Micah Ellars

Thanks for your 3 cents. The reason for half sets is artistic, they are a must. There are model landscapes that must be shot with a correlating lens for match angle of view and DOF of subjects. Blue/green lighting will be optimal. As said before, I know I can do it with Varicam + Pro 35, can I with HVX + m2? There is a substantial difference in pro35 and mini35 from P+S Technik and allegedly the m2 is sharper than the mini35. Perhaps the question could be answered simply based on the quality of the m2 gg. If any m2 users have input about the clarity of image and overall sharpness please share.

Blue/Green I basically mean chroma. I will be shooting elaborate half sets in which the background is keyed in. This is for artistic purposes. The original plan was to go Varicam+Pro35 (which I know works). Or pruchase the HVX + m2 for a longer production time and lower cost.

Thank you for your commentary. I would never dream of having anyone out of focus for chroma work. It seams that you feel that it may be possible then? And yes I would definatly shoot at least 720p. This set up would be ment for an alternative to varicam + pro35. Think extablishing shots and all subjects in focus on half sets. My questions I guess is this simple. Given that you have subjects in focus with the HVX+m2(12mm lens @ f5), is the m2 going to create significant softness or any aberations which will impede upon pulling a good key? The reason, for the adaptor is the wide angle of view through the 12mm lens. I guess anyone who has used the adaptor for any shos with great depth of field would know if they noticed faliure to acheive sharp focus, color fringing etc...

Thanks for the further explanation Mr. Wizikowski. I have pulled good keys on mini DV before that, aside from the lower end NLE compression used on them (premier), they looked very good. I guess my major concern is the plethera of warnings about using the adaptors for keys. My version of acceptable is seamless. Optimal or Perfect would be a better term. If you happen to conduct a test with that setup or any similar please let me know. If anyone else has input please share.

In short, Thanks. I wish you would elaborate on why you think it might work. I spoke with a post house about this and they felt confident that THEY could pull acceptable keys, but they insisted that the shoot be supervised by them or whoever would be doing the post work. I am wondering if it is something that could be done in AE/Keylight without having to hand paint the mattes. That would suit an HVX production budget much better. Anyone else feel this is do-able?

Does anyone feel that the HVX with the m2 adaptor in any setup could be used to pull optimal keys? I have seen great keys with the varicam and pro35. Why not the m2? The m2 does not seam as soft as the P+S mini 35 (to my eyes). I know that there seams to be a slight promist effect created from the ground glass. What if the 35mm lens on the HVX m2 combo DOF was very deep? Say a 18mm set to F5? The interest would be in acheiving a much wider angle of view in the HVX than possible with the digital lens available, also maintaining a rectilinear image. If anyone thinks it is possible or wouldn't mind trying with their own set up please let me know. Thanks,

Here is a link to a bank commercial. Seamed to have pulled acceptable keys. I have seen several uses with keying the HVX and some have been successful. The ones with blue screen have been the worst I have seen. That could just be due to chance, or perhaps as David Mullen has mentioned before, the blue channel is noisier. What I have noticed is that as long as your not trying to key smoke/fog, flowing liquids, strawberry blonde whispy hair, etc. it seams completely acceptable for keying. I have actually pulled good keys before from well lit and placed subjects with mini DV(although very limiting). So I am sure the HVX will provide more blue/green freedom for shots and subjects. http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=61098

So does that mean that there would be a correlating amount of light gain when undercranking? A stop and a half gain @ 12p?

Thanks David. I appreciate you clearing that up for me.

With the Varicam I thought it recorded 60p all the time and simply flagged the frames you need based on what speed you had set. If that is the case, then how does the varicam suffer additional light loss from overcranking? I may be way off here, but perhaps someone could explain how it works exactly. Thanks, Micah

Thanks for sharing the trailers, It was interesting how you handled the high key hollywood comedy style. When do we eat - looked like it was anamorphic??? Maybe my viewing screen was just poor. It would be nice to hear what lens it was if it was anamorphic, becuase I didn't think they were alvailable for HD. At least I don't know of any.

Phil, I was just wandering if there were any other major differences, I only asked to see if anyone had any input. Is it really proposterous to suggest that during production a camera tech be available?

The debate between these two cameras continues, It would be ineteresting to hear what is thought of the difference between them other than the ammount of pixels they can throw up on the screen. I have come to understand the the HDcam is much more technically involved and tends to be more difficult to pick up on than the Vericam. I wander how much of an issue this is? Maybe someone here has more information about this difference? Because for someone who has never used either one I would be most interested in knowing technical issues that could emerge due to inexperience with either camera. I was told from someones first hand experience that the Vericam was much more user friendly and that they felt they did not need a technician around to trouble shoot. So any opinions on this? Or does someone else see their operation as too similar to change ones preference?

I would just like to know if anyone believes that good keys can be taking from vericam footage? Has anyone seen any good keys from the f900 or 950? I am stuck right now between using the sony and the vericam. I have some green screen footage to shoot as well, but I also need to record in slow motion. Obviously the vericam is better for higher speed shooting, but the sony has better resolution. Does anyone believe it can be done, are there any tricks to help mask "almost perfect keys" anyone would like to share?

Thanks redbaron. If you don't mind I would love to hear how the shoot goes next week for you? Let me know what you think about the camera. Also if you get a chance to put some bedia online I would love to see this camera in 60p performance.