Daniel Stone
Forum Replies Created
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Never mind, figured it out. They’re kind of like, “thanks for your purchase, now good luck finding it. And if you need help, go to Creative Cow.”
In case anyone else is trying to figure it out: you have to go back, search for the demo version, fill out the form, re-download it, re-install it (even if it’s already installed), ignore the demo serial number email you get, find the purchased serial number email, put it in during the install and you’re good.
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Yeah, I’ve been advised to watch out for situations like this. And the fact that support probably won’t respond the first try.
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Hey Nathan,
The DVXUSER forum is a lot more lively on this topic. I posted over there and started a fantastically helpful conversation: https://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?260488-FS100-looks-so-video-ish
It comes down to the fact that it’s not very cinematic out of the box as the Panasonic line (DVX, HVX, AF100, VariCam, etc) and many people don’t understand that it has nothing to do with shallow depth of field. The misconception is “shallow depth of field = filmic”. Not true. It has to do with light handling and treatment (which is performed internally, post-sensor in the Panasonic cameras). We’re film guys (so we’re picky) and my DP describes the FS100 as putting a PRO35 adaptor on a news-style Betacam. Shallow DOF – but nothing like film. We tested ours extensively with lenses, settings, lighting, etc and we found that a fairly cinematic image is possible – though you have to work for it.
here are some tips:
– The camera seems to do better with lower resolution lenses, Though this is a matter of personal taste, we tested with everything from our RED PRO primes, Zeiss Super Speeds and old Nikons stills. The old Nikons seemed to do best for us.
– Get some picture profiles (Google FS100 picture profiles) and get one you like.
– Underexpose. For us the camera seemed to do better a stop or two underexposed. The image is super clean, so you shouldn’t have issues with grain.
– Turn the internal sharpening all the way down. This helped almost immediately.
– With this camera, what you see is what you get. The image it produces is very real and clean (as opposed to organic and subliminal). The best thing you can do is light by eye. I’m used to film and am used to how forgiving it is in terms of its organic light handling. If you light for film with this camera, it’ll look awful (like ‘behind the scenes’ footage from movies you rent). Remember, if it looks filmic to your eye, it’ll look filmic in camera.Most of all, test!
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One more thing – the XDCam footage edits beautifully and seamlessly in FCP.
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Thought I’d chime in quickly and second the EX3. Though it’s designed to sit more on the front of your shoulder than actually on your shoulder, it still has the side-mounted viewfinder that flips up.
Here’s why I like it:
– sxs cards hold much more than p2
– I’ve heard of adaptors that allow you to use cheaper SD cards in place of the sxs cards
– HD SDI for going to an external recorder
– externally-mounted feature buttons
– lots of format options from 24p to interlaced 60i (if you’re going straight to broadcast)
– fantastic image quality
– 1/2″ sensor larger than 1/3″ but not so big that you’re wrestling with focus constantly
– loads of features for cinematic shooting with a form factor condusive to ENG work.Hope this helps!
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Excellent! Thanks so much everyone!
Dan
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Here’s a perfect example (see link below). A local motorcycle dealership commercial. A couple of shots in the beginning look cinematic (jello effect aside) because those shots were with the 5D. Everything else looks like video – because it was shot with the FS100.
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Poked around in the menus and figured it out. Frame offset option.
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One thing I found out is that you have to look at the interlaced version on a broadcast monitor to see if it’s right. Watching it in QuickTime on your machine makes it look jumpy and jerky (with that interlaced ghosting you’re talking about).
Hope this helps.
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Excellent point and very true!
In an effort to have as many things stacked in my favor as possible, I want to stay away from drives that fail more than others. Every time I pull a LaCie Rugged out at a shoot people cringe and I’m wondering if the whole world knows something I don’t.