DSLR for film making

B

blues

Well-known member
I have come to realize after tinkering around for months on the hack,then trying out the other DSLR in combination to do an indie film as I was so excited at first about the possibilities how it can perform or out perform the other more traditional way of shooting film; even if I try to work around the limitations and there are lots, the main ingredient that I need for my projects is very simple,'CONFIDENCE'....and that is missing and I have to my credit done numerous films,35,16mm and DVX100 feature films. 17 films to date.

I dont care what everybody says...... I have given up , they are (DSLR) supplements yes but not enough to take a risk for an entire film project. So I have ordered the HMC 150 since the AG100 has not come out yet.

It was realy just a wishful thinking, and that time has passed ......need to move on. It was very enjoyable though ,I must say, while it lasted but we have to get back to reality.The hype that is coming from the industries regarding DSLR whether above ground or underground simply wont do.
 
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blues said:
It simply wont do! I dont care what everybody says.I have given up , they are supplements yes but enough to take a risk for an entire film project. So I have ordered the HMC 150 since the AG100 has not come out yet.
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Oddly, I shot the short that I'm passing around to fests at the moment with an HMC 150... and from my point of view, I'd probably not do that again for either a short or a long format film...

If I were seriously active on a long film project, either one of two things, I'd scrape up the money for a 'real'(tm) camera that had 'real spatial and bit depth resolution', or use one of the DSLR's. At the moment that's a GH-1, and for most of the shots that I'd do, the fact that there is no real time hdmi output, is not a problem, and probably the only feature I could see of benefit for the 7D...

The difference between the bitrate of the HMC 150 and the GH-1 (naked direct from Panasonic) is not so great that I'd pee my pants on the issue. With the hack, I've not installed it on my camera yet, but people seem to see a significant improvement over the stock firmware, and in addition, exceeds the HMC-150 bitrate, which I recall was about 24 Mbits/s.

One could get me on the use of the realtime monitor displays of the HMC-150, or perhaps the XLR imput audio which would eliminate the two system setup for the DLSR's...

But given the GH-1 has a histogram that is significantly 'helpful' in determining exposure, albeit not quite as good as wave form monitors, along with a meter, and checking things out, I think it is good for what I do.
 
blues said:
I have come to realize after tinkering around for months on the hack,then trying out the other DSLR in combination to do an indie film as I was so excited at first about the possibilities how it can perform or out perform the other more traditional way of shooting film; even if I try to work around the limitations and there are lots, the main ingredient that I need for my projects is very simple,'CONFIDENCE'....and that is missing and I have to my credit done numerous films,35,16mm and DVX100 feature films. 17 films to date.

I dont care what everybody says...... I have given up , they are (DSLR) supplements yes but not enough to take a risk for an entire film project. So I have ordered the HMC 150 since the AG100 has not come out yet.

It was realy just a wishful thinking, and that time has passed ......need to move on. It was very enjoyable though ,I must say, while it lasted but we have to get back to reality.The hype that is coming from the industries regarding DSLR whether above ground or underground simply wont do.
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yes in many ways DSLR's are not quite there yet. but they are simply the ONLY solution currently for many low budget filmmakers such as myself. so as the saying goes, "it's better than nothing". well that's not quite true. you see a hi-8 camcorder is technically "better than nothing" but I wouldn't even bother trying to make a film on it. anyway....your opinion is valid and I do agree with you to an extent, it is frustrating experiencing that feeling of "so close yet so far". What I mean by that is, shooting with a dslr, be it hacked Gh1 or whatever, you feel you're "so close" to film because of the sharpness and clarity of footage, the filmic depth of field, etc, but in reality when you compare, it still is really a long way off, the latitude and colorspace simply is not even close. However keep in mind under super rigorous conditions it is possible to mimick film greatly, but point is how much effort is it worth to you. For some it's not. For me at the moment it is only because I'm a beginner filmmaker and as such I feel it's best to learn my trade on the DSLR and then when I am ready, when I have mastered or feel comfortable with the language of film, with lighting, shot composition, etc, THEN I will begin making preparations to upgrade, i.e. Red, AF100, whatever it is that's best at the time (probably next year). So from YOUR point of view as an experienced filmmaker who's shot on 35mm, 16mm, etc, etc. yes I agree DSLR's aren't all they're cracked up to be, but for everyone beneath your level of experience they're pretty much a god send.

