My turn has come !!!

D

Derrick_SA

Veteran
Guys, I am so excited!! After months of following the DVX100a (PAL, I live in South Africa). My first time to use it has is this Saturday!!

I am shooting a piece that will be used in an onstage theatre production, where a guy is driving on his way to work then stops at the petrol garage (gas station), and walks into the convenience store. (shooting just after sunrise). And then in the evening doing a interview with a person who had a lung transplat 4 months ago.

I'm taking the:

DVX100a (PAL) + Tripod
4x4 Clip on 2 Tray Matte Box
a Set of 3 - 4" ND Grad Soft line Filters
Seinnheiser EW500 Radio Microphone Kit
5 in 1 fold out reflector
and a 300w Fresnel Lighting Kit (3 lights)

I would have loved a jib, but the budget did not allow for it.

The interview will probably be best to keep 25fps (PAL) to keep it real ?

But the morning clip, (And in the Morning, I'm making waffles ...) Sorry bit excited about this. I'm gonna do in 24P.

Any suggestions for settings to use ?

Thanks,
Derrick
 
Re: My turn has come !!!

Derrick,

I hope you aren't hugely disappointed but...the PAL DVx ONLY does 25p or 50i (no 24p of any form...)

Better to know know than spend long minutes scratching your head after reaching into the depths of the menus to see where the Panasonic guys hid the 24p on the cam...

Best of luck!

Paul.
 
Re: My turn has come !!!

But it still shoots interlaced - 50i - or progressive, 25P.

25P looks identical (pretty much) to 24P, so much so that it really doesn't make a difference at all.
 
Re: My turn has come !!!

Man, that is dissapointing, I could not get hold of the PAL manual. dang. Well at least I can still shoot progressive.!!!

Man ...

Thanks guys.

- Derrick
 
Re: My turn has come !!!

Man, seems to be a better deal to use the NTSC version? I know that 25p is probably very close to 24P, but the motion can't be the same. It's gotta look more story-like at 24p ?

Am I smoking my socks here, or is there some truth in my dissapointment ?

thanks,
Derrick
 
Re: My turn has come !!!

It'll look almost identical. There's probably not a soul alive who could tell 24P from 25P, they're only 4% different in speed.
 
Re: My turn has come !!!

Yeah, 4% is not that bad I guess. Besides, most of the "magic" will probably be locked up in the Cinematography. (which I'm also not to good at yet).

But atleast I did script and storyboarding, which should help.

It's gonna be a weekend of adventure for me!

wish me luck people, if I manage to do something right, I'll post some stills (hie hie)

-Derrick
 
Re: My turn has come !!!

I know the feeling man. I was disappointed too when I heard we weren't going to have 24p support on the PAL camera.

But 25p is still ok.

I bought the camera and I didn't use it for a real project yet. And there are so many guys wishing they could own this camera. I am a lazy bastard.

Anyway, good luck with you purchase.

All the best

Fidel.
 
Re: My turn has come !!!

Derrick:

Just one word of caution. Shooting in 24P (25) or PA is very tricky. Over the past two years I've witnessed some real disasters, including my own shooting in 24P or PA.

Why? Many reasons. Light, camera movement, panning, zooming, not to mention the pulldown that you will be using in post. What if you have to mix 60i (50i in your case) with 25PA?

My rule of thumb is this. Never, ever, shoot a project with any new piece of equipment when you have a paying client. Lab shots work great in the lab, but rarely in the field. By that I mean, doing a "test" shot in your studio or back yard isn't the same as shooting a real project "live".

If I were you, I would play it safe and shoot in 50i until you really feel comfortable with 25P. There are amazing things that you can do with the 100 to give it more of a "cinema" look. Rolling back 1/2 Fstop on your iris can add to that feel.

my 2 cents
 
Re: My turn has come !!!

Ericcosh:

When you say "Rolling back 1/2 Fstop on your iris" does that mean to allow more light or less light to enter"?

Jurgen
 
Re: My turn has come !!!

Hi Jurgen:

I'm sorry that I wasn't clearer on that. What I mean is to close your lens down 1/2 stop letting in less light. You'd be surprised how just doing that will give you a "richer, warmer image".

eric
 
Re: My turn has come !!!

ericcosh, thanks for the tip!

Maybe what I should do is do the shot list in 50i, and then in 25p.

So that if by some crazy stroke of luck the 25p footage works, I can use it, and if not, then I'll use the 50i ?

let's vote maybe . Good idea, or bad idea?

thanks for all the advice to every one! I really like learning from all of you!

- Derrick
 
Re: My turn has come !!!

I would personally recommend picking one and sticking with it...

Good thing about DV is that it's a WYSIWYG format... Either one you use will end up producing a good quality project as long as you make sure it looks good when you're making it...

I recommed going 25p simply because it looks nicer in the end with a much more storylike appeal rather than home video or news serial appeal... that once again depends on your project. Sticking to one will cause one less thing to get confused with. If you go with one, stick with one and always make sure it looks good, you shouldn't run into any issues that you won't be able to overcome or fix...
 
Re: My turn has come !!!

The positive side on the PAL Camera is: there is no need for the tricky 24p-pulldown. 25p or rather 25p frame mode has been available for some time, while not as good in resolution as with the DVX100, so there's no problem with editing. There is also no real problem mixing 25p with 50i in the timeline, as long as you make up your mind which to use in the final product. Panning and zooming need a slow hand. But 25p does look filmlike enough, most films are presented in 25 frames/s over here anyway.
 
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