Posted by C2FThom at ip68-104-144-35.ph.ph.cox.net on February 24, 2004 at 01:16:36:
In Reply to: Indie Film Question posted by Princes Clothing Designer on February 24, 2004 at 00:30:56:
...you could get the same HD digital cams that Lucas is using for the prequels (and that Rodriguez used on Once Upon a Time in Mexico). But that's not really within an "indie" budget, is it?
All is not lost, however. Though, previous example excluded, you're not going to find a DV camera that will compete with 35mm film, for $2500, you can get a camera that's quality enough to get you noticed, if you have a movie worth noticing. There are several options in this price range, but I use and recommend the Sony VX2100. It's broadcast quality--its big brother (The PD150/170) is the same that most news reporters use in the field--and it actually offers a few advantages and conveniences over film cameras you'd be able to get your hands on.
The first is white balance adjustment, which is point-and-click with the VX, whereas with film you'd have to attach a filter to the lens or correct the light sources with gels. Or switch to a different type of film. Not a lot of fun. (Keep in mind, though, that you may still need to use gels if you have different light sources, or to give a color effect.)
Secondly, with DV it's extremely easy to get your film into a non-linear editing system: Just hook the camera up to the computer via firewire. I haven't ventured that way so I don't know the specifics, but editing film is most assuredly either more time-consuming, more expensive, or both.
The first two apply, more or less, to all DV cameras. The VX2100 offers an additional advantage: a 1 lux rating. In low light it is, more or less, as good as the human eye at detecting objects and details, without any of that infrared NightShot stuff (good for surveillance or goofing off but otherwise useless). This is something that can't be said about most low-end film projects (nor about most other video cameras). So you don't have to drown your subjects in light to get them to show up. I've had good success filming in normal street light, and in fact, in ambient light from surrounding lights (>200 ft. away). It's very dark, yeah, and if you don't coax your camera's settings, you can get some bad grain, but it's actually quite amazing. (As I was shooting my first short film, a photography-savvy person came up to us and said, "Isn't it too dark to be filming?" We just kinda smiled and said, "Yeah, for the most part.")
So, in my personal opinion, I'd suggest you go for a high-end consumer or pro-sumer DV camera, and instead of springing for film costs, instead put the money back into production budget for the movie itself.