GH2 Did Francis Ford Coppola really prefer the Gh2 at the Zacuto shootout

It would be a blast.
OK Roger, here's a DVX100A and a box full of DIY lighting fixtures.
OK, Mr "Fresh out of film school" guy. Here's an Alexa and a grip truck.
GO!
 
gonzo_entertainment said:
It would be a blast.
OK Roger, here's a DVX100A and a box full of DIY lighting fixtures.
OK, Mr "Fresh out of film school" guy. Here's an Alexa and a grip truck.
GO!
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Sounds like a great concept for a 48hr film festival. Instead of having elements of story chosen for you it is the gear that is pre-determined.
 
I wonder how well the GH2 would have done if it was graded and handled more like the Alexa or the F65. The GH2 is capable of such an amazing organic feel that didn't come across at all in this test. The frame rate looked a little spotty as well. I would have loved to be in on that test shooting the scene in my own way. I bet it wouldn't have done as well in the overall ratings from audience and filmmakers, but I would damn make sure it felt natural and organic.

The funny thing is, that those who liked how the GH2 performed on this test would probably not enjoy using the camera themselves, and those who didn't like it at all would actually love it.
 
L1N3ARX said:
I wonder how well the GH2 would have done if it was graded and handled more like the Alexa or the F65. The GH2 is capable of such an amazing organic feel that didn't come across at all in this test. The frame rate looked a little spotty as well[b/]. I would have loved to be in on that test shooting the scene in my own way. I bet it wouldn't have done as well in the overall ratings from audience and filmmakers, but I would damn make sure it felt natural and organic.

The funny thing is, that those who liked how the GH2 performed on this test would probably not enjoy using the camera themselves, and those who didn't like it at all would actually love it.
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They used 1/50 shutter speed, which I've felt always looked odd on the GH2. I much prefer the motion with 1/40
 
DBP said:
They used 1/50 shutter speed, which I've felt always looked odd on the GH2. I much prefer the motion with 1/40
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Same with me, I always used 1/50 until kholi mentioned something about 1/40 being much superior, which I had never tried. Only took one test and I was sold. The exposure trail seemed much more natural especially with a subject in front of a highlighted area. The tincy bit of extra blur really helps out in certain situations.

In the Zacuto test, I could see right away that same exposure trail problem as the guy crossed by the highlighted window making his way toward the girl... disaster waiting to happen is all I could think. Him being so much darker than his background is simply asking for judder / exposure trail at 1/50 or 1/60. After doing countless tests of my own, this is something I'm well aware of with the GH2. That same problem is actually exasperated by super sharp panny lenses; when I tested out the 20mm 1.7, the first thing I wanted to see was the motion / cadence in front of brightly lit window... did not do well.
 
L1N3ARX said:
Same with me, I always used 1/50 until kholi mentioned something about 1/40 being much superior, which I had never tried. Only took one test and I was sold. The exposure trail seemed much more natural especially with a subject in front of a highlighted area. The tincy bit of extra blur really helps out in certain situations.

In the Zacuto test, I could see right away that same exposure trail problem as the guy crossed by the highlighted window making his way toward the girl... disaster waiting to happen is all I could think. Him being so much darker than his background is simply asking for judder / exposure trail at 1/50 or 1/60. After doing countless tests of my own, this is something I'm well aware of with the GH2. That same problem is actually exasperated by super sharp panny lenses; when I tested out the 20mm 1.7, the first thing I wanted to see was the motion / cadence in front of brightly lit window... did not do well.
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1/40 is often much smoother - but I used it on a moderately slow dance piece and the blur did create "mush" a few times. But overall it's very appealing.
The 20mm 1.7 is a very "willful" lens with the oversharpening - but I will once again share Kholi's advice = Tiffen Black Diffusion 3 filter on it....very nice.
 
DPStewart said:
1/40 is often much smoother - but I used it on a moderately slow dance piece and the blur did create "mush" a few times. But overall it's very appealing.
The 20mm 1.7 is a very "willful" lens with the oversharpening - but I will once again share Kholi's advice = Tiffen Black Diffusion 3 filter on it....very nice.
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Interesting, I'd like to try that out. Black Diffusion 3, doesn't that tend to create halos or "ghosting" ?
 
L1N3ARX said:
Interesting, I'd like to try that out. Black Diffusion 3, doesn't that tend to create halos or "ghosting" ?
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No. It's not "strong" enough to go all the way over into that effect.

I spent a lot of time looking into diffusion filters and WOW there are a lot of them...some who's effect is hard to even detect and some whose effect is way over the top.
Kholi actually posted a few examples for me to see and my results have been the same as what he described - it takes off the super-sharp edge from the 20mm 1.7 thus lessening the edge-artifacting that bakes-in motion aberrations, and it's diffusion is slight but very even, resulting in an image that has just a bit of "magic" look to it.
I have received more positive comments from people that the image looked "beautiful" or "gorgeous" than I have from nearly any shots that I did without the BD3.

