Other cameras just out on the market

 

　　Another way to generate a "cinematic" look to a moving image is by moving the camera as opposed to using the zoom lens. Except for a brief period during the 1970s,Rectangle Waterproof LED Module zooming in the film community has been rarely used. Instead, the process of physically moving the camera helps create a more three-dimensional feel and is more closely related to what we observe through our eyes every day (remember our eyes cannot "zoom" the way a camera lens can). Zooms are also more typically used in television programs (news, sports, talk shows, etc.).

　　So, what can we do to overcome the "video" look in favor of the more pleasing "film" look? First of all, the selection of a proper camera is the key. Many newer cameras (starting with the groundbreaking Panasonic DVX-100 series) are capable of shooting at 24fps. The resulting set of images is then laid down onto DV videotape using a 3:2 pulldown method (similar to how traditional film at 24fps is converted to 60 interlaced fields). This allows compatible playback on any standard DV camera or deck. The byproduct of the 24p mode is also that the image is scanned progressively, which yields a slightly sharper image than the typical interlaced video frame.

　　Other cameras just out on the market (such as the JVC HD100 and the Sony FX-1) shoot in HDV mode (an abbreviation for High Definition DV), which again utilizes a standard DV videotape to record more pixels per each frame. The drawback is that this system uses MPEG-2 compression, a method of compressing data which is used in standard DVD discs and players. Because of the large amount of data that has to be "squeezed" onto the tape, occasional artifacts can appear, especially in scenes with a lot of motion.

　　Finally, true HD cameras such as the Panasonic HVX-200 provide "true" HD recording capability, however here the cost of the recording media begins to rise. Although the HVX-200 has a mini-DV tape drive built-in, in order to realize the higher quality images, one must use Panasonic's proprietary "P2" storage system, which records the data onto a series of removable memory cards. At this point, these cards are still extremely expensive, however as technology improves and memory price falls, this may prove more affordable in the future.

　　When shooting on video, several key factors can help avoid the "video" look. The first one is to avoid overexposing even part of the frame. Overexposed film reacts much differently than overexposed video, which tends to sharply lose all color and generates a noticeable "blooming" along the edges of the overexposed part of the scene. By closing the iris of the camera to 1 full f-stop, you can bring potentially overexposed highlights down into a usable range. With the color correction tools in most major editing programs, the image can be brightened a bit later if necessary. Also, some of the newer DV cameras have selectable gamma settings which expose the mid-tones of the scene in different ways to better match the way film reacts to light. Also, the use of soft, diffused light is extremely important this helps keep shadows to a minimum and softens the image that is captured by the camera's CCDs.