Servo Zoom?!

Event shooting is a whole different world

Barry's right about that. The production shooter has it easy. You have time to set up the shot, light it well, rehearse it and even do it again if things don't work.

Event shooters have but one chance to get the shot perfect. If we mess it up, the opportunity will never come again. And where the production shooter has time and control, we have 2, maybe 3 seconds to have the camera in place, properly framed, properly focused, properly exposed and rolling before we miss our one and only chance to get the shot. Which means we MUST have a camera with a servo zoom, a fast and accurate auto-focus, a fast and accurate auto-iris, and a quick start to the recording. (This is one area where my DVC80 let's me down consistently. I can lose 4 or 5 seconds before the damn thing actually starts recording sometimes.)

But...we also want those beautiful selective focus shots (preferably without any rolling shutter effects, which means CCDs). And because it's event work, the money is typically not nearly as good as production work. Which means we need it CHEAP!

C'mon Panny, think about us too, will ya?
 
Which is why I think you'd be best served with an HMC150, with a GH2 for beauty shots... a good small-chip deep-dof autofocus servo lens camcorder for getting every shot the right way the right time, and an inexpensive super-shallow DOF stills/video camera for those shots where you have a few extra seconds and can set it up, and the shallow DOF would work for you instead of against you.

No way would I want to cover most events with solely a huge-sensor camcorder.
 
Barry, why not an HPX170, or the becoming-venerable HVX200?
Just because he said he wanted it cheap, and if using an HMC150 he'd be able to share cards with the GH2. Plus, for longform stuff, the SD media would probably be easier to wrangle and less expensive than the P2 media.

I prefer the HPX170 over the HMC150, but its specific advantages wouldn't really apply to the wedding/event shooter. Unless, in a studio config, he'd need HD-SDI over HDMI; in that case, yes, the HPX170 would be the better bet. And I think the HPX170 is just vastly superior to the HVX200 for all customers except those for whom DV tape is a necessity. HPX170 is so much lighter, more ergonomically nimble, just a much better handheld camera than the HVX200 was. And the HMC150 is the (almost) exact same body, so it shares those ergonomic advantages.

HPX170 adds stuff like timelapse recording, standard-def recording, HD-SDI, and variable framerates. While all of those might be nice for events, I wonder if he wouldn't be better served by putting the price difference into a GH2/HMC150 combo, having the same media/workflow/etc, and having a second camera. Because one thing about events and weddings and stuff like that -- there's no do-overs. Having a second camera body as a backup is just a darn smart thing to do.
 
I currently use 2 HMC's /1 7D combo for weddings and I approach it the exact the way Barry Explains it. The HMC 150 is great for the super run and gun stuff during a wedding, like the first look, and things like that, but I would honestly say that I am %80 7D at my weddings now. I have three lenses that cover most of the range I need. I have the Tokina 11-16, Canon 50 1.8 (nifty fifty, thrifty 50), and the amazing 100L macro IS II. Between those three, I feel like I got it all covered. I wear two little lens pouches on my belt for the day and I have gotten pretty quick at changing lenses for a shot. I use the HMC's for the Ceremony for solid shots on sticks, and a roaming 7D on my glidecam, slider and hand held. Works for us. I also have another shooter with me most of the time as well so between us both, we usually do a good job covering all the action. I have learned that the MOST important moment of a wedding (in the bride and grooms eyes) is the ceremony so that's why it's HMC all the way with splashes of 7D in there. It works for us.

Now, as far as the AF100, I am basically going to use that as my NEW creative cam and sell one of my 150's. If I could only have one cam at a wedding, by all means I would use a 150 all day. They are great and looks really, really good. All of the shots on our site and blog are either 150 or 7D. Check it out.

I must also say that we sell our packages as being a more creative approach to weddings, so the couples know right up front that the will not see every single hand shake or hug on their wedding video. Instead, they will see a beautifully colored story of their special day.

Hope that helps!

Bp.
 
It helps enormously, BP. Thanks for the input. Chances are I'll end up taking Barry's advice on the 150/GH2 combo. (Unless JJ get's his Scarlet out before I need to buy.)

Question for you. How does the 150 hold up at the reception? This is where I have the most trouble, in very low lighting situations.
 
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It helps enormously, BP. Thanks for the input. Chances are I'll end up taking Barry's advice on the 150/GH2 combo. (Unless JJ get's his Scarlet out before I need to buy.)

