Feature Film with DVX...is it too late?

but i would still shoot in squeeze because any letterboxing will cut off 25% of your precious resolution! your preference. but i would ask to know for sure what aspect ratio they want it on so you dont have to worry
 
Squeeze is the best mode if you want widescreen, definitely. It's not native 16:9, so you are still losing some resolution, but it's better than cropping and uprezzing in post.
 
David Jimerson said:
Squeeze is the best mode if you want widescreen, definitely. It's not native 16:9, so you are still losing some resolution, but it's better than cropping and uprezzing in post.
Click to expand...

And a project shot in squeeze and edited at 16:9 can be converted to a 4:3 letterbox version afterwards... that way, you have the 4:3 letterbox viewing copy, but still have the original, anamorphic 16:9 project at your disposal. Honestly, that's the way I'd go much more than shooting 4:3 letterbox or shooting standard 4:3 with tape on the LCD.

As David points out, it's much better than cropping in post. The other point that is constantly proven on these forums (just explore the DVX footage/screen grabs forum... or do a search of the DVX100A or DVX100B on Vimeo) is that pixels only matter so much. I have seen some absolutely stunning footage captured on a DVX in squeeze and up-rezed to 720p.
 
Thanks guys, you have been great and very patient. Thanks for all your help and I must say you have helped me a ton on this issue. I have asked questions on here and some people in the past have made me feel like an idiot, but you guys didn't...thanks!

Wow! Some really great points. But because of my lack of camera skills I think I will shoot the fishing demo in 4:3 with the tape on the viewfinder. This way I can make a copy and letterbox one in post and have a 4:3 and a widescreen version. It will also give me some practice with FCPS2. I just went from Vegas to FCPS2 and haven't used it yet. I had not invested a lot of time in Vegas so I said what the heck.

I went out earlier today and shot some test footage in 4:3, letterbox, and squeeze then tried to download it into my brand new MacBookPro and realized I couldn't. The new MacBookPro comes with a 9 pin firewire jack. I do not have a 9 pin to 4 pin so I just ordered one on amazon. I also have a couple of small projects shot in 4:3 I need to edit so I will edit them and try to letterbox them as well.

I really like the 4:3 option then letterbox in post to help hide some of my framing flaws...
 
Hi

You might be interested to know I shot a fishing DVD using my DVX100.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5drpww2Y7Ns

www.fishyfilms.com

I decided to shoot squeezed and monitored on a 16:9 monitor. Results were great and nobody has ever mentioned the fact it isn't HD. The DVX is a great camera if used right. As much as I use HD cameras when I'm freelancing, I still love the look of the DVX. We are planning to shoot another fishing DVD this year and I suppose I should shoot it on HD, but I'm acually going to stick with the DVX. I know that camera inside out and even on my 42 inch Samsung the results still look great.

As for shooting a feature on the DVX. We shot a short film a few years back and got accepted into the Birds Eye view film festival in London. We were up on stage with some pretty big name film makers and producers, who's budget for sandwiches for one day was our entire budget for the whole film. We even got nominated for an innovation award. We shot that film on a Hi-8 camera borrowed from our next door neighbour cos we couldnt even afford a DVX. And the film looked great on the big screen.

Our last short won a Scottish Bafta last year and that was all shot gorrila and edited at home on a mac.

The camera you already own can be used to achieve excellent results. Lateral thinking is the key. Work out what you want to achieve and work backwards.

good luck
 
Hey everyone, thanks for your inputs...you've been a big help.

Some one mentions uprezzing earlier. I think that is what I need to do if I shoot in 4:3 and letterbox in post...is that correct? Are there any GOOD links on it...thanks.
 
airforceguy,

TV Show - The most important thing is this: What format does the network require your show to be in to broadcast it? Most SD broadcast channels that I know of are all 4:3 broadcast, and all HD broadcasts are 16:9. They are also going to expect a certain pulldown cadence if your material is 24p. So, no matter how you shoot it, you have to make sure you have a workflow that is going to end up with great quality in the format the network expects.

Feature Film - It's not too late. DVD is SD, and if that'll be your main distribution channel, then the DVX is more than good enough (provided you use it correctly).
 
Anamorphic

Anamorphic

You can also shoot 16:9 by using the anamorphic lens. It can take a bit to get used to using it, but it will give you the best picture quality especially compared to the squeeze mode. I just shot a bunch of footage for a program using the anamorphic and the picture quality is great.
 
So back to the feature. When you shoot in squeeze mode do you get what you see in the viewfinder/monitor or is there a tv safe area involved? How does it look when viewed on a 4:3 television set? When you hook a 4:3 monitor to the camera while in squeeze mode do you see all of whats being shot or just part of it? Is it better to use the view finder in 4:3 mode or an external 4:3 monitor during the shoot?
 
Ha -- I use an old DSR 200 for faux new footage, and that works just fine.

