So you think shooting on film costs more money than High Definition with a 35mm DOF Adapter? Are you sure? Have you looked at super8? No? Then let’s do the math! Let’s figure this – the average film maker may, if he or she is lucky, make about 3 to 4 short films a year. It’s not science, and I’m sure there are some that are making many more than that, while others are making less. But, a serious film maker will try to tackle at least a few per year. Let’s just say the magic number is “4″ – and that you’ve decided to do 4 films this year, come hell or high water. So, let’s start out by adding up the cost of a prosumer 3-Chip HD camera: Everyone seems to … Read entire article »

Film versus High Definition debates should NOT be happening anymore (at least by people that actually work in the industry). It’s not worth the breath or time, because we as Cinematographers use the tool that gets our work finished, not the tool that everyone tells us we will need because they have a one-track mind. But no one knows each shoot’s specific situation, so they can only say, “This camera/medium should work better in this situation because of A, B, and C. But this other camera may be better for this situation because of D, E, and F.” There SHOULD be a lot of education going on as to what each camera/medium can do (and not the sales pitch misinformation that generates a ton of other misinformation), and if you are … Read entire article »