What's the best HD camera for my project?

[Lieven]

Hello,

I'm going to shoot a videoclip on HD. I'm well equiped with light. We're going with the PRO 35 system and shoot on film lenses (zeiss) After the shoot I'm going to grade on Final Touch for a week. The question is for the slow motion shots:

Am I going to rent a Varicam DVCPRO HD 720p (AJ HDC27FE) or is it better to rent a SONY HD Cam HDWF 900 24/25 P 50/60 I which is 1080p?

Can I film Slomo with the Sony? For what stands the 50/60I?

If it's not possible to film in slomo with the sony. Is it better to safeguard my filmlook by filming with the sony in stead of the varicam, which has a more videolook. And pull the slow motion shots in Post?

Thanx
Sincerely
Lieven Michiels

[BenB]

Slomo in post will never be as clean and nice as over cranking in-camera. I really like the Varicam. As for which looks more "film like", well, many folks mistakenly blame the camera for that "film look". There's way more to it. If you could watch a lot of raw film shots, you'd swear it wasn't film. A lot goes into that to make it look the way it does.

How you set up your shots, how you grade it, how it's edited, but especially how you grade it. Make sure you have a professional colorist, and you'll have the look you want. I recommend CineFilm Lab (Atlanta), who is doing a lot of west coast project now. Very helpful, friendly folks.

As for Final Touch, you know that is now "Color" in Final Cut Studio. Super nice application. But it doesn't make you a good colorist.

As for 720 vs 1080, p vx i, I'd have to ask what your final output will be. If it's going to be film, go 24p. 720 vs 1080, as explained to me by someone who does the converts for a living, there's so little difference between the two, just go with what the specific camera does best.

50/60i, easy one, 50 is PAL standards, 60 is NTSC standards.

And don't color it yourself if you're not a trained colorist, especially if you're going out to film. Get a pro to do it. Seriously.

Personally, I'd vote for the Varicam.