Jeremy Parsons
1st Assistant Camera / Photographer
IATSE 1st AC based out of Pittsburgh, PA
I've been very disappointed at the quality of "test footage" provided by AJA. The disappointment come more from the quality of shooting than the camera itself. It looks like the DPs they're using have trouble executing control basic exposure and focus rather than exploring the strengths and weaknesses of the camera. I don't think its painting the camera in a fair light.
To me, THIS is a test shoot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpWq09bs81g
Shots are carefully executed and documented so the audience can be informed as to the strengths and limitations of the camera (or film stock in this case).
Unfortunately AJA doesn't seem to have - or want to invest in - the marketing engine that SONY has.
I'll second the warning about the CO2 poisoning. This is NOT a danger you want to put your crew and actors in. There is no better way to piss of SAG-AFTRA than to put their members in danger.
Cooling air from the fog machine, however, is definitely a much safer alternative.
I wish more people understood that there is a time and a place for everything in regard to shallow DoF.
Your comments are oversimplified. Drones have their place, but they'll never replace a crane or a helicopter.
Cranes are MUCH more stable. An experienced DP would never fly a $50,000 camera with a $60,000 lens weighing in over 45lbs. You simply can't do it.
Also, we use cranes all the time to go from a high angle sweeping all the way to an actor's face for a close up in one move. You'll be hard pressed to find an actor to allow a cluster of blades get that close to them.
Then there's sound...despite all those motors, Technocranes are quiet!
I am 100% with you there. I wish people were as enamored with lighting skill as they are with "flavor of the month" gear.
People love to talk about the benefits offered by the IATSE unions, but no one (outside the union) talks about how difficult it is to qualify for those benefits even after you join:
To quality for the (Cadillac) health plan, you need 600 qualifying hours in one year. That's about 10 weeks of standard 12-hour set days. Then 400 hours/year to maintain. Easy if you're regularly working on union shows. Not so easy if you work commercials or are more of a day player.