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The Viper FilmStream was announced in 2002<ref name=":0" /> by Thomson after being developed by its [[Grass Valley (company)|Grass Valley]] subsidiary<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Viper FilmStream Camera System|url=https://www.cinematography.net/Files/viper_brochure.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref> which it had purchased earlier that year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2002/03/04/daily10.html|access-date=2020-06-13|website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref> It followed on the tails of the early [[Sony]] [[CineAlta]] cameras and preceded the [[Panavision]] [[Genesis (camera)|Genesis]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=PANAVISION'S GENESIS CAMERA HONORED WITH AN ENGINEERING EMMY|url=https://www.panavision.com/panavisions-genesis-camera-honored-engineering-emmy|access-date=2020-06-13|website=Panavision|language=en-US}}</ref> by less than a year. One feature of the Viper was that it could replay [[Take|takes]] immediately after they were shot, which certain cameras of the era (such as early versions of the Genesis)<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Side by Side - David Fincher on Digital Cameras|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KzpCaNEHes|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref> could not.
The Viper FilmStream was announced in 2002<ref name=":0" /> by Thomson after being developed by its [[Grass Valley (company)|Grass Valley]] subsidiary<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Viper FilmStream Camera System|url=https://www.cinematography.net/Files/viper_brochure.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref> which it had purchased earlier that year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2002/03/04/daily10.html|access-date=2020-06-13|website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref> It followed on the tails of the early [[Sony]] [[CineAlta]] cameras and preceded the [[Panavision]] [[Genesis (camera)|Genesis]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=PANAVISION'S GENESIS CAMERA HONORED WITH AN ENGINEERING EMMY|url=https://www.panavision.com/panavisions-genesis-camera-honored-engineering-emmy|access-date=2020-06-13|website=Panavision|language=en-US}}</ref> by less than a year. One feature of the Viper was that it could replay [[Take|takes]] immediately after they were shot, which certain cameras of the era (such as early versions of the Genesis)<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Side by Side - David Fincher on Digital Cameras|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KzpCaNEHes|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref> could not.


