I shot my first spot today using a dslr. I’m used to bigger cameras, broadcast cameras to shoot with and whereas it pushed me way out of my comfort zone I have to say I actually enjoyed the experience.
I have been of the train of thought that this is just a still camera that can shoot video, what’s the big deal here, why is everyone swooning over this format and camera type. It just has never seemed to me to be professional, for goodness sake there isn’t even any xlr jacks to plug in mics or any audio metering so how can this be a professional way to shoot!!??
Putting all of this aside I jumped in, thought a little differently about my shots, how I was going to light them and yes we shot on chroma key for it which I have read it a DSLR’s least favorite thing to shoot. Yes only having H.264 to shoot in isn’t my ideal codec of choice to shoot anything in was a scary thing, but I got over it very quickly when I saw what was shot. The depth of field, the movements of the camera, it’s so damn light, you can do so many things with it, literally freeing my creativity up on my choice of angles, shots. Shots I wouldn’t have dared to do with a Panasonic HVX200a strapped me I was able to do with ease
My second concern, bar the whole it’s a bloody still camera, was Final Cut Pro. Yes I am running X and as well as I know it eats most codecs I was worried about how it would handle and edit H.264 without any transcoding, no waiting on compressor to finish before I started my edit. Well, I finished my rough cut of the spot in 20 minutes. That’s from ingest to basic storyline edit. All I have to do now is fine tune that damn pacing and then it’s off for compositing and finishing.
My fear of using a DSLR for professional work is slowly leaving me. I do see the potential of the format. Some nice lenses next (yes I do get to go shopping soon for a few nice lenses) and I’ll be very happy.
Its no Red Scarlet by any means, I don’t think I could convince my company to slap that sort of cash down.
Wishful thinking on my part there.