Stock Footage on the AF100

N

naveenmedia

Active member
Super basic question: I realize this camera is a great tool for filmmakers. If you're shooting narrative features or shorts it is an awesome tool. But would experienced users of this camera suggest it for shooting more generic stock footage? Or is a Sony EX3 or one of the other Panny models a better choice.

Thanks!
 
Yes, you could produce some stunning stock footage with this camera, just like any other highly capable camera. The aesthetic look for your creations is entirely up to you. Whether people want to buy what you create is down to your own ideas. This camera should not hold you back.
 
naveenmedia said:
What I think is that I don't need a smart-ass response.

Does anyone have a more helpful reply? Thanks in advance to those that do!
Click to expand...

Well, his response was correct given the question asked. This camera will capture nice images, if you are capable of creating them. If you set up this camera to film a scene with horrid lighting, ugly actors, and noisy audio, you will get exactly that. If you take the time to set it up right, what the camera captures will look good.

"Generic" is not a genre, style, or legitimate description of necessity. Do you need shallow DOF? Do you own lots of lenses? Do you have the budget to purchase lenses? Do you need a camera that has a servo zoom? What about lights?

The camera is perfectly capable in creating images similar in technical quality to an EX3, HPX170, etc. It will simply have its own stylistic quality, which may or may not satisfy your needs.
 
Well, as long as we're going for clarity here, are you asking about selling stock footage? Like to istockphoto, revostock and artbeats? Is that what you mean by "shooting more generic stock footage"?
If so, I'm sure you could, why not?
 
groveChuck said:
Well, as long as we're going for clarity here, are you asking about selling stock footage? Like to istockphoto, revostock and artbeats? Is that what you mean by "shooting more generic stock footage"?
If so, I'm sure you could, why not?
Click to expand...

Well that's always a possibility. But I'm looking at this more for client work. We have a variety of clients from different locales across the U.S., and we often re-purpose footage we own since we're often dealing with limited budges. I apologize for my initial post, which was far was too vague, so let me be more specific.

Primarily, I'm concerned with outdoor shooting, wide, city shots, suburban locations, sometimes other locales (such as a beach). So I'll want to be stopped down enough to have as much of the image in focus as possible (without diffraction). Second, since I'm shooting outdoors, often in sunlight, I'll have the issue of dynamic range to deal with. If the compression with the H264 codec on the AF-100 is too great, and I expose for the sun, I'm liable to lose all the detail in the shadows.

Indoors, we're probably looking at office shots, people moving, etc. I'm not as concerned about this because we'll have more control over the lighting.

Finally, we're not really looking for a "film look". I'd like to capture the footage as naturally as possible, and deal with any "looks" in post (and the film look is a bit too much for the type of work we do).

Anyway, I hope those questions are specific enough to be answered. Thanks in advance for any additional help!
 
I do stock footage for Getty, I have no qualms about using this camera for that purpose. I will however always be using the NanoFlash for them.

I have shot footage on many cameras for them EXcams even some 5DmkII (though they initially did not want that camera, until they saw the footage as Prores422).

As for my own library, we do a lot of tourism promo for the State of NH and this is the perfect camera for that in my opinion. I am going out this afternoon to shoot some snow scenes with the AF for stock, with the NF attached.
 
naveen- I think your questions are more shooting questions than gear questions, and it seems to me you've got them fairly well answered already.

Stopping down (and wider lenses, since you're shooting WS) for deeper focus. Use the ND wheel to tune your DoF to how you prefer.

Exteriors- obviously try to avoid shooting 10am-2pm as much as feasible, try to avoid harsh shadows, and Golden Hour... well, it's golden!

Avoiding the film look- I'm not sure if you're saying you might want to shoot 30p or interlaced? Or 24p with more neutral scene file settings?

olof- will you be giving Getty Prores from the AF100 also?
 
groveChuck said:
olof- will you be giving Getty Prores from the AF100 also?
Click to expand...

Getty wants all footage these days as ProRes422, they will accept other formats, but this is the preferred standard. 24P is also a good idea (very universal), though I have sent 60i and 30p as well. Once you start with them you will have a contact person there who screens your footage low res small files. Then they specify the shots they want. At least that is how I work with them. They have many different categories. One of the most important things to Getty is getting releases for everything, this is a pain. Even buildings cars etc, need property releases. And you have to use their multi page forms and include stills identifying every one and everything. It is not all that easy, there is more paper work than shooting it seems, but it is worth it.
 
Thanks for this info, groveChuck . Any more tips re shooting outside, in VERY bright daylight? I wonder if the AF100 has some settings that would be ideal for that. (other than the ND.)
 
Bright daylight's easy, just use the ND to rein in the brightness. Consider using DRS 1 if you are having trouble holding the skies in range... also consider cine-D since it has the most latitude.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top