[Konvas] New Canon? - Ergonomics anyone

[Adam Frey]

I guess we always have to remember that a film camera in the hand of an 
untrained/untalented person will not produce a decent image any more 
than a digital camera will.

On CML, there was a big thread a few months ago discussing the different 
network television shows. It answered the questions of which shows were 
shot on film (35mm and 16mm), and what was shot digitally. It was 
figured that over 60% of the shows were being shot digitally in 2009 
(and many of them were high end shows). Several shows this year have 
even switched from their prior 35mm to digital. Some of those shows you 
can barely see a difference, other than the lack of grain and a few 
extra hot spots here and there - but nothing you'd notice if you weren't 
looking for it. And it definitely doesn't hurt the story.

This isn't a fluke, but directly related to the trained and talented 
professionals behind the camera who know how to make any digital camera 
or filmstock perform to its utmost. It's not the film or the digital 
camera, it's the experience, hard work, and proper lighting techniques. 
Just like with filmstock, it includes doing tons of tests to see what a 
given camera can and can't do.

Along the same lines, I'm noticing that even some of the high-end car 
commercials have gone digital. I look for film vs digital in commercials 
and TV shows (as well as in theaters). I call it a "professional hobby", 
but it's good to figure out the stock and format, and/or if it was 
digital (and, if so, which camera was used [F35, F23, RED, D-21, F900, 
Z1U, etc]). I also try to figure out which lenses were used (looking for 
make: Zeiss, Cooke, or LOMO, and what focal length), but by the time you 
get to the point of trying to figure out the brand of lenses used, it 
gets kinda hard.

I have to say, it's really hard to get everything right all the time, 
but I can usually pick out film vs digital easily enough (I have to 
admit, every once in a while, I get it wrong), as well as the stock and 
format. And I'm even getting pretty good at figuring out which digital 
camera was used...

Well, I hear the little one upstairs (he just woke up), so I have to 
run. Happy Thanksgiving everyone (even if you are in a country that 
doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving!).


Cheers,

Adam Frey
Director/Cinematographer
Crimson Chain Productions
http://crimsonchainproductions.com
Cell: 301-639-7146

Crimson Chain Productions
PO Box 35
Libertytown, MD 21762