[Pete Burger]

The 50mm 1.8 is a very fine lens for an unbeatable price. I got one myself and am very happy with it.
What you should consider, is that this lens is not built very stable. I read a lot of horror stories about breaking apart after a couple of days. Mine still works, but the 1.4 is definitly better quality and it is a bit faster.

One might say, there is no big difference between 1.8 and 1.4, but if you’re shooting lowlight, the small difference might be crucial whether to have to push ISO (and noise) up or not.

Also: The AF of the 1.8 is very slow and not too precise and manual focussing is also easier with the 1.4.

There is no big difference in picture quality (I would say, there is none, but some people I know claim, they can see one…).

To cut a long story short: If you can/want to afford it, get the 1.4.

But I think, you also won’t be disappointed with the 1.8

[Pete Burger]

You maybe want to take a look at this tutorial:

https://www.mackdadd.com/CG/CGTalk/Defocus_GrnScrn_01_CD_better.mov

One of the best keylight-tutorials I found so far. Helped me on more than one project.

A basic keying-tutorial, that you might already know:

https://www.videocopilot.net/basic/#04

Good luck with your project! Working on two greenscreen clips myself these days…

[Pete Burger]

I’ve been using Keylight in After Effects for any kind of footage for a quite a time now, and it produces great results.
You have to work yourself into the numerous settings, but it’s worth it. You’ll find a lot of information on keylight here on the cow.

[Pete Burger]

Thanks again, Chris!

I appreciate your always very helpful comments!

[Pete Burger]

Thanks Chris for that explanation!
Much appreciated!

[Pete Burger]

Chris,

Can you really shoot footage in Adobe RGB with a Canon VDSLR? Or are you referring to working with sRGB/Adobe RGB in an NLE or compositing program?

[Pete Burger]

Thanks Chris!

Sound will be produced in post (music and voiceover). So no problem with that. No difficult pictures as well.

You also think, that DSLR won’t produce more (or more visible) compression artifacts, than HDV, that’ll look weird on a big screen?

So, yes, it’s DSLR… (I almost hoped everybody will say that ;-))

[Pete Burger]

Yes. Should work exactly they way you described it.

[Pete Burger]

Same here, Bob! Especially if you go to small local theatres.

Yes, I will take the 5D. I just wanted to be shure, that there are no major downsides for the big screen with the H.264 material.

I knew some HDV-productions for cinema, and I think I know how to get the best out of HDV – so I felt safe…

All the best to Down Under!

Snow is gone in Munich – probably no white christmas… 🙁

[Pete Burger]

Watched the videos, Claus! Great!
Yeah, I think I go with aesthetics… Even if there should be some small tech-issues (which I don’t believe, because DSLR footage has a much higher bandwith than HDV) – to heck with it!