Films shot on the Viper include [[Michael Mann]]'s ''[[Collateral (film)|Collateral]]'', ''[[Miami Vice (film)|Miami Vice]]'', and ''[[Public Enemies (2009 film)|Public Enemies]]'' and [[David Fincher]]'s ''[[Zodiac (film)|Zodiac]]'' and ''[[The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (film)|The Curious Case of Benjamin Button]]''. Cinematographer [[Dion Beebe]] described the Viper as the "primary camera" on ''Collateral'';<ref>{{Cite web|date=2004-08-10|title=Thomson's Grass Valley Viper Digital Cinematography Camera Debuts in First Major Motion Picture - 'Collateral' from DreamWorks|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20040810005559/en/Thomsons-Grass-Valley-Viper-Digital-Cinematography-Camera|access-date=2020-06-13|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en}}</ref> on both ''Zodiac''<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Zodiac: Cold Case File - The American Society of Cinematographers|url=https://ascmag.com/articles/flashback-zodiac|access-date=2020-06-13|website=ascmag.com}}</ref> and ''Collateral'' [[35 mm movie film|35mm film]] was used only for [[Slow motion|overcranking]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2004-08-01|title=How DP Dion Beebe adapted to HD for Michael Mann's Collateral|url=https://www.studiodaily.com/2004/08/how-dp-dion-beebe-adapted-to-hd-for-michael-manna%c2%a2aeas-collateral/|access-date=2020-06-13|website=Studio Daily|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Zodiac and the Ends of Cinema • Senses of Cinema|url=http://sensesofcinema.com/2016/feature-articles/zodiac/|access-date=2020-06-13|website=sensesofcinema.com|language=en-US}}</ref> ''Zodiac'' was first the digital feature film by a major studio to not use [[videotape]] or [[Data compression|compression]] in its capture or editing.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=David Fincher's "Zodiac" Shot With Grass Valley Viper FilmStream Camera System – Creative Planet Network|url=https://www.creativeplanetnetwork.com/the-wire/david-finchers-zodiac-shot-grass-valley-viper-filmstream-camera-system-601511|access-date=2020-06-13|website=www.creativeplanetnetwork.com}}</ref> Fincher became interested in using the camera on a feature film after shooting [[Television advertisement|commercials]] for [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] and [[Xelibri]] with it.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Director David Fincher Goes Tapeless for "Zodiac" – Creative Planet Network|url=https://www.creativeplanetnetwork.com/news/director-david-fincher-goes-tapeless-zodiac-409956|access-date=2020-06-13|website=www.creativeplanetnetwork.com}}</ref>
Films shot on the Viper include [[Michael Mann]]'s ''[[Collateral (film)|Collateral]]'', ''[[Miami Vice (film)|Miami Vice]]'', and ''[[Public Enemies (2009 film)|Public Enemies]]'' and [[David Fincher]]'s ''[[Zodiac (film)|Zodiac]]'' and ''[[The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (film)|The Curious Case of Benjamin Button]]''. Cinematographer [[Dion Beebe]] described the Viper as the "primary camera" on ''Collateral'';<ref>{{Cite web|date=2004-08-10|title=Thomson's Grass Valley Viper Digital Cinematography Camera Debuts in First Major Motion Picture - 'Collateral' from DreamWorks|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20040810005559/en/Thomsons-Grass-Valley-Viper-Digital-Cinematography-Camera|access-date=2020-06-13|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en}}</ref> on both ''Zodiac''<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Zodiac: Cold Case File - The American Society of Cinematographers|url=https://ascmag.com/articles/flashback-zodiac|access-date=2020-06-13|website=ascmag.com}}</ref> and ''Collateral'' [[35 mm movie film|35mm film]] was used only for [[Slow motion|overcranking]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2004-08-01|title=How DP Dion Beebe adapted to HD for Michael Mann's Collateral|url=https://www.studiodaily.com/2004/08/how-dp-dion-beebe-adapted-to-hd-for-michael-manna%c2%a2aeas-collateral/|access-date=2020-06-13|website=Studio Daily|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Zodiac and the Ends of Cinema • Senses of Cinema|url=http://sensesofcinema.com/2016/feature-articles/zodiac/|access-date=2020-06-13|website=sensesofcinema.com|language=en-US}}</ref> ''Zodiac'' was the first digital feature film made by a major studio without using [[videotape]] or [[Data compression|compression]] in its capture or editing.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=David Fincher's "Zodiac" Shot With Grass Valley Viper FilmStream Camera System – Creative Planet Network|url=https://www.creativeplanetnetwork.com/the-wire/david-finchers-zodiac-shot-grass-valley-viper-filmstream-camera-system-601511|access-date=2020-06-13|website=www.creativeplanetnetwork.com}}</ref> Fincher became interested in using the camera on a feature film after shooting [[Television advertisement|commercials]] for [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] and [[Xelibri]] with it.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Director David Fincher Goes Tapeless for "Zodiac" – Creative Planet Network|url=https://www.creativeplanetnetwork.com/news/director-david-fincher-goes-tapeless-zodiac-409956|access-date=2020-06-13|website=www.creativeplanetnetwork.com}}</ref>


In 2017, Grass Valley received a Scientific and Technical Award from the [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] for its Viper.<ref name=":1" />
In 2017, Grass Valley received a Scientific and Technical Award from the [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] for its Viper.<ref name=":1" />

Revision as of 22:53, 12 December 2020

The Thomson Viper FilmStream Camera is a digital movie camera produced by Thomson Multimedia (now Technicolor SA) that was first introduced in the early 2000s,[1] during the rise in popularity of digital cinematography in feature films. The subsequent developments in HD, UHD, and HDR cameras were influenced by the Viper and its contemporaries.[2]

History

The Viper FilmStream was announced in 2002[1] by Thomson after being developed by its Grass Valley subsidiary[3] which it had purchased earlier that year.[4] It followed on the tails of the early Sony CineAlta cameras and preceded the Panavision Genesis[5] by less than a year. One feature of the Viper was that it could replay takes immediately after they were shot, which certain cameras of the era (such as early versions of the Genesis)[6] could not.

