What *VIDEO CAMERA to use with RED-One ??

[Johnny Friday]

Which one is NGSTV George? i ask because i've turned in some stock shots from my D7000 and i recall a 5 man crew coming all with cannon 5d's to shot a shark film at Guadalupe---they passed on my bid with R1's....and went far cheaper 5d's.....but i now can't recall if that was NG or Discovery.

 

[Matt Gottshalk]

Panasonic Af-100.

Light, small, and a real video camera to boot.

 

[George D.]

[/QUOTE]

Which one is NGSTV George? i ask because i've turned in some stock shots from my D7000 and i recall a 5 man crew coming all with cannon 5d's to shot a shark film at Guadalupe---they passed on my bid with R1's....and went far cheaper 5d's.....but i now can't recall if that was NG or Discovery.

You should have got that contract Johnny. It was a stupid decision not to go with the quality the Red can give, especially combined with the skill of an underwater wildlife cinematographer. When dealing with some TV companies I have lost jobs too due to the "cheapness" attitude of some producers. And, they usually regret it cause the end result shows it, and you get what you pay for most of the time. It was probably the Discovery Channel. I can't imagine NGSTV going with the 5D, unless something has changed "without notice".

I'm not sure what your question is, but maybe National Geographic's "Approved Camera List" below will answer it.

Take care, and keep your regulator clean.

George

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NGC US and NGCI Approved List of HD Primary Cameras

For 1080i Productions:
(Minimum of 2 million pixels)

Thompson Phantom v12

Red Camera

Sony HDW-F900R / F950

Sony F23

Sony HDW790 / 730S

Sony PDW700
(1920 x 1080 @ 50 Mb/s)

Panasonic AJ-HPX3000 – (shoots 1080 only)


For 720p Productions:
(Minimum of 1 million pixels)

Panasonic Varicam AJ -HDC27FP

Panasonic Varicam AJ-HDX900


NGC Approved HD Secondary Cameras*

Sony EX1 – both 1080i and 720p
(1920 x 1080 or 1280 x 720 – HQ Mode @ 35Mb/s)

Panasonic AG-HPX500 – both 1080i and 720p

Panasonic AJ-HPX2000 – both 1080i and 720p

* Note – Secondary cameras are to be used for tight or confined spaces or situations that pose a hazard to your full size production camera. Use of footage captured with these cameras must not exceed 20% of the overall production. Any percentage over this amount must be approved by the channel EP’s and Network Operations. Please allow ample time to have cameras approved. All requests must be presented by the Production Manager.


Non-approved HD Cameras**:

Anything built on the DV or HDV platform

Sony HVRZ1U / Sony HVRV1U / Sony HVRZ7U

**Usage can be approved for exceptional circumstances. Must get prior written approval from Network Operations.
Footage would be considered part of the 10% non-HD allowance.
EXCEPTIONS TO THE APPROVED LIST



Process for getting approval for exceptions

For situations where a camera that does not appear on the approved list is requested to be used:

Contact your NGT Production Manager with the specific requested camera, model number and reasons why an exception is needed.

The NGT PM will request an exception be made through the Channel Production management team who will in turn pass the request along to the channel EP and Operations staff (both domestic and International).

If the request is approved editorially, then NGC/NGCI Operations will need to evaluate some test footage. Please have test footage sent through your NGT Production management team.

NGC/NGCI Ops will review the test footage for technical standards before making a final decision.


For requests to use more than 20% of secondary camera footage or 10% of non-HD footage:

Contact your NGT Production Manager with the reasons why an exception is needed.

The NGT PM will request an exception be made through the Channel Production management team who will in turn pass the request along to the channel EP and Operations staff (both domestic and International).

The NGC/NGCI EP & Operations personnel will assess the need and make a decision, which will be communicated back through the NGT Production Management team.

*****************************************************************************

 

[Johnny Friday]

Hi George....
yep, totally know the list.....funny that i just had Karen Black and Neil Nightingale here in Mex and Karen was picking going throough my stock (she was on a contract job for NG for the Wild America's series)....some of the stock was Z1u and other non-approved......but i also was not submitting for a production....just know that when you have the shot they want, they take it.....as some of those cameras are fantastic. Z1U point in case...have piles of stock shot on that camera that have been sold over and over as well as 5d material. However, i'm sure they would not approve me to shoot a series with those cameras.....

....and can't agree more with your comments....some things never change. Hence some producers like only to work with their proven assets. I certainly lost that job since they could hire 4 shooters with 5d's for the price of me alone with 2 reds....but in the end it never got made due to fact they also did not know how to get film, work and customs permits in mexico.....sort of added benefit i've always had my side.

 

[George D.]

Hi George....
yep, totally know the list.....funny that i just had Karen Black and Neil Nightingale here in Mex and Karen was picking going throough my stock (she was on a contract job for NG for the Wild America's series)....some of the stock was Z1u and other non-approved......but i also was not submitting for a production....just know that when you have the shot they want, they take it.....as some of those cameras are fantastic. Z1U point in case...have piles of stock shot on that camera that have been sold over and over as well as 5d material. However, i'm sure they would not approve me to shoot a series with those cameras.....

....and can't agree more with your comments....some things never change. Hence some producers like only to work with their proven assets. I certainly lost that job since they could hire 4 shooters with 5d's for the price of me alone with 2 reds....but in the end it never got made due to fact they also did not know how to get film, work and customs permits in mexico.....sort of added benefit i've always had my side.

Boy, do I know what you're talking about. Sometimes some producers will do such idiotic things they condemn themselves to failure from the very start. Equipment is important, yes, but experience and skill counts for a LOT more. Some companies will never learn, mainly because spending money is always just too important to them. But, you have to spend money to make money, and, the more skill you spend money on, the more money you will make because of the end result.

Oh well !!

.

 

[Bryce O]

Panasonic Af-100.

Light, small, and a real video camera to boot.

Yep... and also has that "real video camera" image to it... :ack2:

What is exactly a "real video camera"? Red is not a video camera. The 5D/7D/GH2 are not video cameras. Yet they all take better looking motion pictures than most systems before them. If anything I think "real video camera" is an insult these days. "Real video cameras" are those big old obnoxious things with 60i that people used to tape basketball games with... :ciappa:

Sorry. I just cringe when I hear the term "real video camera". If something takes video, then it's a video camera. Nothing about a camera being shaped a certain way and "x" features make it more "real".