Television cameras? at DVinfo.net

Adam Bray · November 21st, 2005, 10:12 PM

What kind of cameras are those that are used to tape shows like American Chopper, Monster Garage, etc? Are those Beta Cameras? Why do they use those, verus using something like the XL2?

Chris Hurd · November 21st, 2005, 10:35 PM

Anything and everything is used for professional broadcast these days. From the Sony PD150, Panasonic DVX100 and Canon GL2 up to DigiBeta, Varicam and F900. You name it, somebody has put something on television with it. If the content is compelling, nobody cares what it was shot with anymore.

Adam Bray · November 21st, 2005, 10:47 PM

Thanks. They did some behind the scenes show of American Chopper. One of the camera guys stated "I have to lug this 30 pound camera around all day" It got me to thinking, why does everyone use these big cameras, instead of something lighter and compact?

Doug Boze · November 22nd, 2005, 12:23 AM

AC perhaps uses whatever's to hand. If you've ever watched "Myth Busters" you'll see, in some shots, one guy lugging a full-size camcorder and others toting what I call "handycams". It all comes out of the drier the same shade!

Broadcast Quality is whatever is shown.

Dan Euritt · November 22nd, 2005, 04:17 PM

i recently had some footage used on monster garage, but they could only use it on the sd version of the show; they shoot everything in hi-def.

James Emory · November 22nd, 2005, 05:22 PM

Adam, they are using the Panasonic Varicam as the primary cameras and for the BTS special the cast shot with the Sony Z1. I bet they use that thing all the time on the typical episodes too because it intercuts with the Varicam footage very well.

Relative Thread
www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=54649

November 21st, 2005, 10:12 PM	#1
Adam Bray Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Houston/Austin Posts: 394	Television cameras? What kind of cameras are those that are used to tape shows like American Chopper, Monster Garage, etc? Are those Beta Cameras? Why do they use those, verus using something like the XL2?

November 21st, 2005, 10:35 PM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Anything and everything is used for professional broadcast these days. From the Sony PD150, Panasonic DVX100 and Canon GL2 up to DigiBeta, Varicam and F900. You name it, somebody has put something on television with it. If the content is compelling, nobody cares what it was shot with anymore. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

November 22nd, 2005, 12:23 AM	#4
Doug Boze Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Auburn, Washington Posts: 218	AC perhaps uses whatever's to hand. If you've ever watched "Myth Busters" you'll see, in some shots, one guy lugging a full-size camcorder and others toting what I call "handycams". It all comes out of the drier the same shade! Broadcast Quality is whatever is shown. __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin, 1759

November 22nd, 2005, 05:22 PM	#6
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	Adam, they are using the Panasonic Varicam as the primary cameras and for the BTS special the cast shot with the Sony Z1. I bet they use that thing all the time on the typical episodes too because it intercuts with the Varicam footage very well. Relative Thread www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=54649 Last edited by James Emory; November 22nd, 2005 at 06:03 PM.

November 21st, 2005, 10:47 PM	#3
Adam Bray Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Houston/Austin Posts: 394	Thanks. They did some behind the scenes show of American Chopper. One of the camera guys stated "I have to lug this 30 pound camera around all day" It got me to thinking, why does everyone use these big cameras, instead of something lighter and compact?

November 22nd, 2005, 04:17 PM	#5
Dan Euritt Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Carlsbad CA Posts: 1,132	i recently had some footage used on monster garage, but they could only use it on the sd version of the show; they shoot everything in hi-def.