| Need to choose Camera
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 | Need to choose Camera
by Dustin DePree on May 2, 2009 at 10:20:23 pm |
I am producing a documentary and am in need of a camera image that can hold its own if film found a theatrical release. My budget for camera is 8,000- 10,000 and this would have to include the p2cards, hard drive, lense adapter etc. The doc will be about 40% sit down/lit interview. 40% follow subject around his daily routine and 20% low lit rock concert coverage.
Any suggestions? Thanks
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• | | | |  | Re: Need to choose Camera
by Steve Wargo on May 5, 2009 at 6:53:06 am |
[Noah Kadner] "Sony EX1, EX3.
Panasonic HPX170, HVX200 or HPX300."
find some people or dealers who have these cameras and ask them to have a little shoot-off. Maybe set up a small interview scene in your garage and have them all shoot the same thing.
Do an outside walkaround piece also. Don't let anyone hand you any doctored footage
Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona
It's a dry heat!
Sony HDCAM F-900 & HDW-2000/1 deck
5 Final Cut (not quite PRO) systems
Sony HVR-M25 HDV deck
2-Sony EX-1 HD .
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• | | | |  | Re: Need to choose Camera
by Rocco Forte on May 3, 2009 at 6:17:07 pm |
I like the Panasonic HVX200 with 35mm lens adaptor, personally. It's what we used for this little piece:
http://vimeo.com/3096293
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• | | | |  | Re: Need to choose Camera
by Mark Suszko on May 4, 2009 at 3:46:16 pm |
That looked very pretty. The vignetting in some scenes; was that a affectation for aesthetics or was it a side effect of the lens adapter?
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• | | | | | Re: Need to choose Camera
by Rocco Forte on May 5, 2009 at 7:24:01 am |
Magic Bullet vignette I think, or the freebie alex4d vignette. Aesthetics, of course!
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• | | | | | Re: Need to choose Camera
by Dustin DePree on May 4, 2009 at 6:03:15 pm |
Thanks alot. Nice work. Looked great. Would the HVX200 hold its own on the big screen?
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[Dustin DePree] "Would the HVX200 hold its own on the big screen?
"
If I were you Dustin, I would do a side by side comparison before settling on the HVX200. In my opinion, footage from the HVX200 camera always looks great when there's nothing to compare it to, but in a side by side comparison with many other cameras in its price range, it has a soft image.
And, don't just take my word for it, or anyone else's on matters like this, trust your own eyeballs and see for yourself. Any reputable professional dealer will allow you to shoot some test footage with a few cameras if you genuinely plan to buy from them, or spend a few hundred dollars to rent a couple of cams for a day. In either case, your time and money will be very well spent.
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles
POST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW's Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
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• | | | | | Re: Need to choose Camera
by Dustin DePree on May 4, 2009 at 8:14:09 pm |
what other cameras do you suggest?
Thank you for the response.
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[Dustin DePree] "what other cameras do you suggest? "
The Sonys that Noah mentioned are sharp as a tack, and the higher end Panys appear sharper than the HVX200.
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles
POST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW's Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
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Seriously - Noah gave you pretty much the best options for your request. Anyone of them will capture a compelling properly.
Thanks,
Harry
Forum Cowmunity Leader: Indie & Doc
Forum Cowmunity Leader: HDV
Dual 1.8 G5 ** 2GB ** 10.5.4 (Office / Photoshop)
Dual 2.0 G5 ** 4GB ** 10.5.4 Kona 2 (FCP 6.0.4 Machine)
http://www.womeninboxes.com
The Documentary Film about Magic's Better Half.
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[Harry Pallenberg] "Seriously - Noah gave you pretty much the best options for your request. Anyone of them will capture a compelling properly. "
I seriously agree... But, all of Noah's options happen to be sharper than the HVX200, and I don't think anyone disputes that. Am I right? Does anyone dispute that?
Meanwhile Harry, we need you over at the Film Appreciation & History Forum. We''l give you free popcorn if you join us...
David
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles
POST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW's Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
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• | | | |  | Re: Need to choose Camera
by Richard Herd on May 6, 2009 at 12:06:25 am |
Depends your position on the nature of qualia, your experience of "softness." I found that the hvx200 lens has a sweet spot at 2.8. I tried using it with a P+S Technik lens adapter and it felt heavy and off balance, won't do it again.
I think shooting a doc on spec and deciding on camera for its cinema release qualities is way off-base, if not naive -- could be I misunderstand the question, though.
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My position is very simple Richard, side by side, it's softer than the other cameras Noah mentioned. So, whether the level of softness is acceptable or unacceptable, that's really a personal call. But anyone buying a $6500 camera should know what the heck they're getting, and if sharp images are meaningful to you and you're hoping to project your finished project, better compare, or you may be disappointed.
[Richard Herd] "I think shooting a doc on spec and deciding on camera for its cinema release qualities is way off-base, if not naive"
I think Dustin is just being frugal, and for all we know, he may be shooting the next Fahrenheit 411 or Supersize Me. And if so, I sure hope Dustin shoots it in focus with a camera that creates crisp images.
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles
POST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW's Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
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• | | | |  | Re: Need to choose Camera
by Jody Eldred on May 7, 2009 at 1:36:46 am |
If you might be going to film then shoot TRUE high definition with a camera that has 1920x1080 imagers. The HVX 200 does not- it upreses and is noticeably different from those cameras wth native 1920x1080 imagers, like the Sony EX-1 and EX-3 (which also shoot true 24P, or 23.98). Those cameras also have 1/2" imagers (larger than the Panasonic's 1/3") allowing for shallower and more filmlike depth of field. The Sony PDW-700 and its soon 24P mod is astounding, as is the soon-to-be-released F800. Both have 2/3" imagers and are 4:2:2 colorspace, 1920x1080 imagers. Those cameras truly are in a league of their own, and record to XDCAM HD media, which is both inexpensive and archivable. Those Sony cameras are an easy choice for me.
Jody Eldred
Director/Cameraman
DGA nominee, Best Documentary Director
Emmy Award with ABC News in Iraq War
etc.
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Good to see you back Jody. I can remember when HDV was so controversial that you were hounded for being a proponent. Thank goodness times have really changed and people are using all kinds of great new and old cameras.
All the best,
David
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles
POST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW's Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
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