I checked out the 300 again today, this time shooting in DVCPRO HD instead of intra-100. I wanted to make sure I could view the footage on my MBP back at the ranch given it's current configuration. I know AVC-intra 100 rocks, no question there. Playback was done in P2CMS.
I shot in 1080P/ 30P /Cine V, as this is what I use for the primary client that I'd be buying the camera for. The rest of my work is typically DVCPRO 50 30P. I did not shoot any footage in that mode, as I don't really have any concerns about this cams performance in that realm. Nor do I have any concerns with the different flavors of 720P.
I wanted to test the camera again because I still had outstanding concerns about skew and whether it would be within workable parameters for me and my work which is broadcast, corporate, and an aviation industry client. Within the broadcast and corporate realm, much of the work is journalistic and documentarian style wise. So... handheld work as well as sit down interviews.
I had some concerns about noise with the camera, but that had taken a back seat to the skew concerns. Therein lies the irony of my test observations today.
Skew (1080 30P)- Sure when I whipped it around , and particularly at the long end of the lens, I could get the camera to skew like a mutha- footage I'd never shoot unless I was doing an earth quake dramatization... Then again the skew could be a nice effect
:-O . Everything I shot was handheld- long lens follow shots, with a zoom out on some, and some walking wide angle shots. The last shot is a common one for my shooting- particularly at the wide end of the lens. Even partially zoomed in, it was more than acceptable. I don't know about any one else, but a pushed in walking handheld shot is not something I commonly do- unless I happen to get the once in a lifetime shot of Big Foot or Nessie hanging out with Jim Morrison... Like I said, even pushed in a bit, no problem. I'm not saying it wouldn't skew under some circumstances, but by and large it's not a problem for what I shoot and my style. I shot long lens handheld shots of cars going by ( 40mph) that I'd have no problem using whatsoever ( no noticeable skew), although typically if I'm shooting the longest lens- I'll be on sticks. Trying to hold a max zoom static shot did show some skew. It appears that the vibrations and quick/snap direction changes will induce skew, more so than a handheld shot that has smooth motion in it. Frankly, the skew is now a non issue for me.
To echo what others have suggested, the VF exaggerates skew. What looked problematic in the viewfinder was typically not so in the playback, except for the more extreme shots as mentioned above. How nice it is, to actually easily pull focus with the VF. No more zone focusing ala HVX 200/ 170.
More good stuff.
Even in DVCPRO HD ( as Barry has mentioned) the picture from this camera is a marked improvement over both my HVX-200 and 170. The footage sparkles, and it's clearly sharper and more resolved. i can't imagine the Intra-100... Game on Garth.
The ironic part.
Noise- While viewing the footage it became clear in short order that noise was a bigger concern than I initially presumed it to be. As Guiseppe has stated repeatedly ( ;-) ) the speed and degree of noise in certain tonal ranges is no small matter. I gotta agree with G. on this one, and respectfully disagree with Barry about the noise challenges with the cam. In certain tonal ranges the noise in this camera is certainly greater than my 170 in my experience. In the high lights, lighter mid tones and in the blacks- no big concern IMO. But, using the zone system as a reference, the noise is particularly pernicious in zone II and dipping into III and II on either side.
My big concern-skew, was overshadowed by the noise I saw in this particular tonal range. That was the bad news. The good news is that I did not check to see how the camera was set-up, other than that it was on -3db. Judging by the footage the master ped was not too far down the scale, and I sense that the detail coring was not really set up to have much effect. Given footage posted by others here such as Ben's "goodbadugly" test, I feel pretty assured that the noise can be reigned in. The "go cart" footage that Barry posted today really puts my mind at ease in this regard. That's beautiful stuff, and just what the doctor ordered.
Sure, i'd rather not have to tweak some of the paramters to the degree needed in order to tame the darker mid tone noise, as it reduces the adjustment range. But hey, if it accomplishes what is needed to tame the noise beast adequately, then I'm good. It's certainly not a low light wonder-cam, nor a 2/3 inch CCD, nor my first choice for shooting a film with a lot of night scenes, but for my purposes It's good if not great in many circumstances. I'll be holding onto my HPX-170 and Brevis for shallow DOF, Art, personal and cinematic stuff (among other reasons) .
It's time to wrap this novel up and hit the sack, so I'll conclude. I'm going to take the plunge, get off the fence and buy one in the next day or two. It's a bit nerve wracking to drop the coin on this camera package given the vast economic destruction that our glorious leaders ( past and present) have bestowed upon the economy. However if all goes well with the client that I'll use this camera for, I can pay it off in pretty quickly. As of now I'm throwing a lot of dinero down the rat hole in HPX 500 rentals- and I have just as hard of a time pulling focus as my HVX-200. What the ?.... why I oughtta...
