Philip Bloom's "Hirano San"

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I thought that the opening shots in daylight did look like video. However, as the day moved on there are many beautiful shots.

I found the piece to be quite lovely, otherworldly, introspective. I'm not usually a fan of these kind of works but I did find myself settling into the feel of it and very much enjoyed it.
 
Okay, I really like the closeups excellent detail, rendering and colours but many wide shoots are flat and the colour clipping is not good. It looks just like what it is - a video camera with a larger sensor.
 
Agree. Totally underwhelmed. Dynamic range is just not there. Many shots are blown out and I won´t blame Vimeocompression, because there are enough films that look technical better despite the compression.

It is a DSLR without some of the problems and plus a few nice features, but I ain´t anywhere near where the hype is. At least not in these images.

My 2 cents.

P.S.: I´ll buy it anyway, but prepare for a Sony or Canon that tops it in 2011.
 
alpi69 said:
Agree. Totally underwhelmed. Dynamic range is just not there.
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I'm sure there is more range available with settings adjustments.

I'M TRYING SO HARD NOT PIXEL PEEP. But I'm gettin that urge to vlog, and I'm not on any manufactures payroll...
 
I'm guessing picture settings (contrast and color/saturation etc) are a big factor here. Perhaps they were left at default (which I agree that default Panasonic colorimetry can be pretty hideous and wish it would bake the image in flat by default). Remember that all the DSLRs were pretty blown/clipped too until contrast/sat was dialed down. The 1080p 60p is looking nice though, other issues aside.
 
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If I were Panny, I have the camera shipped baked with the flattest settings possible for the onslaught of vimeo uploads. In fact, get it as close to possible to Canon video "flat" colorimetry as possible so people can be wowed by the footage. This looks perfect for broadcast. It looks exactly like an HVX200. I think people on forums will be distracted by the high contrast look, and decide that a DSLR is more "film like." Certainly it can look more "film like" with simple setting configurations.
 
Looks great to me! I currently have a camera that I paid twice as much for but has image quality at least twice as bad, especially in low light. What other camera bodies are there out there with similar features at only $4700?
 
plasmasmp said:
It looks exactly like an HVX200. I think people on forums will be distracted by the high contrast look, and decide that a DSLR is more "film like." Certainly it can look more "film like" with simple setting configurations.
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I am sorry, but in 2010 that is not a compliment for a camera that´s not even out yet and is turned at indie/commercial filmers. I love my HVX. But even the EX-1 kicks its butt in all was possible: resolution, dynamic range, noise, sensitivity. So for the price of a 2008 EX-1 I´d expect more from Panasonic than an HVX-look. I´ll get the AF100 because my HVX is so outdated, but I really expected more from this showing. Actually might as well just wait for the Canon and stick to the HVX and 7D in the meanwhile.
Wouldn´t Green and Bloom not just set the cam to cinegamma in the first place. They of all people know what we want to see. So why would they shoot default?

Edit: I am aware the resolution is higher than an HVX, but viewers don´t care about rez, but they sense dynamic range.
 
Camera settings seams off for these videos. That pre-production camera must be set to high contrast and colour I guess.

It looked much better in Blooms "South" and the Alfa Romeo video.
 
Tough crowd for sure.

Think about it, this is five minutes of test shots. I mean, I'm sure Philip was shooting with tons of different lenses, trying different cam settings and such all day! It takes a while to adjust to a camera and find what you like.

If you distinctly watch, yes there are "video" looking shots, but there are quite a few "film" like shots. Philip's edits usually try to tell a story, and for having the cam in hands for most of a day, and editing this together in the same day, I like for sure. There is no question in my mind that you can pull alot out of this camera. A bunch of these shots are a testament to that.

I'm sure everything here is ungraded too. I don't know about you guys, but I could grade this into really good stuff.
 
I thought that, except for a lack of DR, it looked good and got better as it went on. Nothing too impressive that makes me want to jump this instead of a GH2 (image feel very similar) while waiting on the S@^(#()!!!, but good enough.
 
