The "DVX Look"

[Brandon Rice]

I thought this might be a good discussion... While all of our films have their own distinct look, you can tell if it's shot on a DVX (generally). There's something about it that just lets us (not generally the consumer) know it's a DVX shot film. I've also noticed this with the HVX as well. I have just watched two trailers for two seperate films that were both brilliantly done. They were both shot with the HVX, and as I watched, I could totally tell, and some of the images even looked very similar... what are ya'll's thoughts on that?

Personally, when I have a film, I go for a very distinct look (see my last short A Price Too High compared to Smuggler's Ransom)

 

[zoostory]

To a certain degree, I think you are right. Just like in the film world Kodak Vision 2 and Fuji Eterna 500 have very different looks. Every element has its own unique properties that make it distinct.

In saying all that, I think that an average viewing audience with an untrained eye wont immediately sniff out a DVX or HVX, they'll just know it was "digital."

Then again, with the amount of stuff that can be done in post these days, the sky is the limit, except for lens optics.

 

[Brandon Rice]

In saying all that, I think that an average viewing audience with an untrained eye wont immediately sniff out a DVX or HVX, they'll just know it was "digital."

Ya think? Even myself, I can't always tell.

 

[William_Robinette]

I think it has to do with how many times we have all seen DVX footage. I see it all the time whether it be my own or someone else's.

 

[MojoTrancer]

Ya think? Even myself, I can't always tell.

Really? Some other cameras I think can fool me, but DVX shot stuff always gives itself away.

Both cameras, DVX and HVX, have a distinctive look. I think even with post work and 35mm adapters, you can still tell a lot of the time. They look great, but they have a signature that stands out.

But to be fair, the average moviegoer doesn't care. Just us picky filmmakers.

 

[Brandon Rice]

Really? Some other cameras I think can fool me, but DVX shot stuff always gives itself away.

Yeah... I can USUALLY see it with DVX stuff... though the better the stuff, the more difficult it is... I've actually been able to tell more with HD than SD (believe it or not) sometimes the footage just looks too crisp almost...

 

[Cynic821]

I think the crappier the 35mm lens is on an adapter, the further away the footage looks digital. I shot some stuff with a tamron zoom lens, that my friend found and it looks a little bit more like film then the nikons we have at the moment.

 

[MojoTrancer]

Yeah thats the drawback to HD. The crispness. I remember being somewhat disturbed watching the closeup of Kevin Spacey in Superman Returns. You could see every pore in the mans face. Kinda weird.

Or maybe we're just to conditioned to the look of film. A generation from now, people who've only known digital probably won't care.