Student Filmmakers - June 2008 - (Page 38) Tech Focus durable and waterproof. They have all of the benefits of optical media, with none of the problems of being damaged by casual or medium use. They can be dropped, stacked, and used in the field without any worry. The older model cameras record a single layer, and the newer models record a dual layer onto Blu-ray discs. While these cameras are expensive, the workflow of shooting and stacking up your discs as if they were tapes is familiar. The cost of the discs is comparable to tape, so you can shoot a lot of footage without erasing your originals. If you choose to reuse your discs, or to delete unwanted clips off of them, you can record new material the way you would on any data disc. An attractive extra are the proxy files available in this format. Small files that can be transferred via the internet can be edited while the originals are shipped back to the editor. Or, the proxy files can be used as a file to edit before you decide to load the full resolution clips. For longer projects, and for limited drive space, this is an old idea that seems perfect for HD editors. Be a Connoisseur It will serve you well to love camera technology the same way you obsess over your coffee or chocolate. You should savor every nuance and detail. Know the specifics of the bean and grower. Understand the roasting process. Be a connoisseur. If only it were that easy. will give you details that will surprise you when you see them on a true HD monitor. It is worth acknowledging, however, that many mid-range cameras in the $3,0007,000 range have fixed lenses, and they can be very good. But look at a step up from that, and you will see other options that might make you reconsider your choices. And if you do get a better camera with a separate lens, make sure you know how to back-focus it properly. Look for the latest advances in charts. Excellent critical focus will make your work stand out. Even professionals have trouble with focus in HD, and you will see bad examples everywhere you go. You will find again and again that knowing your lens, having an excellent monitor in the field, and using a true HD monitor in the studio are imperative. Chips In the last few years, you can be grateful that every manufacturer has improved the specs on their cameras, and in every area there is improvement. They have begun to move from the reliable CCD (chargecoupled device) to CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) partly because of the inherent limitations of the cycles per second of the CCD. And they have been able to increase the imaging quality in many of their less expensive cameras, regardless of whether it is a CCD or CMOS. Knowledge of and concern about the chips is important, but do not find yourself buying a camera for the sole reason it has three chips. No more should you do that than go to the mall and buy a ring with three Specs and Connectors It is probable that entire books have been written on this subject. Certainly entire symposiums have been devoted to camera specs. Years of unending discussions continue, and they will continue for as long as we have technology. For the average teacher or college professor, or technician, the specs may prove to be daunting beyond all hope. Even worse, they continue to change. HDMI is now becoming mainstream for some cameras. And SDI, HD-SDI, and dual HD-SDI (at a whopping 2.97Gbit/ s) continue to march on. And it is true, if External Drives, Professional Cameras It is likely that you have been drooling over the latest HD cameras with external drives and drive arrays. These high-end cameras output more data than the average user can manage. If you are a trend-setter who has looked at them already, and are planning to get one, you don’t need any advice. For others who are window shopping, these cameras are an excellent glimpse into the future, and you should look at the specs on them. They represent a versatility of cameras to come. Knowing where the industry is going will help you understand what you need to buy. diamonds. Ask yourself how big they are. What is the quality? Are you getting what you pay for? Look at the most expensive cameras and see what they offer. Work your way backwards to cheaper equipment, and see if it will suit your purpose. You probably do need a three chip camera, but get a good one. Lenses Lenses on smaller cameras are fixed (and so is the quality), but on more professional equipment, they are not. Being able to mount professional lenses on your new camera is a great advantage. Look at the options available. Wonderful lenses you haven’t heard it yet, that Ethernet will be used for file transfer. Yes, Ethernet has migrated to professional HD decks, and if you want to be part of the future, look for that in equipment you buy. Probably one of the most important decisions you will make is how you 8 studentfilmmakers June 2008
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