HPX goes to Boot Camp

[MrGlory]

I've been filming on the HPX for the past week at Army Basic Training. I edited a status report and sent it up the chain for review, and they love the quality and versatility the camera brings to the table.

http://www.warriorswithwrenches.com/sm/filminghpx.jpg

I'd post the video, but they're going to try to get the rights to the music I used for the edit officially, so I need to wait on that.

<<EDITED TO ADD 10MAY08>> It's almost a year later but I thought some might still be interested in the footage. I just uploaded a different draft I put together as a b-roll example from this shoot (no color correction).

Army Basic Training via Vimeo (http://www.vimeo.com/992902)

I've put up some screen shots here: http://www.glorycubed.com/~hpxbct/index.htm (http://www.glorycubed.com/%7Ehpxbct/index.htm)I also threw in an H.264 copy of a .50 Caliber being fired (http://www.glorycubed.com/%7Ehpxbct/50CAL.mov)30MB and a PUGEL fight (http://www.glorycubed.com/%7Ehpxbct/pugel.mov) 80MB in slow-mo..
The lenses I used were the Canon FJ24, HJ22ex7.6 and a HJ40x10 all recorded at 720Pn.

Here's an example

http://www.glorycubed.com/%7Ehpxbct/images/00373G.jpg
I ran the auto-color/auto-levels/saturation to try to get a standard look throughout the images, that's it (besides shrinking them down a bit).

[LuckyStudio 13]

are those the "normal range" shallow DOF or do you have to move way out and zoom in to get that shallow DOF ? The images are really clean and all of them have pretty decent shallow DOF.

[blckhawk542]

I couldn't help it but just try different things with some of the pics you posted with CC.

I did it for some other movie too....I just like screwing around with the colors. It's cool stuff.

Before and After

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v707/blacksheep699/CC/Image0-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v707/blacksheep699/CC/Image6.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v707/blacksheep699/CC/Image2-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v707/blacksheep699/CC/Image1-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v707/blacksheep699/CC/Image4-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v707/blacksheep699/CC/Image3-1.jpg

[MrGlory]

are those the "normal range" shallow DOF or do you have to move way out and zoom in to get that shallow DOF ? The images are really clean and all of them have pretty decent shallow DOF.

It depends on the lens. The FJ24 has a shallow depth of field that you can range out in increments up to 10ft and then infiniti (I'd like to try the FJ9 for a wider angle image). The shot above was taken with the 22x7.6 and I was about 10 feet away from the focus point. In other shots like the bayonet range and the mov clip of the machine gun, I was at least 150-200ft away using the 40x.

The 22x7.6 was my favorite, and most versatile lens, but the 24 grew on me as getting into the ring during hand-to-hand combat, or close proximity during classes, etc. produced some oustanding clean images.


I couldn't help it but just try different things with some of the pics you posted with CC.

No problem dude, I can't wait to get back and be able to play around with the footage as well!

[MrGlory]

Here's another shot of a pugel (http://www.glorycubed.com/%7Ehpxbct/pugel.mov) competition at 60fps 1/500s / h.264 full size 84mb

[kyle.presley]

That looks incredible!

[k2director]

Great shots, MrGlory! They look silky smooth.


Just curious: why didn't you shoot in 1080, instead of 720? Did you feel that 1080 didn't boost sharpness by much? (as is the case with the HVX200).

Another further shots would be much appreciated, as well...

[MrGlory]

Thanks!

I picked 720Pn for the overall ease of use. The space savings, and native frame rate conversion make it a dream to work/edit with. Most of what I shoot will end up in web and DVD recruiting materials so until I'm asked to do more with, and bigger projects, 720Pn works gloriously for our needs. From what I have gathered, 1080 is not the improvement worth giving up the benefits of 720 yet. I am continuously impressed at the quality of the HVX and now HPX, they're a great combo.

These cameras are seriously a dream come true. I started out filming about 10 years ago as a cadet with a bunch of video ideas (someone's posted an early video I made on youtube where I was loaned a steadicam jr. and a sony handycam to play with: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df0Rvof7o5A). Over time, because of the gradual increase in quality, and what I've filmed during my own military service, I've ended up being contracted to film for the Army National Guard. These cameras allow me to achieve any look and shot I can envision. Next month after all these years, I'm going to try and go back to that cadet activity and produce a new video for them using this equipment. It should be pretty awesome!

[Michael T]

Thats really nice footage. I can't wait to get ahold of a HPX. Things are changing so fast in the camera business. We now have toys we only dreamed about just a few years ago.

[joe 1008]

MrGlory: I like the look of what you shot, shallow DOF, wide dynamic range, saturated colours. Can you tell me what settings on the camera you have used? Did you use cine gamma for example?

[mcgeedigital]

Pretty sweet stuff!

Did you rent all of those lenses?

[MrGlory]

MrGlory: I like the look of what you shot, shallow DOF, wide dynamic range, saturated colours. Can you tell me what settings on the camera you have used? Did you use cine gamma for example?

Yes, the gamma was cine, and the other settings were Master Ped -4 and Cinelike D. Basically the same settings as our HVX



Pretty sweet stuff!

Did you rent all of those lenses?

Yes, still looking for a deal on the 22x7.6 ;) , that lens covers a huge spectrum and would be nice to own.

[MrGlory]

It's almost a year later but I thought some might still be interested in the footage. I just uploaded a different draft I had put together as a quick b-roll example from this shoot (no color correction).

Army Basic Training via Vimeo (http://www.vimeo.com/992902)

[jcoxshooter]

nice, have you shot anything else with either one of those lens?

[lhdor]

The footage was incredible. Thank you for sharing your project with us.

[EDIT-XTREEM]

This all looks wonderful! Nice work.

Also the Red footage from Afghanistan looks superb. Keep up the great work!!