On Set Comparison: 16mm FILM & HD w/35mm Adapter (uncompressed) side by side

Martyn Hull · November 28th, 2008, 07:11 AM

Am i right or wrong in saying the canon hv20 has more resolution than standard 16mm film,i was under the impression than for hd tv broadcasts 35mm pro hd and a small pecentage of hdv, not sure about super16 but i do not think 16mm is included.

Brian Drysdale · November 28th, 2008, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martyn Hull

Am i right or wrong in saying the canon hv20 has more resolution than standard 16mm film,i was under the impression than for hd tv broadcasts 35mm pro hd and a small pecentage of hdv, not sure about super16 but i do not think 16mm is included.

For the UK broadcasters Super !6 is counted as a SD format (like HDV), although this seems to be due to the transmission codec not liking the grain on the 500 ASA stock or perhaps it's just the engineering politics.

Christopher Ruffell · November 28th, 2008, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martyn Hull

Am i right or wrong in saying the canon hv20 has more resolution than standard 16mm film,i was under the impression than for hd tv broadcasts 35mm pro hd and a small pecentage of hdv, not sure about super16 but i do not think 16mm is included.

I doubt that the HV20 has more resolution than 16/Super16 - this was simply a real-world shoot under time-constraints and lo-no budget (there was one more person on crew other than us, the two operators). I'm sure someone could prove with a better film stock that film has more resolution that the HV20. But, then how much more, and, could the average person tell?

The HV20's image, despite being uncompressed, had a resolution lower than it's maximum; a 35mm adapter and 35mm lens loose contrast and resolution and adds chromatic aberration, the DOF was extremely shallow (50mm 1.4 lens fully wide open) and my focus was off as I was eyeballing it through a 2.5" LCD screen. Then bear in mind the optical and digital systems in the camera that throw away high-frequency detail. If the set had been any darker at all, it would have started to miss detail.

In the end, the director and I were excited that we can cut the footage together after a colour grade and some grain thrown in.

Hunter Richards · November 28th, 2008, 03:26 PM

I just wanted to know what stock THAT frame was from, looks like 7218 and it seems to be exposed to the specular highlights. For people who haven't seen much 16mm, this shouldn't be seen as a comparison to make any judgments on.

Anyways, thanks for posting Chris, I love frame grabs!

Christopher Ruffell · November 19th, 2009, 11:43 AM

Martyn Hull · November 20th, 2009, 10:28 AM

nice stuff

Christopher Ruffell · November 20th, 2009, 12:15 PM

Glad you enjoyed it - the director will be thrilled! It was his first project of this nature. Cheers!

Martyn Hull · November 24th, 2009, 09:27 AM

Which parts were 16mm.

Christopher Ruffell · November 24th, 2009, 12:31 PM

Martyn, this project is over a year old now for me, and, it's visually hard to tell, which means that the blend of the two was a success. From what I can remember, the first shots are 16mm, many of the earlier shots from the first half of the band on the location they play at are 16mm, and all the B-Roll (B&W driving, etc shots) are 16mm too.

November 28th, 2008, 03:26 PM	#19
Hunter Richards Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 89 Images: 2	I just wanted to know what stock THAT frame was from, looks like 7218 and it seems to be exposed to the specular highlights. For people who haven't seen much 16mm, this shouldn't be seen as a comparison to make any judgments on. Anyways, thanks for posting Chris, I love frame grabs! __________________ HR\|cinematographer HunterHRichards.com

November 19th, 2009, 11:43 AM	#20
Christopher Ruffell Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 202	Here's the video: 16mm Film Music Video- "So Divine" By RKO on Vimeo

November 28th, 2008, 07:11 AM	#16
Martyn Hull Major Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: England Posts: 444	Am i right or wrong in saying the canon hv20 has more resolution than standard 16mm film,i was under the impression than for hd tv broadcasts 35mm pro hd and a small pecentage of hdv, not sure about super16 but i do not think 16mm is included.

November 20th, 2009, 10:28 AM	#21
Martyn Hull Major Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: England Posts: 444	nice stuff

November 20th, 2009, 12:15 PM	#22
Christopher Ruffell Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 202	Glad you enjoyed it - the director will be thrilled! It was his first project of this nature. Cheers!

November 24th, 2009, 09:27 AM	#23
Martyn Hull Major Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: England Posts: 444	Which parts were 16mm.

November 24th, 2009, 12:31 PM	#24
Christopher Ruffell Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 202	Martyn, this project is over a year old now for me, and, it's visually hard to tell, which means that the blend of the two was a success. From what I can remember, the first shots are 16mm, many of the earlier shots from the first half of the band on the location they play at are 16mm, and all the B-Roll (B&W driving, etc shots) are 16mm too.