Good enough?

M

mr_screen

Member
I am producing an ad for local tv, and I own a dvx-100. While I believe the camera is pretty good (I have only shot 20 hrs with it), I am not sure how good it measures up in "real" life. I recently shot an ad (my photographer, actually), and we ended up using the Sony DSR-500. I guess my point is, I need the spot to look great, and I am not sure I trust the DVX-100 entirely. I know the resolution is a bit higher on the DSR-500, and it also has a "real" lens. The photographer is also more confortable with the 500, so I dunno what to do. It is a small budget production, so it would save me some $ if I used my own. The client wants to have the option to update the spot frequently, and the most cost effective way for me to do that, is shooting future replacement footage myself. I do not have any filters for the dvx-100, is there a basic kit I should get?

Sorry if this was long, please feel free to give advice/perspective on this issue.

Thanks,
mr screen
 
Re: Good enough?

The DVX is geared towards filmmaking applications (which of course can be MV's and Commericals). If you utilize the proper set-up it will look insanely fine.

Lighting, Compostion, editing.
 
Re: Good enough?

Thanks, John.
I agree on the importance of those three things. I guess I would have to experiment with set-ups to find the one that works. I shoot in Pal, and would like to shoot 25p widescreen, using Cinegamma thick. Now, would you change set-up when moving from indoor to outdoor shooting in the same production? These might be basic questions, but I am still not totally sure how I am going to do this..I am incredbily paranoid when it comes to things that can go wrong. I want to plan as much as possible..

mr screen
 
Re: Good enough?

Well, I dont know about no PAL format, but I wouldnt change from EXT to INT per se.

Again, Composition, Lighting, Post. :)
 
Re: Good enough?

As far as overall camera quality -- the DVX is plenty good enough. I've shot with the DSR500, and it's a great camera, as is the 300. But neither can deliver the same look the DVX can.

I make my living off TV commercials, TV shows, and corporate videos.

I shot one spot on the DVX for a car dealer, and their ad agency swore that it was either 35mm or CineAlta. I later ended up booking an ongoing TV show with that same dealer. We shoot the entire show on the DVX, in 24P mode, handheld on a GlideCam 4000. Never had a complaint, in fact a rep from the Beasley Broadcast Group went to them and asked them who did their show, because they were so impressed with the quality.

Finally, we shot a spec spot on the DVX with the mini35, and it looks exactly like 35mm film.

Another anecdote is that Pat was shooting a spec spot for a guy here in town for Dish Network. That guy had arranged to have a Sony BVW-400 BetaSP camera to shoot on, but Pat and I were like... "hey, while we're here, do you mind if we double-shoot..." Needless to say, when the director saw the results on the monitor, he said "hey, forget the Sony, I want to use that camera!"

The DVX is plenty good enough. Lend your camera to the photographer for a couple of days, let him/her get really used to it, and they will be completely sold.
 
Re: Good enough?

well.. coming after barry is always too late ;)
but i add my 0.2 and say that if i had to choose between the DSR500 and the DVX i would, in 99% of the cases, go for the DVX. DSR500 was and is still a great camera, with native 16:9, good lens etc. but DVX just has a better look, IMO, and it's progressive.
and, it's about time that people will start to appreciate good technology like the DVX, even if it comes in small sizes ;)
 
Re: Good enough?

Thanks everybody for swift responses and good answers. I guess I am leaning towards using it. I have one follow-up, though. As far as filters go, what do I need? I have found that I can do awesome gradients in Final Cut, with total control. I guess polarization/diffusion is among the basic stuff I need to be looking into? I am also wondering about pedestal. Is there a point in adjusting that?
Basic questions, but I want to overprepare. On my last shot, we had a power black-out in three counties! I had thought about bringing a power generator, but decided against it. LUCKILY power came back! I am getting more and more paranoid about this stuff...
 
Re: Good enough?

filters - one very basic to me is a 3ND, to close gaps between the built-in ND's. that will let you more control on exposure in order to have an open iris for shallow DOF, if you're into it.
besides this, some diffusion can be made in post, although black pro-mist has it's own particular effect that if you like it, have it on camera. i personally not a fan of heavy diffusions. tune the detail level in camera to reduce sharpness artifacts.
pedestal, don't crash them to hard. with cine-gamma i never go under -3, in high gamma i leave it on zero, unless i have full control on lighting. same in low-gamma, too compressed blacks will destroy the gradual details in shadows.  

as always, i mention that there are 2 schools, one is "have it ready on tape", the other "have it finished in post". your DP knows which school he's from, or what is the best for this particular production.
note that the DVX with cinegamma and a moderate level of saturation will give you a lot to work with in post. since you're shooting an ad, i believe you'll get some post-prod. time, and if you have someone talented to work it out, you can do some great stuff with it.  
 
Re: Good enough?

I have shot as well with both camcorders and wouldn´t agree in all aspects.
First there is a lot of differences between the first generation of the 300 or 500 series - a 500 and a -590 are almost 2 different camcorders.
If you add one of the Fujii ot Canon Broadcast lenses you get pictures the DVX-100 can´t rival at all . Even a DV-5000 with the standard lens is a much better lowlight camera as our beloved tool. If you get your hands on one of the rare 1/2 " Fujii Broadcastlenses (in my case the S 14-6,2 BRD series) this is simple another league - much better resolution - 1/2 " depth of field- better lowlight - no chromatic abberations and so on.

Where the DVX-100 shines is in 24/25 mode - and in the price/ quality ratio , but well shot pictures with a 590 simply look better.
Better to justify 20 000 bucks more ? Hard question.

mine
 
Re: Good enough?

So I just talked to my DP today, and he told me he isn´t confortable using "small" cameras like the dvx-100. So I had almost decided to use it, and now I am back at square 1. I am planning on lending him the cam for a couple of days so he can get used to it. Will bring a 2K HMI and a field monitor to the shoot, so I guess that helps as far as minimizing the risk for things going wrong..I would like to keep it simple, not do any pedestal adjustments if I can avoid it. As far as shooting in 25p, does that limit slow mo possibilites?
 
Re: Good enough?

Barry, is it possible to post any of those commercials/shows you had mentioned. Im very interested. Don't you just love the response from people who are seeing the results of the DVX for the first time?
 
Re: Good enough?

I've posted clips up here before, from a couple of my commercials, one with the anamorphic and one with the mini35. Let me see what's up on my websites...

Here's some wmv's of the footage we had transferred to film, some with the anamorphic and some with the mini35:
http://66.78.26.9/~fiercely/DVFilm.wmv

Here's the first spot we ever did with the DVX:
http://66.78.26.9/~fiercely/NetDr.wmv

Here's a little PSA thing we just did for a nonprofit:
http://66.78.26.9/~fiercely/WIFC2C.wmv

Here's a series of spots that are airing regionally, for one of those technical training schools... I think they're airing in 11 major markets:
http://66.78.26.9/~fiercely/Heritage.wmv
 
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