T
timindecisive
Guest
if you were filming a low budget film, what camera would you use? DVcam? Thanks
Have a look around the forum, you'll find a lot about dv cams (dv, dvcam and dvcpro), comparing their cost and quality.
But... If you tell us a little bit more about your project, may be someone might help you much better. What kind of film is it ? What do you plan to issue it ? (only video or film ?) Do you wish to sell it or show it theatrical or just have a tape or dvd ? What dio you call a "low budget" ? Can you just rent or d'you want to buy one ?...
But... If you tell us a little bit more about your project, may be someone might help you much better. What kind of film is it ? What do you plan to issue it ? (only video or film ?) Do you wish to sell it or show it theatrical or just have a tape or dvd ? What dio you call a "low budget" ? Can you just rent or d'you want to buy one ?...
David Mullen ASC
Active member
Yes, we need more info to answer that question. Usually you have the practical and the artistic issues to consider. "Practical" would be things like budget, delivery format(s), shooting logistics -- and "artistic" would basically come down to what do you want it to look like? What does the story require visually?
T
timindecisive
Guest
I feel visually the film needs color, and good quality in low light conditions.
D
Digigenic
Guest
A camera with 3 CCD's facilitates accurate color reception, and low lux ratings, i.e. "1 lux" represents better low light performance, with the exception of consumer models, which skew lux ratings with the inclusion of automatic gain.
There are only a few consumer/low end prosumer models that employ 3 CCD's anyway, and they're all made by Panasonic. If you were to consider one of these models, the recently announced GS400 is a pretty nice consumer/low end prosumer model priced less than 1500.
Whereas, the rest of the cameras I mention below are all fierce competitors in the prosumer market, priced between 2500 and 5000.
Of course, there are other factors to take into consideration that set these cameras apart from one another, like frame rate adjustability, cine/gamma/matrix settings, optical performance, sound quality, type of media, etc. But, I just listed the main cameras that have good color reception and low light performance...
One of the better prosumer 3 chip models offering clean and accurate color reception is Panasonic's AG-DVX100a, employing a new prism that they claim facilitates a higher quality of color to each sensor. I believe the DVX100a's lux rating is at 4.
Canon's XL1/XL2 and GL2 also have 3 sensors, using a professional L Series fluorite lens, facilitating a higher degree of color accuracy. The XL1 has a 2 lux rating, the XL2 has a 5 lux rating, and the GL2 has a 4 lux rating.
Sony's PD170 also has 3 sensors, but beats all of the models listed above in terms of low light performance with a 1 lux rating.
The VX2100 is also a 3 CCD camcorder rated at 1 lux.
There are only a few consumer/low end prosumer models that employ 3 CCD's anyway, and they're all made by Panasonic. If you were to consider one of these models, the recently announced GS400 is a pretty nice consumer/low end prosumer model priced less than 1500.
Whereas, the rest of the cameras I mention below are all fierce competitors in the prosumer market, priced between 2500 and 5000.
Of course, there are other factors to take into consideration that set these cameras apart from one another, like frame rate adjustability, cine/gamma/matrix settings, optical performance, sound quality, type of media, etc. But, I just listed the main cameras that have good color reception and low light performance...
One of the better prosumer 3 chip models offering clean and accurate color reception is Panasonic's AG-DVX100a, employing a new prism that they claim facilitates a higher quality of color to each sensor. I believe the DVX100a's lux rating is at 4.
Canon's XL1/XL2 and GL2 also have 3 sensors, using a professional L Series fluorite lens, facilitating a higher degree of color accuracy. The XL1 has a 2 lux rating, the XL2 has a 5 lux rating, and the GL2 has a 4 lux rating.
Sony's PD170 also has 3 sensors, but beats all of the models listed above in terms of low light performance with a 1 lux rating.
The VX2100 is also a 3 CCD camcorder rated at 1 lux.
David Mullen ASC
Active member
Is there some reason why you can't be more specific?
