Extensive HD100 / Mini35 Hands-On Test: Articles, Photos and HD Video at DVinfo.net

Chris Hurd · August 15th, 2005, 10:15 PM

Howdy from Texas,

This past weekend, our own Charles Papert took a crack at the HD100 combined with a Mini35 image converter for a couple of days and put the combo through its paces. This is kind of a big deal, because the HD100 hasn't even been delivered to U.S. dealers yet... this is very much an advanced sneak-peek kind of thing. We figured y'all would be interested in the results, so Charles has prepared a bunch of explanatory text, still images and HD video clips for you to browse through. An HDV Info Net exclusive! Here are the links:

Link to Article -- Part One: The Camera
All about the HD100 / Mini35 combo and Charles' personal high-tech power modification.

Link to Article -- Part Two: The Shoot
DV Info members Barry Green and Nate Weaver join in on the fun!

Link to Images -- Behind The Scenes Photos
You are there! Well, virtually anyway. How it all went down.

Link to Images -- Still Frames From Video
See! Shallow depth of field, and the lovely Amy Jo.

Link to Video -- Downloadable HD Clips
Help yourself to these m2t files, but do yourself a favor and watch 'em on an HDTV.

Please use this thread to discuss what you find -- many thanks to Chas for putting this all together, and to Nate and Barry for giving him a big hand (our poor guy is on crutches and needed the help)! Props to Barry for assisting with the video clips, too. Enjoy,

Ian E. Pearson · August 15th, 2005, 11:18 PM

Many thanks to Brad, Nate, Barry and Charles. I believe this is the kind of test and review many have been waiting to hear about and see for ourselves. I am once again excited about the Mini35/HD100 combo. Great camera work also. Those are some nice images. Looked like film footage to me! Thanks

Thomas Smet · August 15th, 2005, 11:27 PM

Wow now thats some nice stuff from the camera. We finally get to see what the camera can really do. I recently found another site with some very nice high quality clips from the HD100 but I cannot remember where it is right now. The guy even shot a bluescreen scene and it looks very nice.

John Terendy · August 15th, 2005, 11:30 PM

Thank you guys; this is what we all wanted to see! I'd shoot a movie with this setup...

Kenn Christenson · August 16th, 2005, 09:29 AM

Very nice footage. Certainly shows what this camera is capable of in the right hands.

I noticed a small circular smudge in some of the Mini 35 footage and was wondering if anyone knew what caused it. It's most noticeable in the closeup shot under the woman's left eye.

Chris Hurd · August 16th, 2005, 09:58 AM

What's this, a spot on one of those prime lenses! Hey, who was the First AC on that shoot?

Nate Weaver · August 16th, 2005, 10:27 AM

Shhhhhh.

I'm not a real A.C. anymore. I only play one on t.v.

Nate Weaver · August 16th, 2005, 10:31 AM

I saw that the other day, actually. I'm thinking it's a speck of dust on either the front or rear glass of the Mini35. A smudge or dust on either the front or rear element of the Cooke would not focus like that....

Graham Bernard · August 16th, 2005, 10:45 AM

Thanks! This is a lot to take in . . a lot of work all around . .

- Grazie

Luis Otero · August 16th, 2005, 12:29 PM

The instruments in the right hands, with the right purpose... Thanks a lot!

Luis

Charles Papert · August 16th, 2005, 12:35 PM

I'd agree with Nate, a well-defined smudge would likely have been on the front element of the Mini35 relay. I don't think either of us were keeping an eye on that with everything else going on, and since we switched back and forth to the Fujinon a few times, there was plenty of opportunity for an errant thumb to get in there.

Chris Hurd · August 16th, 2005, 12:48 PM

Well heck, better an errant thumb than an errant crutch, eh? *thwack* D'oh!

Speedy recovery to you, Charles!

Dave Ferdinand · August 16th, 2005, 12:53 PM

Wow! The CUs are simply stunning. Finally some footage that lives up to the hype.

Who cares about a smudge when it looks like this? Thumbs up.

Luis Reggiardo · August 16th, 2005, 01:01 PM

Well this look really pro HD100 footage. Calibrated, controlled, good DP, lighting just for being some test shooting.

1- May I ask if you used any on-camera filter or post processing calibration?

2- On my NLE computer (both LCD and TV monitor) the skin tends to be quite warm and reddish: How was your WB setup / JVC skin detection mode? Or maybe this color reprodution is inherent to the camera.

3- Night shot: Any gain used? how much Watts from lighting did u have?

4- Did you try to simulate the Mini35 depth of field by moving back the camera and tele on subject with the Fujinon's? How were the results compared with the Mini35?

L.

Nate Weaver · August 16th, 2005, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luis Reggiardo

1- May I ask if you used any on-camera filter or post processing calibration?

That's a no on both. Lens was clean...only "on camera filter" was the built in ND on some shots.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luis Reggiardo

2- On my NLE computer (both LCD and TV monitor) the skin tends to be quite warm and reddish: How was your WB setup / JVC skin detection mode? Or maybe this color reprocution is inherent to the camera.

I do beleive we had the color level up a few notches, but Barry would know for sure. I know absoutely that the image looked MUCH flatter on the on-set monitor.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luis Reggiardo

3- Night shot: Any gain used? how much Watts from lighting did u have?

