Ben McPhee

Well I do kind of want a versatile camera. My main area of interest is in Snowboarding, but I'm also into Skating, surfing, and eventually (Possibly) Music Video's. If I ever get to a stage where I can sell my footage, I'll probably go straight for the Arri 16SB, but for now, I'm just kind of wanting to shoot some local skaters and surfers (I'm nowhere near the snow right now), and maybe make my own short films. But obviosuly, do do that, I would need to process the film, and I know 16mm is expensive, and I was just curious as to how 8mm compared, both in price and quality. In a 16mm camera, I would need a variable speed motor, and I could probably live without it in 8mm, but I'd still like one if possible. The cost of the camera isn't so important. It's the running costs that I'm more concerned with.

Hi, I was after a bit of advice on 16mm cameras vs 8mm. I have been considering trying to get an Arriflex 16sb, and the main thing holding me back is the cost of film processing (Which would have to include conversion to a digital format for use in a non linear editing program.) A few people have suggested 8mm as an alternative, but I'm pretty unfamiliar with the format. Is it much cheaper to process (and convert to digital) 8mm compared to 16mm? (I'm looking to shoot a fair bit. Would it be considered an expensive hobby?) How is the quality of 8mm? And what about the cameras themselves? Do they compromise on "features" (mainly concerned with frame rate). And are they and the appropriate lenses cheaper? If I master an 8mm camera, would a 16mm camera be pretty similar? Any help would be much appreciated. Cheers, Ben

I can't thank you guys enough for your help! That was way more than I expected. John, I'd love to get into 16mm. It's my ultimate goal, and I'm also in the market for a 16mm camera as well (An Arri 16sb - hopefully witha a Super-16 conversion), but the cost is the overwhelming factor right now. I just can't afford to shoot on film at this stage. That will have to come a bit later. Ryan, thanks so much for your help. It was great to hear from someone who knew what I was talking about, and could offer some special tips specific to my kind of filming. I really appreciated it. (I know there are a lot of Canon Filmers on here, but if anyone wants to tell me about how good or crap they are, feel free to Email me. ) Speaking of cameras, Does anyone have any thoughts on Mini-DV vs DVCam? I'm pretty unfamiliar with the format. Is it expensive? Ryan, would you say that it's suitable for this type of work? What are the Pro's and Cons? Sony have a cam called the DSR Pro-150. How does it compare to the VX2000/VX2100? And Phil, To answer your question about Australians, I really have no idea. :) OK, I know that's not really an answer, but it's the truth. For me, it's a bunch of stuff. I love the people who are doing the things I want to shoot. They're good to spend time with, and they're skills blow me away. That's about the best explanation I can come up with. And like everyone else here, I just love film and video. :) Thanks a lot for your advice too. It was invaluable. I feel like I just went to film school for free. :) Cheers! Ben

Hey guys. :o) I'm an Australian Cinematrographer and Videographer, with an interest in filming Surf, Skate, and Snowboarding films. My current camera is a PAL Panasonic DS-38A, but I'm looking to trade up to either a Sony VX 2100, or a Canon GL2. (Unless anyone has any other suggestions?) The Panasonic does the job, but the results are almost TOO clear. I would like a set up that blurs the line between Digital and Film, and the VX 2100 in particular seems to be something of an industry standard. (I've heard good things about the Canon too, but one review said that the colours are more vivid than the Sony's, and I know that's probably a plus, but I don't think I want that.) My main concern is whether to go for a PAL or an NTSC model. There are a few factors in my decision. 1. In Australia we use PAL, but the majority of my market will probably be in NTSC. Is it easy to convert between the two for output to Video/DVD? And is there any loss in quality? Should I film in NTSC and convert to PAL? Or the other way around? 2. Is there any difference in the visual look of NTSC as opposed to PAL? I know about frame rates and size etc, but NTSC video kind of seems to be "Grungier", if you know what I mean. I kind of like that for my application. Is that accurate? I don't know if any of you are familiar with Skate Vids, but I was wondering why some look amateurish, and others (Like "The DC Video", which is an exceptional video), look like hollywood productions. I know there are a lot of factors, but basically, how much of that comes down to the video format used, and how much is in Post production? Much of the footage in "The DC Video" is 16mm, but a good part of the Digi footage is of a very high quality. I have seen smaller films using the same equipment used in the bigger budget productions where the footage is quite clearly digital - way too crisp, if you know what I mean. Would the better filmers be using some sort of filters? Vastly superior lenses? Or running their footage through a special process in post production to enhance it? If you've ever watched the Deleted Scenes on a DVD, you'd probably have noticed that the quality usually sucks. How do they turn regular footage into that polished, finished product we see in Cinemas and on DVD? I'm editing with Premiere 6.5 if that makes a difference. Anyway, I appologise for the length, but hopefully someone can help. :o) Thanks in advance. Cheers, Ben

I could really use some help. Any ideas?

Hi everyone. A few of you might remember about a year ago I asked (Under a different name - Ben 182 I believe) about a few things concerning Snowboard Filming. I'm now back in Australia for a while, and would like to try my hand at Surf Filming. I'm writing to see if anyone has any experience in the field, and can offer any advice on techniques and equipment? I was on the verge of purchasing an Arri 16SB, but couldn't justify it right now, as I have nothing to film. Would this camera be suitable for the task? Part of my footage will be shot from the beach, so I assume that won't require any modification just a good telephoto lens, but I hope to spend some time on boats where it is likely to get splashed, and it will not provide a terribly stable platform to film off. And I also was planning to get into the water, so whatever camera I chose, it's going to require a waterproof housing of some sort, and other modifications? Is there even such a thing? What is the verdict on that little "Ikonosphere" camera, or whatever it is called. Would it be a good option? And is there a ready made water camera? Any thoughts on what gear to use? I'm willing to consider video as a starting point (So any tips on gear to use there would also be appreciated), but ultimately, I want to shoot as much 16mm as possible. I could also use some help deciding on Film stocks as well, and camera and settings if you have any thoughts there. Thanks in advance for all your help. It's much apreciated. :o) Cheers, Ben