DVX for Live Camera Feed?

Rax

Rax

Member
My band runs pre-recorded video and a live camera feed through a video mixing board, then it's projected on a screen behind us. We use a PD 150 for the live camera... but we don't own it. We were going to buy a PD 170 when I stumbled onto this site. (Which led me to the Pine Lake Films web site.)

So much for for wanting the PD 170. We film our own video for our show... the DVX 100A using 24p is more in the artistic direction we need for this. But at 60i, will it handle the low light in performance. We keep are lights pretty tight on us and away from the screen.

Has anybody out there used the DVX to shoot a live concert?
Just wondering how it did. As of now... we will probably buy the DVX 100A, since we love what we have seen from this camera.
Thanks. Rax
 
Hey Rax, I have used the DVX100 to shoot alot of live concerts. It works really well. Now yes the draker you are on stage and the further the camera is back is going to make a difference but it would be no different with the PD 170. Most the time if I am shooting a big gig I try to work with the LD lighting Designer to put as much light on the band as possible. Now this is color gelled light so I looks good not just a bunch of white. I'll try and post some stuff towmarow.
 
Thanks Man. Any information will be greatly appreciated. Our camera operator is pretty close to the stage. He sets up the shots, then mixes us into the running video. It's pretty interactive. Really pretty simple. It's just the Lux rating on the Sony is a 1 and the DVX 100A is a 3, it had me worried. We just have to be able to get good clean shots so the audience can see close ups of our solo's when needed... the rest is just layering on the fly with different opacities. (Us appearing in and out through the video at times.) It's a lot of fun. I'm very excited about filming the backing video in 24p on our down time. I have to update FCP though. Thanks again. Rax
 
I shoot the Palms Casino comedy show every month using the DVX and I-mag it to the big screen for the audience. Typical club stage lighting though mostly white light on the comedian. Looks great!
 
Great... that makes me feel even better. Shooting a live feed can be pretty challenging. Thanks. Rax
 
Doing IMAG with a DVX will challenge you more with lens limitations that with light sensitivity. From front-of-house, even in small venues, the DVX glass might not be long enough to get you IMAG worth projecting.

Unless you're doing delay screens, where any image is often better than what the audience can see with the naked eye, you don't want your projected subject to be equal to or smaller than what the audience can see live. If you're going to tape, you have to balance the needs of archiving with the lesser needs of the audience, but otherwise the rule of projected scale holds true.

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You know I never thought about that... but our camera has always been positioned close to the stage. I didn't do lens comparisons between the PD 150/170 and the DVX 100. I just assumed they were in the same ball park. We're not talking major production here either. It just has to be clear and have some depth. We don't do huge arena's or anything. We do small halls that seat 50 and do bigger rooms that can seat around 500. But the camera always stays close to the stage. The projection and screens are provided in the bigger rooms. We carry a small screen for smaller rooms. It looks nice. We do project our image big... only because the camera is so close. Thanks for your input. I have read some of your posts... so be assured I am listening. Rax
 
overlandfilms said:
From front-of-house, even in small venues, the DVX glass might not be long enough to get you IMAG worth projecting.
Click to expand...
True - Luckly the Palms Comedy Club room is very small. There's only 12 rows between me and the stage.
 
RAX,

I have done a couple live concerts now as well and everyone posted good tips here, I just wanted to add to ease up or maybe even turn off any lights that have red gels on them if they are pointed right onto where some of the band members are setup/parked. The camera is a bit nuts on reds. Can be tweaked in post, but it sounds like you're not that kind of situation...

Enjoy the camera!
 
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