Shooting a Feature - Thinking AF100?

HVXOU

HVXOU

Well-known member
Hey eveyone,

It has been a long time since I have posted, however, I have returned to seek some advice from the great dvxuser community!

I am working on a feature length film at Ohio University and we are looking into renting a camera package. We would love to shoot RED, however, that is a little out of our price range.

Some things I have noticed:

-Only 8 bit and 4:2:0 to the card (4:2:2 to external)
-About 3 stops over the camera seems to clip its overexposure pretty hard.
-Nice DoF with the sensor size.

I was wondering if I could get some feedback on people's thoughts about using this camera for a full length film.

I have attached a link to our IndieGoGo campaign so people can read up on the project if that would help in giving some advice.

I hope to hear from people soon - production is within the next month!

Thanks as always!


IndieGoGo campaign - http://www.indiegogo.com/ThePassageway
Our Website - http://thepassagewayfilm.com
 
If RED is out of your price range and you need shallow DOF then your choices are the AF-100 or a DSLR. You could buy the AF-100 and an external recording device like a Nanoflash, shoot your project then sell them both.

The amount of money you lose will probably be less than the cost of a rental without the time rush.
 
Bassman2003 said:
If RED is out of your price range and you need shallow DOF then your choices are the AF-100 or a DSLR. You could buy the AF-100 and an external recording device like a Nanoflash, shoot your project then sell them both.

The amount of money you lose will probably be less than the cost of a rental without the time rush.
Click to expand...


Normally, I would agree - however, the camera would have to be purchased with grant money that does not allow us to sell it after the production.

Else you think the 100 holds up then?
 
Why do you have to own the camera to make your feature?

Keep in the mind...the AF100 is a camera body only. You will then have to buy lenses and all the rest of the kit as well, assumeably.. if thats the conditions of the grant.
 
After reading the IndieGogo page I don't see why you wouldn't just shoot with a DSLR, GH-2 or a hacked GH-1... 7D or even a 5D if you're just looking to control focal plane. They all perform similar enough in no to low light situations and none will be close to RED MX performance, anyway.

It's drama... there aren't any huge names attached, and you have no money to begin with. If you can't get a camera for free, the next best thing is dirt-cheap.

Unless you're shooting something that requires the BEST image fidelity (sci-fi, fantasy, etc) in post or there's a great great need for it... which there doesn't seem to be from the IndieGogo page... Then you're wasting time thinking about gear you probably can't really afford when you could just order a camera and move on to something that's really important.

Put the money that you do have in front of the camera, or to get the best locations and set decoration you can afford, or suffer the wrath of "this shot looks boring."

Advice from someone who's been there very recently, see signature.
 
Sorry, I also forgot to add this tidbit of information:

If you have the camera support to run two cameras, even IF it's JUST a flimsy tripod that you can setup another DSLR shooting video with an 85mm lens... and a DP who has a moderate understanding of how to shoot multicam for narrative (meaning not EVERY setup needs two cameras, but picking off coverage with the other camera that can be adjusted to match A camera is golden)...

You're going to make your entire process a whole lot easier.

I'm finally syncing sound from the feature, we ran about five to six deep on crew or less each day (which includes make-up and sound) and we used two cameras as much as possible. I never really got the chance to look at B-camera because I'd operate A-Camera and Direct... now that I can see the footage I feel that much more relieved that Geoff was shooting tighter material and just grabbing what he could

For this reason I would also just get two DSLRs, a good sound guy, and concentrate on what's in front of the camera in the case of drama, horror and comedy genres that aren't also rooted in a spectacular aspect that may need the best image possible to help tell the story in some capacity. See: VFX.
 
Dude, a film shot entirely on Canon 7d just won the grand jury prize at Sundance and was purchased by Paramount for 4 million $$$ making it the largest haul at this year's sundance so far. Just get a DSLR preferably 7d or GH2 and shoot the hell out of it.
 
I agree that money should be going to what is in front of the camera. Two thoughts - 1) We do have a few fully Choma Key scenes so the color sampling is important. 2) The guy that is planning to rent to us has some very competitive rates for the 100 rig. Full shooting rig with Ziess CP.2, mattebox, filter set, follow focus, etc. Also picking up an HMI in that pack.

More of a personal opinion at this point, but I don't love the look of the DSLR rigs. I think it looks a lot like several pictures put together and less of a constant movement. If I could afford the light loss, I'd love for this piece to be shot on 200 or a 170 Adapted.

I appreciate all the input - just trying to figure look v. cost.
 
W/ 5k I strongly recommend two Gh2s!
Then use the extra to rent an MX, and pile your most meaningful scenes tightly into that day or two (toward the end of the shoot when you are in the groove).
 
I would suggest renting a Red with an operator. If I had 5000 and needed to shoot a feature, I would do the same. It may be difficult to find an OP with that price -- I would work with the operator and see what additionally you can provide and pitch it to him/her the right and respectable way. I would also cut down on location and pages to make sure his/her time isn't wasted.

If you're shooting in maybe 2 - 3 months from now, an AF100 is not a bad idea so you can learn the ins and outs of the camera first before diving in.
 
Yeah 5K camera budget is most definitely a single camera owner/operator rental situation. And I'm guessing you're shooting this in 10 days or so? Otherwise you may be underbudgeted. Well I guess it just depends on what level of production you're aiming for and what you plan to do with it. If it's just for fun- go with a couple of 60D's and have fun.

Noah
 
As an owner of both the 5d and a lot of L glass and the AF100, I would go with a 60d and some lenses. The AF100 is great for documentary type shooting which is half of what my production company does and that's why we bought it. But this is interesting, we recently shot a two camera car commercial shoot for GMC and the editor almost always chose the 5d shots. They are just more rich. The AF100 has it's advantages mostly for me because of sound and no moire/aliasing. But the general image quality is more "cinematic" on DSLRs. And since you'll be shooting in a controlled environment those could be avoided and you could do double system sound.

Also with a limited budget you could get a 60d and a good set of lenses.
 
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