This camera certainly has some caveats, but it's going to be a winner within it's limitations.
Take what you like and leave the rest. ;-)
I shot in 1080P/ 30P /Cine V, as this is what I use for the primary client that I'd be buying the camera for. The rest of my work is typically DVCPRO 50 30P. I did not shoot any footage in that mode, as I don't really have any concerns about this cams performance in that realm. Nor do I have any concerns with the different flavors of 720P.
I wanted to test the camera again because I still had outstanding concerns about skew and whether it would be within workable parameters for me and my work which is broadcast, corporate, and an aviation industry client. Within the broadcast and corporate realm, much of the work is journalistic and documentarian style wise. So... handheld work as well as sit down interviews.
I had some concerns about noise with the camera, but that had taken a back seat to the skew concerns. Therein lies the irony of my test observations today.
Skew (1080 30P)- Sure when I whipped it around , and particularly at the long end of the lens, I could get the camera to skew like a mutha- footage I'd never shoot unless I was doing an earth quake dramatization... Then again the skew could be a nice effect
:-O . Everything I shot was handheld- long lens follow shots, with a zoom out on some, and some walking wide angle shots. The last shot is a common one for my shooting- particularly at the wide end of the lens. Even partially zoomed in, it was more than acceptable. I don't know about any one else, but a pushed in walking handheld shot is not something I commonly do- unless I happen to get the once in a lifetime shot of Big Foot or Nessie hanging out with Jim Morrison... Like I said, even pushed in a bit, no problem. I'm not saying it wouldn't skew under some circumstances, but by and large it's not a problem for what I shoot and my style. I shot long lens handheld shots of cars going by ( 40mph) that I'd have no problem using whatsoever ( no noticeable skew), although typically if I'm shooting the longest lens- I'll be on sticks. Trying to hold a max zoom static shot did show some skew. It appears that the vibrations and quick/snap direction changes will induce skew, more so than a handheld shot that has smooth motion in it. Frankly, the skew is now a non issue for me.
To echo what others have suggested, the VF exaggerates skew. What looked problematic in the viewfinder was typically not so in the playback, except for the more extreme shots as mentioned above. How nice it is, to actually easily pull focus with the VF. No more zone focusing ala HVX 200/ 170.
More good stuff.
Even in DVCPRO HD ( as Barry has mentioned) the picture from this camera is a marked improvement over both my HVX-200 and 170. The footage sparkles, and it's clearly sharper and more resolved. i can't imagine the Intra-100... Game on Garth.
The ironic part.
Noise- While viewing the footage it became clear in short order that noise was a bigger concern than I initially presumed it to be. As Guiseppe has stated repeatedly ( ;-) ) the speed and degree of noise in certain tonal ranges is no small matter. I gotta agree with G. on this one, and respectfully disagree with Barry about the noise challenges with the cam. In certain tonal ranges the noise in this camera is certainly greater than my 170 in my experience. In the high lights, lighter mid tones and in the blacks- no big concern IMO. But, using the zone system as a reference, the noise is particularly pernicious in zone II and dipping into III and II on either side.
My big concern-skew, was overshadowed by the noise I saw in this particular tonal range. That was the bad news. The good news is that I did not check to see how the camera was set-up, other than that it was on -3db. Judging by the footage the master ped was not too far down the scale, and I sense that the detail coring was not really set up to have much effect. Given footage posted by others here such as Ben's "goodbadugly" test, I feel pretty assured that the noise can be reigned in. The "go cart" footage that Barry posted today really puts my mind at ease in this regard. That's beautiful stuff, and just what the doctor ordered.
Sure, i'd rather not have to tweak some of the paramters to the degree needed in order to tame the darker mid tone noise, as it reduces the adjustment range. But hey, if it accomplishes what is needed to tame the noise beast adequately, then I'm good. It's certainly not a low light wonder-cam, nor a 2/3 inch CCD, nor my first choice for shooting a film with a lot of night scenes, but for my purposes It's good if not great in many circumstances. I'll be holding onto my HPX-170 and Brevis for shallow DOF, Art, personal and cinematic stuff (among other reasons) .
It's time to wrap this novel up and hit the sack, so I'll conclude. I'm going to take the plunge, get off the fence and buy one in the next day or two. It's a bit nerve wracking to drop the coin on this camera package given the vast economic destruction that our glorious leaders ( past and present) have bestowed upon the economy. However if all goes well with the client that I'll use this camera for, I can pay it off in pretty quickly. As of now I'm throwing a lot of dinero down the rat hole in HPX 500 rentals- and I have just as hard of a time pulling focus as my HVX-200. What the ?.... why I oughtta...
This camera certainly has some caveats, but it's going to be a winner within it's limitations.
Take what you like and leave the rest. ;-)
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