I have a client that wants a two camera HD shoot. I have a HMC150 (set at 1080p, 30fps) and there will be a second shooter with another camera. I'm not sure what the second camera will be because the second camera person hasn't been hired yet. The footage will be edited by me on FCP. My question is, will the footage shot on the HMC150 be compatible with other HD cameras? Is there anything I should be looking out for or be aware of? Are there certain HD cameras that will mix better than others? We are ruling out using a SLR as the second camera because I'm thinking that it might be like trying to mix apples and oranges. Any insight would be helpful? Thanks!
Two camera shoot HMC150 & ?
- Thread starter chasford
- Start date
Unless you are going to be using another 150 you will invaribly have to do a lot of work in post.
A while back I was using a Canon XHA1 as a second camera and there was quite a noticeable difference in sharpness. I prefer the softer look of the the 151(150) in 720 50p(60p).
Go rid of the Canon and started shooting 2nd camera shots with Lumix G2. Although it shoots at 720 50p there is again a noticeable difference in sharpness. Colour not so bad to change in post but sharpness is more difficult. ALso using TM700 in 1080 50p and in good light the TM700 outshines the 151. All in all mixing the images is difficult but not impossible.
A while back I was using a Canon XHA1 as a second camera and there was quite a noticeable difference in sharpness. I prefer the softer look of the the 151(150) in 720 50p(60p).
Go rid of the Canon and started shooting 2nd camera shots with Lumix G2. Although it shoots at 720 50p there is again a noticeable difference in sharpness. Colour not so bad to change in post but sharpness is more difficult. ALso using TM700 in 1080 50p and in good light the TM700 outshines the 151. All in all mixing the images is difficult but not impossible.
We do mostly live multi-camera shoots and it's become obvious over time that using the same camera in each pair or trio of cameras is by far the least problematic approach. We occasionally throw something odd into the mix (like a GoPro to get a super wide shot) but that's usually brought on because we (and by extension, the viewers) are getting bored with the same-old-same-old views.
We have tried to mix unmatched cameras and in most cases, it's been a real PITA either because of difference in color, light capability, and sharpness.
It's just so much easier to set up one camera in a group and then copy those settings to the rest of the cameras in that group.
We have tried to mix unmatched cameras and in most cases, it's been a real PITA either because of difference in color, light capability, and sharpness.
It's just so much easier to set up one camera in a group and then copy those settings to the rest of the cameras in that group.
I think it depends on what you're trying to shoot. Is this an event or a movie shoot?
As a rule of thumb, I've cut together HVX and HMC-150 footage and it's pretty hard to tell the difference between them. Canon and Sony cameras tend to shoot "colder" out of the box than Panny's warm mojo.
As a rule of thumb, I've cut together HVX and HMC-150 footage and it's pretty hard to tell the difference between them. Canon and Sony cameras tend to shoot "colder" out of the box than Panny's warm mojo.
8string
Well-known member
This might be too late for the original post, but I've just been doing post on a three camera shoot I did in December. Due to equipment limits, I did a good experiment on this. I'm sharing one of the yet unpublished videos for your review from the technical point. Here's the technical background. I shot in a rented theater in town. So lights were a set variable. Color balance was better than the Youtube output. In an ideal world, I too would choose three of the same camera, but I'm not that rich and live 60 miles from Seattle, so renting is out.
Camera LEFT which starts the video, is the HMC 150 on a tripod.
Camera CENTER is a JVC HM700U (twice the price as the 150).
Camera RIGHT is a handheld Canon 7D. The piano player at the beginning footage is on this one.
We used the somewhat shakier 7D just to get a more 'live' feel to it. I would likely use a different shoulder mount in the next shooting session. Maybe I'll buy a Halo rig!
Given that the JVC shoots in Sony XDCAM EX I decided to edit in FCP and transcode everything, even the JVC footage, to ProRes (standard). I did that because you can't do multiclip in FCP without it all being the identical video format (a stupid limitation).
Sound was done by a professional eng I hired, he ran it through some very expensive preamp gear, and eliminated all the hiss. I manually synced the audio in post even though I have pluraleyes. Still wondering when I'll use it as manually matching isn't that hard. If you don't like folk music, I can't help that but it can be fixed in post, as it's all attitude(G).
Real Life Field of Dreams, shot with three cameras. Left side view is HMC150
Camera LEFT which starts the video, is the HMC 150 on a tripod.
Camera CENTER is a JVC HM700U (twice the price as the 150).
Camera RIGHT is a handheld Canon 7D. The piano player at the beginning footage is on this one.
We used the somewhat shakier 7D just to get a more 'live' feel to it. I would likely use a different shoulder mount in the next shooting session. Maybe I'll buy a Halo rig!
Given that the JVC shoots in Sony XDCAM EX I decided to edit in FCP and transcode everything, even the JVC footage, to ProRes (standard). I did that because you can't do multiclip in FCP without it all being the identical video format (a stupid limitation).
Sound was done by a professional eng I hired, he ran it through some very expensive preamp gear, and eliminated all the hiss. I manually synced the audio in post even though I have pluraleyes. Still wondering when I'll use it as manually matching isn't that hard. If you don't like folk music, I can't help that but it can be fixed in post, as it's all attitude(G).
Real Life Field of Dreams, shot with three cameras. Left side view is HMC150
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MadHMC150
DVXuser Sponsor
Great job, yeah these cameras match up pretty nice... Wasn't crazy about the JVC and its funny its the most expensive one in the mix.. The guy's (left) shirt pattern gets a little distracting, wardrobe!
I love the 7D / HMC combo... I shoot the same way - 7D close up for eye candy and the HMC for your wide... makes any differences far less noticeable. Easiest way of course is to shoot all the same cameras - really saves me a LOT of time in post.
Let me know if you have any questions about the HaloRigs. We have a contact us page on http://halorig.com and our email is info{a}halorig.com
I love the 7D / HMC combo... I shoot the same way - 7D close up for eye candy and the HMC for your wide... makes any differences far less noticeable. Easiest way of course is to shoot all the same cameras - really saves me a LOT of time in post.
Let me know if you have any questions about the HaloRigs. We have a contact us page on http://halorig.com and our email is info{a}halorig.com