Switching around my gear... need advice

Z

Zeakio

Well-known member
Hey guys,

I'm looking to re-arrange my camera kit. I currently have a HVX202, an AF102 and a Canon 550D. I do a variety of different shoots, including multi-camera shoots (to be edited in FCP, not going to a mixer). Ever since I've got my AF102, I've only been holding onto my HVX because of it's green screen capabilities, but I'm thinking of getting a Ninja... if I used my AF102 with green screen and the ninja, would I get similar results to what I get with my HVX? If so, I'm looking to sell my HVX kit and get a second AF102 so I can match up my footage a lot more and have lower light capabilities (in multi-cam shoots). I'm also looking at selling the Canon 550D and getting a GH2... and I'm also looking at selling a few other bits and pieces to try and cover the cost of a new AF102.

Does that sound like a decent solution (getting an AF102 and Ninja) and selling the HVX? Any input would be appreciated. Looking to get some advice before I make any big financial decisions.

Have a great day everyone!
 
Might not even need the Ninja if your lighting is good enough. AVCHD is lower bitrate than DVCPROHD but more efficient compression. But yeah you could expect similar or better with one- at least in terms of video signal quality.

Noah
 
I was looking at getting the ninja just to get the best possible image out of the AF... does anyone have experience with a ninja and think it's a good investment? Or is it a much of a muchness? Not really needed?
 
hmmm, thats odd. for some reason, I was unable to get audio on that vid.

But the images speak for themselves. The af100 does key beautifully, is it the higher res of the af100 that enables it to key as well as cameras with 4:2:2 (hvx)? I know lighting is key for any chroma work. So whats the difference I wonder. I get that 4;2;2 has more than double the info. i'm somewhat confused.
 
Well I guess I can most likely get rid of my HVX and not need to get a ninja? Just need to get a zoom lens (maybe the 14-45) so I can work in the small space we have in our studio... right now my widest lens is a 35 which isn't really usable for the stuff we do in there (a little tight). I used the 14-45 on a shoot in the city earlier this week and from what I have seen looks nice.
 
Until a moderately priced zoom lens with a servo becomes available I won't even think about selling my hmc 150.
 
Altho I use my AF100 more, I kept my HVX200 for it's capabilities. We did a four-camera shoot of an Old 97's concert a couple days ago, and it would have been harder to get three more AF100 Owner/Operators for it. Plus we needed the zoom capabilities that the AF100 doesn't have.
 
Don't forget that with an external recorder you're bypassing the AVCHD compression and recording to a much higher bitrate. But what will figure significantly will be the 10 bit encoding. It won't increase the quality of your original footage, but all subsequent processing will be done in a 10 bit space.

Dave Shapton
Atomos
 
But what are the real advantages of using the 10bit space? Colour correction? Is there any advantages using 10bit for keying?
I'm not too fussed not having a servo zoom lens for the projects I use my cameras for. If I can sell my HVX kit for a decent price, I'll definitely do it.
 
Simply that you get four additional levels for each existing level, per colour channel. That's 1024 levels per channel as opposed to 256. I can't quantify the subjective improvement but this is obviously going to give better results. Don't forget that ProRes is 4:2:2 as well.

Dave Shapton
Atomos
 
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