I'm out.......and this footage, although preliminary, has confirmed a few things for me. I cancelled my pre order a few days ago anyway - mainly because of the Sony anouncement and RED prepping for the Scarlet release soon. I also know that better is just around the corner and three months wait won't kill me. 3k RAW or 1920 X 1080 S-Log at 4;4:4 is the most compelling reason for me. I have graded footage from the Alexa and RED in Speedgrade and Cineform firstlight and trust me - when you have had the pleasure - there is no going back. My concerns were about dynamic range and deep colour information.This camera will work for many folks but I have just realised that I want more and that the £ 4000 I save can go toward a better cam that leaves me never complaining about blown highlights, limited colour or noisy low light footage etc

I am in no way suggesting that this cam is not great. It is a very big step up from what we have had.It is crazy sharp and recorded to a Nano will be amazing.But one still has to watch out for reaching the camera's limits. With Scarlet's HDR mode - those blown out scenes wouldn't happen - period.That's the main reason I will force every ounce of patience in me to ride this out a few more months.

Just my two cents - although well done to PANA for pushing the envelope so fast. One more thing - man that cam seriously needed some lessons in design from Apple.
 
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Shots at 1:06, 2:07 and 3:07 are evidence to me that you can get that film look. Those shots are impossible with HVX cams. Really good.

The shot at 1min is showing pretty good DR. Sun with clouds all in exposure, and mountain side visible as well. A touch of CC and this is REALLY good.

From 4mins on the night footage is just great! It's getting a good amount of light in and is fantastically vivid.

The 1080p/60 overcrank shots look great and is something no other cam under 15k can do.

Shots like at 17-19sec are the ones that are difficult to stomach. He needed to stop down in this shot. It's overexposed. I feel like alot of these shots could benefit from less exposure.

Overall, it's casual test footage and definitely not meant for severe scrutiny. The cam to me proves itself very capable and able to get shots and do more than any DSLR, 1/3, or 1/2" and better in many ways than 2/3" cams. I'm still sold.
 
Rev - pleased to meet you. The video pastor......I am intrigued. Do you have a vimeo page?

My main pursuit now is music videos and short films so for a quick in camera look this is perfect if a few settings were dialled down. But if you mess up there is no room to recover. I have worked with Sigma Foveon SD14 RAW stills and the power of raw is astounding. There is just that extra space to work in post. If Panasonic had a way to output an S-log type really falt image from the HD-SDI port - I would be more interested. Red boasts 18 stops of Dynamic range on epic - that is nothing to sneeze at and they will add that to Scarlet - when it arrives. That's what sold me. For about the same price as this puppy we get 3 K, 120 fps, Redcode etc.....

Anyway - as more footage comes out it will be more clear as to what can and cannot be done with this cam.I just need to wait a while and let the dust settle and then make a wise choice. The camera will still be available so I don't need to be an early bird.....
 
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Here's my disclaimer: I've enjoyed a great relationship with Panasonic; I loved my VariCams, and their staff is first-rate.

Now, on to this footage. Hopefully, what I'm seeing is due to the compression, and a rotten job of it, otherwise, this is, in a single word, dismal.

I've never seen such noise before; totally unacceptable, especially in the dark areas, but even in the skies. This is before we even get to the dynamic range, or should I say, lack thereof. The image breaks into clip as if it were falling off a cliff. Horrid. Ugly. Not the smooth, beautiful curve of the VariCam.

I might add that everything had a very harsh look to it; over sharpened, over detailed, over saturated. The video equivalent of cranking up the base and treble in a cheap stereo, pushing them into distortion.

So what's the deal? Mr. Bloom is obviously talented, so I doubt operator incompetence. Is it terrible setup of his camera? Is it the compression?

I've not seen this in the footage posted of the pre-production cameras.

What's the story?

Good shooting and best regards,

Leo
 
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