Projects
High-end
results
HDCAM/SR
+ F23/F35
Capture stand out images using Sony’s HDCAM HDW-790P
through to the top of the range F35 recording to HDCAM SR
W
here quality is central to a production
the HDCAM format has much to offer.
This selection of case studies alone
demonstrates how such cameras are being adopted
not only for prime time shows but gritty docs. The
range of latitude in the HDW-790P camera means
it lends itself to situations that cannot be lit, as DoP
Martin Hawkins discovered filming Reggie Perrin
The robustness and ability to cope with dust and
heat makes another HDCAM model, the HDW-
F900R, a reliable workhorse for shows such as
Tiger Aspect’s Ross Kemp: Return to Afghanistan. The
top of the range F35, which sits beside the F23 in
Sony’s high-end CineAlta range, is also being used
increasingly for projects such as Red Bee Media’s
ident for BBC Four’s Hidden Japan season due, in
this case, to the crisp vibrant images it produces. In
COMEDY CLASSIC March the camera also shot its first UK feature film
When filming remake of a sitcom Perrin, footage from the Harry Brown, starring Michael Caine.
HDW-790P matched up with Sony’s studio cameras
DoP Martin Hawkins opted to use the
HDCAM format when filming Objective Productions’ mixed colour balance between the cool daylight from
Reggie Perrin for BBC1. The primetime comedy series the windows and warm tungsten overhead interior lights
starring Martin Clunes, Faye Ripley and Wendy Craig of the train. “We were lucky as the days were overcast
is a re-make of the 70s sitcom The Fall And Rise Of so there wasn’t a huge contrast difference. But when
Reginald Perrin. the sun came out the camera handled the difference in
Although predominantly studio based, the series exposure well,” says Hawkins.
includes scenes shot on location using the HDW-790P. Having used the HDW-790P a couple of times
Hawkins was impressed by the matching between the before, Hawkins has the confidence to know what it can
studio and location shots: “We used five HDC-1500 handle and that it copes with high contrast and low light
studio cameras for the scenes filmed at Teddington levels well. “The exposure latitude on it is excellent. I'm
Studios and the shots matched those from the HDW- really pleased with those scenes,” he adds.
790 perfectly. You would have thought they had been The HDW-790P was hired from AFL Television,
shot using the same camera,” he says. which offers a prep day prior to a shoot. “We always have
For two days the crew filmed on a train for some a tester prep day with AFL, which is free of charge,. It’s
scenes, and keeping to a tight schedule was paramount when I put all my set ups into the menu. As I get more
to avoid rush hour. This meant there wasn’t enough time work on the 790 I can also hone my set up to give each
to pre-light the train, so Hawkins opted instead for a show a different look,” says Hawkins.
Spring 2009 theproducer 17
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