XL2 for tv sitcoms? at DVinfo.net

Angel Mario · March 26th, 2005, 02:05 AM

Hello:

i just got the XL2 and ive been playing around with it shooting beside a 35 mm bl4 arri. ( i shoot videos for mtv) i found out that it does give great quality and it does look like film. (given the right lighting)

this is the first time ive decided to work with video cameras... and really find the XL2 to be the best choice...

ive been planning to shoot a Mexican tv sitcom with 35 mm film camera buuuuut... i really think that it can be done with the XL2 and lower costs... i guess my question is... to all videographers... do you think that this camera could really make it in the film world?

thanks.

Stefan Scherperel · March 26th, 2005, 03:21 AM

Absolutely.

The XL2 is still relatively new, but the 24P look that it gives is not, and is very well accepted in TV, and now in films. I have been using a DVX100A for over a year, and everybody that sees this thing in action always quotest the favorite "woah, that looks like film"!, even if they have no idea what they are talking about. Especially for a sitcom, why would you shoot a sitcom on 35mm? I can see 16mm or super16, but 35mm is overkill. The Xl2 will give you the resolution that you need for a sitcom.

Barry Green · March 26th, 2005, 04:26 AM

A sitcom might be the ideal option for an XL2 to have a good shot at replacing film for a shoot. Sitcoms are traditionally high-key lighting, with very, very little shallow-focus stuff. I'd bet you could do a quite credible sitcom on the XL2.

Angel Mario · March 26th, 2005, 11:53 AM

every moment that passes by that i spend playing with the XL2 i realize that this could be done.. even for music videos, since there gonna go to a tv channel....

thanks again...

Charles Papert · March 26th, 2005, 03:41 PM

Angel:

If you have the opportunity to try the P+S Technik Mini35 setup with a PL mount, I think you'll be delighted...best of both worlds...compatability all of your favorite cine lenses, with the depth of field of 35mm, but the reduced size, operating cost and instant monitoring capabilities of the XL2. A bit exposure-hungry though--you'll probably find that it rates somewhere around 200 ASA with this configuration. Would be great for your music videos. I think the sitcom could be managed without a standard setup however.

Mark Sasahara · March 27th, 2005, 01:01 AM

Angel, why not a Panasonic SD-X900? Or Super16? I love my XL2, but I just wonder if MiniDV is the right format?

Angel Mario · March 27th, 2005, 01:05 AM

i know man, i wonder too, but, due to the quality ive seen the xl2 can reach, i think that it is possible to achieve a great film look to something that is gonna be brodcasted in TV.

don you think?

Mark Sasahara · March 27th, 2005, 01:13 AM

It could be really nice with the XL2. My only concern is the moiré and aliasing problems with smaller format cameras.

You also have to be careful of small patterns and busy patterns in clothing, props and set dressing that may cause "jitter".

Test it out, give it a try and see what happens. It would definitely be a boost for the XL2, if you did.

Stefan Scherperel · March 27th, 2005, 11:51 AM

Currently there are quite a few shows that use cameras such as the DVX100 for filming, MTV's wildboyz is one that comes to mind. After the nature of the show, it is really beatiful looking and quite different from most things on television. It is not like miniDV has not been used in the past, it is a very strong and capable format for broadcast.

David Lach · March 27th, 2005, 12:21 PM

Could the moire/aliasing problem be somewhat negated by using the Mini35 adapter? I don't know but it seems it naturally softens the image so shouldn't it help a little theoretically? Never used it, so I'm only guessing.

Plus the shallower DOF means you would not need to worry as much about potential moire problems in your frame since only a portion of it will be in focus (so no sweat over those out of focus blinds in the background of your shot).

