Technophile

Having spent many years scanning (and sometimes participating in) the usual digital video related interweb forums, I have noticed that there is one thing that never changes; the fact that some people (especially newbies) are more concerned with the technology, than actually using it.

So many people are constantly looking to the horizon for the next-best, or ultimate camera, then when it arrives, they start the search all over again. The RED camera is a prime example of this, where thousands of forum-participators speculate and talk about how amazing it is, based on nothing more than a few artistic renders on a web site. Then when it does eventually become available 3 years later, only a handful of people actually buy one; the rest continue with their quest to find the ‘ultimate’ and ‘future-proof’ camcorder.

It is strange how people can buy the likes of a computer and fully expect (and be happy about it) it to be obsolete in just a few years, yet they expect a camcorder to be for life. Most camcorder manufacturers are working on the next best model just as the current model hits the streets; sometimes even sooner. This is just good business sense from the camcorder manufacturers. Any given format has a life expectancy of 6 years; these days it can be a lot less. You should basically use your camera until it doesn’t fit your needs anymore.

The ultimate camcorder does not exist. If professional TV broadcast production companies had this attitude, nothing would ever get made. Just switch over to UK-Gold and watch a few re-runs of Minder, early episodes of Eastenders or The Bill, Butterflies, Match of the day with Jimmy Hill, That’s Life, to name a few. In most cases the picture quality will be far worse than that of a modern budget DV/HDV/HD camcorder such as a Panasonic HVX200 or a Sony PMW-EX1 for example, yet the cameras these old TV series were shot on cost at least 15-times the price of a HVX200, and that was just for the body (where film cameras were used the costs were even higher).

Can you imagine if they said “Okay guys, let’s not shoot Eastenders on these cameras as there will be better cameras in 20 years that will cost a fraction of the price and will be 10-times the quality”. Okay, those who hate Eastenders (like me) will be saying this is a good thing, but you get my point.

I recently read a book by director/filmmaker Mike Figgis entitled Digital Filmmaking. It is only a small book that can be read in almost one sitting. Although there are a few things in Mike’s book that I disagree with, there are some little gems in there. Mike talks about some of the lectures he often gets asked to do at film-schools around the world. When talking to many film-school students he often learns that they are always waiting for the next best HD camera to come out before making their film. One of Mike’s theories behind their way of thinking (one that I agree with) is the fact that the very thought of actually going out and making a movies is just too scary for them.

I recommend Mike’s book to anyone in the low-budget DV filmmaking industry, ISBN: 0571226256. While I’m on books, I also recommend Rebel Without a Crew by Robert Rodriguez (ISBN: 057117891X) and What they Don’t Teach You at Film School (161 strategies for making your own movie no matter what) by Camille Landau and Tiare White (ISBN: 0786884770). All you need are these books, a cheap DV camcorder, motivation, inspiration, a script, guts and determination.

I find it quite amusing that if you ask a professional TV cameraman about the latest cameras and technology, they either don’t know, or just don’t care; they are working professionals who have been using the same cameras for years (Digibeta, HDCAM, Varicam, 35mm film etc). They basically use what they are told to use for any given job. These guys have been shooting TV series, TV commercials, MTV music videos etc for years; it’s what they do. However, if you ask your average interweb forum lurker the same question, they will talk for days about every feature of every camcorder by every manufacturer. They will even be able to tell you how much they all cost and which dealers are selling them at the best price this week. Yet this same person probably hasn’t completed a production in his/her life, nothing that anyone outside their immediate family would care about anyway, well possibly the neighbour’s cat, who had the lead role (no offence meant to anyone making films featuring domestic cats).

Some of this might seem a tad hard and unfair (I can visualize certain camcorder club members up and down the county shaking their fists in the air furiously as they read this). I’m simply saying, don’t wait, do it now. If you want the best camcorder in the word, it exists now, it’s made by Panavision, it takes canisters of film, and they are available to rent. If your budget won’t stretch to that, buy a used Sony PD170 of Panasonic DVX100 off eBay for £1,200. They are a tad dated and standard-def, but both will produce far better image quality than the professional cameras they were using to shoot Eastenders on 20 years ago. If you really want HD on a budget, a Panasonic HMC151 or Sony Z5 will fit the bill. The cameras I’ve mentioned here are good budget examples and not the only choice.

There are those who do, and those who buy all the latest geeky equipment. If you are happy and comfortable having fortnightly meetings to compare your latest expensive (and often futile) accessories, good luck, each to their own. If on the other hand, you sincerely want to make a film, in the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger, “Do it Now!!!”

©2009 Nigel Cooper