XDCam and carrier flight deck interference? at DVinfo.net

Bryan Harvey · February 23rd, 2009, 11:11 AM

Hello,
Does anybody have experience with XDCam in a camera unfriendly environment such as a carrier flight deck? I've worked on two previous productions on board aircraft carriers, both with Varicam. With all the radio/navigation signals flying around on a flight deck, interference "hits" just go with the territory - even with extra shielding protection. You just have to accept it and edit around the hits.
So now I may be going out on yet another carrier, and just wondering how my new PDW 700 might fare. Worse, better?

Thanks for any advice,
Bryan Harvey

Greg Boston · February 23rd, 2009, 11:15 AM

Perhaps better. Reason being that you're not using a magnetic recording media. RF energy is electrostatic and electromagnetic fields that travel through space at right angles to one another. The strong RF fields can wreak havoc on anything magnetic.

That's not to say that you won't get interference to the computer and logic circuits inside. But the laser and disc media would not be prone to RFI/EMI.

-gb-

Ivan Snoeckx · February 24th, 2009, 07:25 AM

Hi Bryan,

Did you shoot the serie "Carrier" on the USS Nimitz?

Must be the most dangerous place on earth to work for a filmcrew.

Bryan Harvey · February 24th, 2009, 11:10 AM

Hi Ivan,
No, I shot "Supercarrier" for Nat Geo Explorer aboard the Eisenhower and "Carrier at War" for Smithsonian HD on board the Enterprise. It is a truly dangerous work environment. I've had a few extremely close calls Id rather not think about. Its a huge rush to be out there though. I love it!
Im still a little leery about how this "mobile blue-ray" laser recorder will do with all those signals flying around. If anybody has any experience or can put my mind at ease, Id love to hear about it.
Bryan

Rick L. Allen · February 24th, 2009, 01:11 PM

Bryan, having shot on carriers with old school BetaSP and shipboard with XDHD I think you'll be really pleased. I do a lot of military work so challenging RF situations are pretty common and the XDCAM has been wonderful. You may still get some viewfinder scramble every now and then but it's way less hassle than videotape. Not to mention the condensation problems that come from transitioning from air conditioned wardroom to flight deck are a thing of the past.

BTW Nice shooting - I've seen and loved both pieces.

Bryan Harvey · February 26th, 2009, 08:03 AM

Hey thanks Rick!

February 23rd, 2009, 11:11 AM	#1
Bryan Harvey New Boot Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Washington DC Posts: 21	XDCam and carrier flight deck interference? Hello, Does anybody have experience with XDCam in a camera unfriendly environment such as a carrier flight deck? I've worked on two previous productions on board aircraft carriers, both with Varicam. With all the radio/navigation signals flying around on a flight deck, interference "hits" just go with the territory - even with extra shielding protection. You just have to accept it and edit around the hits. So now I may be going out on yet another carrier, and just wondering how my new PDW 700 might fare. Worse, better? Thanks for any advice, Bryan Harvey

February 24th, 2009, 01:11 PM	#5
Rick L. Allen Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 535	Bryan, having shot on carriers with old school BetaSP and shipboard with XDHD I think you'll be really pleased. I do a lot of military work so challenging RF situations are pretty common and the XDCAM has been wonderful. You may still get some viewfinder scramble every now and then but it's way less hassle than videotape. Not to mention the condensation problems that come from transitioning from air conditioned wardroom to flight deck are a thing of the past. BTW Nice shooting - I've seen and loved both pieces. __________________ "The good thing about science is that it's true whether you believe it or not." Neil deGrasse Tyson https://www.nautilusproductions.com/

February 23rd, 2009, 11:15 AM	#2
Greg Boston Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: DFW area, TX Posts: 6,117 Images: 1	Perhaps better. Reason being that you're not using a magnetic recording media. RF energy is electrostatic and electromagnetic fields that travel through space at right angles to one another. The strong RF fields can wreak havoc on anything magnetic. That's not to say that you won't get interference to the computer and logic circuits inside. But the laser and disc media would not be prone to RFI/EMI. -gb-

February 24th, 2009, 07:25 AM	#3
Ivan Snoeckx Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Belgium \| Europe Posts: 441	Hi Bryan, Did you shoot the serie "Carrier" on the USS Nimitz? Must be the most dangerous place on earth to work for a filmcrew.

February 24th, 2009, 11:10 AM	#4
Bryan Harvey New Boot Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Washington DC Posts: 21	Hi Ivan, No, I shot "Supercarrier" for Nat Geo Explorer aboard the Eisenhower and "Carrier at War" for Smithsonian HD on board the Enterprise. It is a truly dangerous work environment. I've had a few extremely close calls Id rather not think about. Its a huge rush to be out there though. I love it! Im still a little leery about how this "mobile blue-ray" laser recorder will do with all those signals flying around. If anybody has any experience or can put my mind at ease, Id love to hear about it. Bryan

February 26th, 2009, 08:03 AM	#6
Bryan Harvey New Boot Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Washington DC Posts: 21	Hey thanks Rick!