On Mon, 06 Aug 2001 21:46:12 GMT, "Alexander Ibrahim" wrote:
>> On Mon, 06 Aug 2001 07:23:29 GMT, "Alexander Ibrahim"
>> wrote:

>I would love to see a WB dial on the cameras, where instead of moving
>through preset values, I can slowly dial though different color
>temperatures. To my eye this feature is akin to having a zoom on a fixed
>camera as opposed to 3 primes that you can switch between.

Neat idea! I depend on auto-white on the VX-2000 during a pan, and it shifts smoothly, but often too slowly
(better
than too fast, for most things, though [and, BTW, there appears to be a flaw in the VX-2000 AWB that
causes it to
stick at a very warm WB after an hour or so in
tungsten...]). I correct the errors in post - not too
hard...

>> >Does it have a clearscan mode ?

>> Why?

>Most places I have shot interviews people don't like to let me fuss with
>their computers setup to eliminate the roll bars.
>
>Also, for narrative work I can shoot a fairly static scene, the move to a
>dynamic one and keep clean images while smoothly moving the shutter up and
>aperture down. (If I have a manual lens, like on the XL-1 but not the PD-150
>) in one shot...it is rare that you need/want it. But it can be a
>powerful tool. Most often now I need to put a cut between.
[...]

>> >I am about to go on a documentary wildlife shoot (well I hope...) that
>> >requires me to use much longer lenses than are available on consumer DV
>> >cameras...or even most pro cameras. I am after some elusive creatures and
>> >expect to make use of EOS 70-200mm 300mm and 600mm lenses. Multiply those
>by
>> >7.2, and realize I am likely to be FAR from my subject. (And I want to
>keep
>> >it that way thankyouverymuch.) I may also employ night vision equipment,
>and
>> >possibly more interesting imaging gear.
>> >
>> >The PD-150 would just be dead weight on this shoot. Understand that. I
>like
>> >to get involved in more interesting work like this, and I have to do run
>of
>> >the mill work. I need flexibility.

>> If you have done much long-lens work, you may have noticed
>> that long lenses have distinct limitations caused by
>> atmospheric conditions. It may seem useful to have 5000mm
>> equivalent lenses (in 35mm terms), but much over 500-1000mm
>> equivalent (like the standard zooms on most camcorders,
>> with perhaps a 1.5X or 2X converter added), and the image is
>> very low contrast, unsharp, and it "wubbles" a lot...
>> Best to get closer, for better image quality.

>That last is always a good rule, but did you notice the part where I said
>"elusive creature." That means it is HARD to get close, if at all possible.
>I ain't goin after dogs or cats people.
>
>Now let me add it may be DANGEROUS. I'll keep all the distance I can from it
>thankyouverymuch. Part of my crew will be well armed x-military. If it gets
>anywhere near a traditional close up, it dies.

Ah, "Sasquatch"...;-)

>So, if I am at 500meters with a 600mm lens on the XL-1 I can get a close up.
>As opposed to 10-20 meters with my standard lens. At such short distances
>atmospheric interference is almost negligible, for my purposes.

Yes - ANY kind of image of this is of value! ;-)

>Also, I can actually capture an image of a very distant sighting, as opposed
>to the no image at all option, with some of these lenses. As noted above I
>seriously prefer this option.

Yes, that makes sense in this case...! ;-) With more ordinary "game", the loss in image quality from using
extraordinarily long lenses would be a serious failing,
but for this......;-)

>> >Now, If I ONLY did run of the mill work...weddings news, occasional news
>> >etc...the PD-150 would be hard to beat.

>> It is - but I would hardly call these types of work
>> necessarily "run-of-the-mill". Good wedding, news, or
>> other "catch as catch can - but you MUST catch it"
>> type work is not easily done well...

>I have caught some of you up here I see. Sorry. I don't mean to impugn your
>work in the least.
>
>Run of the mill...there are lots of other people doing what you are doing.
>Lots of wedding people and lots of news people. Even lots of narrative
>filmmakers. Technically it is run of the mill...you know when and where it
>is happening, you can make AN image very easily.
>
>The art is doing it well. Doing it is not at all special.
>
>What I am hoping to be up to is...different. I may run out there for weeks
>or a year and get nothing. The hope is to eventually see SOMETHING, and the
>challenge is just to get any sort of discernable image on tape or film.

Well, this project is certainly different, and certainly out of the "ordinary"...! ;-)
Good luck with it!
[...]