started re-occurring after 3 shoot days.

Hi Alex,

Where did you source that diagram for the F65 Air Filter assembly? Do you by chance have a repair manual for the camera? The shutter on my camera has gone haywire again after having already been replaced last year, would love to see a diagram for accessing it. Another $16,000 to the service center for repair is out of the question. I have access to a new rotary shutter - just not sure how to install it.

The above BladeRunner refference was acheived by reflecting light off a 12x20 Bleached muslin, the lights were positions at both the right and left flank. The harder shaft of light hitting the table was acheived with a large fernel that was positioned behind and above the muslin angeled directly through the right secetion of window, the spill was flagged.

The sony F65 is also a camera that is superior in every possible way, except for "size" to anything Red has put out, unfortunetely, you couldn't pay people to rent it.... A Sony rep told me that they've recently discontinued production of the camera...

Hopefully, Sony get's the marketing right on the F65 successor...

All in all, unless the work and or rental clients are lined up, and these contacts have been secured, the purchasing of a camera system can otherwise prove to be a very poor investment choice...

Favorite camera to have on hand for personal projects: Leica MP with various tungsten balanced films.

For scouting: 5D MK III

Though I also shoot a good deal with my Sony F65 and F35 when time allows.