American Chopper

James Emory · November 19th, 2005, 01:24 AM

Well, if you ever wanted to know what goes on behind the cameras at OCC, you can find out Monday night (11.21.05) at 10 p.m. on Discovery. I saw the Sony Z1 being used a few times as well as the larger broadcast cameras. Discovery repeats its programming later in the evening if you miss the first run.

James Emory · November 22nd, 2005, 01:26 AM

Well, it looks as though this show is shot primarily with the Panasonic Varicam. The Sony Z1 was used extensively for the cast to shoot alot of this special. When the Varicam footage was intercut with the HDV, I couldn't see much if any difference. That's good news for HDV owners!

Duane Smith · November 22nd, 2005, 08:15 AM

I must admit that to my eye, the footage from the Z1 intercut VERY well. The biggest difference wasn't the 'image quality', it was 'operator skill'...especially in the handheld-ness of the Z1. Heck, they even showed a side-by-side off the Panny footage with the Z1 footage during the Steadycam 'riding' segment to show the difference (smooth vs bumpy).

But of course, we were watching the SD version, so maybe I shouldn't be so surprised the footage intercut so well. The show should air in HD tomorrow night (at least, in my area, it replays on wednesdays on Discovery HD Theater) which I'm anxious to watch. It's possible that the HD version will show an 'image quality' difference that wasn't noticable in the SD version.

Oh, and BTW...I loved the episode. The behind-the-scenes stuff really was quite neat to a newbie video-geek like me. :-)

Neo Castillo · November 22nd, 2005, 11:05 AM

Duane please update up tomorrow on what the show looks like in HD. I don't geet HD boradcasts so I am interested to know.

Mike Moncrief · November 22nd, 2005, 11:28 AM

Hello,

I saw the show also, and have to agree, at least when watching the SD version of the show, the Z1 footage was very, very close to the big shoulder held broadcast cameras they were using.. very very impressive.. i cannot wait until they air the HD version of this episode..That should be quite interesting.. Anyone know when it airs ??

Mike m.

James Emory · November 22nd, 2005, 08:00 PM

What do all of you that have seen the show think of that little episode in the hall at Pilgrim Post with the XP acting like he was mad that he didn't know they would be shooting in their building and then in his office? Here are a few outtakes of the knuckleheads producing some Discovery promos.

http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/am.../outtakes.html

Adam Bray · November 22nd, 2005, 09:32 PM

It was a cool episode. Interesting to see what cameras they use, editing system, etc..

Duane Smith · November 22nd, 2005, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neo Castillo

Duane please update up tomorrow on what the show looks like in HD. I don't geet HD boradcasts so I am interested to know.

I definately will...but it doesn't look like it's going to be this week. :-( I just checked the listings and it looks like tomorrow's episode will be "Junior's Dream Bike 2" (the green spider web bike), so it may be another week -- or longer -- before the HD version airs. I don't know because my listing for DiscoveryHD only goes 1 week in advance.

Mike Moncrief - check out www.TitanTV.com for listings in your area and your HD service. There's a niftly little check box to look for HD programming only.

As for the XP...looked like he'd watched a few too many Paul Sr. temper tantrums. ;-)

James Emory · November 22nd, 2005, 11:27 PM

I looked for an SD reair date on Discovery and didn't see one through the entire month of December.

Jonathan Gentry · April 9th, 2007, 10:48 PM

I'm pulling this thread out of the dumpster becuase I just saw the American Chopper behind the scenes show in HD a few days ago. I just wanted to say the Sony HDV cam seemed to have less noise in spots than the big expensive cameras they use to produce the show. I actually preferred the Sony image to the other cameras.

Anyone else see this recently in HD? I have a Canon A1 but this makes me feel good about my footage.

-Jonathan

Nick Royer · April 10th, 2007, 08:13 PM

I saw most of the HD version. I recorded it so I should go watch the rest of it. The V1 did look almost the same as the Varicams.

November 19th, 2005, 01:24 AM	#1
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	American Chopper - Behind the scenes special! Well, if you ever wanted to know what goes on behind the cameras at OCC, you can find out Monday night (11.21.05) at 10 p.m. on Discovery. I saw the Sony Z1 being used a few times as well as the larger broadcast cameras. Discovery repeats its programming later in the evening if you miss the first run.

November 22nd, 2005, 01:26 AM	#2
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	Well, it looks as though this show is shot primarily with the Panasonic Varicam. The Sony Z1 was used extensively for the cast to shoot alot of this special. When the Varicam footage was intercut with the HDV, I couldn't see much if any difference. That's good news for HDV owners! Last edited by James Emory; November 22nd, 2005 at 10:59 AM.

November 22nd, 2005, 11:28 AM	#5
Mike Moncrief Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: orlando florida Posts: 426	Hello, I saw the show also, and have to agree, at least when watching the SD version of the show, the Z1 footage was very, very close to the big shoulder held broadcast cameras they were using.. very very impressive.. i cannot wait until they air the HD version of this episode..That should be quite interesting.. Anyone know when it airs ?? Mike m. __________________ Mike Moncrief mikemoncrief@gmail.com www.themikemoncrief.com

November 22nd, 2005, 08:00 PM	#6
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	American Chopper Promo Outtakes What do all of you that have seen the show think of that little episode in the hall at Pilgrim Post with the XP acting like he was mad that he didn't know they would be shooting in their building and then in his office? Here are a few outtakes of the knuckleheads producing some Discovery promos. http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/am.../outtakes.html Last edited by James Emory; November 22nd, 2005 at 11:17 PM.

April 10th, 2007, 08:13 PM	#11
Nick Royer Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Omaha, Nebraska Posts: 133	I saw most of the HD version. I recorded it so I should go watch the rest of it. The V1 did look almost the same as the Varicams. __________________ Sincerely, Nick Royer

November 22nd, 2005, 08:15 AM	#3
Duane Smith Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 234	I must admit that to my eye, the footage from the Z1 intercut VERY well. The biggest difference wasn't the 'image quality', it was 'operator skill'...especially in the handheld-ness of the Z1. Heck, they even showed a side-by-side off the Panny footage with the Z1 footage during the Steadycam 'riding' segment to show the difference (smooth vs bumpy). But of course, we were watching the SD version, so maybe I shouldn't be so surprised the footage intercut so well. The show should air in HD tomorrow night (at least, in my area, it replays on wednesdays on Discovery HD Theater) which I'm anxious to watch. It's possible that the HD version will show an 'image quality' difference that wasn't noticable in the SD version. Oh, and BTW...I loved the episode. The behind-the-scenes stuff really was quite neat to a newbie video-geek like me. :-)

November 22nd, 2005, 11:05 AM	#4
Neo Castillo Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 66	Duane please update up tomorrow on what the show looks like in HD. I don't geet HD boradcasts so I am interested to know.

November 22nd, 2005, 09:32 PM	#7
Adam Bray Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Houston/Austin Posts: 394	It was a cool episode. Interesting to see what cameras they use, editing system, etc..

November 22nd, 2005, 11:27 PM	#9
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	I looked for an SD reair date on Discovery and didn't see one through the entire month of December.

April 9th, 2007, 10:48 PM	#10
Jonathan Gentry Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 183	I'm pulling this thread out of the dumpster becuase I just saw the American Chopper behind the scenes show in HD a few days ago. I just wanted to say the Sony HDV cam seemed to have less noise in spots than the big expensive cameras they use to produce the show. I actually preferred the Sony image to the other cameras. Anyone else see this recently in HD? I have a Canon A1 but this makes me feel good about my footage. -Jonathan