Anyways I'm curious to hear your opinion what it is in particular that's disappointed you about DSLR's? Is it the difficulty in making the footage look filmic/cinematic? i.e. the dynamic range/latitude, limited color information/bit depth, un-cinematic stills-photo lenses (which produce uncinematic looking bokehs, flare blooms, etc)? Is it the difficulty and/or lack of ergonomics, i.e. too small size, jello/rolling shutter, etc? I'd like to hear what your views are
 
also like to add, I just saw footage of an hmc150 out of curiosity. it was at most equivalent to gh1 and generally looked no where near as good as hacked gh1.

my point is, if not for the footage why the heck else would you want an hmc150 over a gh1? the ergonomics? if anything, since DSLR's are not suitable for you it would be best to get something that actually shoots better footage like a Red. but an HMC150 seems pretty much lower quality footage than gh1 by a hair....

if you want the filmic look the only thing in my opinion that can achieve this under $20k is a hvx200 with letus adapter
 
Homunculus said:
So from YOUR point of view as an experienced filmmaker who's shot on 35mm, 16mm, etc, etc. yes I agree DSLR's aren't all they're cracked up to be, but for everyone beneath your level of experience they're pretty much a god send.
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On that end you are right, did not want to discourage the initiatives or dash the hopes of the other up and coming filmakers who has benefited more to this window where it has democratize filmaking. And who am I to say that these new initiatives coming from DSLR is less than my own perceptions of film should be.But I remembered that the best and the most dynamic times I had as filmmaker was not with the 35mm since it felt like a super structure of a set up. It was with 16mm and the DVX100 with anamorphic lens.It was realy exciting...as you can defy so many rules and still keep a sense of aesthetic composure.Those tools gave me confidence. I got myself to major festivals then...last was just last year with my 2 DVX100.And I was the only one still doing it in my sphere while everyone has moved on to HD.

and suddenly I heard about the DSLR revolution....I guess its a process...and a tool is just a tool...it would depend what you would do with it. As for me...I cannot see dynamic movement in it yet as I once did with DVX and suoer 16mm.Its just not there....if you know what I mean.I guess its just a personal feel.My car is not an amphibian and I need to swim with a story to the other end.Maybe I consider technical tools to be around a mere 30 percent but the rest is madness and other hidden perspectives that one manages whether it be human or poetic conjectures .

But I salute you all....its not easy for all to anchor on perfections be it technical or otherwise.Just dont be a prisoner of it. Good Luck
 
Hi guys, i am a newbie in filmmaking, i bought a gh1 (modified to gh13) with stock lens and the lumix g20 mm f1.7 pancake lens, i did this footage before the firmwire update :

vimeo.com/13811355

I have seen some clips with anamorphic lens and i have no idea what adaptors and lens should i buy. any advice?
 
Whew, good to know...I know everyone was on the edge of our seats wondering. ;) j/k

You know, being so frustrated and torn about not upgrading from an obsolete DVX100 to a $700 consumer point-n-shoot GH1 doesn't exactly make you a slave to technology. Chill...it's just a camera...use whatever gets you paid. You don't need to justify your decisions by baiting the GH1 board...try the HMC150 board. :D
 
Homunculus said:
also like to add, I just saw footage of an hmc150 out of curiosity. it was at most equivalent to gh1 and generally looked no where near as good as hacked gh1.

my point is, if not for the footage why the heck else would you want an hmc150 over a gh1? the ergonomics?
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Ergonomics?.....sure why not?, and XLR inputs, timecode, built in ND filters, HDMI out, scene files, (not positive on this but if anything like DVX/HVX a vastly more expansive scene file options, i.e......more than simply contrast, sharpness, saturation, NR). to name a few....

but yeah I'm a huge GH1/DSLR fan---however loved the DVX and still occasionally work with and enjoy the HVX:)

To each his own- (until your broke anyway)
 
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