Where do I find this camera? « Videomaker Community Forums

booter
Member

I am trying to find the Hollywood film type camera for a professional motion picture. Where do I find a camera like this or is theree another camera (DV) that has equal quality to the film type? Thanks

Posted 8 years ago #
nobody
Member

Digital video and film characteristics are so radically different, that maybe it's time to consider them distinct motion media. Each is going its separate way, much like CDs and audio tape. Which is better or worse really depends on individual taste. DV and film have different sets of rules for judging what is 'professional' or 'quality' footage.

In the DV world, the Panasonic AG-DVX100 shoots at the same frame rate and prints each frame the same way a movie camera does (24p). But it would be a huge stretch to claim it could equal the quality of 'professional' movie cameras, which are sometimes priced in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. However it does facilitate the transfer to film, if that's where you want to end up. The bottom line is if you want film quality and character, you'd better stick to film.

Posted 8 years ago #
nobody
Member

You say you're looking for a Hollywood type camera for a professional motion picture, but you're not specific. Do you want Arriflex, Panavision or Moviecam 35mm? Or are you low budget and looking for 16mm?
Any LA/NY rental house can rent you Arris. Panavision I think you still have to get from Panavision.
There are some high end professional digital cameras available that arguably approach film cameras, but they are far more expensive than film cameras.

Posted 8 years ago #
nobody
Member

Hey Craig

I'm under the impression that analog film and digital video are so different that at this point what is actually better may simply be a matter of taste. It seems to me that you assume that film cameras are the best. I'm not so sure about this. I think at this point, it more a matter of artistic judgement than anything else. The comparision between a movie camera and a DV camera has to be made on a cost basis. In other words, it would be easy to say film is better than DV, if you're comparing a $50,000 movie camera to a $2500 camcorder. The difference would be in the far superior optics and manual controls available to the more expensive camera. However, when you start making similar investments, digital cameras more than hold their own. Digital cameras are more suited for fast-moving, high-action shots and where sharp background focus might be needed. You can see this in HD TV, where the background and foreground seem to hold identical focus. If this is the future of motion imagery, then the eventual prevalence of digital movie cameras is assured.

Posted 8 years ago #
booter
Member

Thanks for all the suggestions. I currently have a Canon GL-2 but I was wanting to upgrade to big screen quality (Hi end). Your comments and suggestions may have saved me a boatload of money. Thanks a lot!

Rob

Posted 8 years ago #