Recently a camera shop assistant told me some recent local movies shown in the cinema was shoot by DSLR that cost just around RM10K, a CANON.

Is it true ? If DSLR can shoot movies, who still buy the video cam ? Can anyone advise their pros and cons ?

I read some websites but undecided. Can any experts here give me some advise ?.

I am inclined for the DSLR too as it is more handy to travel compared with the video cam but I will not want to miss something that the DSLR cannot do which the video cam can.

In what way can a video cam better than the DSLR ?

I am looking for something that can shoot cinema quality movies but don't break the bank.

This post has been edited by simpletraveler: Apr 28 2014, 01:36 AM

Canon 700D, Canon 5D Mark 3, Panasonic GH3/GH4

A lot of short film makers do use DSLRs. But don't let that fool you into thinking that you're going to shoot Speilberg quality film once you get you DSLR. There's a ton of skills, techniques other equipments, stage set, talents and let's not forget post production editing.

If you watch wedding videos with cinematic looks a lot of them are done by DSLRs now days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulRoNa8U8y0

This "Gun Fu" by Just kidding Films was done by DSLRs. You can see them using DSLRs at the behind the scenes video.

This post has been edited by Rice_Owl84: Apr 25 2014, 04:13 PM

Yes that is true, but there's a lot of difference between your average local movie and your average hollywood blockbuster. This is what they use for just one scene in one episode of a tv series :



This post has been edited by wodenus: Apr 25 2014, 04:17 PM

Hello,

I am also looking to buy a camera. Is any of this good enough for shooting a movie ? I know there are a lot of other work like talents, post production etc but is this models good enough or shall I go for something better ?

I know a good movie also depends alot on the other departments. I am advised to get a camera to try some short films first but I cannot decide too which model to go for, any advise ?

Dslr purely an entry level kind of film making tool and you need high end post production tool or rather expertise to make it look like hollywood type of quality.
Dedicated colour grading system,avid editing software and autodesk visual effects machine.Adobe AE is usually use as artwork or graphic support rather than something that you want to finish your project on in big post-production facility.
Cinema lenses also day and night different in terms of handling and quality.
Arri alexa is price at usd80k while 5dmk3 is at usd3k.Canon 50mm L 1.2 cost usd2k while Arri Ultra Prime 50mm t1.9 cost usd15k.At the end of the day there are 2 different thing altogether.

Meanwhile some movie or tv show does shot on dslr but was using high end post-production services and cinema lenses to get that polished look.Eg-House MD and Act of Valor.

There is a big distinction here between dslr, video cam and professional video cameras.

Dslr vs video cam.
If you just need something good to go and easy to use without investing a lot: get a video cam.

As for amateur, budget or pro film makers.
They either use
1. DSLR
Most amateur will use this. Even jinniboy or Wong fu. But some may go on to the next level. Even videography companies will use this for regular projects /regular clients.

2. Lower end cinema cameras
From canon c500 or red scarlet. They're capable of producing 4k raw video. Post processing is a lot more troublesome. It's fit for MNC advertisement IMO. Most amateur will stay away from this unless they've the manpower and funding like devinsupertramp or freddiewong(even they don't use this frequently)

3. Flagship cinema cameras
Stuff like red epic dragon. Used for transformers 4 by Michael Bay.

Get a dslr or a panasonic GH4
More flexibility than a regular video camera.
I don't think you want to try out cinema cameras yet unless you've a lot of time and money to burn.

To be honest. Sound, camera motion, lighting and techniques/angle plays a far more important role than a slightly shaper image.

It also depends on what type of movie or video you're making.

DSLR works fine for many types of movies, like say love story or drama.

To be blunt the reason for cinema lenses cost so much is not just because of sharper images,it's the consistency of assured characteristic from one focal length to another.A cinematographer or DP as locally refer to,usually order a series of lenses from the same maker and seldom mix and match from different brands to assure color aesthetic,detail rendering and quality is the same throughout the series of lenses he's using on the shoot.He can not afford to have differences in quality from one set-up to another as colour correction/grading is a very expensive proposition.Cinema lenses basically are built to the highest quality to maintain consistency throughout focal series and it will be dxo mark wet dream to review these lenses as CA,barrel distortion,vignette,pretty much non existence.Given the sharpness is the basic requirement but the most important aspect is the consistency and what unique property the series of focal range has to offer.And you can't even buy some of these lenses as they are exclusively only for rental basis like Panavision and only allow to be operated by certified cameraman.

This is one of the guys that I highly admired using 7d + 60d to make this vid and yes DSLR are the standard for the indie filmmaker now.



and yes, Hollywood is not an exception toward this mobility device in places that it needs to be

heres the prove of Marvel Avengers the movie using 7d to shoot on the ground of new york scene


This post has been edited by ComradeZ: Apr 25 2014, 09:20 PM

Is this good quality post production job to be done personally or service available Malaysia ? How.much will it cost ?
What price range of DSLR should I get ?

Thank you. I don't quite understand.

You mean video cam is easier than DSLR to use ? Any other benefits ?
Do you mean DSLR is more popular among ameteur as well as professionas ?

What do you mean by cinema cameras ? Are they using films or digital ?

This post has been edited by simpletraveler: Apr 25 2014, 10:10 PM

I was referring to budget cinema cameras like black magic or canon cinema series. where the obvious advantage is larger resolution, higher dynamic range, sharpness and raw flexibility.

TS will obviously not purchase an Alexa or an Epic with cinema lenses.

Regardless, I do agree with what you mention. Consistency is important as having movie where shots seem so different from one another is not desirable.

Consumer video camera is easy to use in the sense they come with almost everything you need to start shooting.
Eg: autofocus. Better grip. Zoom. Their mic is better than dslr build in mic too.

There are professionals as well as amateurs who use dslr for video. For the price point, they give pretty good quality video and are extremely flexible. The videography market for dslr has matured that you can find a lot of accessories for them too. Not to mention additional custom software for some dslr and mirrorless cameras.

Cinema cameras is a loosely defined term for a camera marketed for digital cinematography.
I am discussing about digital cinema cameras but film still exist and is still widely used by directors in movies today.

First of all you need to manage expectation,local movie post production can gives grand brilliance/metrowealth kind of quality while a lot of movies being finished in thailand.While astro movies mainly done internally in their own facilities.Local high end post production facility usually cater only to local and overseas tvc.To finish a basic 30s spot can start from rm30k while to do colour correction,simple no frill online editing and first master for movie can start at rm150k in thailand.Any higher quality you need to go Australia or Hong Kong.
Making a movie is impossible to do on a solo effort especially on editing as it's no longer about how well you can direct,it's all about understanding how film language shape and forming narration to work in a 2 hour edit unless you are willing to slave over a long period of time like a year or two as there are way too many element to take care.For short film and documentary is easier to do on solo.Although Adobe CS being market as one stop post-production software package but to speed things exponetially with result is using those million dollar autodesk machine.A 30 min rendering effect in Adobe AE can be done in seconds on Autodesk Flame composite program.So you get the idea why is it so costly to finish a movie in post production.And all these facilities charge either by day or hour.

Do check out canon 70D...

For a start, I just plan for drama. Technically may be easier to make. Problem is I don't know which DSLR to select. For example is spending one rm10k compared to rm5k worth double the price ? Will I reallyy get better quality movie ?
Scenry shots are important to me too.

What do you mean by cinema lenses ?
What's the difference with DSLR lenses in terms if picture result ?
How much will Alexa or an Epic cost ?