how good of an HD camera do you need in order for it to look like film? George Lucas and Robert Rodriguez have gotten film looks from HD cameras..but then I see HD broadcasts that just basically look like very high resolution video. Does anyone know where the cut off is (examples) between cameras to get a good film look?
thanks!
quote:
Originally posted by onixoforin
how good of an HD camera do you need in order for it to look like film? George Lucas and Robert Rodriguez have gotten film looks from HD cameras..but then I see HD broadcasts that just basically look like very high resolution video. Does anyone know where the cut off is (examples) between cameras to get a good film look?thanks!
I think it depends on how well the thing was lit and then dealt with in post, more so than the actual camera. The skill of the DP is key. And even big-budget film dailies look pretty shit before they're cleaned up and graded. Check out www.firisproductions.com to see what you can do with even a Canon XL1. To help get the film look during production, you'd have to use a P & S Technik Mini-35 adaptor (www.mini35.de) to get the depth of field that 35mm film offers.
Hope this helps.
Jamie
Dead by Donbrae - They're cumming!
www.donbrae.co.uk
www.silentifilms.co.uk
The other difference is that they shoot 24fps progressive HD, while for TV they'll be shooting 30fps (or 25fps in PAL countries) interlaced.
It's probably worth also noting that the Sony CineAlta cameras used by Lucas et al, are cost large sums of money ($200,000+) plus lenses.
Ben C.
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Benjamin Craig
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clearly the f900 that lucas and robert were using can get the film look, but I'm guessing that those new HD cams that record on to miniDV cannot. so there must be somewhere along the way in the spectrum of cameras that there is a noticable dropoff in it's filmlook. What are some cameras that are on the borderline of getting a reasonable film look? (I'm assuming all other factors such as the lighting are equal and we are evaluating the differences solely in the camera)
thanks!
From what I understand, the Sony and the Panasonic Varicam are the primary cameras that can really emulate a "film" look. Some of the new cheapie HD cams are only single-chip, which affects color and res (I think) or are basically "pro-sumer" cams without a lot of manual control.
Just worked on a trailer shot with the Varicam, and I think it looks fantastic. You can check it out at:
www.witchesnight.com