In reply to James: Perhaps the user gammas require different hardware to implement as they can not be hard coded as with the hypergammas and standard gammas. I don't know, maybe it's just one of the things used to differentiate between the cameras. While the hardware may be similar there is still R&D costs to recoup.

The image flip option does make it easier to use 35mm adapters, but it wouldn't be too difficult to flip the image on an external VF on the 700.

The camera is coming in today and should be here all week. I'll be putting it through some tests and clarifying the big differences between the 800 and 700. I'd like to put together a comparison chart and break down the price difference as well. Please let me know if there is anything you'd like me to check out and I'll post my results.

PDW F800 at CineGear?
 

That's great news Andy, any chance you guys will have an 800 at Cinegear?

I'd love to see a side by side shot of the same action in 25/50P to see the resolution loss in the overcranking mode....... and

Some sort of assessment of whether the using the CC wheel the noise in the blue chip is more obvious (Sony have contradicted their own sales gaff as to why they only put an ND wheel in the 700), and can you get any balance regardles of CC filter - ie can I sill get a high daylight balance (10k +)on the clear CC filter, and finally....

What stop do you get at ND 4 CC D and the sun at your back (I know this is subjective to the lense you are using and the weather in your location but,) for example I'm struggling with my Fuji HD lenses in full daylight I'm often at 5.6/8 and having to use a Pola and or shutter to get to 2.8/4 which is where I prefer to be.

Thanks very much for offering, sorry for the laundry list but hey you asked!

Cheers, Brad.

An 800 tomorrow? I thought they were not due in the country until July.

Thierry.

It's the same demo unit that was at NAB. We shouldn't get any new units until the end of June / early July.

Brad, thanks for the questions. I'm going to be doing some tests the next couple of days and I should have some good answers for you. We aren't going to CineGear this year, though I could be wrong, but I'm sure the camera will be there.

Andy

Wayne told me there are only two 800's in the country at present. The rest of them from NAB had to go back to Japan. We couldn't get one yesterday for an event here in Dallas.

There are 5 or 6 distinct differences between the two cameras. By that I mean things that the 700 cannot have added as an option.

Over/under crank
Image Invert
Focus Assist (the feature Alister described above)
Optical CC wheel
User Gamma curve

About the only upgrade option for the 800 is the Pool Feed input.

Both cameras have focus mag which works like the EX where the image size is doubled in the VF. The interesting thing we found out at NAB was that focus mag and focus assist do not function in 24P.

-gb-

Greg

You're right the Focus Magnification and Digital Extender do not work in 23.98. Also 23.98 is not supported in SD record modes.

Andy

Andy,

What are our options as far as using the image inverter and mounting 35mm lenses on the 800. I would assume the 35mm lens adptor would be much more compact and simpler to built since it does not have to incorporate an optical flip module?

Thanks.

Thierry.

The Image Inverter works in all frame rates and record formats. And you're right, with this is much simpler 35mm lens adapter (without a flip module which also reduces light) can be used. I think this is a great pro feature. The F800 really has all the makings of the F900 with all the option boards included.

Andy

But so, is anyone making that perfect 35mm lens adaptor without an optical flip module?

T.

I posted a little video featuring the F800. It really just covers the new features that the camera has over the F800. Here is the video:

Hands-on with the PDW-F800 | CineTechnica

Also check out this posting to see the updates coming to the PDW700 that will come standard in the F800.

XDCAM Camera Updates | CineTechnica

i get to play with the PDW-800 today with a really nice zeiss digi zoom T1.9 to 16, 6 – 24ft

Can't wait!!

I wish they would put the C35 colour VF on the demo cameras. It makes them sooo much nicer to use. Every time I go from my EX3 to a camera with a mono VF it's like stepping back in time.