XDCAM EX footage projected onto 12ft by 20 ft cinema screen at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Sony XAVC / XDCAM / NXCAM / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Sony XDCAM EX Pro Handhelds

Sony XDCAM EX Pro Handhelds
Sony PXW-Z280, Z190, X180 etc. (going back to EX3 & EX1) recording to SxS flash memory.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old July 7th, 2009, 05:48 AM   #1
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Birmingham, United Kingdom
Posts: 35
XDCAM EX footage projected onto 12ft by 20 ft cinema screen

I recently finished making my first documentary entitled "Krishna History or Myth".
Although I initially filmed part of this in 8 Indian cities on a HVR Z1 last year, I was given the funds to buy a PMW EX3 camera this year by friends interested in this controversial religious topic.
I went and shot more footage pertaining to this and my second doc(in post now) with the EX3 and on last Friday we viewed it on a HD projector giving out the footage onto a largish screen 12 feet by 20 feet approximately. This was pre colour gradation to make sure we had a good controversial story which jelled together and images which stood up to this test (in case of private screenings in cinemas)

I must say, both me and the people who had come to see this (including some die hard Panasonic fans) were amazed by how well both the Z1 Apple prores422 (not HQ) codec and the XDCAM Ex long GOP codec stood up to the test.
Also, the XDCAM EX (1080p) footage cuts together really well with the Z1 (1080i)footage.
I was also happy to see that the XDCAM footage had such little noise and that the colours were so vivid.
I had heard rumours that although 10 bit the XDCAM footage was not 4:2:2 but I wonder whether this is a non issue as far as documentaries are concerned?

Documentary Films
Documentary Films
__________________
Blackmagic Cinema Camera, Sony PMW EX3, 5D, 7D, HVR A-1, ME66/K6, Editing Studio, FCS 2
Film is the New Pen

Last edited by Manish Pandit; July 7th, 2009 at 08:40 AM.
Manish Pandit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old July 10th, 2009, 01:10 AM   #2
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Posts: 82
output method?

Hi Manish

Sounds interesting, though two questions, why did you not use the HQ flavour of Prores and how did you deliver the film to the HD projector?
Eric A Robinson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old July 10th, 2009, 07:45 AM   #3
Trustee
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 1,570
Quote:
I had heard rumours that although 10 bit the XDCAM footage was not 4:2:2 but I wonder whether this is a non issue as far as documentaries are concerned?
Something is missing. The EX cameras record 8 bit 4:2:0, no secret about that. Unless you were recording directly from the HD-SDI port on the camera there's no issue about what the "10 bit" is or isn't as there isn't any.
Bob Grant is offline   Reply With Quote
Old July 10th, 2009, 08:16 AM   #4
Trustee
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Malvern UK
Posts: 1,931
Quote:
why did you not use the HQ flavour of Prores
The HQ version is overkill for most uses. Going to HQ uses a lot more storage space for no real gain when working with footage from 8-bit cameras.
Simon Wyndham is offline   Reply With Quote
Old July 15th, 2009, 04:40 AM   #5
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Birmingham, United Kingdom
Posts: 35
why was HQ not used

Sorry for the delay in answering, I am a full time Consultant Nuclear Medicine Physician in my day job at Birmingham.

As to why was HQ not used?

At the time I was new to the area of documentary film making.
I had already got the footage digitised using a M15 VTR (also paid for by friends) into HDV.
Then I realised from various forums that Apple Prores 422 was better.
I also realised at the time that to digitise all the footage using HQ would take me 2 1 TB hard drives.
So I ended up doing Apple Pro Res 422 for the Z1 footage. At the time I assumed that I would be doing the editing myself. But later after word got out about this project, we managed to get guys at the Adelphi house in Manchester on board.
This film has been made on a less than shoestring budget.
__________________
Blackmagic Cinema Camera, Sony PMW EX3, 5D, 7D, HVR A-1, ME66/K6, Editing Studio, FCS 2
Film is the New Pen
Manish Pandit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old July 15th, 2009, 04:56 AM   #6
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Birmingham, United Kingdom
Posts: 35
Why I made the film?

