Why the HMC150 and not the Canon 5D

[shaun1970]

HMC150 for $1000? Let me know where... I'd get another one (already have one 151).

There's much more EX1 can offer (when compared to HMC). Way greater resolving power, 14x zoom lens, 1/2'' sensors, greater dynamic range, PCM audio, much lower noise, better workflow (easy native editing), HDSDI. Sure it has its drawbacks too... Rolling shutter, bad ergonomics.

EX1 is over 10k here buddy,,, the HMC is 5k,,,, and I was just just using this as an example,,, not a debate between the two.

If you buy a camera with CMOS, it should be substanially cheaper.
The 5d and the HMC are similar in price, well here in OZ anyway. If you were a videographer you'd have rocks in ya head to buy the 5d when the same money will get you a dedicated video camera with superior video recording technology.

The problem here goes right back to the first person who did comparisons between the DSLRS and the video cameras. It should never occur, people still try and compare the two. They both live in different worlds, they both serve totally different purposes.

 

[ROCKMORE]

Quality is a broad statement... I still prefer a CCD camera over a CMOS any day of the week.

What do you like about the quality in a CCD over CMOS?
I've been researching and read some of the differences with speed and power consumption, and manufacturing, but not a lot of comments on the visual differences they output.
I know everything I've shot in the past with CCD cameras was pretty smooth and until CMOS arrived I never really gave it much thought.
What I've experienced in hands on tests with CMOS chip cameras seem sharper, but at the same time, more difficult to manage "choppy" behavior when something is moving across the frame quickly or a quick pan. I did manage to keep the shutter speeds under 60th sec. but if it goes up can become unusable.
I'm interested in your take on all this. Here's an interesting link I came across from Dalsa.

http://www.dalsa.com/corp/markets/CCD_vs_CMOS.aspx

 

[ROCKMORE]

Judicious use of a mirror tends to help low-angle problems in most any situation.

Starting out with a 4x5 view camera and learning to see the world upside down and backwards until it seemed normal, worked then. I think it's worth learning again in this case.
Good suggestion.

 

[trez]

EX1 is over 10k here buddy,,, the HMC is 5k,,,, and I was just just using this as an example,,, not a debate between the two.

Didn't notice you're from OZ. Thought you meant USD.

 

[accelv]

Hey Shaun,
I just looked at some of your videos on exposure room, really great stuff! Are you shooting with the stock camera lens or any add-ons? Are you using magic bullet in post. Very nice work, I find the colors a bit too saturated, but that's just my own taste. You are getting great results on the HMC. I am testing one out at a dealer tomorrow. I have also been looking at the GH1 because I travel and need both a still and a video camera, and I hate lugging both with me. I have seen great stuff on the GH1 as well...

Nice stuff, but the flesh tones look orange, and I've seen that color in other 150 footage of Caucasians. Also, the slomo of the bride with her father looks chunky, not smooth. Wuddup wit det?

 

[shaun1970]

Nice stuff, but the flesh tones look orange, and I've seen that color in other 150 footage of Caucasians. Also, the slomo of the bride with her father looks chunky, not smooth. Wuddup wit det?

I was using a pretty warm scenefile setup with B press gamma and -45 mastr ped.
That slo mo you refer to is 1080/25p and not 50p. I didn't use 50p for the whole thing.

 

[Denwa]

On this micro-budget film we're shooting, some of it has been on a 7D. The audio is horrible. You definitely need an external recorder with it. (Zoom comes to mind).

Even with an XLR to 1/8" adapter it still handles only one track, the auto gian boosts hiss and any background noise when no one is speaking. There is no way to monitor audio. Even when using a location mixer the recorded audio is not monitorable.

The camera doesn't use the all the pixels for video. They do not handle motion all that well. The processors are not really meant for video. (Thus overheating etc).

DoF is shallow but really it can be too shallow for a lot of event video. You can't have the background fuzzy ALL the time. Also zoom is awkward for run and gun.

I can't shoot the whole film and the director is using his 7D when I am not available and for select shallow DoF shots. This is micro-budget cinema and he's realized he should have obtained an external recorder for use with the 7D. He actually wishes he had my camera but the 7D was cheaper to purchase at the time.

Stills from the 7D and 5D are fantastic and I wish I could afford one just for those. If I had one I would be using it for a second cam for those shots where very shallow DoF is desirable for artistic reasons.

I personally think shallow DoF is being overused. I recently saw a movie lately (escapes me the name) where the background is blurry on every shot. Very disconcerting. It felt very fake. Almost like the whole thing was a dream sequence, which I do not believe was the intent. If I remember correctly it was shot on a RED, likely on the long end of the lens(es).

I think too many new filmmakers feel that it's all about a shallow DoF. It is not. It is about using the appropriate framing, lighting, lens and focus for a particular scene. It is not be a cookie cutter method of filmmaking that will automatically make the film a success. In other words. A tool is just a tool.

BTW I also find a lot of filmmakers need to read up on how a wide lens vs long lens effects the image regarding perspective and DoF. The pretty actresses nose should not seem to be as long as her arm. LOL. (Unless that is the INTENT.) Also if you understand Lens selection and DoF you CAN get some shallowness to a shot with a smaller chip camera. (I'm sure Barry has posted an articulate article somewhere on here about that).

Personally I would rather have a 2/3" Shoulder mount HD cam (roughly the same DoF as a 16mm film camera). I find that to be a good balance between the need for deep DoF and the ability to do shallow DoF shots. But that's just me.