Rob Fischer Posted October 7, 2010 Share Posted October 7, 2010 Anyone out there got any hints and tips on how they protected the lens and camera of a 3D rig on an action film? I'm about to start work on Judge Dredd and there are concerns about the lens (as always) only we can't use optical flats . I can't think of 2 many action films in 3D ( clash of the Titans wasn't actually shot in 3D i think ) Dust and explosions are going to be a problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member John Sprung Posted October 7, 2010 Premium Member Share Posted October 7, 2010 While you can't get optical flats big enough for a 3D rig, the good news is that as the size gets bigger, the flatness becomes less critical. So, you can still shoot through a big piece of protective glass. The thing to use is the same stuff that's used for projection ports in theaters: water white plate. Figure out the size you need, and order a few from a good glass shop, like Swartz Glass if you're in the LA area. Swartz Glass Co (310) 829-3625 1726 Colorado Ave Santa Monica, CA 90404 34.0239 North -118.4794 West -- J.S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael E Brown Posted October 8, 2010 Share Posted October 8, 2010 Ok, dumb gaffer question - why can't you use optical flats on a 3D rig? Does the same thing apply to filters and such in the mattebox? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member John Sprung Posted October 8, 2010 Premium Member Share Posted October 8, 2010 Ok, dumb gaffer question - why can't you use optical flats on a 3D rig? Does the same thing apply to filters and such in the mattebox? They don't make them big enough. The rig consists of two cameras, one shooting in the normal direction, but through a 50-50 half silvered mirror, which is mounted 45 degrees off vertical. The other is mounted vertically shooting usually down, or sometimes up, into the same mirror. That lets you put their optical axes closer together than is physically possible with two cameras side by side, which is what you need to match the distance between human eyes. The result is a rig about the size of an old Technicolor camera without the blimp. To shoot through a protective glass, you need something big enough to cover that combining mirror, which is typically a foot wide or even more. Conventional filters can come after the mirror, right on the lenses, or even behind the lenses. You'd need matched pairs, though. -- J.S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Fischer Posted October 8, 2010 Author Share Posted October 8, 2010 Thanks for the tip . I'll look into the special glass you mentioned . It will be a bit hard to look into the exact shop since I am in Cape Town . But if we have to order in I will . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member John Sprung Posted October 8, 2010 Premium Member Share Posted October 8, 2010 In that case, ask the managers of local theaters, and get a recommendation for a projection engineer. They'll be able to tell you what they use for port glass, and where to get it. The term "water white plate" is what the projection and glass guys use here, there may be a different name for it there. It shouldn't be necessary to ship it from LA. -- J.S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Fischer Posted October 8, 2010 Author Share Posted October 8, 2010 Thanks John . Sounds good . I'll make some calls and offer it up to the DOP and camera techies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanjay Sami Posted October 8, 2010 Share Posted October 8, 2010 Rob Fischer ? Cape Town ? Were you Guys best boy about 12 years ago? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Fischer Posted October 8, 2010 Author Share Posted October 8, 2010 Yup Howzit Sanjay . I remember speaking to you about our tracks and a job you were coming this way for . Howz things your side ? checked out your website , looks great and like you been keeping busy . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Fischer Posted October 8, 2010 Author Share Posted October 8, 2010 Sanjay , did you do Slumdog ? by anychance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanjay Sami Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 Hey Rob, Good to find you in cyberspace. on a movie in Berlin right now. Here till december. Dying to come back to beautiful Cape Town. Hopefully sometime soon. Hope things are well with you ? By the looks of it they are :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanjay Sami Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 Sanjay , did you do Slumdog ? by anychance Could not do Slumdog unfortunately. But I did meet Telfer when he was in Bombay. Hectic shoot by all accounts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Fischer Posted October 12, 2010 Author Share Posted October 12, 2010 Hey Sanjay Things are good here . just started Judge Dredd 3D with Anthony Dod Mantle ( thats why i asked about slumdog ) . The new Studios are up and running here so it looks like more of the bigger jobs will be coming in . So things have the potential to get even better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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