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Disclaimer: I work in film. This discussion is very strange. Hollywood films are extremely expensive and difficult to make, do you think the studios would spen

Disclaimer: I work in film. This discussion is very strange. Hollywood films are extremely expensive and difficult to make, do you think the studios would spend all that money and effort if they could get the same return of investment knocking out budget films shot in someone's living room with a DSLR? I'm quite sure film won't remain at the top of tree for mass market entertainment forever, but it's going to be replaced by ever more immersive games, not tech startups. And those are pretty expensive to make as well.

icebraining 15y ago
That's assuming the studios have a perfect process that can't be further optimized. It might be that they need to spend lots of money for a good return of investment because they have problems in certain areas that prevent them from obtaining those same returns with cheaper movies. I'm talking out of my ass since I don't know much about the industry, but it seems foolish to assume that the peak of innovation has been achieved.
polshaw 15y ago
You balk at DSLRs but (whilst not the go-to option) they are increasingly being used by the industry. This[1] is an article just about the use of cannon's 5d mkII. You can add Slumdog Millionaire and 127 hours to this list. If it's good enough for an oscar winner? 1. http://canon5d.wonderhowto.com/blog/canons-5d-mark-ii-invades-hollywood-0129387/ http://canon5d.wonderhowto.com/blog/canons-5d-mark-ii-invade...
- MrScruff 15y ago
  Sure, I know they get used for reference and elements. Getting a lower quality plate just increases the post production costs anyway so it's generally a false economy. That said, digital is certainly here to stay and the cost of professional equipment continues to drop.
- berkut 15y ago
  Those were just reference images for the lookdev and environment mapping (at least in Iron Man) or set background plates in the compositor - feature films are generally recorded at 2K (2048x1556) or (these days moving to) 4K (4096x3112), DSLRs aren't capable of that resolution for movies.
  - polshaw 15y ago
    That's not always the case, scenes of Slumdog millionaire (in the streets) were filmed purely with DSLR, same for the subway scenes of Black Swan. Not a feature film but the entire season 6 finale of House was exclusively shot on a 5D mkII, and a couple of small BBC series have been. I appreciate that of course 'proper' digital cinema cameras are better, but this shows that DSLRs are very much competent, and they are only going to get better.

icebraining 15y ago

That's assuming the studios have a perfect process that can't be further optimized. It might be that they need to spend lots of money for a good return of investment because they have problems in certain areas that prevent them from obtaining those same returns with cheaper movies. I'm talking out of my ass since I don't know much about the industry, but it seems foolish to assume that the peak of innovation has been achieved.

polshaw 15y ago

You balk at DSLRs but (whilst not the go-to option) they are increasingly being used by the industry. This[1] is an article just about the use of cannon's 5d mkII. You can add Slumdog Millionaire and 127 hours to this list. If it's good enough for an oscar winner? 1. http://canon5d.wonderhowto.com/blog/canons-5d-mark-ii-invades-hollywood-0129387/ http://canon5d.wonderhowto.com/blog/canons-5d-mark-ii-invade...

MrScruff 15y ago
Sure, I know they get used for reference and elements. Getting a lower quality plate just increases the post production costs anyway so it's generally a false economy. That said, digital is certainly here to stay and the cost of professional equipment continues to drop.
berkut 15y ago
Those were just reference images for the lookdev and environment mapping (at least in Iron Man) or set background plates in the compositor - feature films are generally recorded at 2K (2048x1556) or (these days moving to) 4K (4096x3112), DSLRs aren't capable of that resolution for movies.
- polshaw 15y ago
  That's not always the case, scenes of Slumdog millionaire (in the streets) were filmed purely with DSLR, same for the subway scenes of Black Swan. Not a feature film but the entire season 6 finale of House was exclusively shot on a 5D mkII, and a couple of small BBC series have been. I appreciate that of course 'proper' digital cinema cameras are better, but this shows that DSLRs are very much competent, and they are only going to get better.