DVX100 or HD (P2 or EX3)

[Richard Herd]

DVX100 will be fine. But if it’s dialogue heavy, consider posting in the https://forums.creativecow.net/audioprofessionals because mic and mic placement are more important than camera, for this particular movie.

Here’s what happens, for example: Let’s say you cover a scene in four shots: WS, MS, CU, POV.

When the microphone changes locations even in the same room, the room tone will also change, even when you change the position of the lights the reverb in the room is altered! So, when the movie is cut, the “white noise” will shift in pitch and it’s very disturbing and very noticeable shot to shot. In order to fix that, you will have to re-record all of the audio in accordance with the picture lock, with a few ADR sessions.

[Rick Wise]

[Sascha Engel] “An EX3 is so much more expansive in rent/buying – will it be worth the difference?”

That’s a call only you can make. The DVX 100b was, I think, the top of the line of prosumer SD video. You write you have the DVX100 so I am guessing you do not have a model A or B, which had significant upgrades. Still, an excellent SD camera.

An HDV camera such as the EX1 or 3 or one of the Panasonic P2 cameras will produce significantly better images — more visual information, smoother gradations from pure white to pure black, more exposure range, etc. It’s your money.

If this is your first time out with such a project, maybe the place to put the money is with sound: hire a good sound person who knows well how to use and place a good mic on a boom and who can also finesse radio mics. As Richard noted, good audio is essential to a dialogue-intensive project.

And then you can concentrate on the actors’ performances. How good your script is, and how well the actors perform, and how cleanly we understand their words trump any visual fine tuning. And I say that as a lifelong director of photography.

Rick Wise
director of photography
San Francisco Bay Area
and part-time instructor lighting and camera
grad school, SF Academy of Art University/Film and Video
https://www.RickWiseDP.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rwise
email: Rick@RickWiseDP.com

[Sascha Engel]

Thanx for all the advice!!! By the way – it is a DVX100B – but nevertheless – the EX1 or 3 is a lot better – it depends now, on how much money the final budget will be 😉

Sascha

[Hunter Mossman]

Moving that fast there’s something to be said for your familiarity with the gear. Going with your DVX means you already have the menu knowledge and experience with the camera that can allow you to move quickly. Another thing to consider is the with the EX1/3 or HVX etc. you will be recording to cards and not too tape requiring either more money in card rentals or a download station on set with a laptop and drives etc. That will add even more time to an already tight schedule. I’d have to agree with the post’s above and go with the good old DVX on this one and throw the rest of the money into Audio and maybe a Swing Grip/Elec. to help with lights.

Hunter Mossman
Director of Photography
http://www.huntermossman.com