Which camera would YOU choose to shoot with?

Dan Adlerstein · June 3, 2006

Ok, assume the following are the parameters/restrictions/nature of your shoot ....

You will be shooting a 20-30 min. short film over the course of one week on the Greek island of Ios. Almost all of the film will be daytime exteriors around a secluded classic Greek white home on the beach. There will be no dialogue. There will be a lot of movement (dance) by the characters. You will have no true camera assistant. Your lighting control will consist only of planning out where and when to shoot based on the location of the sun, and possibly some homemade bounces, flags, and diffusion (think bed sheets and shower curtains). You will not have access to electricity most of the day. The budget is obviously modest.

Now, assume you want the following asthetic ...

You want it to be 16X9. You want to embrace the contrast to an extant but want to be able to read both the faces and the background lanscape when backlit by the sun (sure, you can use low-con or ultra-con filters). You want the character movement to appear dynamic. You want high textural detail. You want saturated colors -- especially in the blues.

hopefully this is enough detail for you to choose a camera you would prefer to shoot this on.

I've done my research on all the cameras listed in the topic description. Not suprisingly, none of them seem to me to be PERFECT for this. They all have their benefits and drawbacks. I think I'm close to a decision on one of them, but curious to see what you all out there would choose and WHY!!

Could make for some interesting debate as all of these cameras seem to better suited for various situations.

So, which would it be for THIS situation.

Thanks!!!!!

-Dan

Gary Robinson · June 12, 2006

From what I've seen, I really like the Panasonic HVX 200 and the JVC hd100u. Under those conditions, with no assistant to unload P2 cards, I would feel safest with the long loads of the JVC hd100.

Craig Chartier · June 30, 2006

I would pick the camera manufacturd by the company whose help desk picked up the phone the quickest.

Jonathan Bryant · September 2, 2006

HD100

Thomas James · September 2, 2006

If you want dynamic movement go with the Panasonic HVX200. This camera can shoot high definition 720p at 60 frames per second for the very best temporal resolution. If you want to go with JVC you have to wait for the JVC GY-HD200 model to ship which will be in October.

David Sweetman · September 2, 2006

I would feel safest with the long loads of the JVC hd100.

I've heard bad stuff from the guys at the post house about this camera -- like you can't capture HD or something. Anyone know anything about that?

Thomas James · September 2, 2006

For years the naysayers have been saying that since 720p is not real high definition you are better off shooting in standard definition. This is nonsense. Not only is 720p real high definition but it is the best high definition.

Dan Goulder · September 2, 2006

Not only is 720p real high definition but it is the best high definition.

I assume you mean "in the absence of access to a 1080p camera".

Werner Van Peppen · September 2, 2006

I'd go for the HD100 any day. Capturing some tapes to premiere pro at the moment (HDV25P) No problems whatsoever. Incredibly sharp picture, reasonably large dynamic range... Don't get caught in the 1080i is better than 720P debate. It's good

Thomas James · September 2, 2006

Actually for the fast action sports 720p is better than 1080p. The 720p format can capture up to 60 frames per second for super fluid motion. Most 1080p cameras can only capture 30 frames per second which results in jerky playback for fast action sports.