Say you have to shoot a few scenes with a DP and certain camera right away. Before you shoot the actual movie with a different DP that might have a different camera. Can that work, or will it look bad? Thank you.
Filmmaking / Directing : Shooting with two different cameras by Jay Reeves
Shooting with two different cameras
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As long as the DPs know their stuff you'll be fine. In post the color timing and color correction will match shots as required. Many movies have 2nd unit directors and DPs (especially action) and it's all fine.
Sounds good. Thanks a lot.
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Well it won't look the same if you use two different cameras cuz each one has their specificity in term of colours, sensor, aperture....
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As a producer of 18 films, I would be VERY CAREFUL of doing that and saying, "I'll fix it in post." The two different cameras are not going to match up and there WILL BE a noticeable difference, some greater than others depending on what cameras are used. As for "Many movies have 2nd unit directors and DPs (especially action) and it's all fine," well those movies use the same cameras. It's neither easy nor cheap to fix it in post. Trust me, I remember when someone tried to convince me that a Lumix and a RED would match up. They didn't. Shooting something first with another DP is okay, assuming you use the same camera as the second DP, so it will match up. Trust me. Break Legs in your project! GOD BLESS and STAY FRESH! <3
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Thanks Louis, and Sam.
It does depend on which two cameras you're looking at as well as the skill level of both DPs. If they're for example Red cameras, one's a Scarlet and one's an Epic, they'll actually match well if the cinematography is consistent. Same with, say, a Black Magic Pocket 6K vs 4K, or a Canon 300 MkII and C100 MkII... you get the point.
Sony colors have changed quite a bit; I had no trouble at all matching footage from a Mavic 2 Pro and a Red Epic-W, but the Sony a7s footage looked WAY off initially.
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if advise against this. it's possible to make it look good of you use cameras with similar settings and a second DP who's amazing but the chances of those two things aligning are not great. you're better off just getting someone with the same camera so there's only the DP variable in play.
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Depends on your intent. Years gack (decades ago) we produced a 'revenge' film (name escapes me) in Nova Scotia staring Kathy Bates. We used Kodak stock for present day look and used Fuji stock for the flashback scenes. Generally I'd suggest you not do what your asking - unless there's a creative reason.
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Each camera manufacturer has different color science...if it's the same level and brand of camera it might work. But both DP's need to be on the same channel about the look of the film.