Cinematographer John Sharaf, principal of Atlanta digital production facility John Sharaf Photography, has purchased two Panasonic VariCam 35 4K camera/recorders that are immediately available to the region's burgeoning production community.
Sharaf is a veteran cameraman who has specialized in documentary and news production throughout a lengthy career. Among many distinctions are his having been behind the camera on two Academy Award-winning documentary shorts (Gravity is My Enemy, Number Our Days), and his reception of the Edward R. Murrow Brotherhood Award for Outstanding Broadcast Feature (CBS News-60 Minutes).
Sharaf will host a VariCam 35 open house/workshop on Saturday, January 31, 1-5 p.m. at his West Midtown, Atlanta studio; RSVP john@sharaf.net.
The VariCam 35 is equipped with a super 35mm format full-size, single-chip MOS sensor that offers 4K and UHD resolution, and boasts high sensitivity, low noise, wide dynamic range and cinematic depth of field. The camera offers a choice of codecs -- Panasonic's AVC-ULTRA family and Apple ProRes 4:4:4:4 and ProRes HQ--and has 14 stops of dynamic range to provide full control over the widest lighting conditions. With native ISOs of 800 and 5000, DPs can realize incredible image quality in extremely low light situations.
Sharaf terms the native 5000 ISO a new paradigm that sets a high bar for any other manufacturer. The Dual Native ISO sensor means that at both 800 and 5000 ISO there is no gain applied, and the noise level is within 1DB between the two native sensitivities, he said. This opens up all kinds of possibilities for shooting in low light and available light situations, and even when lighting in practical locations and at night, being able to use very tiny amounts of artificial light to balance foregrounds to available light in the backgrounds.
This is a game changer for cinematography, and elevates even further the practical and creative advantages of digital cinema vs. film. It likely will be very liberating for cinematographers once they get over the initial shock of the camera seeing' better in the dark than their own eyes.
Sharaf anticipates that the VariCam 35 will gain traction in Atlanta during the city's upcoming spring pilot season. Episodic TV moves very quickly, and with the 800/5000 ISOs, we're talking about fewer and smaller lights, and potentially smaller crews, all stretching production dollars, he said.
The low light capability is also crucial for documentary production, Sharaf added, who said he will shoot his own next documentary project with the VariCam 35. Even at 800 ISO, you still have to light a scene, which is disruptive. At 5000 ISO, you can sneak in, with minimal or no lighting, and capture events without influencing them.
Another valuable feature is dual recording of both a master recorder (with two expressP2 slots) and a sub-master recorder (with two microP2 cards), which allows simultaneous recordings of a 4K/UHD or 2K/HD master in V-Log (Panasonics new log curve that that maps the 14 stops of image data to the recorded file) and a 2K or HD high-quality sub-master plus a proxy with a LUT or CDL burned in. The sub-master recorder also records at project speed with audio when the master recoding is doing variable frame rate (up to 120FPS), Sharaf said. Any color (Log or LUT) and/or any of the available codecs can be routed to either recorder and also to the outboard recorder and monitor outputs (selectively); very flexible.
For more about John Sharaf Photography, visit www.sharaf.net.
About the VariCam 35
Panasonic's VariCam 35 is an unparalleled tool for high-end filmmaking, commercials and episodic production as well as live 4K events. The camera provides superb image handling in multiple formats ranging from pristine 4K RAW to more practical 4K, UHD, 2K, HD and ProRes capture. Several assets set the VariCam 35 apart from other high-end cinematography cameras, including its ability to record three simultaneous video formats (4K 2K Proxy, or UHD HD Proxy); an optional high-speed 4K uncompressed RAW recorder (CODEX) that will capture uncompressed 4K VariCam RAW (V-RAW) at up to 120fps; internal AVC-Intra 4K / 2K / HD recording to 120fps; support for an ACES workflow for full fidelity mastering of original source material; and in-camera Color-Grading via CDLs / 3D LUTs.
For more information about the VariCam 35, visit www.us.panasonic.com/varicam, or contact Panasonic at 877-803-8492.
Panasonic Solutions for Business
Panasonic delivers reliable business technology solutions that connect data with decision makers to drive better outcomes-for our customers and our customers' customers. Panasonic engineers reliable products and solutions that help to create, capture and deliver data of all types, where, when and how it is needed. The complete suite of Panasonic professional solutions for government and commercial enterprises of all sizes addresses unified business communications, mobile computing, security and surveillance, retail point-of-sale, office productivity, visual communications (projectors, displays, digital signage) and HD video production. Panasonic solutions for business are delivered by Panasonic System Communications Company of North America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation.
All brand and company/product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies. All specifications are subject to change without notice. Information on Panasonic solutions for business can be obtained by calling 877-803-8492 or at us.panasonic.com/business-solutions.
About Panasonic Corporation of North America
Panasonic Corporation of North America provides a broad line of digital and other electronics products and solutions for consumer, b
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Cinematographer John Sharaf, principal of Atlanta digital production facility John Sharaf Photography, has purchased two Panasonic VariCam 35 4K camera/recorders that are immediately available to the region's burgeoning production community.
