Tim Naylor
Veteran
So I landed a gig shooting a TV show for the Cartoon Network. 26 episodes over six months. Live action mixed with some animation. With a tight budget and schedule as well as ambitious aesthetic demands, we had decided on a camera system that'd deliver broadcast quality images yet small and portable enough for the numerous hyperkinetic rigs we had planned. Also, shooting with school kids, we were restricted in the amount of hours we could shoot with them so it became a 2 to 3 camera show.
As I hate the color gamut, soft image from Canon 5 and 7D's as well as some monitoring misgivings, we opted to shoot the entire series on hacked GH2's. After considerable testing both in prep as well as production stress, we found an ideal 88mbs hack that looks virtually indiscernable from the 176 mbs hack without all the cons (4 minute takes and cold weather freak outs). We also, tested and researched virtually every rig, cage set up out there and settled with the REWO. A work of art. My biggest let down with the GH2 through is its flimsy lens mount. If you want to use real lenses, you must use a lens adaptor braced on the rods. Also, for vehicle mount work, the 1/4" thread on the bottom is pretty Fisher Price as we ripped one out already on a bike mount.
Overall, though, the size of the camera and the quality of the image has made using the Lumix a blessing. We're averaging between 30-50 set ups over 9 hour days. Simply impossible with full size rigs.
As I hate the color gamut, soft image from Canon 5 and 7D's as well as some monitoring misgivings, we opted to shoot the entire series on hacked GH2's. After considerable testing both in prep as well as production stress, we found an ideal 88mbs hack that looks virtually indiscernable from the 176 mbs hack without all the cons (4 minute takes and cold weather freak outs). We also, tested and researched virtually every rig, cage set up out there and settled with the REWO. A work of art. My biggest let down with the GH2 through is its flimsy lens mount. If you want to use real lenses, you must use a lens adaptor braced on the rods. Also, for vehicle mount work, the 1/4" thread on the bottom is pretty Fisher Price as we ripped one out already on a bike mount.
Overall, though, the size of the camera and the quality of the image has made using the Lumix a blessing. We're averaging between 30-50 set ups over 9 hour days. Simply impossible with full size rigs.
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