Is 2 camera shoot w/PD150 & DVX100A possible?

[JJ Alexander]

My friend has the Sony PD150 and I have the DVX100A. Can we do a 2 camera shoot and be problem free in editing and other post prod. areas or is it just not possible for whatever reasons.

If not what problems will we run into?

Thanks

[Huy Vu]

What are you filming? For one thing one camera has 24p and one doesn't so you either go 60i for both or convert the footage to 24p, which is a pain.

Second is color rendition. Filming shows and such where lighting might not be the best the color difference isn't going to be noticed, but in well lit situation like a narrative scene it's going to stick out. You can get them to match very closely in editing but that's more time and effort.

[semila58]

We just used these exact two cameras for a "live" music video, but matching the footage exactly was never a concern for us. The Panny was in 24p and locked down on a dolly with a 35 adaptor. The Sony was handheld, and that footage was later converted to 24p in post and treated to look like grainy 8mm film.

If you had to match the look of the two cameras, I'd start by getting the look you want on the Sony, then matching the Panny to that. The DVX is going to offer you more options to tweak the image.

Assuming the cameras are both NTSC, shoot in 60i on the Panny, and then later convert the footage from both cameras to 24p if a film look is what you're going for. The reasoning behind not shooting in 24p mode on the Panny even if 24p is the intended output is that the motion characteristics from the two cameras will match if they're both shooting the same frame rate and converted to 24p with the same process in post. Seems like an unnecessary step perhaps, but different programs will handle the same footage very differently, and in theory this should give you the best match, whatever program you do the conversion with. Make sure your shutter speeds match too.

Not going for a film look? Leave the Panny in 60i, no frame rate conversion necessary.

Finally, you may have to compromise the image from one or both cameras somewhat when you're color correcting to get a perfect match.

There's a good article here with stills and clips comparing the PD150 and the original DVX100:

http://www.lafcpug.org/reviews/review_dvx_pd150.html

Peace,
S-

[JJ Alexander]

Thanks for this great info. It's exactly what i needed to know about. I am running out the door but will get back here as soon as I can to continue.

We are both professional actors with some filmmaking experience. We are going to shoot a play that as written is all indoors in a studio apt. We intend to open it up and shoot at various indoor and outdoor locations. We are mainly doing it as an acting and filmmaking project/excercise but we want it to look and be good as a finished 50min film.

[tatsuo]

Just look at "9 Songs" Marcel the DP shot on dvx100 at 50i to intercut with pd150 at 50i both had anamorphic lenses on.

[JJ Alexander]

Thanks, I'll get '9 Songs' today.

A bit more info, this will all be shot in Manhattan. We have no time restraints and all the exteriors will be hand held and natural lighting. There will be fewer interior scenes and while we might use some lighting help and tripod setups indoors the probability is that it will also be mostly available light and hand held.

Its very dialogue heavy and 95% just two characters which is why we want to open up the visuals but want to avoid having it look like a Manhattan travelog.

There are two movies shot in Paris with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy and directed by Richard Linklater 'Before Sunrise' and 'Before Sunset' that are very similar in structure (two people walking thru a city mostly having a long conversation).

I have Vegas and my friend has Final Cut but since he is much better at editing FCP is what we will use.