Varicam question

J

joshtownsend

Well-known member
Wasn't sure where to put this.

I wanna do slo-mo stuff for the fight scene in my script so I'm thinking about renting a varicam. I'll be damned if I'm not gonna shoot anything for 6 months until the HDX comes out. When I was checking out spec's and stuff I came across this deck that cost 20 grand.

http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webap...mId=68682&modelNo=AJ-FRC27&surfModel=AJ-FRC27

From reading it, I'm under the immpression that you need this to watch variable framerate footage. What's the deal?
 
Kind of. Sort of. Now, you can do it in FCP and you don't need that box anymore.
The FRC is basically a really expensive NLE that only converts 60p to other framerates.
Some ad agencies request them on location to view slo-mo slots on set but it's big $$.
The way to do it now is to record into FinalCutPro and use the software "FRC" instead....

Hope this helps.
 
Thanks buddy. I guess playback on set isn't really needed anyway.

It's either rent a vari or shoot slomo on my 16mm Bolex and try to match it to the DVX. Maybe I can rewrite it so that one whole sequence in the fight is slo-mo DePalma-style. Then matching the 16mm and DVX isn't such an issue (Sorry I was thinking out loud there)
 
I don't have the answers for you. I love film and overcranking it. Dunno where you'd get a Varicam rental and here are some other things to keep in mind about that workflow:

Varicam doesn't have firewire.. You need the AJ-HD1200A VTR with Firewire out to get the tapes into your computer. That deck is another $600/Day rental. Ouch!!

Usually a camera and lens package in the most basic form would be about $900 a day or the Cinema package with all the bells and whistles and stuff that makes you look cool is about $1200/Day. Add in the price of a deck for digitizing tapes and you're into some serious cash.
You'd also need insurance. That coverage would cost, at the very least, a minimum of several hundred dollars if not more. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is a Varicam rental is furiously expensive if you're just trying to be "one-up" so to speak on your slo-mo stuff... It's bad to the bone for sure, but it's an awful lot of money.

Surely, you've slowed down DVX footage before. That works pretty well actually if shooting in 60i instead of 24p. I'll say this for anyone who hadn't already thought of it, in 60i, what you're essentially doing is recording 60Fps at half resolution. So, you can "overcrank" a DVX camera to 60Fps in a manner of words. It's probably worth a shot and experimenting with first. While of course a Varicam at true 60p HD recording would look better, I don't think it's worth the money for a one day rental... Plus, insurance just kills you.....

If you can do it on film, then power to ya.
I love film.. even though it overwhelms the bejeebers out of me.

Good luck, Josh!
 
I was introduced to DP from south Florida who owns a vari and said he'd rent himself and the camera out for $400 a day on the weekends plus food, room and board. I saw a short he shot and it looks amazing. I didn't think about having to rent a deck though. Good call Wells. I wouldn't rent a vari and DP it myself anyway. I'd want an experienced shooter + camera if I went with the vari.

Also, a few directors I've met recently said they knew shooters (again in South Florida) who rented out even cheaper if they like the project. Having a flick that's making the rounds at the fests (and shutting 'em down if you read my news page) puts me in a better position to get 'help' from people. I know 2 DP's (one in Atlanta and one here in Jville) who offered to help for free if I shot the whole thing with film!!!! If I shot with the dvx, they'd charge $400+ a day just to DP (no equiptment). I guess not many people shoot with film these days and DP's will work for free just to have have something shot on film in their demo reel.

I know what you mean about film. I love it and wanna work with it more so bad, but I'd be scared as hell to shoot a real project with film all by myself. I don't hardly have enough experience to do film the justice it deserves. It overwhelms me also. If I did the slomo parts in 16mm I'd get one of my buddies who shoots film to help.
 
Your right. If the varicam guy doesn't have access to a deck for free or cheap I might as well shoot film. After looking over all this, I'm completely amazed that people ***** about the price of p2 cards for the HVX. The money it cost to rent or buy a HD deck, makes the P2 cards seem...well....cheap.
 
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