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.
[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.
[9][10] Zodiac was the first digital feature film made by a major studio without using videotape or compression in its capture or editing.
[12] In 2017, Grass Valley received a Scientific and Technical Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for its Viper.