HVX200 footage with Letus Extreme

D

DCP

Well-known member
Hiya,

Here are some clips from our upcoming film 'Drawing With Chalk'. These clips do not have any sound and haven't been color corrected, but it gives you a visual idea of how the adapter looks in an edited clip.

We shot with the HVX200 (720 24p), and used Nikon lenses (ranging from 24mm to 180mm). We also used a crane and dolly. Our biggest problem was running out of daylight, so some grain/artifacts are actually from trying to compensate.

These clips are quicktime files (actually meant for my iphone) so you may need the latest version to download; also, it may take a bit of time to download as well.


http://www.drawingwithchalkthefilm.com/sc16p1.html

http://www.drawingwithchalkthefilm.com/sc16p3.html

DCP
 
look neat.

colors are slightly too faded for my taste, but that could be due to compression.

Shots look pretty sharp. The noise isnt really bothersome, but in some of the shots the blacks are too crushed. Again, really hard to tell without sound but looks pretty good none the less.
 
Lovely footage, I have (will have, waiting for the adapter from Letus) the same setup. Any problems/limitations at all with this setup thus far?
 
Very cinematic DCP. Very very Cinematic.

I do have a question for ya: Do you find the HVX + Letus to be a little soft in comparison to some of the A1 footage we see from Disjecta?

I'm noticing that my stuff at 720p isn't looking as sharp as A1+Letus EX and it's kinda disheartening. I've never noticed it before, but now it's getting to me.

You probably don't even bother with that sort of thing, but thought I'd ask.
 
Kholi said:
Very cinematic DCP. Very very Cinematic.

I do have a question for ya: Do you find the HVX + Letus to be a little soft in comparison to some of the A1 footage we see from Disjecta?

I'm noticing that my stuff at 720p isn't looking as sharp as A1+Letus EX and it's kinda disheartening. I've never noticed it before, but now it's getting to me.

You probably don't even bother with that sort of thing, but thought I'd ask.
Click to expand...

I do find the footage softer (and I know you can turn up the detail levels), but it doesn't bother me at all (it takes away some of the 'video' sharpness. I've never been bothered by softness as long as the softness doesn't look as if it's 'out of focus'. I actually prefer a softer image (ala '70's films). Ironically, I placed a different clip into one of the best films of all times (JAWS) to see how my footage would stand up, and it was very close in quality. Keep in mind, this was from a DVD so I'm sure a HD-DVD or Blu-Ray print would be sharper.

I've always thought todays film stocks to actually be too sharp where (to me anyway) the film sometimes has a video look. Again, that's just me. :smile:
 
LUXGAP said:
Lovely footage, I have (will have, waiting for the adapter from Letus) the same setup. Any problems/limitations at all with this setup thus far?
Click to expand...

There really aren't any limitations I've come across other than you have to have a rail system that will allow the offset the adapter adds. I use the Cinevate rod and rail system and it works very nicely.

I'm also going to contact Hien at Letus because the screw that tightens the adapter support always comes loose (you really can't tighten it the way you could with an allen screw). Minor complaint. Other than that, I really like the adapter.
 
Lenilenapi said:
Kholi,
What is your detail setting on the HVX?
Have you played with raising it?
- Lenny
Click to expand...

I have to check, but it's usually at -2 to keep noise levels down as best I can without losing detail. But even at +2 it's still a little soft. I think I'll have to revamp my settings.

DCP -- I see your point, definitely. It's probably another preference thing.

Still, your images are really great and very cinematic. Perhaps a bit of the softness is also compression.
 
Kholi said:
I have to check, but it's usually at -2 to keep noise levels down as best I can without losing detail. But even at +2 it's still a little soft. I think I'll have to revamp my settings.

DCP -- I see your point, definitely. It's probably another preference thing.

Still, your images are really great and very cinematic. Perhaps a bit of the softness is also compression.
Click to expand...

It could be a tad from the compression... I used a program called Roxio Crunch (great little program) to convet to iphone and it took a matter of a few minutes to convert so I'm sure it's not the best quality in the world.
 
Kholi said:
Very cinematic DCP. Very very Cinematic.

I do have a question for ya: Do you find the HVX + Letus to be a little soft in comparison to some of the A1 footage we see from Disjecta?

I'm noticing that my stuff at 720p isn't looking as sharp as A1+Letus EX and it's kinda disheartening. I've never noticed it before, but now it's getting to me.

You probably don't even bother with that sort of thing, but thought I'd ask.
Click to expand...

A shocking idea!!!!

I have discover working with chromakey that esposure is key to sharpness.

Try shooting something at f2,8 f4.0 and f5,6 then with the same f stops try under and over exposure. Find the one that looks sharpest and correct in post.

I found the video here a little soft and the colors are not too saturated, but maybe that's the way that they wanted it.

I own the FX1, Canon A1 and the HVX. For most of my commercial work I use the HVX.

I mainly shoot 720 and it is sharper than any of the other two. At 1080p it is incredibly sharp, but be careful with the exposure. If it is a little under you will get a lot of noise.
 
I shot some footage for my opening credits and I used the SPARK setting (extremely saturated and sharp). I really liked the look but for the main film I wanted it to be less saturated. Fortunately I have plenty of room in Post for adjustements if I want to bring back some color. Of all the test footage, the settings we used (from my DP) definitely had the most film-like look and quality especially when I watched it blown up on a 90" HD projector.

Overall, I think the HVX can deliver great/sharp footage and it allows us to have many options when we shoot.
 
Kholi said:
Very cinematic DCP. Very very Cinematic.

I do have a question for ya: Do you find the HVX + Letus to be a little soft in comparison to some of the A1 footage we see from Disjecta?

I'm noticing that my stuff at 720p isn't looking as sharp as A1+Letus EX and it's kinda disheartening. I've never noticed it before, but now it's getting to me.

You probably don't even bother with that sort of thing, but thought I'd ask.
Click to expand...

If you got the cards, storage and juice on your computer try 1080 24PA. It's noticeably sharper than the 720 PN. It just eats alot more space and some computers cough and sputter on 1080.
 
Thanks, Naylor. I should've mentioned that I rarely ever shoot 720pN. Always 1080p/24pA for Final Cut.

xD Me Quad Core Machine chops and plays back that stuff butter-like.

It's just the ugly resolution monster rearing it's head again. I did the same thing with the A1 vs HVX (naked) when the A1 first hit.

NOTE TO USERS: Don't put the Detail level above +2. It gets incredibly disgusting beyond that. Heck, don't even go above 0.
 
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