March 26th, 2005, 02:05 AM	#1
Angel Mario Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Garza garcia (Mexico) Posts: 78	XL2 for tv sitcoms? Hello: i just got the XL2 and ive been playing around with it shooting beside a 35 mm bl4 arri. ( i shoot videos for mtv) i found out that it does give great quality and it does look like film. (given the right lighting) this is the first time ive decided to work with video cameras... and really find the XL2 to be the best choice... ive been planning to shoot a Mexican tv sitcom with 35 mm film camera buuuuut... i really think that it can be done with the XL2 and lower costs... i guess my question is... to all videographers... do you think that this camera could really make it in the film world? thanks.

March 26th, 2005, 03:21 AM	#2
Stefan Scherperel Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 209	Absolutely. The XL2 is still relatively new, but the 24P look that it gives is not, and is very well accepted in TV, and now in films. I have been using a DVX100A for over a year, and everybody that sees this thing in action always quotest the favorite "woah, that looks like film"!, even if they have no idea what they are talking about. Especially for a sitcom, why would you shoot a sitcom on 35mm? I can see 16mm or super16, but 35mm is overkill. The Xl2 will give you the resolution that you need for a sitcom. __________________ Stefan Scherperel SSE Productions http://www.stefweb.net

March 26th, 2005, 11:53 AM	#4
Angel Mario Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Garza garcia (Mexico) Posts: 78	thanks for your comments guys. every moment that passes by that i spend playing with the XL2 i realize that this could be done.. even for music videos, since there gonna go to a tv channel.... thanks again...

March 26th, 2005, 03:41 PM	#5
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Angel: If you have the opportunity to try the P+S Technik Mini35 setup with a PL mount, I think you'll be delighted...best of both worlds...compatability all of your favorite cine lenses, with the depth of field of 35mm, but the reduced size, operating cost and instant monitoring capabilities of the XL2. A bit exposure-hungry though--you'll probably find that it rates somewhere around 200 ASA with this configuration. Would be great for your music videos. I think the sitcom could be managed without a standard setup however. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

March 27th, 2005, 01:01 AM	#6
Mark Sasahara Major Player Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NYC Posts: 649	Angel, why not a Panasonic SD-X900? Or Super16? I love my XL2, but I just wonder if MiniDV is the right format? __________________ Mark Sasahara Director of Photography

March 26th, 2005, 04:26 AM	#3
Barry Green Barry Wan Kenobi Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,863	A sitcom might be the ideal option for an XL2 to have a good shot at replacing film for a shoot. Sitcoms are traditionally high-key lighting, with very, very little shallow-focus stuff. I'd bet you could do a quite credible sitcom on the XL2.

March 27th, 2005, 01:05 AM	#7
Angel Mario Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Garza garcia (Mexico) Posts: 78	i know man, i wonder too, but, due to the quality ive seen the xl2 can reach, i think that it is possible to achieve a great film look to something that is gonna be brodcasted in TV. don you think?

March 27th, 2005, 01:13 AM	#8
Mark Sasahara Major Player Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NYC Posts: 649	It could be really nice with the XL2. My only concern is the moiré and aliasing problems with smaller format cameras. You also have to be careful of small patterns and busy patterns in clothing, props and set dressing that may cause "jitter". Test it out, give it a try and see what happens. It would definitely be a boost for the XL2, if you did. __________________ Mark Sasahara Director of Photography

March 27th, 2005, 11:51 AM	#9
Stefan Scherperel Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 209	Currently there are quite a few shows that use cameras such as the DVX100 for filming, MTV's wildboyz is one that comes to mind. After the nature of the show, it is really beatiful looking and quite different from most things on television. It is not like miniDV has not been used in the past, it is a very strong and capable format for broadcast. __________________ Stefan Scherperel SSE Productions http://www.stefweb.net

March 27th, 2005, 12:21 PM	#10
David Lach Major Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Montreal, QC, Canada Posts: 570	Could the moire/aliasing problem be somewhat negated by using the Mini35 adapter? I don't know but it seems it naturally softens the image so shouldn't it help a little theoretically? Never used it, so I'm only guessing. Plus the shallower DOF means you would not need to worry as much about potential moire problems in your frame since only a portion of it will be in focus (so no sweat over those out of focus blinds in the background of your shot).