Feature Film: 2 Z1U's or 1 HVX? Also, Z1U Settings?

brock2621

brock2621

Well-known member
I'm about to shoot a 30 min "short" film and i have an option of getting 2 Sony Z1U's for free or paying about a grand to rend an HVX. So basically... what is 720 and 24P worth? Right now i'm leaning towards the 2 free Z1U's because i have 2 angles to shoot from, and i can spend the rest of the money on making my sets look a LOT better. So unless everybody thinks that the 24 and 720 is worth a grand, let me know.

Secondly, since i probably am going with the Z1U's, I need settings for this camera and the best conversions to get it to 24p. Right now my idea was to shoot in 60i, use adobe frame blending option, then de-interlace to 24p. Is this the way to go? And also what de-interlacing software is the best (MAC)? I really appreciate you guys.

~Brock~
 
I dont think that the 720/24P is worth 1000 of your budget (assuming this is a pretty low budget production). If this were a $50,000 short I'd say go with the HVX. But take the 1000 and spend it on a good crew, lights, sound, whatever you could improve on. The camera wont do that much more. Although I personally would only use 1 of the Z1U's. Two camera shoots are just complicated. Not to say it cant be done, but I prefer to work 1 camera shoots. Maybe keep the other cam around as backup or as a second cam if you are doing any one time only takes (explosions, car wrecks, etc).
 
The HVX would do a better job than a Z1U, or two Z1Us. But in your particular case, where you're not even sure about 720 or 24p, I'd say save the cash and go with the free. But don't even consider shooting "CineFrame 24", shoot in 60i and use Nattress film conversion software.

When you're ready to step up to true 24p, true progressive capture, and all that, you'll know it -- i.e., you won't even be asking this question. But at this stage, I'd say save the $1,000 and go with the free.
 
Ok. Well the thing is i'm so used to shooting with the HVX. We have about 25 of them for film classes at my school And they have 2 of the HPX500's (that we just got in about 2 weeks ago). We are all trained on Panasonics equipments so i know that stuff really well and i know the HVX's. It's just going to hurt to not get the same fluid motion, the 60 frames per second and the Drag and drop interface in FCP withe the MXF files. Ugh... :( Can anyone here direct me to a very in depth tutorial on how to make it 24P?
 
brock2621 said:
I'm about to shoot a 30 min "short" film and i have an option of getting 2 Sony Z1U's for free...
~Brock~
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I think you just answered your own question. Both the HVX and Z1U are proven cameras. Both do decent footage. You won't go wrong shooting two Z1Us at 60i then converting. That should be fine.

-Nate
 
brock2621 said:
nono, not to keep. Just to use for two weeks. I would get 2 Z1U's for free or pay 1000 for 1 HVX to use.
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I'd take 2 Z1U's then. You can have 1000 dollars left to spare, that can open your budget and help you out later. AND, you get an extra camcorder.
 
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