1080 Varicam

[mmm]

Who makes the Genisis?

What kind of prices do the Genisis and the Arri D20 run for (the F950 appears to cost around $115,000)?

What makes their costs "pretty comparable to film?" Is it the tape stock?

Do all of these cameras refer to some form of tape (in the Ep. III documentary they still appeared to be recording to tape and digitizing)?

Do any of these have the ability to record purely digitally (hard drive or P2 type solutions) and, if so, why don't they use it?

Panavision makes the Genesis, but it uses a lot of the technology they have developed with Sony in the Cinealta range I believe.

These are cutting end cameras and so the hire costs are more than a 35mm camera. For a normal production, they wouldn't save you much money. The tape stock is cheaper than 35mm stock but when you factor in the extra hire charges, it isn't much different.

The Genesis, D20, F950 and Viper HAVE to be docked to a recorder. They have no inbuilt tape drive. HDCAMSR seems to be the most popular and useable solution at present, although as flash memory prices fall, this will change. You can mount a HDCAMSR deck on the Genesis, just like a film mag. There are also flash memory recorders for the Viper and D20, although I don't think the D20's has been released yet.

Why, if the D20 and the Genisis are the best, have all the major HD projects been shot with weaker cameras?

The D20 and Genesis are very new. They are both being used on major productions now though and you will see a few features from them this year. There are several commercials already out there, but they are hard to spot because they look exactly like they were shot on film. The Genesis beat the D20 to the market but a year or two but the Arri guys claim that it doesn't hold a candle to the D20... but then they are paid to say that, so....

 

[mmm]

Honestly, come on. A 720-only 4:2:2 camera that shoots to tape and costs $65,000 (without lens) is going to "stay current" until 2009? If that's Panasonic's plan, they're in for a real reality check (though I can't imagine that's their plan).

I'm only the messenger.

I said exactly what you have and he just said resolution doesn't matter for their market and people still love the look of the Varicam.

 

[DavidBeier]

Out of curiosity, what makes the Genis and the D20 so much better than the others?

 

[mmm]

Larger sensors = 35mm like depth of field (because you use longer focal length lenses to achieve the same angle of view). It also means that you can use 35mm lenses, although these aren't much better than some of the high end HD lenses.

Apparantly better lattitude and highlight handling.

Basically they are digital film cameras rather than high definition video cameras. To my eye (I have only seen D-20 footage, not Genesis) they do look better. 98% like film, rather than 80% like film that something like the F900 produces. That is very subjective though and only my opinion.