JVD HD 100 a few simple Questions

Jason Banker · March 24, 2006

Can you use this camera on a fig rig?

With the batterys and mattebox and mini-35 with lens does the camera become to big/heavy to do hand held shots? on a steadicam flyer?

How well does it operate in low light?

Do you think taking the picture out of focus looks unnatural? (I was pulling the image out of focus and noticed that the blur looked somewhat "split" or hard edged instead of soft (maybe its just the factory lens or my brain))

Do you find that because the camera looks more professional that you don't take it out casually because eveyone stares at you? (silly question, I know, but I really like using my camera to shoot random things and always wonder what effect having a setup like this has on amount of usage)

I have heard several different takes on the build of this camera. Do you find the camera feels fragile (due to lens or materials)? or do you think this is a rugged type of camera?

If you were shooting a doc could you recommend this camera for more run and gun/ fly on the wall stuff?

Thanks :)

Chris Watson · March 27, 2006

B)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jason B @ Mar 24 2006, 03:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>

Can you use this camera on a fig rig?

Not sure haven't tried it; WITHOUT the IDX battery brick the camera is very comfortable and would seem to lend itself well to the Fig Rig, again this is opinion only considering I own the camera and have never used the Fig Rig yet.

With the batterys and mattebox and mini-35 with lens does the camera become to big/heavy to do hand held shots? on a steadicam flyer?

Yes, I can't imagine this being a comfortable setup especially with the Mini-35. It could probably be done, but you would be working the camera op pretty hard.

How well does it operate in low light?

I personally don't think it works well in low light. BUY LIGHTS. They don't say "LIGHTS, camera action for nothing." Okay nobody really says that but my point still stands. For instance I work with a lot of bands, in dark little bars. I would not take this camera, shoot in 30p and expect it to produce much visual information without making sure the bar was well lit.

Do you think taking the picture out of focus looks unnatural? (I was pulling the image out of focus and noticed that the blur looked somewhat "split" or hard edged instead of soft (maybe its just the factory lens or my brain))

Not really. But When I first got the camera I did a Rack Focus and I saw a blurred division of sorts. I haven't seen it since, but I haven't done any rack focuses since either. Either way it might be a different phenonma(sic) cause what I noticed hard no hard edges.

Do you find that because the camera looks more professional that you don't take it out casually because eveyone stares at you? (silly question, I know, but I really like using my camera to shoot random things and always wonder what effect having a setup like this has on amount of usage)

No I only take out the camera when someone puts money in my hands. It does look pro though. I am working with larger bands right now, and recently I have only worked with smaller ones. Pulling this camera out as opposed to the Sony competitor, presents a better image. You just look more pro that all I means, and if you are billing someone a lot of money, the at least get the impression on set/location that you were the right man for the job. Which helps.

I have heard several different takes on the build of this camera. Do you find the camera feels fragile (due to lens or materials)? or do you think this is a rugged type of camera?

I try not to rough house anything that costs me a lot of money. Unless that's how she likes it, but I digress that is a whole other forum altogether.

If you were shooting a doc could you recommend this camera for more run and gun/ fly on the wall stuff?

I think so, I mean it feels like a news camera for the most part. Just looks a little more compact. But if you add that Mini-35 then maybe not so much.

Thanks :)

Edited March 27, 2006 by Chris Watson