Ted Hoppe

I am posing the question for those out there in similar situations... How many hours do you run a camera before retirement or resell? In my case, I have a Sony DSR-300. I have nearly 5000 hours on the heads and nearly 6000 in operation... So does running this camera until it cost too much to repair / adjust / or even fail OR does one buy a new new workhorse camera at a mythical 4000 hour mark and eat the cost to benifit/revenue differential. I am of two schools of thought/business on this subject. As I see it, if a camera is really a prosumer product then you get what you pay for. If you bet on a more professional package you need to recieve the perceived value and related durability. I hate being cheap but on the otherhand I make my return on investment much longer. I did this when I purchased my BetaSP package which lasted me for over 8 years. I have been living with this DSR 300 and DVCpro pack for nearly six while only renting with smaller footprints when needed. Look forward to your insight and input. Thanks!

I considering using my Bolex with a Berthiot Pan-Cinor zoom len (30mm) shooting some higher speed outdoor action shots (using Kodak 7201). I am going to be way out in the bush and vary limited in space for many other lens. I suppose this is my way to return to filming with my first 16mm film camera. What considerations should I be looking out for? Any suggestions would be appreciated. (Additionally, I am planning to do a +4k scan per frame in an attempt to deliver 1080i or better HD video - a cheap man's telecine.)

When was it last time that you shot 1080p with a prosumer camera? BTW: the scanner in a nikon film scanner I purchased via ebay for around 700.00. The scanner came with 35 and 16mm frame holders. I do a 3k scan per frame. It takes around 1.5 hour to to about three minutes of film. I am able to color correct each jpeg then I place the series into a mjpeg video in Avid. - I know its not for features. But much cheaper than shooting with a 75,000 dollar or more camera plus any transfer costs for HD video. If you can shoot 1080p video for cheaper, I am listening!

I spoke with Inconix several weeks ago. The engineers said that the 1080p Camera was at 60Hz. I don't think you need to go to an HDCAM recorder but directly to a DVI DVR raid configuration. I suppose you could go to a HDCAM for backup. Good ideas are coming from this kind of thinking... Ted

Iconix 1/3 progressive 3ccd HDTV Camera Check out the website: www.iconixvideo.com

My bolex 16 was recently fitted to a super16mm gate. For this price I shoot high def for the price of a good dv camcorder. Yeah the film is expensive but the quality is there. I don't need to worry about upconversions and HD issues. Additionally, I made my own scanner to scan these frames in. I can do a 3k scan and create a cristal clear jpeg clips. Can your video do that? I tried to do the same thing with super8 but was disappointed in the results.

There is a 1080p 3-chip camera with a DVI out. It runs about 10,000 and you would add a raid storage device to it. It would make a good studio camera with quick editing properties. Remember the 1980?s when 3/4 tape ruled and separate recorder was carried by the strongest P.A. you could find. History repeats itself!

I think most professionals and those who make those critical visual decisions (i.e. executives and like producers) are lost when it comes to 1080p, HD and beyond the HD video tent. I have recently changed careers from a 15-year professional veteran producer/cameraman to a sales and marketing guy for a start-up who has some really cool HD video routing and cabling solutions. My learning curve has been very steep. (The engineers slap me around pretty badly.) Despite this, I must say that there are very strong indications that 1080p 60Hz is as close to most film as you can get. There is more to come, as we get closer to the promises of new technology changes. Also remember, the blueray technologies are going to drive 720p out of the market as it will be obvious to the naked eye when presented on a 1080p screen or set. Those folks holding 720p broadcast cameras are going to be in for a shock and loss. Quite simply, remember when you bought that Cannon L1 Hi8 thinking you were going to change the world and was forsed to sell it on the cheap just a year and a half later. By the way, I sold my DVCPro 50 Pack because I realized that the technology had just passed me by again. I've back gone to shooting super 16mm as the only acceptable format that won't break the bank. I will shoot with Sony 900 for interiors only. Yeah, you can shoot 35mm with less grain to be pristine imagining but how many productions can afford all that. That?s my POV and I've been wrong before. But not this time.