Moniter soultion needed for anamorphic shoot

J

JohnP

Member
Ok, so let me just get right into the problem. I am running 2nd unit DP on a short film shoot coming up in March. The director and main DP have decided to shoot HD.

Here is the setup: HVX200 w/Guerilla 35 adapter and 35mm anamorphic lenses.

So, we will be squeezing the 2.35:1 image down to 4:3 (via the G35) which will in turn be recorded to the HVX ccd at 1080 24p. The problem will be in setting up a proper viewing system. As I understand it, the image will be both flipped and squeezed. I need a real-time monitor setup that will be able to un-squeeze the image (back to 2.35:1) and flip it for proper viewing.

Any suggestions or help will be greatly appreciated.
 
If you're using cinema anamorphics, and you're shooting HD, you'll actually have a 3.56:1 aspect ratio. I doubt you want that. And yes, it'll be pretty much impossible to monitor.

Why not use spherical lenses and shoot HD 16:9, and then crop a little off the top and bottom? That's how 2.35:1 HD movies are done on the big screen, and it'll mean no monitoring hassles at all, plus you won't have to fiddle with cine anamorphics.
 
If I may suggest a test I did a while ago and could be a solution or alternative:
I hand held a Century anamorphic (16:9) in front of a Nikkor 1.4/35 mounted on MPIC and further mounted on a DVX100A and it worked. The image in the LCD was 16:9.
Now, if you will use a native 16:9 HDV camera with the previous set-up, you will end up with a horizontally squeezed image on a 16:9 chip. When you de-squeeze it, you will have a closer ratio to the desired 2.35:1 without loosing any resolution and without using anamorphic lenses. Just the anamorphic from Century on regular SLR lenses. My 2c.
 
Ovals of confusioin

Ovals of confusioin

Believe me, if I were primary DP. I would have chosen spherical glass. I don't particularly like the look or light loss of the anamorphics. (I do however love the cinemascope aspect ratio) However, I'm not the primary DP and the director is dead set on anamorphics. He wants his circles of confusion to be ovals.

However, what you mentioned about an improper aspect ratio 3.56:1 concerns me alot. I don't think I understand where the problem lies. The lenses are cine anamorphics, so they should be designed to squeeze 2.35:1 into a standard 4:3 academy 35mm frame. Correct? The image plane in this case would be the ground glass of the g35 as opposed to an actual negative. Can't this image in turn be captured by the HVX's ccd in 4:3 mode? Or does it not support 4:3 in HD?

And yes, as far as monitoring goes it seems like there may be no viable solution.

This particular setup was chosen by the Dir. and DP, without my input. I am concerned about the logistics and viability of it; that’s why I'm here.


Thanks again
 
Ok... did a little looking. I see now that anamorphics squeeze the 2.35:1 to 1.18:1 on the negative. (not 4:3) and I see how if it was recorded at 1.78:1 the final ratio would be 3.56:1... ok.

But, It is possible to only use a portion of the ccd and record a ratio of 1.18? I figure probally not. If this is the case then I need to talk to the director and he ain't gonna be happy.
 
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