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DJ Lewis · February 21st, 2006, 03:42 PM

At the moment the studio I work at has a Sony 390L with a 16x Fujinon lens which we use in house for small sets and greenscreen work.
http://bssc.sel.sony.com/Broadcastan...sp=11&id=69386

We also have a PD170 for field work.

I've been toying around with the idea of replacing both with a couple of Z1's, which I was perfectly ok with until I started thinking about greenscreen shoots. Our projects are still SD, so for greenscreen I could just:

1. record DVCAM,
2. record componet out into Canopus, or
3. convert HDV to SD in post...

But is it worth it? Is HDV as bad for greenscreen work as everyone makes it out to be? Will the Z1 in SD mode come anywhere close to the 390L?

Thanks in advance for your comments....

Georg Liigand · February 21st, 2006, 04:36 PM

Not sure about greenscreen, but why shouldn't it work if you just downconvert it to SD or shoot in SD just like with any other camera?

But seriously consider replacing both with Z1s, because it would be a lot worse in low light and when you have to shoot out of the studio then it might become an issue.

John M. McCloskey · February 21st, 2006, 05:02 PM

Where I work we shoot greenscreen material almost every day with Z1's. And at the beginning we ran into all the issues you have probably heard of concerning greenscreening with the Z1. Yes it is more difficult than shooting with a camera like a DSR simply due to the amount of light needed for the Z1. But once you figure out your lighting technique it is a great greenscreen camera. First thing we did was figure out how much light it would take to shoot an object infront of the screen without any gain. It took a while but once we figured out how much light it took to get a 4.8 with 0 gain the Z1 makes our old DSR390's look very bad. If you can pump the light some more and get a 4.8 with 0 gain I bet you will be suprised. Hope this helps,

DJ Lewis · February 22nd, 2006, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John M. McCloskey

If you can pump the light some more and get a 4.8 with 0 gain I bet you will be suprised. Hope this helps,

Thanks for the input...
Hmmmm, 4.8? Can you explain? Please excuse my ignorance. :)

John M. McCloskey · February 22nd, 2006, 04:34 PM

4.8 manual iris setting with either talent or main subject in the frame, green screen behind them. Not a 4.8 iris setting on just the green screen. takes a good bit of light, we are running 2 lights to light green screen and one light with a magenta gel shining over the back of the green screen casting light on the back of the main object (keeps green spill from happening) 1 key and 1 fill. So a total of 5 lights, 2 more lights than we used with the DSR390's. Also using ZMATTE as the keying software. Works like a charm.

DJ Lewis · February 22nd, 2006, 10:29 PM

mind sharing a screen grab? (need to sell the idea to the money men.) If not, i understand. you've already given me plenty of insight on the matter, john.

much appreciated :)

February 21st, 2006, 03:42 PM	#1
DJ Lewis Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 97	Purchase Advice At the moment the studio I work at has a Sony 390L with a 16x Fujinon lens which we use in house for small sets and greenscreen work. http://bssc.sel.sony.com/Broadcastan...sp=11&id=69386 We also have a PD170 for field work. I've been toying around with the idea of replacing both with a couple of Z1's, which I was perfectly ok with until I started thinking about greenscreen shoots. Our projects are still SD, so for greenscreen I could just: 1. record DVCAM, 2. record componet out into Canopus, or 3. convert HDV to SD in post... But is it worth it? Is HDV as bad for greenscreen work as everyone makes it out to be? Will the Z1 in SD mode come anywhere close to the 390L? Thanks in advance for your comments....

February 21st, 2006, 04:36 PM	#2
Georg Liigand Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Estonia Posts: 214	Not sure about greenscreen, but why shouldn't it work if you just downconvert it to SD or shoot in SD just like with any other camera? But seriously consider replacing both with Z1s, because it would be a lot worse in low light and when you have to shoot out of the studio then it might become an issue.

February 21st, 2006, 05:02 PM	#3
John M. McCloskey Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: West Point, MS Posts: 313	Where I work we shoot greenscreen material almost every day with Z1's. And at the beginning we ran into all the issues you have probably heard of concerning greenscreening with the Z1. Yes it is more difficult than shooting with a camera like a DSR simply due to the amount of light needed for the Z1. But once you figure out your lighting technique it is a great greenscreen camera. First thing we did was figure out how much light it would take to shoot an object infront of the screen without any gain. It took a while but once we figured out how much light it took to get a 4.8 with 0 gain the Z1 makes our old DSR390's look very bad. If you can pump the light some more and get a 4.8 with 0 gain I bet you will be suprised. Hope this helps,

February 22nd, 2006, 04:34 PM	#5
John M. McCloskey Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: West Point, MS Posts: 313	4.8 manual iris setting with either talent or main subject in the frame, green screen behind them. Not a 4.8 iris setting on just the green screen. takes a good bit of light, we are running 2 lights to light green screen and one light with a magenta gel shining over the back of the green screen casting light on the back of the main object (keeps green spill from happening) 1 key and 1 fill. So a total of 5 lights, 2 more lights than we used with the DSR390's. Also using ZMATTE as the keying software. Works like a charm.

February 22nd, 2006, 10:29 PM	#6
DJ Lewis Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 97	mind sharing a screen grab? (need to sell the idea to the money men.) If not, i understand. you've already given me plenty of insight on the matter, john. much appreciated :)