F5: B-Cam For F5: A7S? Or Blackmagic Pocket?

Grug

Grug

Veteran
Hi guys,

I have a 14-page(!) day coming up for an indie feature, and our budget won't stretch to getting both a second F5 and an operator in. So I'm looking at cheaper options for a B-cam. I'll just have the B-cam on close-up coverage, so that the lower image quality isn't as noticable when we cut in. But I'm wondering which of these two options people think will fair better to intercut with 2k raw from the F5 - Blackmagic Pocket Camera shooting 1080p ProResHQ? Or the Sony A7S recording externally to 1080p ProResHQ on a PIX240?

The Sony obviously allows me to shoot SLOG2, which will be able to match the F5 more readily I imagine. But it's only 8-bit output, which could pose significant issues. The Blackmagic Pocket has a different base colour-wise, but records in 10-bit so should have a lot more room to match things up in post.

Thoughts?

Alternatively, if anyone in Melbourne has an F5/FS7/F3/F35/F55/F65, is free this coming Monday, and is okay with $400 for the day - please get in touch with me!

Cheers,

Mark
 
Mark, not sure if this will help you but this is a short doc I filmed, A-camera with my F5 burning in LC709A and BMPCC on a Movi shooting Log in ProRes HQ. There is some grading in it that Im not that fond of (close face shots in classroom, F5) but I think the editor who is not a trained colorist did a very good job matching the cameras up. Hope this helps with your dilema..

 
Thanks Bill, I'll have to psyche myself up to cry my way through that lovely piece again to investigate the technical elements.

Cheers!
 
Melbourne.... if only you are a little closer! I've got both an F3 and BMPCC :-) But I am in Auckland.


I'd suggest an F3 in this case, but an A7s should be both easier and cheaper to rent. And pair it with an Atomos Shogun.


BMPCC is a great choice too, but I'd pass on it unless you've already got people on your team experienced with BMD cameras (and even better specifically BMPCC). As coming to it fresh, with no experience with either, an A7s will be relatively more hassle free to use than a BMPCC over a mad long 14 page day.
 
I'm loving my S7a and have had great success in matching to my FS7, almost perfectly. I personally run it into my Odyssey 7q+ affording all the options.
And with the 7q+, you can run two sources into the device, thus enabling an easier match.
Word is they are introducing s new firmware upgrade which will have vectorscope capabilities. Supposed to be optional digital/analog and from what I was told, as good as any vectorscope anywhere, stand alone or intergrated.
Supposed to be available next week actually.
 
Wow you did that in 3 hrs ! .. yes liked it.. just her as voice over.. not the usual teachers,best friend blah blah.. its a sad story but wasn't pushing the kleenex box down your throat .. very honest and nicely shot and edited .. .. less is more ..
 
just some cons to the BMPCC. I had it since the beginning and I was using it in the last 18 months as a B-Cam to the FS700/7Q combo. I shot a lot of interviews, infomercials, testimonials etc. The match of sLog2 and BMPCC film is no rocket science but.. but the BMPCC can be a PITA regarding moire. Fabric and metal patterns can become a real nightmare. In the end I sold the Pocket just last week. Not sure where I will go to.

2015-03-16_moire2.jpg


2015-03-16_moire_det.jpg


moire_18.jpg
 
Thanks for the advice guys, sounds like both options are pretty comparable, will probably go with the Pocket Camera on the basis that we've actually used it before.

Now I couldn't find a suitable baseplate for it, but my AC and I just threw this together and I think we might just get away with it...



awuKTtR.jpg


uM9UGnW.jpg
 
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