HD100 tested beside 35mm on set of '24'

[Michael Maier]

Originally Posted by Lance Bachelder

I've shot with the Mini 35 a few years back and thought it was too soft thenm with and XL1 (before HDV). While the Mini35 fits the new cameras, I have never heard if the improved the innards for HD work? This could be why it looks even worse on HD footage than SD?

Who said HDV looks worse than SD when using a mini35? Have you seen Charles/Nate HD100 test with the Mini35? Looks gorgeous and much better than any SD Mini35 footage. HD was just the extra resolution that was missing for the Mini35. I always though SD looked soft with the Mini35, but HD looks great.

Originally Posted by Lance Bachelder

I'm hoping Cinemek makes a G35 that ataches directly to the JVC body and not to the end of the lens.

That’s easier said than done. I don’t think anybody can come up with an el cheapo relay lens for the HD100 and get any good quality out of it for cheap. A relay lens for the HD100 would have to be a very sharp lens because of the small but high pixel count CCDs. That’s more of a job for companies like Zeiss or even P+S than a small company. Somebody may even come up with something, but I don’t think it will be up to HD specs, specially not for cheap. My opinion is that none of the homemade entrepreneurs have the resources to come up with a lens sharp enough to resolve HD in a 1/3” chip, so don’t hold your breath ;)

[Taylor Wigton]

Originally Posted by Lance Bachelder

I'm currently cutting a f900 show that used the Pro35 with Cooke primes - everyone who sees it assume sit's 35mm, but it was shot by a very experienced DP at a great location.

I'm hoping Cinemek makes a G35 that ataches directly to the JVC body and not to the end of the lens. Footage from the Cinemek appears far superioir to anything I've seen with the Mini35 and it's $1200 vs. $10,000!

Curious if someone like David Mullen would know how a 2/3" Digiprime or similar would work on 1/2" camera with adpater. I know the focal legth changes but would that prevent you from shooting with it? For instance if you wanted a 50mm look, just use a wider lens that equaled the 50mm on the 1/2" chips?

Lance

I'm sure the Digiprime would be great on a 1/2inch camera w/ 2/3inch adapter, but as far as I know, this will *NOT* make your 1/2inch camera now have DOF of a 2/3inch camera. Better resolution and overall optical performance with a Digiprime? Probably.

For Part 2/Showreel, we're looking at a total of four different 35mm cine adapters that seem to be on the market for 1/3inch CCD cameras: PS Tek, Mirco35 (M2), Movietube, and G35 (Cinemek). What I can say after very close examination of these adapters after being captured by 1/3inch HD CCD's and being processed by HDV Mpeg-2 encoders, is that it is vital to view shot footage on a 17inch HD monitor (or larger) played back from the recorded HDV tape when looking at your final results. Keep in mind that if you are testing the adapters in real time and sending the signal out of the componant direct to a monitor, you are bypassing the MPEG-2 result, so this is NOT your actual picture if in fact you plan to record to HDV tape. (unless you have the budget to go componant out -> HD-SDI to a HDCAM recorder and bypassing the HDV format altogether).

What I have found is that going online to a Cine Adapter website that has small quicktime demos of footage and where native HD frame grabs are unavailable is something that should be looked at with guarded sketicism. Request a Full res QT or frame grab before making any rush to judgement, especially when it comes to making any purchases.

Part 2 of Showreel should be available the first week of March, or thereabouts, where these matters will be analysized in depth. Given the overwhelming interest in Part 1, the Showreel website crashed as too many downloads of Part 1 happened all at once, and I am not sure what the plan is for accessing Part 2. You may want to contact Showreel directly at www.showreel.org if Part 2 is something that you are interested in taking a look at.

With regard the the question posed at the end of Part 1, combining 1/3inch HD with 35mm Cine Adapters, we've made some very interesting discoveries, (if not outright ironic an counter-intuitive) and I am very excited to pen the peice with Rodney and let you guys know what we have observed.

All the best,

Taylor Wigton
DP, Los Angeles

[Joel Aaron]

Originally Posted by Taylor Wigton

What I have found is that going online to a Cine Adapter website that has small quicktime demos of footage and where native HD frame grabs are unavailable is something that should be looked at with guarded sketicism.

Can you tell us whether any of the adapters made you at least somewhat happy?

[Taylor Wigton]

Originally Posted by Joel Aaron

Can you tell us whether any of the adapters made you at least somewhat happy?

The objective is not to find out what makes 'me/us' happy, but to look at these different products in an unbiased and objective manner and to then give our impressions of what we saw. Sounds odd, but what will make me happy is that you guys, the filmmaking community, will have a credible resource for which for which you can then come to your own conclusions, rather then making conclusions based on 'he said this and she said that.'

So it's not a witch-hunt here, but a way for the truth to be presented to a large audience who can have a stepping stone for which to look at matters further. Chasing phantoms is tough, and so I suppose I'm 'happy' to have ALL the adapters in my/our possession, all at the same time, so that we can look at all of them side-by-side. Aligning all the stars to get all these tools in one place has been very difficult, to say the least, but imperative in my mind if we are to evaluate and publish credible observations for the best interest of EVERYONE who loves to tell stories with moving pictures, be you students, amatuers, or professionals- and regardless of your talent of career potential.

Hope this makes sense. Best, Taylor

[Joel Aaron]

Originally Posted by Taylor Wigton

Hope this makes sense. Best, Taylor

:-) I'm looking forward to your article.

[Tim Dashwood]

Part 2 of the article has been posted, but you will now need a membership to read it.

http://www.showreel.org/memberarea/article.php?172

[Denise Haskew]

Yep, we posted the second part of the article on our website yesterday. At the moment it can only be viewed by web and magazine subscribers. However it will become freeview once all our readers worldwide have received copies of the magazine (which is in distribution at the moment).

As much as we would love to make it freeview immediately, as both Taylor and Rodney have done such a great job (over 7,000-words worth), we wouldn't want to undermine our subcribers. Though of course feel free to become one;).

I'll let you all know when it becomes freeview. In the meantime, there is still lots of other good stuff to read online.

Best

Denise
Publisher
Showreel Magazine
www.showreel.org

[Denise Haskew]

Due to overwhelming lobbying, the second part of the three-part article by DPs Rodney Charters and Taylor Wigton is now FREEVIEW on Showreel magazine's website.

Along with the JVC GY-HD100 and Sony HVR Z1 Rodney and Taylor introduce the Canon XL H1 and Panasonic HVX200 to the rigours of high-end drama on the set of 24. I'm sure Taylor will more than happy to discuss their findings on this forum.

The article is at www.showreel.org/memberarea/

Subscribers can also check out Geoff Boyle's article from the set of David Fincher's upcoming movie 'Zodiac', David Valentines indepth look into the massive investment pouring into 3D movies and the technology devised by James Cameron and Vince Pace… and lots more.

Best

Denise
Publisher, Showreel

[Joe Carney]

I subscribed and glad I did. Great zine.

[Chris Hurd]

Thanks for posting here Denise!