One of the main reasons why I made the film is that one of my major interests outside Medicine is Theology and I realised that according to what most of the religious books, there have been many messengers who spoke of God.
But in all of history there has been only one being who a vast amount of religious (Hindu)scripture (around 1000 of their religious books) quotes as being God himself, who says that he is the father and that being is Krishna.
Oppenheimer, who learnt Sanskrit and studied Hindu scripture, said after the Hiroshima bombing quoting Krishna from the Bhagwad Gita in what has now become a famous quote: "I am become Death, destroyer of the three worlds". So even Oppenheimer perhaps believed in Krishna.

But did Krishna really exist or not?

I decided to make the only documentary made on the subject, and I can tell you that it is seriously controversial, especially for monotheistic religious believers.
__________________
Blackmagic Cinema Camera, Sony PMW EX3, 5D, 7D, HVR A-1, ME66/K6, Editing Studio, FCS 2
Film is the New Pen
Manish Pandit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old July 15th, 2009, 07:57 AM   #7
Major Player
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Tokyo
Posts: 898
great subject ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Manish Pandit View Post
One of the main reasons why I made the film is that one of my major interests outside Medicine is Theology and I realised that according to what most of the religious books, there have been many messengers who spoke of God.
But in all of history there has been only one being who a vast amount of religious (Hindu)scripture (around 1000 of their religious books) quotes as being God himself, who says that he is the father and that being is Krishna.
Oppenheimer, who learnt Sanskrit and studied Hindu scripture, said after the Hiroshima bombing quoting Krishna from the Bhagwad Gita in what has now become a famous quote: "I am become Death, destroyer of the three worlds". So even Oppenheimer perhaps believed in Krishna.

But did Krishna really exist or not?

I decided to make the only documentary made on the subject, and I can tell you that it is seriously controversial, especially for monotheistic religious believers.
Great subject and I generally think that you will spend endless years pulling it together and, I'm sure, create a great documentary. Sometimes, you have to follow your heart. Michael Goldberg spent years on TS Suzuki primarily because he realized the last of his students in Zen were getting pretty old. The documentary has yet to make serious headway on the TV broadcast market but ... hell, he did it because it had to be done!
Good Luck!
Dean Harrington is offline   Reply With Quote
Old July 16th, 2009, 03:23 AM   #8
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Birmingham, United Kingdom
Posts: 35
Thanks Dean

Dear Dean,

Thanks for your encouragement.I agree with what you say.
I was working on the research aspects of the documentary for a full year before I started filming last year. The problem of course is that the sheer magnitude of what I was attempting only struck me when I started filming.
Then of course this documentary goes completely against what the Indian text books and Indologists say about Krishna and the Mahabharata and so getting permission to film in India was not easy. They even refused to acknowledge that they had received dozens of faxes and special delivery letters regarding the shooting script. So in those terms although not explicitly so, it is also a somewhat politically sensitive documentary.
It is a couple of weeks from completion. (I have a 40 minute idea for part 2 if I can raise the funding, my second documentary which is a far more controversial religious documentary is also in post).
__________________
Blackmagic Cinema Camera, Sony PMW EX3, 5D, 7D, HVR A-1, ME66/K6, Editing Studio, FCS 2
Film is the New Pen
Manish Pandit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old July 16th, 2009, 05:49 AM   #9
Major Player
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Tokyo
Posts: 898
sounds intriguing ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Manish Pandit View Post
Dear Dean,

Thanks for your encouragement.I agree with what you say.
I was working on the research aspects of the documentary for a full year before I started filming last year. The problem of course is that the sheer magnitude of what I was attempting only struck me when I started filming.
Then of course this documentary goes completely against what the Indian text books and Indologists say about Krishna and the Mahabharata and so getting permission to film in India was not easy. They even refused to acknowledge that they had received dozens of faxes and special delivery letters regarding the shooting script. So in those terms although not explicitly so, it is also a somewhat politically sensitive documentary.
It is a couple of weeks from completion. (I have a 40 minute idea for part 2 if I can raise the funding, my second documentary which is a far more controversial religious documentary is also in post).

So ... you've managed to raise the ire of those who shall not be named ! Well, in that case, realize that you may have to go the festival route to find interest and for that matter, money to complete your project. I suggest that you have a documentary of making the documentary ready as a trailer! Nothing sparks interest like controversy ... and possibly more money to finish the project? Make some waves.
Take this in it's best light.

ps. It's better to not antagonize those who would destroy for their religion ... they are after all only human! Sometimes the guise of fiction is the best route to a new perspective!
Dean Harrington is offline   Reply With Quote
Old July 17th, 2009, 03:40 AM   #10
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Birmingham, United Kingdom
Posts: 35
Festival route

Dear Dean,
What you are saying is correct in terms of the festival route. There is however, tremendous interest from the Indian diaspora and Indians themselves as to this documentary.
And whoever has seen the documentary so far has found it to be good.
This film is very nearly complete.
I luckily do have the funding to complete this film (pay people) and most likely the next as well.

