The Thomson Viper FilmStream Camera is a digital movie camera produced by Thomson Multimedia (now Vantiva). Introduced in the early 2000s[1] as makers of feature films were turning to digital cinematography, the Viper influenced subsequent HD, UHD, and HDR cameras.[2]
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 early Sony CineAlta cameras and preceded the Panavision Genesis[5] by less than a year. The Viper could replay takes immediately after they were shot, something early Genesis versions and other cameras of the era could not.[6]
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]