Here are reports from two Videoscope customers:Rob Bruno, Twenty-Four Frames
Rob Bruno is a high-end wedding videographer and editor in Toronto. Shooting professional high definition lets him offer a level of quality that sets his company apart. Twenty-Four Frames can be reached at 416-489-6747.
Rob comments on shooting XDCAM HD:
It’s fabulous. The picture quality is fantastic. Considering what you pay for the camera, it’s an incredible picture.
I love the cameras. Very friendly. Once you get going with the menus, they are no problem.
I like shooting with the disc media instead of tape. Tape can be unreliable. It can get chewed up and then you’ve lost everything. At best you spend a lot of time rewinding. The discs are easier and quicker to navigate. You can jump right where you want to be.
To load for editing, they act just like tape anyway."*
Greg McFadden, Ironworks Productions
Ironworks Productions Incorporated opened up shop in 1998 and is best known for producing TSN’s coverage of the Subaru Triathlon Series, the Canadian National Snowboarding Championships and Canadian Snowboarder. They are located in Toronto’s Beaches area and can be reached at 416-778-1621 or ironwrks@bconnex.net
Ironworks' owner Greg McFadden sent us a report that really puts it in perspective:
Ironworks Productions Inc. goes HDWith new HD products every month, it is an exciting time for all of us, like Christmas every day. Networks are making the push for HD, and we are all for it; better quality is always a good thing! Of course, unfortunately, it does not guarantee increased viewers or increased budgets from sponsors to pay for the high end HD gear to get the improved HD product.
The numbers did not add up. At Ironworks Productions the future looked far less clear than the HD images we are all enjoying!
June 18th, 2006 was a turning point for our company. We were shooting the Subaru Muskoka Chase. Next year all our triathlon events on TSN have to be in HD so this was a chance to try out the new Sony XDCAM HD.
We have found our future!
Rental costs are comparable to the Betacam SP we used to shoot; the camera operation is very similar to Sony’s SP line and the HD picture quality is what our network is expecting for the future.
With 20 years behind a lens, having the shots on an optical disc took a little getting used to, but it all went flawlessly. You get an hour on each disc, so less stock is involved. In fact there are huge cost savings because the optical disc can be used over and over. We plan to input the shots; once we are finished the edit we will output all the selects to one disc and have a condensed select raw library. The other discs are ready for the next shoot.
There are lots of choices and decisions to be made on what works best for each of us. For Ironworks Productions though, the path is much clearer than just a few weeks ago. Sony XDCAM HD is destined to be a major part of our future!
Videoscope specializes in Sony XDCAM HD cameras, decks and recording media.
Complete grip kits, including tripod and lights are also available.
To check out XDCAM HD, contact Videoscope Camera Specialist, Joe Freitas at 416.449.3030
and our Rental Packages at XDCAM HD Rental
XDCAM HD discs are in stock at Videoscope.