NEED opinions on what to shoot on QUICK, PLEASE HELP!

armisiano

armisiano

Veteran
I'm shooting my film this weekend, (if it's any matter, using a LEX) and I have the option of shooting on either my DVX100B, or my friend's Sony FX1.

The dilemma I'm in is this, and I'm looking for personal opinions here, I don't know which to use. I love the look of the DVX footage, but the FX1 is high definition. Should I go with the resolution, or with what I'm a little more familiar with and fond of?

I need some opinions quick. This is for twilightfest as well as any other festivals I submit this to afterward.

Thanks.

-Anthony
 
You asked for opinions, so here goes:
Up until this fest, I have shot everything on my DVX. I decided to upgrade my production to a rented HVX - a camera I've never used before. My DP has a few times, but neither of us were extremely familiar with it and what its limitations/benefits were. I ended up with a few clips that were noisy as heck because of low light (should have shot brighter and took it down in post). Looking back, what I should have done was some tests in our low light set ups to see how the camera dealt with it so we could adjust accordingly. All the resolution in the world isn't going to help a shot that has all that noise in it.

If you have time to do some testing with the FX1, or have a DP/Camera Op who is very familiar with it to help with your lighting, then play with the HD camera. If you don't have the time or assistance, maybe you should stick with what you know. Last fest, several people asked what I shot "Four" with because it didn't look like a DVX (I used a Letus35a with it). At least one top 8 finalist film was shot on a DVX as well (Survival, I believe). It isn't the tool, it's how you use it, and how well you know how to use it.

So, yeah, that's my 2¢. I'm not telling you what to do, just giving you some food for thought. Only you know how all the pieces fit together for your production.

Good luck!
 
if you are thinking about using the FX1 because it's high definition, then don't. I've used both of these cameras side by side on a shoot, and we didn't use one frame of the FX1 footage. Go with what you know and trust REAL 24p. :) The FX1 feels like a big plastic toy and the footage screams "video".
 
Thank you. Everyone. I was panicking and needed to read all of that and sort of relax and breathe (I don't think anymore "and"'s in that sentence are allowed). So again, thank you.
 
For Lovefest I was going to shoot on my DVX...But instead, I used my directors Canon XH-A1. I wasn't familiar with it, and I have never used it.

I basically wanted to use it for HD resolution.

It was a hell of a time editing since I didn't have the proper hardware.

All in all, I'm glad I used it. My advice, go with whatever you feel you want to. If you want HD, and if you want to learn a camera, and you have the proper hardware to get the film done in time (think workflow, it's going to change)...Then go for the FX1. If not, then the DVX it is, where you know how to actually use it, and hey, produce another short on the DVX!

Robbie
 
Go with what you know. Then for the next fest, prepare for the upgrade and all the new nuances of going with HD.
 
Agreed. Stick with what you know. If the story is good it will carry you through to the finals regardless of what it is shot on. At least that's what should happen.

You don't want to be trying to figure out the camera during the shoot.

Mike
 
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