It's not very expensive at all - I highly recommend giving it a try.
 
gonzo_entertainment said:
It would be a blast.
OK Roger, here's a DVX100A and a box full of DIY lighting fixtures.
OK, Mr "Fresh out of film school" guy. Here's an Alexa and a grip truck.
GO!
Click to expand...
I'll volunteer to be Mr "Fresh out of school" guy!

But no really that would be pretty cool to see, anyone have Roger's number so we can just give him a call?

DPStewart said:
No. It's not "strong" enough to go all the way over into that effect.

It's not very expensive at all - I highly recommend giving it a try.
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I'll be taking a look in to this!
 
I found the piece of paper where I had written down my choices! Here's my initial (completely subjective) ranking:
  1. A - F3
  2. F - Alexa
  3. E - C300
  4. B - GH2
  5. C - Epic
  6. H - F65
  7. I - FS100
  8. G - 7D
  9. D - iPhone

I find this all fascinating. The only two cameras that I could definitely identify were the 7D and the iPhone. Both, to me, looked just plain bad. All the others looked great to me. Amazed I chose the GH2 as 4th place! Now I'm really looking forward to the more objective Part 3 tests. :)
 
gonzo_entertainment said:
It would be a blast.
OK Roger, here's a DVX100A and a box full of DIY lighting fixtures.
OK, Mr "Fresh out of film school" guy. Here's an Alexa and a grip truck.
GO!
Click to expand...

What's funny is that the first mistake that would be made by the film school kid would be that the SOUND of the movie sucked.
 
You know amongst ever profession and skill you find many people who're all about the tools of that trade, not about the beauty of the work. Today's carpenters are all about the power tools. Modern racers are all about the engineering, modern musicians are all about the software and hardware. Its just like Religion, people argue over the details in the book but forgot about the meaning.

I couldn't care less about the hardware. Watching a sunset isn't about your eyes. Kissing isn't about your lips and Music isn't about your ears. Story telling isn't about the words and movies are not about the camera, lighting or lenses.

Its about your imagination.
 
Sun said:
You know amongst ever profession and skill you find many people who're all about the tools of that trade, not about the beauty of the work. Today's carpenters are all about the power tools. Modern racers are all about the engineering, modern musicians are all about the software and hardware. Its just like Religion, people argue over the details in the book but forgot about the meaning.

I couldn't care less about the hardware. Watching a sunset isn't about your eyes. Kissing isn't about your lips and Music isn't about your ears. Story telling isn't about the words and movies are not about the camera, lighting or lenses.

Its about your imagination.
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I disagree. I like the tools of the trade. I appreciate the research and advancements made. If none of the hardware matters, go watch theatre.
 
I chose the GH2 and the Alexa as my first choices and I feel comfortable with that. I thought the HDR mode of the RED looked awful and put it in last place with the iphone. Wish they had just shot in normal mode. It didn't surprise me that I liked the GH2 by the way, however, before anyone goes on further about a 700 USD camera being on par with Alexa, lets just remember how many thousands of US dollars it took for it to get there with the surrounding equipment. I mean if I can afford that set, such a large team, so much lighting at my disposal, and a good baselight session with a ton of secondaries, chances are I would be renting the Alexa anyway. However, I still think it looked great, the team did a terrific job, and it ain't no accident that ole Francis Ford liked it too. But then again he always was a sucker for warm, golden "family" style lighting.
 
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yoclay said:
I thought the HDR mode of the RED looked awful and put it in last place with the iphone. Wish they had just shot in normal mode.
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The footage used by the EPIC was done without HDR. Last place behind the iPhone (better than the 7D)? Wow.....I thought reduser.net had some crazy opinions...this ones just as interesting.
 
b_k said:
I disagree. I like the tools of the trade. I appreciate the research and advancements made. If none of the hardware matters, go watch theatre.
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There isn't anything to disagree with, its not an opinion, its a fact. Advancements have nothing to do with the ability to tell a story. I have no idea why DP are worried about the outcome of this test with DSLM. Give a Formula 1 car to a fanybo wannabe racer, would Lewis Hamilton be worried? Its about the driver not the car.

Just because people have access to equipment that can rival the Gatekeepers doesn't mean a damn thing. Everybody that goes to Walmart has better access to paints and brushes than Van Gogh, but their **** ain't hanging in the Louvre.
 
b_k said:
I disagree. I like the tools of the trade. I appreciate the research and advancements made. If none of the hardware matters, go watch theatre.
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I agree... I think we can always agree that some tools are better than others, and that the minimum standards are always shifting upwards. The discussion always drifts into the "storytelling everything" misses the point.

As a noob with sound, I frequent the Audio forums here for purchase infomation. Interestingly, everyone there tend to agree to some sort of a minimum requirement for a indie movie production, ie the Rode ntg as the lowest mic that is used, and the Mixpre-D a the minimum mic preamp. Nobody would even consider using a $60 Azden mic.

In the camera department, we suggest that if the story is good enough, then the Iphone should suffice.
 
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