Which camera on "Wonderland" at DVinfo.net

Gints Klimanis · February 27th, 2004, 02:08 PM

I just finished watching "Wonderland", the video documentary/story of the murders involving John Holmes, the porn king. The movie was better than I thought.

Anyway, the 2nd DVD disk contained interviews with crystal clear video (and good DOF), better than anything I've ever seen on a DVD. Which cameras produce such results? The 2nd disk was packed with an assortment of interview videos, some transferred from film, some with the expected video quality and some with stunning video quality. I had no idea that video could look this
good in the DVD format. It was crisper and sharper than even Rodriguez's film "Once Upon a Time in Mexico", which was shot on video, as you've all discussed in another thread.

Thanks for any info on the crisp video camera and perhaps the conversion process to DVD. If anyone has other examples of
such stellar video that are available on DVD, please let us know.

Alex Dunn · February 27th, 2004, 03:11 PM

Are you just wanting to know which camera they used? Because there are hundreds of variables involved with how it looks on the DVD but I think you know that. Unless the guy/gal who shot that footage happens to read this thread it's anybody's guess. But if it was THAT good it was probably high-definition video and the DVD compression was done by a big hardware compressor (big $).

Frankly, I think my DVD's are pretty darn sharp and I'm just using a GL2 (always FRAME mode) and a MainConcept MPEG-2 compression software with variable bit rate compression with no max (9600?). It takes a little more space on the disc but I'm happy with the results.

For the DoF, just max out your Fstop to 2.x and set the shutter to 1/60 and adjust the lighting accordingly (using ND filter if necessary). Use a three light system (Key, fill, and backlight) with a diffusion if necessary and POOF, you have crystal clear interviews.

Gints Klimanis · February 27th, 2004, 03:34 PM

I'd be interested in the camera, but I know there's no way.
Since it's a new release, the only HD solution out there for under $5000 is the JVC. So, I'm wondering if that camera has the reputation for producing such great looking video for DVD.
In other words, is computer-based down rezzing from HD-MPEG2 to SD better than shooting with a lower resolution CCD in the first place.

Yes, some of video interviews were *that* good, better than
anything else I've seen short of D-VHS and some HD broadcast.

Alex Dunn · February 27th, 2004, 03:41 PM

Ah, I knew you were asking a more specific question!! Your real question is:

Does HD-MPEG look better on DVD than SD (even though MPEG has similar resolution limitations to SD)?

I hope someone else has a real answer.

Alex Dunn · February 27th, 2004, 03:43 PM

Another point to ponder:

I wouldn't assume that the interviewer on the set of Wonderland didn't have access to a rented >$100,000 Sony HD camera.

Giroud Francois · February 29th, 2004, 11:27 AM

interview is a special side of filming because it has particular specifications that can help to obtain really good results.

1) still subject and still background
that is really easy to compress for high quality since the amount of pixel changing from frame to frame is very small.
Mpeg compression is very efficient in this case.

2) If the inteview is properly set regarding lights you can easily have a nice fuzzy background and clear/sharp subject in front. the contrast is very effective, giving a subjective quality to the picture that looks really nicer than it is

if you take advantage of these two conditions, you can an really looking good picture even with a 3ccd DV camera. (but for sure in the case you mentioned, it is probably a high end camera)

February 27th, 2004, 02:08 PM	#1
Gints Klimanis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,222	Which camera on "Wonderland" I just finished watching "Wonderland", the video documentary/story of the murders involving John Holmes, the porn king. The movie was better than I thought. Anyway, the 2nd DVD disk contained interviews with crystal clear video (and good DOF), better than anything I've ever seen on a DVD. Which cameras produce such results? The 2nd disk was packed with an assortment of interview videos, some transferred from film, some with the expected video quality and some with stunning video quality. I had no idea that video could look this good in the DVD format. It was crisper and sharper than even Rodriguez's film "Once Upon a Time in Mexico", which was shot on video, as you've all discussed in another thread. Thanks for any info on the crisp video camera and perhaps the conversion process to DVD. If anyone has other examples of such stellar video that are available on DVD, please let us know.

February 27th, 2004, 03:11 PM	#2
Alex Dunn Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 202	Are you just wanting to know which camera they used? Because there are hundreds of variables involved with how it looks on the DVD but I think you know that. Unless the guy/gal who shot that footage happens to read this thread it's anybody's guess. But if it was THAT good it was probably high-definition video and the DVD compression was done by a big hardware compressor (big $). Frankly, I think my DVD's are pretty darn sharp and I'm just using a GL2 (always FRAME mode) and a MainConcept MPEG-2 compression software with variable bit rate compression with no max (9600?). It takes a little more space on the disc but I'm happy with the results. For the DoF, just max out your Fstop to 2.x and set the shutter to 1/60 and adjust the lighting accordingly (using ND filter if necessary). Use a three light system (Key, fill, and backlight) with a diffusion if necessary and POOF, you have crystal clear interviews.

February 27th, 2004, 03:34 PM	#3
Gints Klimanis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,222	I'd be interested in the camera, but I know there's no way. Since it's a new release, the only HD solution out there for under $5000 is the JVC. So, I'm wondering if that camera has the reputation for producing such great looking video for DVD. In other words, is computer-based down rezzing from HD-MPEG2 to SD better than shooting with a lower resolution CCD in the first place. Yes, some of video interviews were that good, better than anything else I've seen short of D-VHS and some HD broadcast.

February 27th, 2004, 03:41 PM	#4
Alex Dunn Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 202	Ah, I knew you were asking a more specific question!! Your real question is: Does HD-MPEG look better on DVD than SD (even though MPEG has similar resolution limitations to SD)? I hope someone else has a real answer.

February 27th, 2004, 03:43 PM	#5
Alex Dunn Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 202	Another point to ponder: I wouldn't assume that the interviewer on the set of Wonderland didn't have access to a rented >$100,000 Sony HD camera.

February 29th, 2004, 11:27 AM	#6
Giroud Francois Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: switzerland Posts: 2,133	interview is a special side of filming because it has particular specifications that can help to obtain really good results. 1) still subject and still background that is really easy to compress for high quality since the amount of pixel changing from frame to frame is very small. Mpeg compression is very efficient in this case. 2) If the inteview is properly set regarding lights you can easily have a nice fuzzy background and clear/sharp subject in front. the contrast is very effective, giving a subjective quality to the picture that looks really nicer than it is if you take advantage of these two conditions, you can an really looking good picture even with a 3ccd DV camera. (but for sure in the case you mentioned, it is probably a high end camera)