2005Cameras (Film/Video/HD) forum
Operating Panasonic Varicam camera on steadicam rigs for film and video production
21 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Fujinon zoom lenses work adequately on steadicam rigs with Varicam cameras, though testing with prime lenses beforehand is recommended if filming.
- A downconverter box is essential for Varicam operation, with the AJA model being commonly recommended.
- An onboard downconverter box mounted on the camera should be verified to be compatible with Varicam before use, as not all models work correctly with the camera.
- High-quality onboard batteries are necessary because Varicam is power-hungry, and some downconverter types like integrated Evertz units demand significantly more power than alternatives.
- Steadicam operators should consider how they will monitor shots, with HD monitoring requiring the camera to remain cabled while wireless monitoring offers less image quality.
- Focal length selection depends on operator skill, wind conditions, and specific shot requirements, with approximately 25mm on a video lens being a comfortable working range for stabilized operation.
- The Varicam B4 lens mount loosens over time due to lens motor operation and should be checked regularly, especially during extreme focus pulls.
- The camera offers the ability to flip the image internally during shooting, reducing post-production work compared to some competitor cameras.
- Newer Varicam H model variants use less power and have improved blue channel noise performance compared to earlier models.
- A clip-on matte box and HD LCD monitor improve steadicam operation with this camera.
- A dedicated video engineer should be considered for complex Varicam steadicam setups.
Depends on
- The Varicam outputs HD-SDI signal in 720P format only, requiring compatible downconverters and potentially better quality coax cables when used with steadicam rigs.
- HD monitoring with steadicam rigs requires the camera to remain cabled to the monitor, which may be impractical for some shoot configurations.
- Some downconverter boxes designed for other purposes may not function with Varicam due to signal characteristics like missing subcarrier.
- Discussion participants were sharing experience from 2005 with camera models and technology that may be outdated.