El camera (a thread for asian allen)

I agree, the filmmaker is the biggest factor in what makes footage look good. But I also feel that the camera equipment plays an equal role in supporting the filmmaker's needs.

Take 28 Days Later for instance. Even though it was shot on an XL1, it came out really good. That doesn't mean I'd consider the XL1 a nice camera though, by any means. It must've been a HUGE pain in the ass to blow an SD image up to a theatre screen, let alone cc the bogus color codec that comes with miniDV.

The same can be said for the Crank footage, which was HDV as you say. Whoever made that is no doubt a talented filmmaker and all, but just because he was somehow able to pull off footage that is somewhat convincing doesn't mean that the equipment he was using is any more decent. I personally wasn't a fan of that footage, either, and I still have yet to see HDV footage that impresses me.

No I'm not judging HDV based on NS videos, that would be unfair. I can't count how many kids on this site have expensive cameras and have no idea how to use them. I've been watching short films of all sorts, from the Cinemek, Brevis, and DVXuser forums, and STILL haven't seen anything impressive.

I don't know, perhaps I just suck at finding good short films?

 
It's true that equipment does need to support the film makers needs. The reason why crank 2 was shot on a1's is because of their size. They were able to do things that would have been impossible with a 30 pound shoulder rig. And again, it comes down to the average viewer having no idea that it was shot on a camera that they could go buy at their local best buy.

Of course you can't expect to get miracle images out of an HDV camera, it just doesn't happen. HDV is limited, just the same as any other medium is. The point I was trying to make is, image quality aside, it is more important to rely on the other pieces of the equation to make a film good. Story line, acting, lighting, locations, crew, all should be considered first before choosing a camera to shoot on. You make a camera decision based off the things listed. You pick a camera that suits your needs, and in crank 2's situation, that was the canon XHA1.

Check out this guys work, he shoots with the A1 a lot.

http://www.vimeo.com/pinelakeflms

Also a number of big budget hollywood films have used HDV cams here and there for certain shots. I'll see if I can come up with a list.

In the end, if the audience enjoys what you have created, all the tech talk is meaningless. They wont care if it was shot on a Thomsen Viper or a sony handycam, if it's good, it's good.

 
I think that's my problem; I mean if I create something that people tell me looks amazing in every way, but there's one detail that I'm not happy with, I'll count it as a failure in my mind. I don't care what other people think of my videos; I make them for self-satisfaction only.

And really, resolution is probably the last thing I care about when picking out a camera. The main problem I see with HDV is that aside from offering 1080i (which I absolutely refuse to shoot in) what else can it do? This is what I see as the biggest downfall...

And as for Crank 2, I can see how they would go with the A1; it being an action movie and all, where an intense, real look is needed. I can see how it would be easier to make HDV footage look intense and real than it would be to make it look like an Aronofsky film.

On a sidenote, if you're the type of person who is into the whole digi-skater cam look, HDV is probably an awesome format to shoot.
 
Dvx100b and hpx170

I also have super8 and 16mm setups, but I don't really shoot either much since I'm broke
 
im in between this and a hmc150, do you think its worth the extra 2 grand + the much more expensive p2 cards?
 
Unless you plan on making money with the 170, that's a ton of cash to throw down. I'd go with the 150. AVCHD work flow is a bit odd right now with most editors, but it's going to be addressed very very soon.
 
Yep I'm filming a full length ski/snowboard film on a DVX.......DV will be dead very soon though.

Go with an HV30.
 
nope, but im really torn right now. its HV30 vs hf100 vs hg10. Still not sure but I think im gonna buy a used hv30
 
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