35mm or HVX200 rental?

K

Kholi

Section Moderator
Getting into finding out what I should do on the camera side of my short production.

Here's the question though:

Do I order a 35mm adapter (LetUs) to attach to the DVX100a or do I shell out 700 for three days rental time of the HVX200?

Which would be the better solution AND why?

I'm leaning toward the 35mm adapter, of course for future productions. But HD sounds nice as well.
 
First off, what NLE will you be using? Secondly, whether you need a 35mm adapter or not is totally up to what you envision for your project. Then, when you decide that, it's still in the end going to be up to you which is more valuable to your overall production - depth of 35mm or clarity of HD. If it were me, I'd probably also do the 35mm adapter... mainly because I'd rather buy the HVX than waste $700 to rent it... I think I'd be too attached to let it go after three days use!

-pasty
 
What pasty said. I'd probably go for the adapter vs. the hvx. 700 just to rent it for a few days would just make me cry because I couldn't keep it. and with the dvx, the footage still has the potential to look outstanding.
 
What's your editing set up? Monitoring? Storage?
How do you plan to backup the footage from the HVX?

What are you shooting?
What's your vision for the project?
Do you need/want slomo?

Without knowing anything about what you're doing or where you're coming from it's nearly impossible for anyone to give you an educated response.

As a side note most places will give you a 3 day week - so if you pay for 3 days ($700) for the HVX, you should get it for 5 days.
That's pretty standard.
 
Sorry guys, should've listed Editing system:

(2) g5 Systems:

16 gigs DDR ram
Dual-Processors

Software:
Final Cut Pro HD
Avid DS Nitris, Adrenaline HD, etc w/accompanying Avid hardware
Shake 4
Motion
DVrack (possibly)

Straight-to-Disk:

(2) 1 terrabyte 7200 Lacie Drives (if this helps)

The short is a narrative based on a written feature of my own, a study on dreams and the modern sciences that revolve around the subject.

Slow motion... probably not. But in-studio green screen might be something I'm doing. Deciding on that.

Thanks for the info/feedback.

So far, I don't have equipment expenses to worry about... i.e free camera, free lighting (kinos, etc), etc. If I got the HVX, that'd be my first equipment expense, and possibly having the hardware guys construct a dolly for me at work.

Does this help?
 
Yeah, that helps alot.
You've got the post side of things obviously covered - just wanted to make sure that your idea of renting the HVX for $700 wasn't going to turn into $5000 in additional post gear that you would need to finish this thing.
:thumbsup:

To be honest - it's a nearly impossible question for anyone to answer for you - but I can at least give you some thoughts on what I would do to arrive at an answer....

First thing is get your hands on an HVX - you can't possibly make the decision without knowing full well what you're deciding exactly. Also, if you can, get your hands on a Letus35 (that might be a little harder..but someone around you might have one).

You can't judge much from compressed footage you see online - that goes for both the Letus and the HVX.

So, first things first, get familiar with both options you are considering because only you will be able to tell what's right for you.

Secondly - what's the anticipated distribution for this project?
Is it going to be screened in festivals? And if so, will those festivals screen HD copies?
Or will most people view it online and off DVD?

Basically you're trying to decide between HD vs. SD - and 35mm adapter vs. Clean lens shooting. They are two different issues.

I'm sure if you had your way (and I'm guessing here) you'd ideally want to shoot with the HVX and a 35mm adapter of some kind. Right?
So in the end, which is going to inform your project more? The look of 35mm depth of field? OR the resolution and definition you will get from shooting HD? Only you can make that call.
 
Thanks Luis for your time--

I agree, and now that I think about it, the HVX might not be right for me. While shooting HD is tempting, using a 35mm adapter and the great DVX100a (maybe we'll have a 100b in-house by the time shooting commences) would produce very nice results.

As far as what I plan to do with it: There are a couple of people I'd like to show it too, of course, and then DVD production. But I haven't decided on the festival circuit. Frankly, I've never shot anything before, and I don't know if I'm up to that circuit level yet. Too many people just make something and send it off hoping to get recognized, and these products are often shoddy and half-assed; I don't want to be that guy.

Yes, if I had my way? I'd shoot HVX+35mm but I don't see that happening in my budget. If the film/creative department suddenly decided to beef up the cameras, then maybe... but the lead guy is more interested in picking up the Canon HDV camera that's coming out.

I'm leaning toward 35mm adapter, but thought maybe someone would show me something or tell me something that says "use the HDV".
 
After reading your last response I would definitely tell you to go ahead and use the DVX that you already have access to. I hadn't thought to ask about your shooting experience, and now that you've said you haven't shot anything before I think you're porbably better off saving some money and using what you have available to you.

In fact, to be honest, I'm wondering if it's even wise for you to buy the Letus35.
But, that's your call.

It might make some great images (not sure, i've never used it myself)... but how often will you really use it?
And how long before you decide that you DO want to shoot HD...what then?

My advice, knowing what I know now about your situation, would be to use the gear you have at your disposal...and just think about whether or not you really need a 35mm adapter at all.
 
Oh of COURSE. Trust me, that's why I declined the offer to use Super 16. I can still use it, but there's no way in hell I'd take my inexperience and ruin rolls of 16mm and other people's time.

Speaking of other people: I have a very VERY experienced AD along with a Cinematographer that's been working with the DVX for years now. I know he could handle the 35mm adapter.

To put it in perspective, I'm the inexperienced director, but the crew won't be. So it won't be a waste to do 35mm adapter, but probably the HVX rental.

But I do understand where you're coming from. I wouldn't touch real film with an eight foot pole just yet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top