If you're not planning on showing it on the big screen (which, honestly, why would anyone even care about doing that anymore with the size of people's in-home televisions?), then just shoot the best film you can with the camera that you've got. Pay attention to sound, lighting -- worry about the "look" in post.

If you have something to say and can say it effectively, someone somewhere will be interested in listening.
 
I'm shooting my feature doc in 16x9 SQUEEZE mode. I figured it to give me the most options in post, rather than shooting letterboxed in camera. I am planning to uprez to HD for my master and make whatever dubs I need from that. I am looking into upconverting through the Alchemist Ph.C – HD. I will let you know what results I achieve.

DVX100B shot clip can be seen here:

http://www.gregorybennett.com/documentary/saucer.html
 
Features have and can be shot on consumer-grade cameras that are substantially worse than the 100B, if that makes you feel any better. Compromises have to be made, however, given the limitation of your gear. The focus should be on the format/method of delivery.

I've shot 3 features with all of the 100 series cameras (100/A/B). When I have to use the 100 in conjunction with the A or B, I shoot in 4:3 and letterbox in post; I don't have an extra anamorphic adapter.

If you would like 16:9, and don't have access to an anamorphic adapter, go with squeeze. I'd completely avoid letterbox mode. An anamorphic adapter is great for wide shots, but because of the zoom and iris (1-2 stops) issues associated with it, squeeze is the best compromise for 16:9. I'd rather have a shot in focus, than a larger, blurry image.
 
1. When shooting in squeeze, the viewfinder actually underscans some. That is, it does not quite show as much as the camera is recording and, when viewed, the final image is bigger than what was originally viewed through the viewfinder.

If you use the viewfinder in 4:3 mode for shooting, the image will be shmooshed but the viewfinder sees the entire image being recorded.

Likewise, squeeze displayed on a 4:3 monitor will be shmooshed, but you will see the entire image.

When viewing on a 4:3 TV, if you are playing directly from the DVX100B, the image will be shmooshed. However, once the footage is exported to DVD and played on a DVD player, the player will adjust the image to fit the screen by letterboxing it.
 
airforceguy said:
I am probably one of the last to buy a DVX 100B (a year ago). I will be the first to admit (except to my wife), I haven't spent nearly enough time getting to know it as I should have, but it is paid for and as much as I would like to upgrade to HD, it will break my budget and I still have lots of room to grow learning about my DVX not to mention trying to learn a new HD camera.

1) So, with that said, am I out of my mind to even consider shooting a feature on my DVX this late in the game?...without an adapter and in squeeze mode no doubt.
Click to expand...
Let me say this first. Yes, you can still shoot a feature with the DVX. That said, the part of your question that bothers me the most is:
as much as I would like to upgrade to HD, it will break my budget
Click to expand...
to really set out to shoot a feature, you have to be prepared for the costs you're going to run into. If you are looking to make a feature with ANY hope for sales, those costs are not going to be insignificant. Realistically, a feature is going to take you at least 15-20 days to shoot. You are going to have actors and crew to feed at the very least, even if you can get them to work for free.

If you're asking the question you asked with the follow-up info you gave, you probably aren't ready to jump right into a feature yet unless you have access to the technical people (sound and camera) you need to shoot.


Regarding the whole squeeze, letterbox thing; if I was going to go letterbox, I'd shoot 4:3 with a 16:9 Screen Skin on your monitor for framing, then add the letterbox in post. Personally, if you want widescreen, I think you're better off shooting squeeze. DV Monitor Pro can be a great asset in this case. It will allow you to hook your (MAC) laptop up to your camera. You can then tell it you're in squeeze mode and it will allow you to use your computer monitor as a widescreen monitor. If you have access to power (for an external hard drive) you can record right to the HD. If you are shooting run and gun, all bets are off on the DV Monitor Pro, but if you're on sticks with power it's a great aid.
 
Paladin said:
When shooting in squeeze, the viewfinder actually underscans some.
Click to expand...

If I could rephrase that a bit... When the DVX100B LCD is set to 16:9 mode (whether you are shooting NORMAL or SQUEEZE), there is some overscan. It's the LCD more, not the shooting mode that makes the difference.
 
I like the the DV Monitor Pro in squeeze mode route for my feature. Has anyone else used it?...experience/opinions?

As for the fishing demo, I have decided to go either 4:3 or 4:3 with my viewfinder masked and letter box in post. What can I use to mask it and where can i find/buy it?
 
I shot my feature with the DVX100 and I'm more than happy with the results. As earlier posts have advised, get to know the camera inside out and you'll have a great time working with it!
 
Okay, one more embarrassing question about shooting in squeeze mode...make that two.

1) Do you still compensate for T.V. safe area when shooting in squeeze?
2) How much of what you see in the viewfinder shows up on the big screen if it gets blown up to 35mm (do you still compensate)?
 
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