John Mackey

Thanks guys for responding. As I'm not really familiar with shooting digitally, what exactly is the advantage of the HVX codec? I know its DVCPRO HD, but what does that give me compared to the 60D's MP4? also, with the panasonic, for a cinematic look, what frame rate would make sense? 1080i/24p, 720p/24p? And shutter speed setting to 1/48th? I was thinking the interchangeable lenses would be great. The canon I'd be able to rent comes with an 18-135mm and a 50mm. But yeah, zooming in and moving the camera back could achieve a similar look. I guess for me it comes down to the price. both cameras seem to be really good for a simple short film. The Canon is $200, comes with 2 lenses, 23gb SDHC card, digital power grip, UVprotector, circular polarizing filter, and mic....The Panasonic is $240, comes with power, tripod, ion battery, charger, 32gb P2 card, and a Firestore.

If shooting a short film, which camera would be best if I am looking for a sort of "film" look (obviously won't match the beauty of actual film, but i'm intending to make it seem filmic rather than video-like). I see that both shoot HD, but I feel the Canon could be better because of interchangeable lenses and I could achieve a shallow depth of field more easily than I could if I were using the Panasonic. Also, how easy is it to transfer files from the Canon to Final Cut Pro?

I am renting a Panasonic HVX200 for a good price to shoot a short movie on a low budget. I'm shooting outdoors, natural light starting at sunrise and going throughout the day. If I had the money, i'd shoot on 16mm film, but alas, I do not. So I would like to utilize the HVX to its fullest. I prefer the film look, and i know that this camera can shoot 24p. However, is there a way to change the shutter speed as well? Shouldn't it be at 1/48 like film cameras? What about the iris? Does color correcting in post help?

7222 Double X is rated 200T/250D. I am shooting with CFLs but would like to use as much natural light as possible. I'm shooting night exteriors under streetlights and night interiors with desk and table lamps. Does it look good over exposed (rated below 200?) or I heard you get good results by pushing one stop (to 320) or two stops (400) then having the lab push process it. More contrast would be good.

I am going to go with Double x instead of the Tri X. I hear Tri X is hard to expose in low light. What if I were to expose the double x at 200 instead of pushing it? Would it turn out muddy? What would you recommend for a sort of grungy look?

I'm not sure. I am buying ones from Home Depot that are the screw ins for desk lamps; for example a 23-watt (100w equivalent) compact fluorescent bulb. Is that different than CFL? I'm looking at the tech specs on the home depot website. It doesn't say whether or not there is high frequency ballast

I'm about to shoot a short 16mm film. Most of it takes place at night, both interiors and exteriors. I have a scene in the afternoon, and then one scene in the early morning just as the sun comes up. I'd appreciate any advice using Eastman Double X 7222. I have a very low budget, and I also don't mind some grain. I've read that this stock pushed looks good, despite a little more grain. should I set my light meter for 400 ISO instead of 200? Or expose it at 200 like the label on the can says? For my night exteriors, there are streetlights, but how much more light would I need to add. I'd like to use CFLs in Chinese Lanterns. As for night interiors, also want to use CFLs in either chinese lanterns or table lamps. Should I expose it at 200 or 400? Same question for early morning. My lens at its fastest is f/2.2 But I'd hope to use it at 4 or even 5.6

If I shoot the 7222 in lowlight at night, wouldn't it be best to rate it below 200? Or rate it at 400 and use more light?

Thank you guys for the help! Really appreciate it. One last question. If I am going to convert my footage to black and white, do I need to use a filter if I am going to light with mostly fluorescent light bulbs either in chinese lanterns or in table lamps instead of using incandescents?

I have an f 2.2 lens. How big of a difference if I rate it at 500 compared to 320? Obviously if I rate it at 320 that means a little more light is needed I presume? If at 500, less light? and I am converting the footage to black and white in post. so I'm not worried about colors.

I was thinking going with the '30 mainly due to budget constraints. I don't mind the grainier image. But would you recommend overexposing it? Or set my meter to 320? How much artificial light would I need for closeups, mediums?

Has anyone used this stock? Advice? I'd like to shoot as much natural light as possible. Night exteriors under streetlights, Night interiors with fluorescent bulbs in table lamps.

Got a bunch of expired Kodak Vision 500T 7279 stock. As well as 320T and 250D, expired as well. Sent it to a lab for a clip test and the results D-Min were: 500T: R=.42, G=.96, and B=1.37 ND=.65 320T: R=.38 G=.85, and B=1.28 ND=.60 250D: R=.50 G=.86, and B=1.12 ND=.69 I plan to shoot night exteriors with the 500T and some night interiors, early morning. They said to overexpose the film. How much overexposure? My lens only goes f 2.2. Should I keep the aperture open all the way all the time and then add some light? Trying to use as much natural streetlights as I can, but could I set up some Chinese lanterns around my subjects to compensate for the loss in quality of the film?

The lab said I should overexpose, but since I am shooting mostly night ext and int, and I have a lens that only goes f 2.2, would adding more light be effective?

I will be converting the footage to black and white in post production. So does the RGB really matter?