Getting the best camera for documentary

M

Martin Yernazian

New member
I have been struggling with this for a long time. Looking for a camera for the last shooting phase of my 9 year old run documentary
"Art Officially Favored"

What I want is the following:

I want to create highly cinematic scenes ( with the help of lighting of course be it natural or artificial) = quality
To be able to run and shoot for some guerrilla scenes= stable
Very little to no rolling shutter, specially useful in those guerilla moments

I love to handheld my cameras. I've been using a 5d mark 2 for a long time and I hate the rolling shutter ( plus the moire and anti-ailising)
but overall a "cute" camera to get plenty done. I want to step it up.

Interchangeable lenses: I would love to use any kind of glass. My father is a photo-technician. I have access to all kind of glass... from all kind of times.
(the dirtier the better) all kind of formats... we have had some really cool results with anything from the 1910's to the 60s.

Also I love in camera tricks.... low shutter speeds and different frame rates.... (where is the fun!?)

Sound: I have also the chance of a recorder... but why not getting something that is already part of the pack.

I'm intending on getting a Blackmagic HyperDeck Shuttle if needed.

Some of my my choices are the following ( please forgive me if these might sound a bit to random)

BlackMagic Camera: I know... to new, to random.. yet isn't that the spirit of cinema. I know the price is 3k. I'm willing to put up the rest on
the accessories...

Panasonic AG-AF100A: Looks good as a doc camera but I'm afraid of rolling shutter and a camera that seems to be old tech.

Sony FS700: Don't trust Sony tech but that might be an old juju of mine. This seems like a workable camera.
Love the 4k possible upgrade. Like I said I feel this is the direction I want to go... where tech gets better (of course with limitations)

Sony FS100: Same as up there... not 4k though, not slow mo

Now to the crazy things

Red One: they are on sale, they are big and robust but 4.5k with a build fan base and plenty of parts and room to grow.

Ikonoskop A-Cam dii: this camera is weird, new... and so hot. I love this camera.... cons... price and their workflow. Can we make it happen... yes. But is it the best?
Love the idea of being able to use any Super 16mm glass.

My goal is to get a camera to finish this project but also to have a piece of gear that I could carry the edge to use in the next couple of projects.

I would appreciate any kind of help and constructive opinions.


Thanks Again.


ps: I have posted this in several forums. My intention is not to spam but to to get as many responses and opinions so I can make a better judgement when it comes to get gear.
 
Looking at, what you want, that list rules out all cameras.

The Ikonoskop - for example - has no rolling shutter but cant stabilize lenses.
The FS-100/700 have the best stabilizer in the kit lens, but some rolling shutter

It's a bit like "cheap, fast and good - you can only pick two"

You will have to make some compromises.

Personally I would recommend the FS100/700 with the kit lens (for starters) and a bunch of cheap adapters for the rest of the glass in the universe, since it meets most of your needs/wants.
All you have to do is not to pan too fast, to avoid rolling shutter.

Frank
 
Thanks Postmaster... a real opinion! it is the famous tringle fast, cheap and good... that is why I'm so torn... but it seems that more and more the BMCC camera is not for me... not yet at least.
 
Martin Yernazian said:
Looking for a camera for the last shooting phase of my 9 year old run documentary
Click to expand...

James Longley, the filmmaker whose documentary "Iraq in Fragments" won Best Cinematography at Sundance in 2005, is now shooting a new documentary in Afghanistan using a Canon C300 camera.

Cinema EOS: Afghanistan Documentary, James Longley

Frame grabs from his Afghanistan documentary

Iraq in Fragments -- official theatrical trailer

...Given your budget, you might consider the Canon C100 camera that uses the same sensor and image processor as the C300, and can shoot 1080 4:2:2 with an external recorder. ( i.e. the poor man's C300 )
 
Budget? The AF100A will do just about everything you're asking, at a price point below many of the others. But if your budget can stretch up to C300 levels, that would be a nice choice.
 
TheDingo, I've seen this.... it looks great... but I'm also not that convienced. This clips are presented by Canon where most likely have graded the footage very seriously and I assure you he didn't have just one unit during sandstorms in Afganistan.
My father is a photo technician (used to rep Canon, Minolta, Nikon, now he is more universal) I'll tell you sand is the reason my sister went to college ;) Still it is a very serious camera.
 
Barry, thank you for your reply. Yes the Af100 was an option until around last year when I did some heavy jobs with it. It is a great camera... again the rolling shutter ( better than a 5d) still killed me. Also I feel there are better options out there... or maybe I'm wrong.
 
i would suggest a FS700 or a C300. you can use a great variety of stabilized lenses, have ND's without the hassle of VariND's and they are both good for run and gun style handheld shooting. C300 will be the better handheld camera IMO.
 
What about a used Sony PMW350K ? Only way you wont be bothered by rolling shutter is if you go with a ccd. FS700/100 both have rolling shutters as do a all other cameras with a s35 sensor in this price range. I think that there is only one option for you and that's a used HPX2700. You can get a used one for dirt cheap. It has a very cinematic picture and it's ccd. The downside is that it uses 720 chips BUT if you were okey with the sharpenes of the af100 than you should be okey with the 2700. There is one selling on tvbay at the moment for app. 6k I think. But you need to ad a lens to that though...
 
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