Gain was at 0db for all shots. The key was a 4-bank Lowel Caselight, the backlight was a 575 frensel.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luis Reggiardo

4- Did you try to simulate the Mini35 depth of field by moving back the camera and tele on subject with the Fujinon's?

Absolutely not. We went to great pains to match field-of-view when doing the Mini/16x comparison shots.

August 15th, 2005, 10:15 PM	#1
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Extensive HD100 / Mini35 Hands-On Test: Articles, Photos and HD Video Howdy from Texas, This past weekend, our own Charles Papert took a crack at the HD100 combined with a Mini35 image converter for a couple of days and put the combo through its paces. This is kind of a big deal, because the HD100 hasn't even been delivered to U.S. dealers yet... this is very much an advanced sneak-peek kind of thing. We figured y'all would be interested in the results, so Charles has prepared a bunch of explanatory text, still images and HD video clips for you to browse through. An HDV Info Net exclusive! Here are the links: Link to Article -- Part One: The Camera All about the HD100 / Mini35 combo and Charles' personal high-tech power modification. Link to Article -- Part Two: The Shoot DV Info members Barry Green and Nate Weaver join in on the fun! Link to Images -- Behind The Scenes Photos You are there! Well, virtually anyway. How it all went down. Link to Images -- Still Frames From Video See! Shallow depth of field, and the lovely Amy Jo. Link to Video -- Downloadable HD Clips Help yourself to these m2t files, but do yourself a favor and watch 'em on an HDTV. Please use this thread to discuss what you find -- many thanks to Chas for putting this all together, and to Nate and Barry for giving him a big hand (our poor guy is on crutches and needed the help)! Props to Barry for assisting with the video clips, too. Enjoy, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

August 15th, 2005, 11:18 PM	#2
Ian E. Pearson Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Greeley, CO Posts: 52	Excellent work! Many thanks to Brad, Nate, Barry and Charles. I believe this is the kind of test and review many have been waiting to hear about and see for ourselves. I am once again excited about the Mini35/HD100 combo. Great camera work also. Those are some nice images. Looked like film footage to me! Thanks

August 15th, 2005, 11:30 PM	#4
John Terendy Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Chicago U.S.A Posts: 28	Fantastic! Thank you guys; this is what we all wanted to see! I'd shoot a movie with this setup...

August 16th, 2005, 09:58 AM	#6
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	What's this, a spot on one of those prime lenses! Hey, who was the First AC on that shoot? __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

August 16th, 2005, 12:29 PM	#10
Luis Otero Major Player Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Fort Dodge, IA Posts: 221	Finally!!! The instruments in the right hands, with the right purpose... Thanks a lot! Luis

August 15th, 2005, 11:27 PM	#3
Thomas Smet Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,719	Wow now thats some nice stuff from the camera. We finally get to see what the camera can really do. I recently found another site with some very nice high quality clips from the HD100 but I cannot remember where it is right now. The guy even shot a bluescreen scene and it looks very nice.

August 16th, 2005, 09:29 AM	#5
Kenn Christenson Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Medford Oregon Posts: 152	Very nice footage. Certainly shows what this camera is capable of in the right hands. I noticed a small circular smudge in some of the Mini 35 footage and was wondering if anyone knew what caused it. It's most noticeable in the closeup shot under the woman's left eye.

August 16th, 2005, 10:27 AM	#7
Nate Weaver Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 2,100	Shhhhhh. I'm not a real A.C. anymore. I only play one on t.v.

August 16th, 2005, 10:31 AM	#8
Nate Weaver Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 2,100	I saw that the other day, actually. I'm thinking it's a speck of dust on either the front or rear glass of the Mini35. A smudge or dust on either the front or rear element of the Cooke would not focus like that....

August 16th, 2005, 10:45 AM	#9
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	Thanks! This is a lot to take in . . a lot of work all around . . - Grazie

August 16th, 2005, 12:35 PM	#11
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	I'd agree with Nate, a well-defined smudge would likely have been on the front element of the Mini35 relay. I don't think either of us were keeping an eye on that with everything else going on, and since we switched back and forth to the Fujinon a few times, there was plenty of opportunity for an errant thumb to get in there. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

August 16th, 2005, 12:48 PM	#12
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Well heck, better an errant thumb than an errant crutch, eh? thwack D'oh! Speedy recovery to you, Charles! __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

August 16th, 2005, 12:53 PM	#13
Dave Ferdinand Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 359	Wow! The CUs are simply stunning. Finally some footage that lives up to the hype. Who cares about a smudge when it looks like this? Thumbs up. __________________ Do or do not, there is no try.

August 16th, 2005, 01:01 PM	#14
Luis Reggiardo Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina Posts: 37	Great! Well this look really pro HD100 footage. Calibrated, controlled, good DP, lighting just for being some test shooting. 1- May I ask if you used any on-camera filter or post processing calibration? 2- On my NLE computer (both LCD and TV monitor) the skin tends to be quite warm and reddish: How was your WB setup / JVC skin detection mode? Or maybe this color reprodution is inherent to the camera. 3- Night shot: Any gain used? how much Watts from lighting did u have? 4- Did you try to simulate the Mini35 depth of field by moving back the camera and tele on subject with the Fujinon's? How were the results compared with the Mini35? L. __________________ Luis Buenos Aires, Argentina Film Student Last edited by Luis Reggiardo; August 16th, 2005 at 02:02 PM.