How to shoot 2.35:1 with the Sony EX1

[Noah Kadner]

Simple- use tape like scotch or masking tape on the viewfinder. There’s no way to force the viewfinder to show 2.35 markings. And yes you’ll mask it off to 2.35 in post with a matte.

Noah

My FCP Blog. Unlock the secrets of the DVX100, HVX200 and Apple Color and Win a Free Letus Extreme.
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[Jared Callan]

How do you know where to mark the viewfinder?

Jared B. Callan
Master Video Productions

[Steve Wargo]

Here’s how we do it:

1. Get a DSC (or other) chart that has 2.35 framing lines.

1a. Frame it up on whatever LCD you’re using.

2. Find a piece of lightly tinted plastic sheeting (thin) and lay it over your LCD.

3. Mark the 2.35 framing with a marker.

4. Cut the frame out, exposing the 2.35 center section.

5. Tape it onto your LCD when needed.

6. Remember, in post, you can slide the image up and down to adjust vertical framing.

We shot a feature film framed at 1.85. However, we were able to convince the production to allow us to post frame at 2.35. Problem: Some of the shots now had improper framing like heads cut off or whatever. In one shot, we panned across a room and the last guy’s head was cut off. We did a slide movement with the frame behind the matte and it looked like a camera tilt up. Using key frames for your move, no one will ever know it wasn’t a planned camera move.

So, with this in mind, you have some flexibility in vertical framing that you can adjust in post if necessary. In our feature, we only had to adjust a dozen shots out of a about 1500 and didn’t have the luxury of planning in advance.

Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona
It’s a dry heat!

Sony HDCAM F-900 & HDW-2000/1 deck
5 Final Cut (not quite PRO) systems
Sony HVR-M25 HDV deck
2-Sony EX-1 HD .

[Steve Wargo]

Go to this site: https://www.dsclabs.com/tech_tips.htm

They have all of the charts. They are expensive.

Contact them, tell them that you’re new to production and ask if they have something available that you can used to set some framing.

Now that it’s been asked a few times, we’ll work one up and post it on our website.

Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona
It’s a dry heat!

Sony HDCAM F-900 & HDW-2000/1 deck
5 Final Cut (not quite PRO) systems
Sony HVR-M25 HDV deck
2-Sony EX-1 HD .

[Jared Callan]

Thanks. 🙂

Jared B. Callan
Master Video Productions

[Nigel Ellis]

I have done this by getting a sheet of paper and a marker. Draw a box on it 23.5 cm by 10 cm or use inches if you have a larger sheet. Mark the center point and pin it on the wall an point the camera on it. Zoom in to get the vertical lines on th edge of frame. Then go into the camera menus and adjust the TV safe area until the horizontal lines hit the lines on the chart (I think it is about 80%). Shoot some of the chart so you can put it in your NLE and use the lines for a mask there too.

Nigel Ellis

[Jared Callan]

I’ll try that. Thanks.

Jared B. Callan
Master Video Productions