I need Major Help. XL2 or vx100a for lowlight - nightclub scene.

drew_hytt

drew_hytt

Member
I am filming a commercial coming up to promote a Canadian entertainment magazine and I need to get a camera that will have 24p and look decent when converted over to 16-35mm, or just blown up onto a screen that size. (Recorded wide screen) because it will be showcased in the movie theaters before every movie played.

Now, I will film well lit day shots and shots that need lighting i can add it, but when it comes down to nightclub and nightlife filming I need a camera that picks up great colors. Now I checked the xl2 and it seems amazing, but how are you going to shoot a crowd shot with it over your head and no pull out lcd? Or any kind of shot like that nature.

I know people with the dvx100 and its great, but not the greatest with nightlife, I have read the reviews saying, proper lighting is what’s key and I understand that, but in huge nightclub scenarios with sometimes great lighting and sometimes not the greatest lighting I used a Canon gl2, looked great. I filmed DJ Benny Benassi at a local nightclub and the quality was really nice. Very little grain.

So my main questions are, What camera to get to achieve good lowlight shots, and vivid night shots with less lights added to brighten the scene? And will either of these cameras look good when professionally converted to 16-35 mm? Should I film daytime shots with the dxv100 and then nighttime with my gl2?

Thanks,

Any comments would be gratefully appreciated.
 
the dvx is supposed to have better night time resolution than the xl2. But the xl2 has native 16x9 ccds and generally shows a better 16x9 picture than the xl2. I'd say u need some kinda monitor hooked up to the xl2 so u can see what your doing if your gonna have it over your head on a crane or whatever. If you can't get a monitor than i say go with the dvx100. BTW halfway through your post you started saying gl2 instead of xl2. I'd deff take a dvx over anything gl2 if thats really what you ment to say.
 
oooh, you're going to do a paid job without testing the cameras?

The xl2 is pretty clean in low light, even at 12db (using coring and noise reduction). However I find in low light the colours get a little washed out. Maybe a dvx user can chime in here, but I believe the dvx keeps it's colour better but is a little noisier too.
 
J5 squared said:
the dvx is supposed to have better night time resolution than the xl2. But the xl2 has native 16x9 ccds and generally shows a better 16x9 picture than the xl2. I'd say u need some kinda monitor hooked up to the xl2 so u can see what your doing if your gonna have it over your head on a crane or whatever. If you can't get a monitor than i say go with the dvx100. BTW halfway through your post you started saying gl2 instead of xl2. I'd deff take a dvx over anything gl2 if thats really what you ment to say.
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Dude. The guy said he's used the GL2 before. His question's were about the dvx vs. the xl2.
 
kanoab said:
Dude. The guy said he's used the GL2 before. His question's were about the dvx vs. the xl2.
Click to expand...

Dude!

drew_hytt said:
Should I film daytime shots with the dxv100 and then nighttime with my gl2?
Click to expand...

i believe thats a question about using the gl2?
 
Hopefully this will help Drew

I own both the DVX and the XL2. To start simply - the DVX is more sensitive than the XL2. I know this as I have used both to shoot wedding vids often in low light situations. the XL2 will need 6bd switched in when the DVX is fully open (and even then it is not quite as bright. Canon, in their infinite wisdom, exluded a 9db option so you have to go straight to 12bd after 6bd. It's true that the XL2 does a lot better noise wise when gain is switched in compared to the DVX but the colours start to wash out also, quite noticeable it is too.

Obviously, if you need the 16:9 then the XL2 has it built in. You'll need the adaptor for the DVX to get this at full quality. A lot has been said of the difficulties with the adaptor, but I have shot low light wedding reception discos with it and have had no problems with it (if you know the limitations involved).

I have to say that side by side the DVX gives a far more pleasing image (to my eye at least) if it is at 6bd and the XL2 is at 12bd.

As far as nightclub shooting goes, if there is decent light in there the DVX should be fine. Probably a lot more atmospheric to use the light that is there instead of blasting in a redhead or such.

Any questions, just fire them up.

Regards

Jon
 
Just to help .
when i shoot wedding video in singapore,
i face the same situation, hence sometimes.
abjust the shutter speed of the camera will help to brighten up .
shooting at 25 or lower will brighten up
but if you are shooting in 24 p, most will advise that u keep to 50.

www.vocaremedia.com
vocare=call to
 
Thanks, this is a video i shot a few months ago for a teen dance for one of my clients, it was free hand and was shot on the gl2, I mean how it increases the colors so much like in that video. All we did on the technical end was make the blacks, black. I shot in 30, and it looked pretty good.


http://www.afterdarkentertainment.ca/videopromo.wmv
 
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