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Kermie:
This particular thread was initially about the Viper camera, which is the highest-end HD system and thus I tailored my remarks towards its use vs film which would naturally be in a high-budget situation. I don't see anyone using the Viper in a run-and-gun environment any time soon!
Yes, HD is still in its infancy and it will evolve, at an incredible rate (which makes it depressing for those whose livelihoods center around the purchase and rental of equipment, such as rental houses!) The bummer is that with each new camera, the cry of "Film is dead!" rises up from the manufacturers. I have a similar philosophy to Robert, that while I embrace digital media, I am disappointed with the current state of technology when it attempts to "replace" film. It's not quick, it's not all that easy and frankly, it don't look all that great. (when you are having to hang nets or tape ND to every window so that they don't blow out, it becomes a serious time issue compared to film, for instance).
Robert:
"Incidentally, this scenario perfectly describes episodic television, which is the reason why ER, The West Wing, and virtually every other telelvision show is switching to the HD format right now."
The majority of episodic is still shot on film. Some have tested HD and gone back to film for the time being. All the John Wells shows (ER, West Wing, Third Watch, Presidio Med) are shot on 35; those that are presented in 16:9 are shot in the Super 35 format and posted to Digi Beta, with the letterboxing added. What's especially nice about working this way is that unlike most series which have to compose to the 4:3 frame but protect the 16:9 frame for the "future", is that you can make widescreen compositions with full confidence that they will be seen as intended, and you can bring lights and flags right up the edge instead of leaving that "no man's land" of 16:9 emptiness on either side of the 4:3 frame! The executive producer of the show I work on has stated "f**k HD" whenever we are fretting over doing another take because something dipped into that section of the frame.
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