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SMS Productions

MARKEE Cover Story 14 November 2001

Just The Right Tool: Camera Selections
by Brigitte Marie Hoarau

Permission granted by HJK Publications, Inc. for use on Web site only

SMS Productions -- Man-Sung Son and DP Bill Birch shooting comparison test with Aaton Super 16 XTRPROD and Panasonic AJ-HKC27V at the Air & Water Show, Chicago, Illinois

They're the tools their livelihoods depend on -- and their choice is entirely subjective. Video shooters may opt for the latest and greatest in cameras or for a model that's been around for a while. They may be looking for brand new technology or, after hundreds of hours of shooting with a favorite camera, they may have fallen in love with the sweep of a handle, the crispness of a lens or even the practicality of a format. Markee discovered the reasons behind which cameras they pick up are as varied as video shooters themselves.

Defining HD

As testament to the ability of progressive-scan HD to simulate film, in August Chicago's SMS Productions, up until now entirely a film-format rental house, purchased Panasonic's AJ-HDC27V Variable-Frame HD Cinema Camera to add to its rental offerings. When his filmmaking clients began to show interest in HD, SMS co-owner Man-Sung Son was skeptical. "I looked into the HD [product] lines and went to demonstrations of HD shoots that had been transferred to 35 [mm] for projection, but [the technology] was still not quite there," he recalls. But when Son saw the Panasonic 24P camera at NAB 2001, he was intrigued by the variable frame-rate. After seeing the demos and speaking to various filmmakers and engineers, all of whom believed that the Panasonic camera's output was the closest to film they'd seen, Son decided to purchase the camera.

At press time, Son was still performing tests with the camera: doing shoots under various conditions to be printed to film and shown side-by-side with Super16mm and 35mm projected footage. "Everyone does a test in a situation they can control," says Son's partner, wife Helena Son, "so of course it comes out gorgeous. We're doing our tests in situations we can't control to prove how well the camera performs." SMS is using film-style shooting, with follow-focus and matte box, and trying both the video lenses and 35mm ultra-primes for which Zeiss and Angenieux have developed adapters.

The results, so far, are amazing, even from the uncontrolled field situations. "Usually in video, some colors are good, some are not so good," Son says." Here it's not the case. Every color is so true, so vivid." Everyone from union DPs to experienced engineers are "just floored" by the camera's capabilities, according to Helena Son. Even Bill Birch, the union DP who has been operating the Panasonic camera for Son's test shoots and who has been shooting film for "longer than the 40 years we've been doing it, cannot believe the quality. He's taken. He's trying to convince his clients to go HD now," Helena Son declares.

Man-Sung Son is most impressed by the camera's lighting capabilities. "The camera is so sensitive. I've found the stops to be two stops faster than a film camera would be," he says. He goes on to describe a test he conducted by putting the camera in a room and turning off all the lights. The little bit of outside light coming through the shade registered the room at less than one footcandle. "That's almost total darkness," Son explains, "and we set up a color chart, and the camera picked up every color and it showed beautifully!"

The camera's 15 pounds is also a plus for Son, who hears complaints about the weight of other HD products. He says the cost savings -- $120 for a 46-minute tape as compared to $2,000 for equivalent film stock -- will appeal to his independent clients. "We have different cameras in each format," Helena Son points out. "We're not saying one format is better than any other. We're saying depending on your budget, your project, here's the selection. Pick the one that's right for you."

The 27V technology is still very new -- cameras began shipping in June -- but Man-Sung Son says he's "a believer" in the new format. Helena Son adds that Panasonic has a strong support presence in Chicago allowing SMS to better back up the camera. Though Panasonic HD editing systems are not yet prevalent in post houses, SMS believes that the camera's popularity will grow enough so that post facilities will begin to offer that option. In the meantime, SMS can support an HD edit session with its Panasonic deck, and the manufacturer is offering users transfers as well.