Mike Brennan

There is a software upgrade comming to bypass the bars when using low sat. Mike Brennan

Jim, no one else has reported this presentation. Was it before they began principle photography? Yes the layout of the Genesis chip as stated by Panavision and papers presented to SMPTE by John Gault RGBRGBRGBRGB RGBRGBRGBRGB RGBRGBRGBRGB This has been previously posted on this site and elsewhere. The layout was a surprise and even caught out Thomson who were unaware that it was even a ccd, they had pre-prepared a press statement outlining the issues about bayer filtered cmos cameras. Amazing that Panna/Sony kept it a secret. If you are trying to find more detail try SMPTE Mike Brennan

The Genesis has been on the move for last few months. France a few weeks ago UK before Christmas. Check with your local rep as they are not well advertised in advance. Mike Brennan

I didn't say that shooting video would magically improve acting performances, so please don't pharaphrase my argument in that way! I stated a particular directors experience that he could try for 100% perfection on video where if he was shooting on film on a simalr budget he would stop at 80% after say three takes. Your figures are meaningless in this discussion as you have not related them to degree of acceptable performance as defined by a director. Was the director happy to stop at 3 or 5 takes? Had they been shooting HD would he have gone for another? Bearing in mind it *doesn't* usually involve a reload? Mileage will obviously vary from director to director and movie to movie. Mike Brennan

Yes to al of the above, but not all at the same time. Mike Brennan

A reminder to Forum readers that Jims recent posts quoting John Virtue of Panvision Australia saying that Star Wars Episode Two didn't shoot on HDCAM was grossily inaccurate, in fact the opposite of the truth. Jims post stating that the striped design of theRGB layout on Genesis ccd as being "impossible" is totally innacurate as John Gault has present papers to SMPTE and HPA detailing the design. I have re re re confirmed the facts with the two individuals. Had Jims post not been so vehnemant and sparked such a lot of time wasting response I would let them pass as I can't seem to find Jim Murdoch anywhere on the net that makes a living in the UK in Maybe like the content of his posts the man is a fantasy? Of course Rupert Murdoch's son who runs Europes largest satellite company is named James! Maybe it is a piss-take as the brits say? Mike Brennan

Here here. Oh to choose a carreer where technology does not devaule your skills, John Sprung mentioned plastering, I guess doctors and lawyers would be included too Mike Brennan

Is this a response to my post? Let me restate; A leading experienced Mexican Director and an experienced cast, ie RADA trained ect ect. (no non professionals) No improvising The director said that shooting HD enabled him to go for the extra take or two to try for perfection of perfomance, whereas had he been shooting film he would have stopped after perhaps three takes if had achieved 80% satisfaction of the performance. HD gave this director the *budget* to get better performances. This was not counter productive! Mike Brennan

Rick, how is the budget going? Mike brennan

On investigation of similar symptoms on a number of SD and HD Sony camcorders Sony Japan say the effect is caused by cosmic radiation 'lighting up' a pixel for a frame. Phil you mentioned ionic radiation, whats that? After worker for 2 0 years with theses cameras and 4 years exclusively with HD why did I only first notice it 6 weeks ago? Mike Brennan

Yes absolutely. I don't disagree. If they do edit and grade a movie will they call themselves a colourist? Mike Brennan

Hi Manu, Yes it has been slow in India for the past 4 years. But don't expect the promotion of HD cameras to come from the estabilshed film players. Those with an established digital post business are the ones to watch... Mike Brennan

Frank, I suppose you could call me an "independent" with HD kit. As for me my f900 has paid for itself in 3.5 years. This took 30% longer than standard definition kit I have owned. The camera body itself is now worth around US$50k? I paid $90k. Thats $40k depreciation in 3.5 years. Monitors batteries mattbox follow focus, lenses are still current (as is the camera for the moment anyway!). It is about to go on a 5 week feature for $24k, so from here on in its a gravey train, so even if Sony announce a new camcorder in the next year for $90k the kit can self sustain itself if it continues to work at the rate it has. The f900 will continue to depreciate but at a lower rate. It remains the only 1920x1080 camcorder until Venom hits the shops. Rates are higher for electronic kit than film kit (as a percentage of cost) I shoot HD stock shots in my downtime for cost of the tape, that earn 35mm rates. All in all its an apples and oranges comparison.... Mike Brennan