How about your budget? "Low budget" feature means anything from almost no money to a million dollars so the answer to your question will be totally different depending on your budget. Is it a feature that can be shot in a single period of time or does it have to be spread off-and-on over a long period of time? Do you intend to sell it internationally for broadcast, cable, home video markets? Is it a film festival type of movie?
And finally, the look of a movie goes WAY beyond deciding you want good color and to be able to shoot in low-light. Is this a landscape movie? A film noir? Do wide shots play an important role or is most of the film played close? Do you have interesting locations to capture? Do you want pastel colors or saturated colors? Do you mind the look of interlaced-scan video or do you want more of a film look?
If you said something like "I'm making a romantic comedy for $50,000 and plan on shooting it in 18-days" that might help in narrowing down the choices, compared to "I'm shooting a documentary over a period of one year, travelling to various countries by myself", etc.
I mean, it makes a big difference if you have $500 to spend versus $50,000 and whether you can shoot in one short period (i.e. maybe renting is a better idea) or have to shoot it off and on with no fixed schedule (owning might be better). And also if you need to use this camera for multiple purposes or simply for this one feature.
How about your budget? "Low budget" feature means anything from almost no money to a million dollars so the answer to your question will be totally different depending on your budget. Is it a feature that can be shot in a single period of time or does it have to be spread off-and-on over a long period of time? Do you intend to sell it internationally for broadcast, cable, home video markets? Is it a film festival type of movie?
And finally, the look of a movie goes WAY beyond deciding you want good color and to be able to shoot in low-light. Is this a landscape movie? A film noir? Do wide shots play an important role or is most of the film played close? Do you have interesting locations to capture? Do you want pastel colors or saturated colors? Do you mind the look of interlaced-scan video or do you want more of a film look?
If you said something like "I'm making a romantic comedy for $50,000 and plan on shooting it in 18-days" that might help in narrowing down the choices, compared to "I'm shooting a documentary over a period of one year, travelling to various countries by myself", etc.
I mean, it makes a big difference if you have $500 to spend versus $50,000 and whether you can shoot in one short period (i.e. maybe renting is a better idea) or have to shoot it off and on with no fixed schedule (owning might be better). And also if you need to use this camera for multiple purposes or simply for this one feature.
D
Digigenic
Guest
IT'S TIME TO BE MORE DECISIVE MR. Tim"INDECISIVE"... :lol:
T
timindecisive
Guest
I would like to purchase the camera. When I say low budget I mean up to $2,ooo.
It will not be a theatrical release, but will be shown on television.
I would like it to have more of a film look.
I hope this helps out a little more,
THANKS
It will not be a theatrical release, but will be shown on television.
I would like it to have more of a film look.
I hope this helps out a little more,
THANKS
David Mullen ASC
Active member
I'd save your money and get a Panasonic DVX100A, which is more than $2000. For a DV camera, it has more of a "film look" possible than the others (except maybe the new Canon XL2.)
D
DerekEastham
Guest
I would also suggest using a DVX100A...
however, there may be a way to avoid purchasing the camera.
If you can possibly shoot your film in just a few days... you could always rent the DVX.
I'm not sure about rates around the country... but in Seattle, a complete DVX package (camera, Tripod, Batteries) costs only $200/day...
that may be 10% of your 2k budget... however, if you can shoot it in only a few days... perhaps you'll still have money left over to spend on tape stock and other necessary expenditures.
Good luck!
however, there may be a way to avoid purchasing the camera.
If you can possibly shoot your film in just a few days... you could always rent the DVX.
I'm not sure about rates around the country... but in Seattle, a complete DVX package (camera, Tripod, Batteries) costs only $200/day...
that may be 10% of your 2k budget... however, if you can shoot it in only a few days... perhaps you'll still have money left over to spend on tape stock and other necessary expenditures.
Good luck!
deathxcold
New member
timindecisive said:
I don't know if this would help, but if I had only 2000 bucks for a film project, I'd get myself a 16mm bolex (you can get them pretty cheap on ebay) and make shorts, no longer than 3 minutes.
