5D over HVX200?

That's awesome, Ryan. Do you have any details on post? Are they planning to convert to 24P and how?

Sorry if I made it sound like drama isn't good. It's awesome! Don't need guns and swords. I'm just waiting for that one project that crosses the boarder.
 
I just shot a project with the 5D MKII. I was kind of wishing I had my HPX170 several times. It really is true, while the 5D MKII is a great camera, it is very limited with sound, no VFR, CMOS rolling shutter (all of my pans had to be pretty slow to avoid the image tearing) and the form factor isn't really made for shooting video at all.

I love both of the cameras I am using currently (5D MKII and the HPX170) but for different reasons and for different types of projects. I would never show up for a shoot for the studios or for my corporate clients with the 5D MKII.

Dan
I agree 100%
 
Wow Ryan, $750k shooting an a $2,700.00 VDSLR? Amazing. Some people are good at the pitch I guess. And of course, the image can look amazing. Just not a very big WOW factor for when the investors visit the set ;) I can hear it now, "your shooting our movie on that?!?!? You must be joking!"

Dan
 
Definitely not the easiest thing to sell investors on a still camera, but luckily the director has a lot of experience and is selling them on this being the only way to make it at the price they want.

We will be converting to 24p. Both are slower paced which my tests have shown to be doable by software conversion. The funny thing is that the only conversion I've found that always works is the Shake conversion talked about here and at Cinema5d. Problem is, major processing time. It will almost certainly be a wide array of conversions depending on the shot. It will SUCK TO DO.

Another thing worth mentioning - we also want a GH1 for slowmo and c-mount for specific shots. I've had one on preorder since May 6th and no word from Amazon. I may stalk LA GH1 owners if we start shooting and mine hasn't come.

Also - I was told Birns and Sawyer in LA ran a side by side RED/5d/GH1 test today. Not sure if anyone else heard anything about this.

PS - I'm way off topic. Sorry. I obviously vote for the 5d.
 
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First of all, I do not do video for living but I strongly believe what you're saying is just a state-of-mind. If you let your tool speak for your own skill, knowledge, and confidence, then you're not qualified to do the job. I can bet you a customer would want a good final product rather than someone showing up w/ a badass rig. If you know your sh*ts, who can argue w/ you?

It doesn't matter which tool it is; if you can prove that you can get the sh*ts done, then that's all it matters.
...

I love both of the cameras I am using currently (5D MKII and the HPX170) but for different reasons and for different types of projects. I would never show up for a shoot for the studios or for my corporate clients with the 5D MKII.

Dan
 
First of all, I do not do video for living but I strongly believe what you're saying is just a state-of-mind. If you let your tool speak for your own skill, knowledge, and confidence, then you're not qualified to do the job. I can bet you a customer would want a good final product rather than someone showing up w/ a badass rig. If you know your sh*ts, who can argue w/ you?

It doesn't matter which tool it is; if you can prove that you can get the sh*ts done, then that's all it matters.

I agree. People don't look at my gear before they choose me as a photographer. They look at my work and say "Do that for me". How I do it or what I use to get it done is none of their business.
 
I just shot a project with the 5D MKII. I was kind of wishing I had my HPX170 several times. It really is true, while the 5D MKII is a great camera, it is very limited with sound, no VFR, CMOS rolling shutter (all of my pans had to be pretty slow to avoid the image tearing) and the form factor isn't really made for shooting video at all.

I love both of the cameras I am using currently (5D MKII and the HPX170) but for different reasons and for different types of projects. I would never show up for a shoot for the studios or for my corporate clients with the 5D MKII.

Dan

Not to speak for Dan, but I didn't get that out of what he typed. He simply said he wouldn't show up for a gig with the MKii, unless I misread and he said/typed I wouldn't show up with an MKii because it doesn't look professional.

There are a lot of reasons, which he actually outlined briefly, as to why Dan wouldn't prefer to use the MKii on such a gig. Some of which are why he's not confident with bringing the Mkii on for a professional shoot. Looks like his post(s) may have been taken out of context. What will you do with the MKii if your client wants a slow-mo shot and doesn't want to hand his or her footage off to a post guy and tell them to use twixtor? What will you do if a shot requires a pan that's faster than the MKii's "Suggested" pan speed? What happens if you must shoot beneath strobing lights and there is no option to do it in post? These are all valid reasons to avoid using the MKii.

However, there is a chance that he might have meant that.

It's true, that if the camera can work within a productions limitations then it doesn't matter what it looks like. I just enacted as Technical Adviser on a Kleenex spot shooting with MKii. It'll do the job for what they need so long as they understand the limitations.

Again, Dan's POV is a well-founded and working one that's got reasons behind it. I agree with him, although mileage may vary.
 