As far as the post script is concerned, I feel that I cannot sit and just watch any longer, something must be done, and so this is a start. And in the end, the perspective that I am presenting, I hope will unify rather than divide, although those in the power structures of organised religion I am sure will not see it that way.
__________________
Blackmagic Cinema Camera, Sony PMW EX3, 5D, 7D, HVR A-1, ME66/K6, Editing Studio, FCS 2
Film is the New Pen
Manish Pandit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old July 17th, 2009, 05:53 AM   #11
Major Player
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Tokyo
Posts: 898
good luck ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Manish Pandit View Post
Dear Dean,
What you are saying is correct in terms of the festival route. There is however, tremendous interest from the Indian diaspora and Indians themselves as to this documentary.
And whoever has seen the documentary so far has found it to be good.
This film is very nearly complete.
I luckily do have the funding to complete this film (pay people) and most likely the next as well.

As far as the post script is concerned, I feel that I cannot sit and just watch any longer, something must be done, and so this is a start. And in the end, the perspective that I am presenting, I hope will unify rather than divide, although those in the power structures of organised religion I am sure will not see it that way.
Wish you the best and hope to see the film when it's ready!
all the best
Dean Harrington is offline   Reply With Quote
Old July 17th, 2009, 12:29 PM   #12
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Birmingham, United Kingdom
Posts: 35
Thanks

Thanks Dean.
__________________
Blackmagic Cinema Camera, Sony PMW EX3, 5D, 7D, HVR A-1, ME66/K6, Editing Studio, FCS 2
Film is the New Pen
Manish Pandit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old July 17th, 2009, 02:47 PM   #13
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,699
Quote:
Originally Posted by Manish Pandit View Post
I had heard rumours that although 10 bit the XDCAM footage was not 4:2:2 but I wonder whether this is a non issue as far as documentaries are concerned?
There is no question of rumours, the XDCAM codec as used by the EX is 8 bit and 4:2:0.

Don't worry about it. 10 bit will take more grading and correction than 8 bit, but practically there are a lot of more important factors to think about than bit depth, and the differences are more relevant to much higher end cameras.

As far as 4:2:0/4:2:2 go, then remember they only relate relative amounts of colour to luminance, so in isolation they are meaningless terms. Much better to have a high resolution 4:2:0 camera than a lower resolution 4:2:2 one, contrary to some popular belief. The EX cameras are probably as good as you'll get now without spending a very great deal more money.
David Heath is offline   Reply With Quote
Old July 17th, 2009, 07:52 PM   #14
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 193
> "As far as the post script is concerned, I feel that I cannot sit and just watch any longer, something must be done, and so this is a start. And in the end, the perspective that I am presenting, I hope will unify rather than divide, although those in the power structures of organised religion I am sure will not see it that way."

I am with you strongly on this Manish - something must be done.

Best of luck with your project - keep us in touch and hopefully we will get the opportunity to see it.
Peter Wright is offline   Reply With Quote
Old July 18th, 2009, 04:18 AM   #15
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Birmingham, United Kingdom
Posts: 35
Resolution is as good as anything else at that price or even somewhat more

Quote:
Originally Posted by David Heath View Post

As far as 4:2:0/4:2:2 go, then remember they only relate relative amounts of colour to luminance, so in isolation they are meaningless terms. Much better to have a high resolution 4:2:0 camera than a lower resolution 4:2:2 one, contrary to some popular belief. The EX cameras are probably as good as you'll get now without spending a very great deal more money.
That is something which I realised when I saw the footage later.
I think that the high resolution on the EX3 is a winner.
__________________
Blackmagic Cinema Camera, Sony PMW EX3, 5D, 7D, HVR A-1, ME66/K6, Editing Studio, FCS 2
Film is the New Pen
Manish Pandit is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > Sony XAVC / XDCAM / NXCAM / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Sony XDCAM EX Pro Handhelds

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:59 AM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network