Low/no budget filmmaker blogs daily on subjects like video production, HD cameras, screenwriting, etc.
It’s probably every indie filmmakers wet dream to lay his (or her) hands on an Arri film camera. Well, you got something better – the new Arri ALEXA camera!
Depending on where you are, Canon’s new flagship might carry different letters but the the bottom line is the same: this photo is GOOD news for aspiring indie filmmakers.
According to DPreview:
The EOS 550D redefines the boundaries of Canon’s consumer DSLR range, incorporating technologies and features more commonly found in semi-professional DSLRs into the compact, lightweight body favoured by consumers. With a newly-developed 18 Megapixel (MP) APS-C CMOS sensor, coupled with Canon’s advanced DIGIC 4 image processor and the ability to shoot Full HD movies, photography enthusiasts are empowered to explore new levels of creativity.
Yes, full HD and an ISO range of 100 – 6400 (expandable to 12800) means you’ll get a lot mileage from scenes with natural (often poor) lighting.
The camera itself is too new, so the previews have been based on pre-production units but I’m pretty excited!
This camera shootout is a bit old (end of 2008) but it’s quite comprehensive: 35mm motion picture, RED, EX3, HVX200, HPX170, HPX3000, Sony EX3, Nikon D90, Canon 5D Mark II, Letus35 Ultimate and Elite DOF adapters, RedRock Micro and more.
Sony HC3 is an amazing little HD camera for any aspiring filmmaker on a budget.
B&H have a used one (in excellent condition) for around $500. You can get it here.
While in B&H used equipment department, check out the other HD camcorders too. They’ve got discounted Canon H1, Sony FX1, and even Panasonic HVX200 but you’ll need more than $500 for these babies.
There’s been quite a stir every time someone mentions the RED camera.
For one, its support for 4K video (4,096 x 2,160 pixels) made quite an impact last year when RED camera stole NAB 2006.
Another point is the price … point. The body will cost “only” 17,500. If you consider the average indie producer’s budget this seems quite high but at the same time, a good zoom lens could cost that much (and more). So considering the 4K capability, you’re getting an excellent deal.
So let’s go to the schedule part. The first batch of RED cameras (50 or so) will ship in August. From then on, it’s about 100 cameras per month. About 2000 have been pre-ordered already which means that if you order today, you’ll get yours in February 2008!
Which definitely is a long wait. Fear not, some of the guys who are buying it are OK to rent it for a week or two.
Barry Green at DVXUser just conducted another camera shootout. The stated reason was to dispell certain rumors that the JVC HD100 performs MUCH better when the action is fast-paced. The rumor itself claimed that when shooting action, the HVX200 became a SD cam.
You can review the screenshots of the Vegas strip. To quote Barry himself, the shootout proved:
A) the HVX is every bit as high-def as the HD100, whether shots are moving or not, and any claim to the contrary is simply and easily demonstratable to be a falsehood.
B) the HVX is clearly, obviously higher color sampling, which should dispel the 4:2:2 vs. 4:2:0 controversy.
C) I could detect no veracity to the notion that there are “overexposure artifacts” in the HVX when in 1080 mode; something that was not part of the initial claim but I figured hey, this was a good chance to see whether there was truth to that rumor or not.
So if you want interchangeable lenses or a shoulder cam, get the HD100, otherwise – HVX200!
When Sony’s first HDV camcorder, the HDR-FX1, was introduced at $3,000, I thought that this will be the entry-level HDV cam for some time.
In the year that followed, several new HDV camcorders came on the market (Sony Z1 and JVC GY-HD100U). Sony’s main competitors in the DV field both have announced their HD cams: Canon XL H1 and Panasonic HVX200.
Both Sony and (recently) Sanyo have come up with one CCD/CMOS models that are significantly cheaper than the 3CCD FX1. Sanyo has introduced a mini-cam that’s supports HD (720p) – Sanyo HD1. As a Sony owner though, I’ll start with Sony HC1 review.
SONY HC1 Review – Chips and Video
The HC1 has a single 4:3 aspect ratio CMOS chip. In comparison, Sony FX1 has three CCDs which are natively 16:9. The FX1 pixel count is lower – 1.12 megapixels per CCD – while HC1 has 1.98 megapixels in 16:9 mode. This matches exactly the 1080i standard – 1920×1080.
The HC1 1080i CMOS chip performs very well in well-lit environments, on par with its more expensive brethren. Colors are crisp and the resolution of the video image is really outstanding. A true HD cam.
SONY HC1 Review – Controls
Although HC1 is considered a lower class cam, it allows certain control over important functions. Most of these are automated but perform relatively well. For example, the auto-focus is quick and responsive – very similar to the FX1. Speaking of AUTO, the HC1 has a master auto switch that will put the camera in a full auto mode. The only thing you’ll be controlling in this mode is the zoom.
Sony HC1 has a touch screen and supports spot focus and spot metering. Touching the screen will reset the focus/metering to match this specific point. Another nice touch is having AE shift that allows four levels of “correction”.
You can also control the shutter speed, focus, zoom, and white balance but these are pretty obvious and taken for granted. The control over the zoom and the focus are pretty good (for a consumer cam).
All things considered, Sony HC1 is a terrific entry-level HD cam. You can use it as a disposable cam for guerilla filmmaking or as a helmet cam for extreme sports videos. Your “other” option for a “lipstick” cam is the Ikegami HDL-20. It’s a fist-size cam with some impressive sensors that’s designed for “trick” photography. The downside is the price tag (~$17,000), roughly equavalent to 10 HC1′s.
Of course, you can shoot your daughter’s birthday in HD too. Nikita Mikhalkov released a feature-long film about his daughter’s first 18 years (technically, from 6 to 18). You could be next! You should keep in mind you won’t come across as a “PRO” with a cam like that … it’s almost like using a webcam for production.
Update: Sony HC3 is HC1′s successor – read the Hc3 review.
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