Question for you. How does the 150 hold up at the reception? This is where I have the most trouble, in very low lighting situations.
Hey Jim,

Yeah, the HMC holds up OK. I got max +6 gain and will drop to 24 shutter in 24p mode and it works pretty good. I use scene file 4 as well and that seems to lift some of the shadows. I never really went in and tweaked the settings in there but I am pleased with it, but for most reception stuff I use my 7D and a 50 1.8. I have been using my friends 50L 1.2, and that is amazing. WOW! I also use Nattress Film Effects to brighten my dark shots and it works 8 million times better then the 3way in FCP. The AF100 for me is basically going to replace the 7D. So, it's going to be a positive experience for me. I will get real audio back, and all that stuff. I have had my 7D overheat during an amzing Indian Ceremony and I was freaking out. Also, look at the opening shot in this Same Day Edit. I mean, I love rain and thunderstorms, but there was not a could in the sky and check the rainbow I got off of that textured background.

http://impressivecreations.com/blog/?p=513

Hope that help!!

Brian
 
Hey Jim,

Yeah, the HMC holds up OK. I got max +6 gain and will drop to 24 shutter in 24p mode and it works pretty good. I use scene file 4 as well and that seems to lift some of the shadows. I never really went in and tweaked the settings in there but I am pleased with it, but for most reception stuff I use my 7D and a 50 1.8. I have been using my friends 50L 1.2, and that is amazing. WOW! I also use Nattress Film Effects to brighten my dark shots and it works 8 million times better then the 3way in FCP. The AF100 for me is basically going to replace the 7D. So, it's going to be a positive experience for me. I will get real audio back, and all that stuff. I have had my 7D overheat during an amzing Indian Ceremony and I was freaking out. Also, look at the opening shot in this Same Day Edit. I mean, I love rain and thunderstorms, but there was not a could in the sky and check the rainbow I got off of that textured background.

http://impressivecreations.com/blog/?p=513

Hope that help!!

Brian

This is your work? Holy crap, it's awesome, and unreal for a SDE. Wow...



I think I'll be digging up every post you've made and then some.

- Mike
 
Simply buying a second HMC-150/HPX-170 would probably be cheaper and more effective than making a lens for this camera that is suitable for what you want it for.
 
The HMC150 is pretty good with low light, but that being said, whenever I do an event like a wedding reception I always use an on-camera light. It makes the difference between GETTING the shot and MAKING the shot. Light = good (God even saw the light, and said it was good).

I personally use and love the Comer 1800. Got it from LA Color Shop, and that's the only place that you can buy it stateside (I believe they're a sponsor here, so I don't thinkI'm breaking any rules). There are plenty of other testimonials and reviews on that light, so I won't lay it all out here. Just go buy it, it's certainly cheap enough.

Once you flick a light on a few times at a wedding reception, people ignore it. Just like a flash going off, it becomes part of the party background noise. In fact, I always end up having the photographer(s) following me around like moths because they LOVE having actual light to work with in setting up their shots. One photographer even bought one, and they use it every time they do a wedding now.
 
This is your work? Holy crap, it's awesome, and unreal for a SDE. Wow...



I think I'll be digging up every post you've made and then some.

- Mike

Wow....I'm very impressed....I have a whole new appreciation for wedding videography.. that looks GOOD!!

Nice work!

Z
 
This is your work? Holy crap, it's awesome, and unreal for a SDE. Wow...



I think I'll be digging up every post you've made and then some.

- Mike

Thanks Mike! Yeah, that's my labor of love. Thanks so much for your kind comments. Yeah, we love what we do over here. Ya know, its always a team effort over here but yeah. Rocking the weddings and having fun.

The great thing is, with our approach to the wedding, we get to be as creative as we want. It's great and it's a great way to make a living and the best part is our couples get the most amazing wedding films ever. They love them. It's like we turn these normal couples into movie stars. Gone are the days of the cheesy wedding video. I mean, heck, hopefully in a few months we will be rocking a few AF100's and putting out even more spectacular images. Can't wait!! Can't wait to shoot my first 1080 60p shot. Oh baby!!

Thanks again Mike and Alignment!
 
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This is your work? Holy crap, it's awesome

It really is, but I wonder how many of those shots were done with the 150? I have a devil of a time getting a soft focus background with my current 1/3" Panny. Especially in a small room with less light. Outside with lots of room for me to back up and zoom in, and lots of light for me to use the ND filter and open the iris, it's a little easier. But in close quarters with less light, I really need that larger sensor.

Do you see, Barry, why I want what I want from the AF100? Is it really so much to ask for a single camera to be able to do it all? The AF100 comes so freakin' close! All it really needs is that damn servo zoom.

(Or I should probably say...Do you see, Jan why I want what I want?)
 
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