Kholi, you're kidding, right?

I do appologize for being rude but....

when was the last time getting a job done w/ a certain tool is NOT "professional-looking," "looking professional," or "being professional?" just bc DSLR video isn't a norm, doesn't make it NOT professional. or does it have to have the brand RED in there to make it professional?

just bc you can do it a different way w/ different tool, doesn't make it non-professional.

I understand many ppl see the 5DII as a DSLR and ask, "are you recording or taking picture?" ...or whatever ppl say, does that mean you're forbid from getting the job done?

I come across many trades dealing w/ ppl and not once does my tools speak for my final results. again, if you know your sh*ts, who the hell can argue w/ you?
Not to speak for Dan, but I didn't get that out of what he typed. He simply said he would [never] show up for a gig with the MKii, unless I misread and he said/typed I wouldn't show up with an MKii because it doesn't look professional.

...
 
There are a lot of reasons, which he actually outlined briefly, as to why Dan wouldn't prefer to use the MKii on such a gig. Some of which are why he's not confident with bringing the Mkii on for a professional shoot. Looks like his post(s) may have been taken out of context. What will you do with the MKii if your client wants a slow-mo shot and doesn't want to hand his or her footage off to a post guy and tell them to use twixtor? What will you do if a shot requires a pan that's faster than the MKii's "Suggested" pan speed? What happens if you must shoot beneath strobing lights and there is no option to do it in post? These are all valid reasons to avoid using the MKii.


These are the questions I'd like to see answered in regards to the 5D MKii as a Video Acquisition device in a commercial and narrative world.

How will you deal with those situations, things that the HVX-200 Can deliver without much hassle on the client's end?
 
Get a GH1 as well.

:)

I'm willing to forget you asked about strobing lights.

The two cameras together cost about the price of a new HVX.
 
Kholi, you're kidding, right?

I do appologize for being rude but....

when was the last time getting a job done w/ a certain tool is NOT "professional-looking," "looking professional," or "being professional?" just bc DSLR video isn't a norm, doesn't make it NOT professional. or does it have to have the brand RED in there to make it professional?

just bc you can do it a different way w/ different tool, doesn't make it non-professional.

I understand many ppl see the 5DII as a DSLR and ask, "are you recording or taking picture?" ...or whatever ppl say, does that mean you're forbid from getting the job done?

I come across many trades dealing w/ ppl and not once does my tools speak for my final results. again, if you know your sh*ts, who the hell can argue w/ you?

It's easy to abide by this when it's a one man band from concept to screen. It's also easier to get away with limited tools on lower-budget shoots.

There is no question the 5D produces beautiful images. Not everyone can afford the time/effort (aka money) required by the 5D to meet a spec that other cameras achieve natively.
 
There is no question the 5D produces beautiful images. Not everyone can afford the time/effort (aka money) required by the 5D to meet a spec that other cameras achieve natively.

Taylor nails it. I have both tools and really like using both tools. Watch the American Dad last season DVD release, in the bonuses, there are some shots of me chasing some of the animators and producers around the hallways at Fox Animation. Not with the 5D MKII, it would have totally been the wrong tool for that project. The HPX170 with the Schneider .06 WA was. The 5D MKII would have had the picture tearing, would have shown every little shake and bobble, even shoulder mounted unless I was using an IS lens and even then... I am at the point where I am ordering a Steadicam Pilot to fly the 5D MKII, I have not been truely happy with any of my handheld or shoulder mounted footage I have shot with it yet.

As far as appearance, have you dealt with Fortune 200 corporate clients and ad agencies? It took years before some of my clients would accept the fact that I sold my huge and impressive looking Sony BVWD600 (a $70,000.00 shoulder mount Betacam SP camcorder I used to use) and replaced it with a DVX100 (a $3,500.00 camcorder when I bought it new). Until I showed them the magic of 24p and Cinegamma. Then the little lightbulb kicked on over their heads. It is called managing client expectations.

It would be identical with the 5D MKII, if I showed up on a job with it unanounced (for certain clients), they would not be happy. Once I had a chance to show them what the 5D MKII is capable of, they would be fine with it but whether you know it or not or like it or not, appearance of the gear counts with many clients. Some agencies and clients are hip and know what the 5D MKII is all about but the majority don't and you look like a guy with a cheap toy if you show up with any DSLR instead of a "video camera". There are still clients out there that would much prefer me to show up with my old BVW rather than my 170, even though the 170 has an HD image and the BVW was SD.

It is fine to be indignant that some unenlightened clients are like this but they are.

Dan
 
With the 12 min limit on the camera, I'd always have some sort of standard camera as a backup, but if it weren't for the limit, I'd sell my HVX in a heartbeat. The capabilities of the 5D is amazing.
 
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