Films shot on the Viper include Michael Mann's Collateral, Miami Vice, and Public Enemies and David Fincher's Zodiac and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Cinematographer Dion Beebe described the Viper as the "primary camera" on Collateral;[7] on both Zodiac[8] and Collateral 35mm film was used only for overcranking.[9][10] Zodiac was the first digital feature film made by a major studio without using videotape or compression in its capture or editing.[8][11] Fincher became interested in using the camera on a feature film after shooting commercials for Nike and Xelibri with it.[12]

In 2017, Grass Valley received a Scientific and Technical Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for its Viper.[2]

Specifications

[3]

  • Sensors: : 3 x 2/3" HD-DPM 9.2 million pixel CCDs
  • Effective pixels: 1920 x 4320; aspect ratio 16:9 (1.77:1) in 1080 and 720 line modes, or 2.37:1 in 1080p mode
  • Bit depth: 12-bit linear A-D conversion, mapped to 10-bit logarithmic signals for downstream processing
  • Power: 12V DC nominal (11.5 – 17V); ~44W (including 2" viewfinder and FilmStream adapter)
  • Mount: Standard B4 lens mount for popular digital cinematography prime and zoom lenses
  • Weight: 4.3 kg including 2" viewfinder and FilmStream adapter
  • Overall dimensions: 197mm x 117mm x 349mm
  • Optical filters: f1.4 prism system; first filter wheel clear, 2-stop, 4-stop, 6-stop ND; second filter wheel clear, 4-point star, 6-point star, soft focus
  • Formats and Frames per second:
    • 1080p at 23.98, 24, 25, and 29.97 fps
    • 1080i at 50 and 59.94 Hz
    • 720p at 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 50, and 59.94 fps.
  • Multiple field recording options:
    • Solid-state, on-camera RAM recorder for cable-free operation
    • High-capacity field recorder with exchangeable disk packs
    • Third-party field recording support

References

  1. ^ a b April 2002, TVTechnology 04. "Thomson to Unveil Viper FilmStream Camera". TVTechnology. Retrieved 2020-06-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b February 2017, Michael Balderston 02. "Grass Valley's Viper FilmStream Camera Earns Technical Oscar". TVTechnology. Retrieved 2020-06-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b "Viper FilmStream Camera System" (PDF).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ www.bizjournals.com https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2002/03/04/daily10.html. Retrieved 2020-06-13. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ^ "PANAVISION'S GENESIS CAMERA HONORED WITH AN ENGINEERING EMMY". Panavision. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  6. ^ "Side by Side - David Fincher on Digital Cameras".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ "Thomson's Grass Valley Viper Digital Cinematography Camera Debuts in First Major Motion Picture - 'Collateral' from DreamWorks". www.businesswire.com. 2004-08-10. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  8. ^ a b "Zodiac: Cold Case File - The American Society of Cinematographers". ascmag.com. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  9. ^ "How DP Dion Beebe adapted to HD for Michael Mann's Collateral". Studio Daily. 2004-08-01. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  10. ^ "Zodiac and the Ends of Cinema • Senses of Cinema". sensesofcinema.com. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  11. ^ "David Fincher's "Zodiac" Shot With Grass Valley Viper FilmStream Camera System – Creative Planet Network". www.creativeplanetnetwork.com. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  12. ^ "Director David Fincher Goes Tapeless for "Zodiac" – Creative Planet Network". www.creativeplanetnetwork.com. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
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