I am more excited about this development than any other feature of the FF 35mm dslr and my pro video friends have a wary eye on it too. It's only in the realm of "introductory concept" now for most 35mm dslr companies but they have to be salivating in the back rooms when they analyze it's ground breaking commercial and artistic potential.
Everybody I know freaked when the FF 5DM2 showed fantastic 1080 HD 35mm video for under $3,000, it even seemed to shock the Red people because they were about to release the Scarlet and I think they were stunned by the 5DM2 and stopped it to reconfigure and it's still a half year away from release.
The general video vibe on the street for low budget, high quality HD video now is:
1. the EX3 and HVX200 is the only way to go for pro work and the next level up is the Red One and that's only for larger budget shoots and the occasional rental.
2. video artists, and high end 35mm film guys in the know, know the look, especially the dof of 35mm dslr, is superior to the EX3 and HVX200; I think it's laughably better and I dislike the look of the un-accessorized EX3 and HVX. I also know the EX3 and HVX are better equipped for production, but if the look isn't there then they fall way short, imho, and therefore are limited in their style and longevity.
3. 35mm dslr HD video in it's current physical form is virtually unusable ergonomically for most pro shoots, and the work around and compromises is about as bad as Letus and Zacuto for the EX3 and HVX to get their look right, and that's not cheap or easy.
4. But in the shadows and recesses, everyone knows, suspects, fears, or is wildly hopeful, that the potential of 35mm dslr HD video is, shockingly, unlimited. The sensor, the size, the look, the dof, the lenses in place and the cost is groundbreaking, and "I think" it's the ultimate future of low cost, high quality, low light HD full frame 35mm video. whether it's this year or in 5, it's coming, no doubt.
But here is the question, does Canon, and especially Nikon know this, and do they see the potential and are they furiously working away in the back rooms knowing they may soon be competing with the Red on every level, especially the 35mm look and especially on the "low cost, dual purpose system", that is, stills and 35mm video in one small unit? I think they have to know this potential is there, I am uncertain if they intend to capitalize now, or ever.
The same question must be posed to Sony and Panasonic pro video, ie the EX3 and HVX200, how could they not be dreaming, planning, scheming a way to get a 35mm dslr sensor inside their existing bodies now? Even if those bodies are not compatible, the question is still the same, how could they not be dreaming of a 35mm dslr type sensor in any Sony or Panasonic pro eng shoulder camera?
Nearly every pro video guy I know, for years, has dreamed about this concept, I know several that use to meet with Sony through the 90's and early 2000's and beg for it, but back then they feared it would be too expensive because it always looked like Sony was only interested in 35mm HD as a high end $100,000 George Lucas edition. But now with the 5DM2 HD everything has changed, you can have the conversation now and no one is laughing.
2010? Who knows? The economy is, oddly, in an unknown flux, on the one hand there seems like there is no money for r&d or joint ventures or even new cameras. But on the other hand, a low cost, shoulder mounted, mini HD with a 35mm sensor that uses Nikon lenses seems like an easy no brainer and a concept that perfectly fits a frugal marketplace with high creative demand and low budgets. The Red, conceptually, creatively and ergonomically had this concept a long time ago, but they thought: "get it smaller than the cine alta, make it 1/3 the price ($33k instead of $100k), make it modular, make it 35mm," but they forget to add: "make it now, make it easy to hold and operate," and instead, I think, believed they had no competition. But now, suddenly, Nikon and Canon look like serious, although somewhat bewildered and distracted competition, and I think that's surprising and intimidating and confusing to both camps. But not to me, I know what I want, I know what my client wants, and it's not there yet.
So Nikon, do you realize the creative and financial windfall standing right in front of you, or do I have to remind you, once again?
Everybody I know freaked when the FF 5DM2 showed fantastic 1080 HD 35mm video for under $3,000, it even seemed to shock the Red people because they were about to release the Scarlet and I think they were stunned by the 5DM2 and stopped it to reconfigure and it's still a half year away from release.
The general video vibe on the street for low budget, high quality HD video now is:
1. the EX3 and HVX200 is the only way to go for pro work and the next level up is the Red One and that's only for larger budget shoots and the occasional rental.
2. video artists, and high end 35mm film guys in the know, know the look, especially the dof of 35mm dslr, is superior to the EX3 and HVX200; I think it's laughably better and I dislike the look of the un-accessorized EX3 and HVX. I also know the EX3 and HVX are better equipped for production, but if the look isn't there then they fall way short, imho, and therefore are limited in their style and longevity.
3. 35mm dslr HD video in it's current physical form is virtually unusable ergonomically for most pro shoots, and the work around and compromises is about as bad as Letus and Zacuto for the EX3 and HVX to get their look right, and that's not cheap or easy.
4. But in the shadows and recesses, everyone knows, suspects, fears, or is wildly hopeful, that the potential of 35mm dslr HD video is, shockingly, unlimited. The sensor, the size, the look, the dof, the lenses in place and the cost is groundbreaking, and "I think" it's the ultimate future of low cost, high quality, low light HD full frame 35mm video. whether it's this year or in 5, it's coming, no doubt.
But here is the question, does Canon, and especially Nikon know this, and do they see the potential and are they furiously working away in the back rooms knowing they may soon be competing with the Red on every level, especially the 35mm look and especially on the "low cost, dual purpose system", that is, stills and 35mm video in one small unit? I think they have to know this potential is there, I am uncertain if they intend to capitalize now, or ever.
The same question must be posed to Sony and Panasonic pro video, ie the EX3 and HVX200, how could they not be dreaming, planning, scheming a way to get a 35mm dslr sensor inside their existing bodies now? Even if those bodies are not compatible, the question is still the same, how could they not be dreaming of a 35mm dslr type sensor in any Sony or Panasonic pro eng shoulder camera?
Nearly every pro video guy I know, for years, has dreamed about this concept, I know several that use to meet with Sony through the 90's and early 2000's and beg for it, but back then they feared it would be too expensive because it always looked like Sony was only interested in 35mm HD as a high end $100,000 George Lucas edition. But now with the 5DM2 HD everything has changed, you can have the conversation now and no one is laughing.
2010? Who knows? The economy is, oddly, in an unknown flux, on the one hand there seems like there is no money for r&d or joint ventures or even new cameras. But on the other hand, a low cost, shoulder mounted, mini HD with a 35mm sensor that uses Nikon lenses seems like an easy no brainer and a concept that perfectly fits a frugal marketplace with high creative demand and low budgets. The Red, conceptually, creatively and ergonomically had this concept a long time ago, but they thought: "get it smaller than the cine alta, make it 1/3 the price ($33k instead of $100k), make it modular, make it 35mm," but they forget to add: "make it now, make it easy to hold and operate," and instead, I think, believed they had no competition. But now, suddenly, Nikon and Canon look like serious, although somewhat bewildered and distracted competition, and I think that's surprising and intimidating and confusing to both camps. But not to me, I know what I want, I know what my client wants, and it's not there yet.
So Nikon, do you realize the creative and financial windfall standing right in front of you, or do I have to remind you, once again?
