By technical editor Matt Allard:
With IBC starting in a few hours and at least one major camera announcement expected it might be a good to take a deep breath and relax…
These shows are often filled with all types of new and amazing equipment. The biggest draws for most shooters are of course new camera releases. Last year at IBC we saw the release of the Arri Amira and this year we expect to see something from Sony.
Whatever gets announced it’s worth mentioning that it is JUST A CAMERA. Ever since leaked photos flooded the internet, all I have read and seen on blogs and forums is people asking ”Should I sell my FS700 right now?” – Don’t panic people.
If you don’t buy this camera will you be out of work? and will you be making less money than you do now? No, of course not.
Over the last five years or so we have seen an unprecedented number of new camera releases. There is nothing wrong with – we all welcome new features and cheaper prices, but it doesn’t mean that you have to update your camera every time a new model comes out. For news, documentary and event shooters money is usually tight so you need to be extra vigilant in making camera decisions.
Do you really need that new camera? Just because it records 4K? or shooter high frame rates? I know from my own personal experience that not a single client has EVER requested for me to shoot 4K. In my line of work most TV broadcasters don’t wan’t anything more than 50Mb/s HD material. They don’t wan’t large files and they definitely don’t want 4K or RAW. In fact, even flat picture profiles and cine gammas are frowned upon by broadcasters. With tight turn around times and small budgets most clients prefer a REC709 profile as they don’t have time to grade the material. In a lot of major productions in Australia, particularly reality TV shows, they shoot MPEG 50Mb/s. Even the shows that have moved to cameras like the Sony F5 tend not to use the newer codecs – 50Mb/s is what productions want.
If you have a camera bought in the last few years chances are it is still relevant in todays market and will be for some time. Its true that there are a lot of projects where producers may want a certain camera but these aren’t usually the very latest thing – several broadcasters have approved camera lists and any new camera requires testing before approval. The bottom line is that the basic requirement still boils down to whether it does 50Mb/s HD. In fact that shiny new camera with fancy codec might not be what your client want at all.
Almost every camera that has come to market in the last five years is technically capable of doing this, whether via internal recording or by adding an external recorder. On occasion I still take my Sony F3 ,which is now almost 4 years old, and shoot in todays environment. Don’t think for one second that you need to change your camera if it is working well for you and your clients right now.
Use a camera that fits your needs and shooting style. If your a camera owner/operator you want to get maximum value from your investment. Ask yourself these basic questions before pulling the pin on a new purchase.
Do I need this camera?
Does your current camera meet your clients needs? Are they asking for just HD and the codec your camera can record internally or externally? Will I be able to make more money by doing different work than I do now if I buy this camera? It makes little to no financial sense to be changing cameras every time a new model comes out.
If I buy this camera will I be disappointed if a new model comes out in less than twelve months?
There will always be a new model coming out that where the manufacturer will try to dazzle you with specifications and price. You should buy a camera on what it can do for you now and hopefully for at least another 3-4 years into the future.
Do I really need 4K and RAW recording?
Just about every camera that comes out now will be capable of shooting 4K either internally or externally. Do your clients want 4K? it takes up a lot of storage space. Think about whether you can afford all the extra media you will need to record on, the extra hard drive space it takes up and the amount of computing power required. RAW recording can be very labour intensive and eat up more hard drive space than compressed formats. These are just things to be aware of.
Will this camera make me a better shooter?
Absolutely not. Don’t buy a higher specified camera because you hope it will make your work better. A good shooter can take any camera and make it shine. You shoot the pictures not your camera.
Can I afford this camera ?
If you have saved up specifically to purchase a new camera then great, but if you are loading up credit cards or taking out big loans to buy then think twice. There is no point spending a large amount on a camera if your not capable of getting the return you need to pay it off.
Think very hard about making a purchase. Buying a camera for a lot of shooters is a big investment and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Be smart and DON’T PANIC – its just another camera.
