ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

9 years, 4 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

I don't have one and I'm not a cinematographer, but it does sound like a 'mare. You'll be contending with very variable light levels, and optical autofocus may well spend a lot of time searching instead of locked on. Especially if the model represents under 10% of the frame, shooting top to toe in 4k, the autofocus will be unsure what to lock onto. I'd suggest a good manual focus puller should be able to manage this as you have a very clear range of movement, and as feet hit various markers on stage, so does the focus every single time.

You could also look at different lens hyperfocals and camera placement to get the most from the range,

If it's high-end fashion, I'd also suggest covering it with multiple cameras/framings/dollies side of stage, so you always have something in focus to cut to. Head to toe on a 4k frame will look pretty dull on screen - a thin line will get bigger, then shrink again. It works as a master shot, but isn't really coverage of a fashion show.

9 years, 4 months ago - John Lubran

Done a few of these high end shows and under amusing circumstances too. We were commissioned by accident (sic) to cover London Fashion Week. Our little Mid Wales based outfit had never had anything to do with fashion. The money being very good, I thought it can't be that difficult and indeed it wasn't. It helped that at the time I was busy multi tasking factual flm maker doing quite a bit of challenging camerawork. We were using a Betacam SP and what was then a new fangled miniDV. I watched a couple of programmes to see how they shot these things; always the same; full length as the models appear then close in and go head to toe and up again, pull out a bit at the turn, follow the return while transferring to the next one. Pulling focus all the time means having a decent focus action on the lens. It's quite demanding and requires a bit of practice. Trick is not to get in a flap and if you lose focus for a moment don't fret but correct as quick as you can. Either the focus pull works as if its a stylistic thing or a quick edit sorts it. Don't forget to pick up some cutaways.

We were able to get fantastic back stage stuff with the miniDV that the lumbering great Beta crews couldn't. At that time no one amongst the 'professional ' crews were using compacts. We had ours rigged to a boom operator with an SQN, so we looked like something from the future (and we were). Looking like disheveled hippies (which we were) I was asked with all sincerity, where I had my hair done. Anyway it was a piece of cake and we landed up being asked to do quite a few more major international shows for big corporations and broadcasters. Got bored with it in the end though and allowed ourselves to drop off the scene. Our accidental membership of the fashion industry was down to someone confusing us with another company and our continuing success had a lot to do with our seemingly carefree and unintentional style amongst what was then a very workaday 'cloth capped' camera culture among camera crews. Nevertheless getting results remained absolutely essential.

9 years, 4 months ago - Robert McGowan Camera-operator-london.co.uk

Cheers for the feedback.
I have now found what I consider to be a camera that may fulfil my requirements. Shooting in 4K was my main concern as the client can be a little picky at times and the post production is always a concern with them and their exacting standards.
I made a lot of films for them in the past, but this time the catwalk is more of a 'runway' .
But I am testing the Panasonic X1000 next week being supplied by : slvision.co.uk
As mentioned I didn't want a large sensor camera as the focusing could prove a lot harder, as well each walk must be a template of the first. Luckily the studio is really light (daylight) so hopefully we can shoot f5.6+ so again wider depth of field, all helping.
Having done a more little more research to larger sensor cameras it must be noted that the : C100 MK2 and FS7/5 both look good for autofocus (with the right lens), trustworthy and reliable? Well thats down to proper testing, unfortunately I don't have that luxury or budget to be honest, but would be very interested to know what others thought.

9 years, 4 months ago - John Lubran

I wouldn't rely on auto focus for this sort of project. Too much hunting is inevitable. Furthermore sharp focus is even more essential at 4K.

9 years, 4 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Even if it's great autofocus consider the framing - if it's a wide image with the model taking up 5-10% of the image, the autofocus may not lock onto the minority element and give you a crisp scene with a blurry model. Not insurmountable, but plan for it in case.