I just found out that this is the camera I will be shooting my film with in the spring. Anyone know anything about it?
I've used it. What would you like to know about it?
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
I have access to this camera to shoot my film in the spring as part of a favor from a friend. I would like to shoot with at least 2 cameras, so should I consider buying one for myself (Amazon has them new for 3,800, used for 2,600), or renting one? Will it give my film a professional look, or is it just a glorified home movie camcorder? Also, while I plan to direct my film, I have no camera experience, so I plan to use cameramen? I'm sure they'll know what to do, but is the camera something a newbie like myself can eventually learn by continued use, or do you practically need to take a course to learn how to use it?
It's a fine camera. In the right hands it can give a very professional look.
In less experienced hands it will look amateur. Just like any camera. It's
the skill, experience and talent of the people using it more than the
camera itself.
Since you have no camera experience I assume you have little or no lighting
experience. Simply setting up a camera and pressing "record" isn't going
to give you a fully professional product - even if you were using a top of
the line Panavision. So bringing on someone who is a dedicated DP and a
gaffer (lighting person) will go a long way to giving you a more professional
look. The XH-A1, like just about any camera, is just fine for a newbie. Don't
expect to be shooting excellent footage immediately and you'll be fine.
The "course" you will have to take is to use the camera on a regular basis.
You will learn more if you shoot a little every day than if you take it out
twice a year.
I'm a great believer in a director owning a camera and learning to use it.
But as a director I always use a DP to shoot my projects. As you move
along on your path, you will figure out what's the best way for you. In the
meantime, use that camera as much as you can.
=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
Yes, while I plan to use a skeleton crew, a DP and a gaffer are at least 2 members of that crew. I have no intention of trying to film this myself. I definitely want a professional look, so I'll just have to find a gaffer, and a DP who's familiar with that camera.
Hmm... I would personally suggest trying to get some experience with the camera yourself. I realize that it might be difficult to get time with the camera, but if you can manage to squeeze in a couple hours to borrow the camera and experiment I maintain that you'll be significantly better off in the long run. I personally like to be involved in all facets of production (and, well, considering my only experience is in indie film that's kind of the nature of it 😉 ) and knowing what to expect out of a camera is invaluable.
Plus it's just fun to fool around with a new camera. 🙂
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http://vimeo.com/corax
Do you guys know of a camera with similar capabilities for a much lesser price? I really want a professional feel. I've heard from a number of people who all say this is a great camera, especially to make an Indie film with. So I have enough to buy one for myself, but if I can find one for a lot less, perhaps I could get two.
Also, I see that the price is significantly lower for a used one on amazon. Would youguys recommend me perhaps buying two used cameras, as opposed to one new one?
I see no reason at all to buy two cameras.
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
quote:
Originally posted by certified instigator
I see no reason at all to buy two cameras.
I just figured it would be best to own 2 cameras since it's always better to shoot with more than one camera. This way, I wouldn't have to borrow or rent a second camera. No?
quote:
Originally posted by Bababooey
quote:
Originally posted by certified instigator
I see no reason at all to buy two cameras.I just figured it would be best to own 2 cameras since it's always better to shoot with more than one camera. This way, I wouldn't have to borrow or rent a second camera. No?
Please, more experienced members, correct me if I'm wrong here, but I'm certain it's absolutely not always best to shoot with multiple cameras. For that super intense one in a million fx shot that you spent a hundred grand on and only get one take, of course you'll want to use multiple cameras. Maybe if you're strapped for time and have some dialog scenes to do, then I suppose two cameras could be beneficial (I'm thinking of the one dialog scene on Mount Doom between Frodo and Sam). Most of the time though it will simply be more cumbersome and and to your deficit.
Two cameras = more potential for problems. Two cameras means double the man power, double the batteries, double the preparation time for shots, double the previsioning of shots, double the aesthetic inconsistencies, double the chance for gear in the shot, etc. Obviously I'm simplifying things a bit in that last statement, but the point is clear: the more cameras, the more complicated things get.
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http://vimeo.com/corax
quote:
Originally posted by Bababooey
I just figured it would be best to own 2 cameras since it's always better to shoot with more than one camera. This way, I wouldn't have to borrow or rent a second camera. No?
I don't think it's always better to shoot with more
than one camera. I find it much more problematic
shooting with more than one camera. The exception
being stunts, big explosions and major scenes that
can onlybe done one time. I rarely have the budget
to do these things.
But if you feel it's always better to shoot with more
than one camera, then I can see why YOU need that
second camera. I see no reason at all to buy two
cameras.
=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
Yeah, my story has no special effects or stunts or explosions or anything crazy like that. Sounds like I should be okay with just the one camera. If anything, I can always reshoot scenes from different angles with one camera.
When shooting regular scenes (dialogue between characters in a room, or a yard or similar), you have an option to do it with a single camera, or with two (or more) cameras. If you do it with a single camera, you will obviously shoot the scene several times in order to get best possible coverage, angles, framing, etc (CU, over-the-shoulder, two-shot, etc). That means that you'll be re-setting camera for each of those different angles. Presumably, a second camera could capture same performances from one additional angle, saving some time.
However, as Corax suggested, the amount of possible problems and issues that need to be resolved before cameras can begin to roll will simply eat up all the time saved, and the only possible valid argument would be the ability to capture the same performance, if the actors are unable to deliver consistent performances over multiple takes.
As Corax and CI both said, the only time you definitely want as many cameras as possible is when you have complex coordinated action that would be extremely difficult to repeat (an intricate fight scene, car chase, SFX with explosions, damage to props, etc). For those, often times, inexpensive consumer camcorders can provide decent footage for coverage (look up Crank 2: High Voltage; they used many Canon HF-10 camcorders for those shots).
quote:
Originally posted by Bababooey
If anything, I can always reshoot scenes from different angles with one camera.
You may be misunderstanding what it takes to make a movie. You
will ALWAYS - every single time - shoot each scene from different
angles. Even a simple dialogue scene with two people sitting
at a table will be shot from at least three different angles and
in almost all cases it will be shot from eight or nine different
angles.
=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
quote:
Originally posted by certified instigator
quote:
Originally posted by Bababooey
If anything, I can always reshoot scenes from different angles with one camera.You may be misunderstanding what it takes to make a movie. You
will ALWAYS - every single time - shoot each scene from different
angles. Even a simple dialogue scene with two people sitting
at a table will be shot from at least three different angles and
in almost all cases it will be shot from eight or nine different
angles.
I very well may be misunderstanding what it takes to make a movie, but that's why I joined this site. I'm a total novice, bro. Whatever you guys say to me is golden.