From a review of the SRW1 I wrote for last edition of High Definition Magazine The most versatile feature of the SRW1 is its ability to switch compression ratios. In 4:2:2 mode it compresses 2.7/1 for a data rate of 440mbs In 4:4:4 SQ mode it compresses 4.2/1 for a data rate of 440mbs In 4:4:4 HQ mode it compresses 2/1 for a data rate of 880mbs In stereo 4:2:2 mode two separate 4:2:2 pictures are recorded at a rate of 880mbs It achieves the 880mbs rate by running the tape at double speed. A future upgrade will also enable the SRW to record 720 60p. Panavision say that special Genesis SRW1s will be able to do 1920x1080 50p. Mike Brennan

In the last year I have seen a trend toward low budget commercials and pop promos where the editor/director with Apple edits and grades it themselves. These guys are not fresh out of film school, one is 43 and ran a post house, another is 32 with an animation background. They like the idea (at the moment anyway!) of not commuting, and doing their own thing by looking after a job for a price. Mike brennan Mike Brennan

Canon may have a HD cam with interchangeable lenses but as the ccds are 1/3 inch their are few high quality wide angle lenses available. Fuji does one designed for the 1/2 inch ikegami. The X300 is a HD box camera (no recorder) that has interchangeable lenses.(not a huge choice at the moment in 1/2 inch format though) It has 1440x1080 pixels vs Z1 960 x 1080 Mike Brennan

Having worked in the industry for a long time, I really don't understand that attitude. Collaboration with experienced professionals at every step of post production is the best way to achieve the best result. A creative editor is not a finishing/conforming person. An editor is not a colorist. And a colorist is not a color scientist (at least not most of the time). And a cinematographer is none of these things.

HD cameras have 6.3 million pixels, equivelant in some respects to perhaps 3.5k bayer single chip Mike Brennan

I've been a consult to Indian organisation in the past six months. They will have studio, post and film out facilities under one roof. The cost of owning a couple of HD cameras is no big deal under this structure, if you are going to shoot 5 movies a year cameras and decks will pay for themselves before they are redundant in savings in film stock and processing. Mike Brennan

Yes and also new f900s (not upgraded mark ones) has different/changed optical characteristics of ccd block or IR filter, that reduce flare when shooting pinpoints of light. Mike Brennan

Don't forget to record sound on camera, so you can start to edit on your dv immediately. Where are you shooting? Rates in Europe seem lower although there are fewer cameras so when things get busy rates go up . US$5k a week for Camera Follow Focus 14 and 9 inch monitors 1 x Wide and long zooms Tripod batts ect Mike Brennan

There is more to the story than the above. I worked last year with a director on a feature, it was his first HD shoot. Budget was around $2.5M. The director said that HD gave him the option to go for the perfect take. He said on this budget if shooting 35mm film that he would not have been able to afford extra takes. The film was character driven with experienced actors. So on modest budgets the extra take is needed to make the most of the the good script and the good actor! The other point to consider, made before on this foum was Faye Dunaways comment that being able to say "reset", (rather than "cut") gives the director the ability to maintain energy and pressure on set. Another way to make the most of the good script and good acting and more to the point, make the most of average actors and average scripts! Mike Brennan

Was it a mark one model of f900 ? Mike Brennan

Jim, HDCAM used for everything but miniatures. All live action with actors was HDCAM. Pickup shots in London HDCAM. 35mm camera was initially present for slo mo and not because insurance company asked for it! In fact the insurance company lowered the premium because clones were made on set. Lucas bought HDC 950s with small T heads to shoot the miniatures at the ranch where they were connected to servers and recorded 4:2:2, he continued to use them with f500s and Fuji lenses for studio pickup shots in London months after he had finished with the Panavision package. Why should he rent when owns the kit? So HDCAM was used for most and 4:2:2 for background plates, not the other way around as you state. Jim it is you who are the victim, dare I say peddler of the "house of mirrors" BS as you put it. Michael Brennan

Elthan it is not only my problem, but your problem too (albeit very minor) check your Vipers Varicams and f900s! Mike Brennan