But then again, it depends on what kind of film you want to make. I know of some remarkable films made for little to no money (Svankmajer, the early Quay Brothers' stop-motion animations, Deren's films all come to mind)
A
ajboyer
Guest
Tim,
We shot a film last year using a Canon GL-2; we used a BLACK DIFFUSION FILTER screwed onto the lense cap and also added a POLARIZING FILTER onto that.
These could be obtained at a photography-videography store wherever you purchase your camera. The diffusion filter softens the harsh edges you otherwise get on video; we then ran the footage through After Effects and added color contrast and some plug-ins in Final Cut for grain effects. If you can grab a copy of Sony's Vegas editing software at Best Buy for $100, you can do the same.
Your lighting is important. Try and obtain some work lights from Home Depot/Loews; 1500-watts for $75, 750-w for $40, etc. What kills most first-time DVD shooters is they shoot in low-light and then get grainy results when their gain boosts on them. They then blame their camera for not being effective in low light.
Try to light your scene carefully, maybe use even just some work flashlights and bounce them off white towels from your bathroom, then adjust your aperture on your camera to get the desire look. Shine the lights through some dark blue seran-wrap or some other filter that would render the light as if it were moonlight. Be creative; "paint" your scene. The more light you have, the more you can take away. The less light you have, well- there's nothing to add should you need it!
All in all, the Panasonic DVX100 is a nice camera for 24p shooting. If it's out of your budget, ask the store about diffusion filters to add to a cheaper camera and do some post-work in your editing program if possible; and also aim your lights for contrast. Look around on the forums for more info on contrasty-lighting- it'll give the cinematic look you want.
We shot a film last year using a Canon GL-2; we used a BLACK DIFFUSION FILTER screwed onto the lense cap and also added a POLARIZING FILTER onto that.
These could be obtained at a photography-videography store wherever you purchase your camera. The diffusion filter softens the harsh edges you otherwise get on video; we then ran the footage through After Effects and added color contrast and some plug-ins in Final Cut for grain effects. If you can grab a copy of Sony's Vegas editing software at Best Buy for $100, you can do the same.
Your lighting is important. Try and obtain some work lights from Home Depot/Loews; 1500-watts for $75, 750-w for $40, etc. What kills most first-time DVD shooters is they shoot in low-light and then get grainy results when their gain boosts on them. They then blame their camera for not being effective in low light.
Try to light your scene carefully, maybe use even just some work flashlights and bounce them off white towels from your bathroom, then adjust your aperture on your camera to get the desire look. Shine the lights through some dark blue seran-wrap or some other filter that would render the light as if it were moonlight. Be creative; "paint" your scene. The more light you have, the more you can take away. The less light you have, well- there's nothing to add should you need it!
All in all, the Panasonic DVX100 is a nice camera for 24p shooting. If it's out of your budget, ask the store about diffusion filters to add to a cheaper camera and do some post-work in your editing program if possible; and also aim your lights for contrast. Look around on the forums for more info on contrasty-lighting- it'll give the cinematic look you want.
A
Agenda Productions
Guest
Being a student with a very small budget as well, I had to shoot with both of those cams recently. The DVX100A & XL2, my advice, you are not going to be able to purchase a decent camera for 2,000. What we did is hire the XL2, hired an adapter (i think it was the ELS adapter, but not sure) and hired some extra lenses to give it your more 'filmic look' I think hiring some different lenses was out best bet as it was the only thing separating our work to your standard MiniDV look.
At that budget, I would suggest saving your money for a higher end camera as well (DVX100A & XL2). Otherwise, look into renting cameras.
If you had to buy a camera, I would suggest the AG-DVC30. This camera is basically the 'little brother' of the DVX100a, and shares a lot of the same image control settings. Also, with the money you have left over (should be around $500), you can purchase a good fluid head tripod, and some high quality filters/lenses.
If you had to buy a camera, I would suggest the AG-DVC30. This camera is basically the 'little brother' of the DVX100a, and shares a lot of the same image control settings. Also, with the money you have left over (should be around $500), you can purchase a good fluid head tripod, and some high quality filters/lenses.
Similar threads
Network Sponsors
