Any questions for a professional DSLR cinematographer?

R

robotsound

Well-known member
On Wednesday I'm going to a free DSLR cinematography seminar with Alex Buono, hosted by Canon's Explorer's of Light series. Alex Buono was the cinematographer that was responsible for shooting the DSLR Saturday Night Live intro, as well as many of the more recent digital shorts.

The seminar is basically sort of a DSLR 101 thing, but I want to take the opportunity to ask some good questions while I'm there.

I think this board and other sources on the internet cover a lot of the basics, so I don't want to waste his time with that. I want to ask him questions that you can't get by doing a search on DVXUser.

Does anyone have any suggestions?
 
robotsound said:
On Wednesday I'm going to a free DSLR cinematography seminar with Alex Buono, hosted by Canon's Explorer's of Light series. Alex Buono was the cinematographer that was responsible for shooting the DSLR Saturday Night Live intro, as well as many of the more recent digital shorts.
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When I look at the Canon Explorer's schedule, it has Buono in Corona California on Wednesday the 16th of Feb... and nothing for 'this Wednesday', the 23rd?
 
Coming up with a tough question about DSLRs is tough for me, as I feel the pros/cons and strengths/weaknesses of the current DSLR generation are pretty well known amongst filmmakers - or if they aren't they're at least easily accessible on a forum such as this. Maybe the best questions would be about the future of DSLR filmmaking...where DSLRs go from here.
 
Ryan Patrick O'Hara said:
Ask them about the advantages of using real cameras... :)
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Ask him about the smile on the producers face when they paid $3 for camera rental... then ask about the frowny face he makes when the final product doesnt pass broadcast standards... (Well broadcasters outside of the US anyhow.... )

Finnegan said:
Coming up with a tough question about DSLRs is tough for me, as I feel the pros/cons and strengths/weaknesses of the current DSLR generation are pretty well known amongst filmmakers - or if they aren't they're at least easily accessible on a forum such as this. Maybe the best questions would be about the future of DSLR filmmaking...where DSLRs go from here.
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ag-af100_diapo1.jpg
 
Sorry robotsound I have no specific quetions to ask. Finnegan made a very good point though. But in some ways I don't expect any "serious" type of answer from some of those who use "professional" equipment here. Like HDV cameras of the past they are frowned upon (not by me though).

Anyways...let us know what you learn.

ian
 
How about when canon will put a switch to allow line in to there 7d mic jack? A firmware update? That would allow me to run thru my mxpre and get decent sound directly to the footage. (in addition to the zoom I'm using).

what's his personal choice of mic for his personal camera? Why?

A headphone jack would be great, too!

How is he stabilizing his cams for handheld when he doesn't have a massive (reead pro) budget?
 
I will ask about camera stabilization if he doesn't mention it in the seminar. I'd be curious to know what, if anything, he used on the SNL intro and digital shorts.

Since he is a professional cinematographer working on larger projects, I'm pretty sure he's not even dealing with sound at all. I think it would be like asking a professional mix engineer about their favorite camera. I'm pretty sure the right answer to that one is "use dual system sound".
 
Chris S. Alexander said:
Should we assume that you are not a DSLR fan, Timur?
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Nah i like em for small quick things. Im just sick of having to explain to producers and Directors why i can't throw up 4:3 markers on the Monitor, use the "NAnoflash" to record, or why the talent cant wear striped shirts ( they thought those days of no red and stripe shirts were over) or why we cant monitor on a real monitor.... or why....... list goes on. ITs not a camera for pro production. Some folks make it work but a majority of people are getting sick of the work arounds.
 
How bout the GH2 instead of canons? No moire, no aliasing, monitoring out at full HD on the HDMI port.. etc.. More lenses, sharper, no overheating, no file length limitations, etc..
 
TimurCivan said:
Nah i like em for small quick things. Im just sick of having to explain to producers and Directors why i can't throw up 4:3 markers on the Monitor, use the "NAnoflash" to record, or why the talent cant wear striped shirts ( they thought those days of no red and stripe shirts were over) or why we cant monitor on a real monitor.... or why....... list goes on. ITs not a camera for pro production. Some folks make it work but a majority of people are getting sick of the work arounds.
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So you're just using this thread to vent then? And I find it contradictory that a camera 'not for pro production' is indeed used on pro production, warts and all.
 
Sometimes I wonder why they even have different sections and thread topics on DVXUser. It all just turns into internet tribalism about which camera is the best anyway.
 
Anyways, back to the point...I'd like to know what he thinks of the various audio sync solutions out now and what he prefers. I've had no problems at all simply syncing in Premiere without a clapper on most projects, but I know a lot of people are buying PluralEyes and Sescom cables and the like recently.
 
I agree with Finnegan. I'm not really sure if there are a whole lot of questions left to answer (mostly because the topic is debated so much), however it would be interesting to hear Buono's opinion on where he thinks DSLRs are going to fit in down the line.

I am a DSLR fan and enjoy shooting certain things with them. There are (sadly) some applications that they have no use for.
 
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