Ian Conrey

I was watching Hugo as well as The Hunger Games yesterday and noticed a couple of times moire and aliasing showing up. Now I know Hugo was shot on the Arri Alexa, so there should not be any visible moire but it's definitely more possible on any digital camera than film. It was in the dream sequence of the wood grain on the railroad track. Now hunger games I noticed it horribly in the beginning when Gale and Katniss where sitting on a green hill. Gale's shirt had a fabric pattern which had horrible rainbow circular patterns all over it that jittered when he moved; definitely moire. However hunger games was shot on film which shouldn't have any moire. I did some reseach and found out that in post production moire can show up, but most likely it showed up when it was compressed for tv. I was watching both of these through netflix on a vizeo hdtv. Could that be the case? Forgive me of my ignorance ive just been discovering all of these new things about filmmaking and now I am noticing things in movies I never have before, such as camera angles, seeing what kind of color correction was done, and even errors. So I guess a question would be, what type of things cause moire in post production? Can it be avoided at all?

This would be more geared to smaller cameras such as dslr set ups, but what are some thoughts on DIY rigs such as the silver flyer I see tutorials for all over you tube versus buying one from a company for significantly more money. From what I have seen from the silver flyer, it at least looks like it works very well. Any thoughts?

Thanks again for all of the input. I have been doing a lot of research but there are just so many aspects, it's hard to get answers to a lot of areas. Now when you suggest the 1/8 black pro mist, is that for the aliasing, or for personal preference of look? I've also been researching these forums a bit and I have read that some people have had good luck with anti-aliasing filters such as Caprock or VAF-60D. Mr. Rhodes said that it lowers the resolution so that it is not truly hd, So I am guessing if I want to hold onto the hd quality getting one of these two filters would not be a good idea. I am leaning toward the h2g over 60d, but I also read the black magic is coming out in July? So either way I am going to wait and see how that turns out, I think. I use to never notice moire in films and now that is all I can see when I watch shorts shot on dslr! Really kind of bummed me out, cause I don't know if I can get past that. Thanks for all the advice!

Thats is interesting about the black magic. Im tempted to just wait. But if i were to not and i went with the gh2 what adapter would you recommend for nikon lens? And does the nikon lens (50mm 1.8) have manual aperature or can i set it digitally through the body itself? Likwise if i went with the 60d is the ML firmware worth installing and does it fix any of its issues? And lastly, then i'll leave you alone! If i get the 60d is the aliasing really bad and should i spend the money to get an anti-aliasing filter?

Thank you very much. This does help a lot in my decision.

Hi my name is Ian and I am currently in the market for a DSLR (used primarily for filming). I have been doing photography on a Canon 350d for years, but have recently been able to work with video on DSLR's, and I fell in love. I understand that this is a question that is well below the league of anyone on here, but I cannot find any help, so any advice whatsoever would be great. I am looking at an intro/midrange dslr best suited for video. I have been set on the Canon 60D (crop factor doesn't bother me and the price is excellent, plus several of the other features it has for video) and a 50mm 1.8 EF lens as a starter kit. However recently I have heard many good things about the Panasonic GH2, and have seen the footage and have been really impressed. However I still like to do photography, which the canon I hear is better, and I like the build of the 60d and reputation I have heard. I am not sure of the quality build of the gh2 or the fact that I have yet to find a sufficent adapter so that I can mount other lenses to it and still adjust aperature; such as on the 50mm 1.8 EF. Plus I have also heard that you should hack the gh2 for best results, which I don't know enough about and really dont feel comfortable with. My biggest issue however is the alaising on the 60d. Is this a deal breaker? Is there a work around on this without having to buy a $300 anti-alaising filter? Please help me understand my best route to take. Again I want to mostly shoot video with the best quality I can, under the $1000 for the body. Thanks!