The Loneliest Camera


The Eclair NPR was once so top-of-the-heap that any independent doc maker wouldn't be caught dead without one. This has changed a bit with DV (and now HD) shooting becoming the standard documentary format. However, the NPR remains a great camera.

You'll notice that it's from France and is sexy to look at. It's a mechanically sexy beast as well. With the capability to change shutter angles from 5° to 180° (that's more than five full stops!), you could shoot on the surface of the sun with only a single ND filter. Take note of the c-mount lens on the secondary mount. Yeah, you can shoot with a zoom for speed and quickly swap to a prime for extra speed or sharpness when needed. Also, this means you can take advantage of some of our nicest (and newest) lenses in the shop—the Switar c-mount primes.

Did I mention that this thing is Super 16? And that it has the brightest video tap of all our cameras? And that it's pretty darn quiet compared to our Arri SR1 cameras?

Don't be freaked out by the fact that you've never shot with a camera like this, we're happy to give you a demo to calm those DP nerves. Besides, you can download the manual from this site or visit the Eclair Community Home Page for more info.

The Future or Not


There's lots of excitement right now around the Canon 5D Mark II Digital SLR. It's the first DSLR to shoot full-res 1920x1080 HD video and it sports a full size 35mm (36mm x 24mm) CMOS imaging sensor. Essentially, you've now got the look of the RED camera in an SLR format — with a larger format to boot. There are some things to keep in mind when imagining your film being shot this way, though.

First off, it's a CMOS sensor in a camera who's first job is to shoot still photos. What does this mean? Namely, you'll have serious issues with skew in any horizontal movement. This is already an issue bugging some Sony EX1 users. There's a good explanation of this issue on DVXuser. However, this has also always been an issue with anyone shooting 16mm film. So, as long as you know that it can happen, you'll need to take steps to prevent it.

You also cannot view the scene through the optical viewfinder when shooting. Since it is an SLR, the mirrored shutter is closed when viewing. That means you'll have to shoot on the relatively small screen on the rear of the camera. You can connect an external monitor to the HDMI output, but the connectors are tiny so you'll be at the mercy of cable makers with regards to cable length and connector quality. There are already some companies making accessories for this kind of setup, though it's a dicey affair when compared to a video viewfinder. Also, you can currently only shoot at 29.97 fps.

Finally, you're stuck with the SLR layout. There are no pro quality connectors, hard mounts, or controls built into this camera. This may seem persnickety, but the last thing you want is to be battling your camera when you're shooting.

The concept is strong, execution isn't perfect. I think for owner/operators, this camera makes plenty of sense. I wouldn't be surprised if we see a video-specific version of this from Canon in the next few years.

Our almost first video post!

How to load the Bolex H16 Rex 4 16mm camera from SVA Film/Video on Vimeo.

Special thanks to Joe Neal for all his hard work. We've got lots more to come soon so keep an eye on our new Vimeo channel, Production Junction.

New High Definition Cameras for Fall Semester



A major video manufacturer recently said that standard definition NTSC formats would soon "fade away" and they weren't kidding. Few SD cameras are even available to purchase anymore. High definition has made major leaps in affordability and portability in the last three years and new HD cameras are hitting the streets all the time. Thanks to the DV revolution, many of these cameras come complete with professional audio inputs and controls.

The latest incarnation of portable HD cameras records direct to file. Our newest camera, the Panasonic AG-HMC150, records directly to SDHC cards that are both super-portable and inexpensive. These cards can be read directly to a laptop with nothing more than a standard SD card reader. The HMC150 boasts 1080P shooting capability and can even be overcranked when shooting in the 720P mode and speed-adjusted in post production. Many of the features of Panasonic;s HVX200 are incorporated into the design of the camera and if you've ever shot with the DVX100 or DVX100B the learning curve is a short one.