Oral history and documentary. at DVinfo.net

Bob Hart · May 10th, 2016, 09:28 AM

This is a double post I hope Chris will permit me an indulgence with as I want to test both camps as to cameras.

I have this question from an award-winning documentary film maker ( used film ) who has been out of the game for some years.

"Do you think I can stick with the sony pmw200-sony-xdcam-hd-50mbps-422-camcorder we have, or upgrade to 4k like the LUMIX Digital Single Lens Mirrorless Camera DMC-GX8? Is the gx8 broadcast quality? Are there good reasons to go 4k for broadcast or post or even blow up?"

Any opinions will be much appreciated.

Jack Zhang · May 10th, 2016, 11:41 PM

There's a 30min limit to recordings on the GX8. Really bad for talking head interviews of indeterminate length. Also has no XLR inputs.

Stick to the PMW-200. Downgrading to a consumer camera just for 4K is a very bad move. The cooling on consumer cameras also won't hold up to long interviews too.

There currently really isn't a camera in the 4K space that balances storage requirements and quality for long form interviews at this point. Wait till Sony unveils XAVC-L 10bit 4:2:2 4K format cameras that actually record to that specific format in 4K and not XAVC-L 8bit 4:2:0 in 4K. (XAVC-I 4K is still a space hog for longform video)

Doug Jensen · May 11th, 2016, 10:33 AM

Do you really need 4K for oral history interviews? If not, I'd highly recommend the FS100 and a fast 85mm prime lens. Great image quality, nice cinematic shallow DoF, a good viewfinder, XLR inputs for audio, and the cameras are really inexpensive now.

I just setup a client with this camera for doing long-form oral history interviews and they are loving it and getting some really nice results --- much better looking than anything that could be done with a 1/2" PMW-200.

I wouldn't want to use the FS100 for run & gun or other types of shooting, but for sit-down interviews it is perfect solution . . . if you don't need 4K. If you do need 4K, then look at something like the FS5 or FS7 with a nice fast prime lens.

Bob Hart · May 12th, 2016, 11:37 PM

Jack and Doug.

Thank you for your responses. I have passed them on. The project as I understand it is to be a follow-up to this one which premiered in 1993.

Exile and The Kingdom Part 1 | IsumaTV

Exile and The Kingdom Part 2 | IsumaTV

May 10th, 2016, 09:28 AM	#1
Bob Hart Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PERTH. W.A. AUSTRALIA. Posts: 4,477	Oral history and documentary. This is a double post I hope Chris will permit me an indulgence with as I want to test both camps as to cameras. I have this question from an award-winning documentary film maker ( used film ) who has been out of the game for some years. "Do you think I can stick with the sony pmw200-sony-xdcam-hd-50mbps-422-camcorder we have, or upgrade to 4k like the LUMIX Digital Single Lens Mirrorless Camera DMC-GX8? Is the gx8 broadcast quality? Are there good reasons to go 4k for broadcast or post or even blow up?" Any opinions will be much appreciated.

May 10th, 2016, 11:41 PM	#2
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: Oral history and documentary. There's a 30min limit to recordings on the GX8. Really bad for talking head interviews of indeterminate length. Also has no XLR inputs. Stick to the PMW-200. Downgrading to a consumer camera just for 4K is a very bad move. The cooling on consumer cameras also won't hold up to long interviews too. There currently really isn't a camera in the 4K space that balances storage requirements and quality for long form interviews at this point. Wait till Sony unveils XAVC-L 10bit 4:2:2 4K format cameras that actually record to that specific format in 4K and not XAVC-L 8bit 4:2:0 in 4K. (XAVC-I 4K is still a space hog for longform video)

May 11th, 2016, 10:33 AM	#3
Doug Jensen Vortex Media Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,459	Re: Oral history and documentary. Do you really need 4K for oral history interviews? If not, I'd highly recommend the FS100 and a fast 85mm prime lens. Great image quality, nice cinematic shallow DoF, a good viewfinder, XLR inputs for audio, and the cameras are really inexpensive now. I just setup a client with this camera for doing long-form oral history interviews and they are loving it and getting some really nice results --- much better looking than anything that could be done with a 1/2" PMW-200. I wouldn't want to use the FS100 for run & gun or other types of shooting, but for sit-down interviews it is perfect solution . . . if you don't need 4K. If you do need 4K, then look at something like the FS5 or FS7 with a nice fast prime lens. __________________ Vortex Media http://www.vortexmedia.com/ Sony FS7, F55, and XDCAM training videos, field guides, and other production tools

May 12th, 2016, 11:37 PM	#4
Bob Hart Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PERTH. W.A. AUSTRALIA. Posts: 4,477	Re: Oral history and documentary. Jack and Doug. Thank you for your responses. I have passed them on. The project as I understand it is to be a follow-up to this one which premiered in 1993. Exile and The Kingdom Part 1 \| IsumaTV Exile and The Kingdom Part 2 \| IsumaTV