DVInfo Friends,

As a preparation for an experimental project I was hoping to get a HD camcorder capable doing variable frame rate. I will need to cover a range from 1 - 70 frames per seconds for this project.

Would some of you be so kind and give me a direction where to start with research of such camera?

Many thanks.

Pavel

Hi that is a strange range as most camera's cover 1-60fps as a max, they all tend to be 720p unless you get a specialist rig. I think films at 59 in Bristol have the specialist kit for hire: Hire — Films at 59 - Pre and Post Production (http://www.filmsat59.com/hire)

If you are Ok with 1-60fps then the panasonic HPX301 camera I have will cover that range at a very cost effective level, it can also take nikon prime lenses with a X7 magnification factor if you need to do wildlife production.

Nice one, thanks for this. The Panasonic is looking good. For the work I have in mind it should be ideally all in 1920x1080 HD.

Hopefully some other ideas will come here in due course.

Hi most HD camera's that do variable speed are 720p not 1080 and that includes the HPX2700 and the HDX900 as used by the BBC on their natural history programmes.

The new HPX250 from panasonic will also do variable speed up to 60fps in a compact camera but beyond that you are into specialist camera's and they will cost an awful lot of money!

Thanks a lot Gary, I appreciate your input a lot. Perhaps I just need to wait with my gear acquisition until such variable frame rate digital cameras will be available on the market.

For now I focus on shaping of my project scenario.

There is a new olympus camera that does variable speed beyond 60fps but it is still only 720p but that should be fine for most things.

There is also time-lapse but once again most camera's are limited to 720p.

I am searching for the new Olympus but cannot find it...

I think its the i-speed TR :http://www.olympus-ims.com/en/hsv-products/i-speed-tr/ VFC-7000 Fora also have a new high speed camera more details here: FOR-A Global - HD Variable Frame Rate Camera VFC-7000 (http://www.for-a.com/products/vfc7000/vfc7000.html)

Oh yes, I have seen this one (FOR-A Global HD). This is the real high speed machine. The Olympus also looks good.

I am inclined for the Arri Alexa if I receive a production grant from an Angel.

The Panasonic AF-100 will do variable frame rates up to 60 in 1920x1080 mode. I've used it quite a bit and it works a treat.

Thanks Stephen, I was just looking at this sale thread

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/private-classifieds/494586-panasonic-ag-af100-professional-memory-card-camcorder.html

For which I was late. Anyways, I am in PAL land so I heard there is the AF101 for us.

Personal question: How have you found the 4:3 sensor working for 16:9 aspect ratio project? Thank you.

Well, it's not a "4:3" sensor… It's actually what's called a "Micro Four Thirds" sensor, and that's simply the type/size of the sensor. We shot this with two pre-production AF-100 cameras…

"A Verse Before Dying" on Vimeo

I've had nothing but great results with the AF-100. And the variable frame rate function that you're asking for is one of the AF's best features.

Thank you for sharing your work. I see kind of Sergio Leone influence, no? :)

Ok, so what is the difference between 2/3 and 4/3 sensor? So it does from 1-60fps in 1080p?

Essentially yes, the difference is size. There are other differences, certainly, but size is the main one. Here's a chart that gives a bit of relative information on sensor sizes…

Digital Camera Sensor Sizes: How it Influences Your Photography (http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/digital-camera-sensor-size.htm)

And yes, it does 1-60fps in 1080p.

Wonderful, I looked - I feel this camera would be a nice upgrade from Canon XH A1, what do you recon? Canon is 1/3 and with good sensibility it can give wonderful images too!

The XH-A1 is a solid performer, and as a 1/3" chip camera, it's a different beast than the AF-100. I'd highly recommend renting an AF-100 or trying to get some hands-on time before you buy. But if your central need is variable frame rates at 1080p, and budget is a concern, you can't do any better than the AF-100 that I know of.

Hmm, I really feel that for what I want this film to be, I really need to go the RED ONE route.

More before long I hope.

As you probably know, the Sony NEX FS-100 will also shoot up to 60fps in 1920x1080. However,
unlike the Panasonic AF 100, it will also actually record audio while shooting at 60fps. The
Sony F3 will also give you 60fps, but only to an external recorder. But the F3 will give you better
quality than either the AF 100 or the FS 100 of course it's more expensive as well, but it should
be cheaper than a Red.