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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Top Gear's camera gear?

J

John Hunt

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Does anyone have first-hand knowledge of the camera equipment and crew size used on the exterior car shoots on the BBC car show "Top Gear"?

It is such a beautifully-shot show. I'm doing due-diligence for a show proposal and we are craving that look...

thanks -

John Hunt
 
I think one of the things that attributes their unique look is the heavy use of lens filters.. You notice they use a lot of gradient filters (ND, orange sky, violet sky) type filters.. and they also tend to add artificial vignetting to some of the exterior shots.. Id say its more about art direction than equipment really. I wouldn't imagine them using anything special. I watch the show on HD and they don't seem to be using f900's or anything like that.

Should say, this isnt first hand knowledge. Just observations I've made as an avid longtime fan!
 
yes, definitely noticed they tastefully use the variety-pack of filters - seems like every sky shot has a grad in there at an angle. The FOV, shallow depth of field and lovely slow motion shots made me wonder if they were using something beyond the usual digi-beta gear...
 
These guys have a custom made pack of attenuators they keep in the production office, from what a director friend tells me. They pull them out for the car exterior shots, some are used more successfully than others.

They also do a lot 'in camera' using the colour matrix settings as they have quick turnaround and very little time in post. I could probably put you in touch with the cameramen who shoot the spots... when I come off night shoots for the Red Feature we are shooting :shifty:

Mike Costelloe
 
Must say I've never considered the shooting of Top Gear to be anything special. Good programme though. As far as I'm aware they just use typical gear, Digibetas and now Varicams, normal lenses and coloured grads.
Steve
 
It used to be Digibeta for sure, but I'm not up on what they're using currently.

Graeme
 
Yep, DigiBeta up until the Polar Special last year ten they switched to Varicam. I happen to think it's one of the best looking shows made in the UK these days - it really does stand out a mile in the style department.

I went to a seminar that the Producer gave a few years ago (back when I was doing time at the Beeb) and his approach was a real breath of fresh air. The best bit though was when (in response to the suggestion that the show was "cutting edge") he pointed out that Top Gear is really just That's Life with cars, and that Clarkson is Esther Rantzen!
 
I think most of the look of the programme comes from just one piece of very good kit - the director! I really don't see anything technically special involved at all.
Steve
 
One piece of kit I know they definitely did use though was a Sachtler Video 20 MkII head on light Miller legs 'cos I bought it from one of the cameramen on the show! I'm selling the head now if anyone's interested - a genuine Top Gear item!:sarcasm:
Steve
 
thanks everyone for the valuable information. I'm relieved to hear that their gear is not beyond Varicam.

Costelloe Michael - I would love to chat with someone in their camera dept. if you could arrange that.

Thanks again, everyone -

John Hunt
 
I really allways enjoyed how this show was shot
 
Panasonic

Panasonic

The show is shot using Panasonic cameras and if anyone is in any doubt Panny are not currently successful read this :-

Providing evidence of the worldwide success and momentum that P2 is enjoying, Panasonic announced that it has delivered more than 80,000 P2 HD/P2 units worldwide with over 840 television networks and stations having adopted the solid-state recording format. In the U.S., the ever-growing list of television stations, groups, and networks converting to P2 includes KABC, Barrington, Cordillera, Cox, Cowles, Dispatch, Entravision, Fisher Broadcasting, Fox, Freedom, Gray, Griffin Communications, Journal, Liberty, McGraw-Hill, Media General, Meredith, Morgan Murphy, Nexstar, Quincy, Raycom, Sinclair, Univision, Waterman, Weigel and Young Broadcasting.
 
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