Small Question

sharry

Well-known member
Which camera would be better for broadcast and theatrical distribution in terms of image quality hold up? A DSLR (specifically a 5D Mk2 or a 7D) or a PMW EX1?

How does both of their images hold up on a big screen?
 
They're right, sharry, but what they're not telling you is that most broadcast outlets won't accept work shot at less than 50mbs, and the compression for all the cameras you listed is less than that, as I recall. You can hook a Nanoflash or other external capture device up to an EX1, using the SDI port, and record at much higher bit rates than that -- or even in an interframe compression, if you like, to reduce the chances of motion artifacts from the EX1s long-GOP codec. Same goes for theatrical release, especially if you're color grading, which you will be. The external device allows the EX3 to record in a 4:2:2 color space instead of the 4:2:0 that's native to the SxS cards and 35mbs bit rate. Just wanted to let you know the reasons.
 
Which camera would be better for broadcast and theatrical distribution in terms of image quality hold up? A DSLR (specifically a 5D Mk2 or a 7D) or a PMW EX1? How does both of their images hold up on a big screen?

I have the EX1, a T2i (and had a 7D before).

The 5D and 7D use 1080p files, but are not truly 1080p resolution. They used a combination of line skipping and pixel binning (among other things) to reduce a huge number of pixels down to the video sized images. This results in moire, aliasing in certain situations, with false details and lower resolution in all images. The DSLRs do not output a true HD signal to the HDMI port.

The EX1 has three full resolution sensors, one for each color channel. It produces true full raster images. It also has true video camera features such as ND filters, HD-SDI port for video monitoring and recorders, etc. The EX1 outputs an uncompressed HD video signal to its port for a recorder.

The 5D and 7D have larger sensors and can be stealth cameras. The EX1 wins in every other category. With a Nanoflash the EX1 records about 50% more image data and twice as much color data as the DSLRs.

The DSLRs can look okay if shooting nature, close ups of people and night time shots. They don't do well with repetitive patterns in the image. This can be clothing, bricks, screens, grids, tiles, etc.

The EX1 has been used in a wide variety of feature films. For example 90% of the Michael Jackson movie 'This is It' was shot on an EX1. The DSLRs have been in a few things but as in Black Swan you can tell immediately. There was a TV show too that I can't remember the name of off hand.

EX1 and EX3 shows:

Battle: Los Angeles (2010) - Sony EX3 - cemetery scene and downtown LA backgrounds. 6.0 stars
Public Enemies (2009) - Sony CineAlta F23, with EX1 for the car interiors. 7.1 stars
This is It (2009) – 90% Sony EX1 with Red One scenes added later. 7.3 stars
District 9 (2009) – Red One with EX1 in the hand held scenes. 8.3 stars
Crank High Voltage (2009) - Canon XH-A1 and HF10; Sony EX1 (in monster scenes) 6.3 stars
Monsters (2010) Sony PMW-EX3 with Letus Ultimate 6.6 stars
Kinks (2011) a mockumentary style feature film using the EX1R.
Kerberos (2010) EX1
Maelstrom (2008) EX1
Bomber (2009) EX1
S.N.U.B. (2010) EX1 movie produced in the UK
Megaconda (2009) EX1 with Letus Extreme
Dire Wolf (2008) EX1 with Letus Extreme as B camera

La Bohème (Short) EX3 by Werner Herzog for the English National Opera.
2008 Olympic coverage included four PMW-EX1s.

Dexter (TV) - Camera: Sony F23 and EX1 Camcorder (Season 3 onward)
Animal Planet (TV) (2008) Faithful Friends episode, three EX3s.
MTV's "The Real World" (TV) (2009) EX1 in some shots.
PBS Frontline (TV) (2009) Opening shots with PMW-EX1 and Letus Ultimate
Russian Hour (TV) 17-part documentary series, EX1 (2008)
Parallel World (TV) UK travel documentary series, EX1
Dirt Trax (TV) US and Canada, EX1 (2009)
SnowTrax (TV) US and Canada, EX1 (2009)
Leverage (TV) Entire TNT series used the Red One and EX1.
Road Wars (TV) UK EX1
Antarctica: The White Desert (TV) UK documentary shot on EX1 (2009)
MTV's "The World according to Jenks" (TV) EX3 in some shots.
GameTrailersTV (TV) uses the EX1 (2010)
 
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