Take a look at the link at the bottom of this post. I'll wait. (doo, doo, doo, dooooooooo, doo, doo, doo, doo, do, do doooooo - elevator music, while I wait - really, say it slowly out loud a few times)
While a bit of a simplification, it does explain why for the vast majority, the whole mega pixel thing - at this stage - just doesn't matter.
Going back to my previous blog it also explains why the 5 mega pixel camera on the iPhone is better than the 8 mega pixel one on most Android (phones) is better. Sensor size. (the iPhone one is bigger) So in one sense size matters but in another it is what you do with it that counts. Come on you were all thinking it....
This does apply to the production world too. Again, this is a bit of a simplification but basically it holds true. The 5d and 7d from Canon. The big difference is the sensor size. But, since web and tv content (as opposed to feature films) are lit for easy viewing (lots of light) the net effect is that the smaller image size of the 7d is fine. Do you need to blow up the image for theatrical release? Zoom in really tight to deal with sfx? Then the bigger sensor size and slightly more pixels of the 5d is good. There are of course aesthetic reasons and technical ones. However, I guess that about 60%+ of what is shot today, for commercial use is for promoting a product that is format independent. Meaning, that the product promotion is not effected by Film or HD (whatever the format).
What about cameras like the hvx 200 - a 720p hd camera - a semi-pro model they call it. Well technically, it has less resolution than the 7d and 5d (720p vs. 1080p) but it has 3 image sensors and much bigger ones too. So, it will do better in lower light and in most cases the picture quality - a touchy, feely measurement, not technical one - can be 'nicer'
There are of course more issues in some cases - sfx work, what your final use is, etc. But basically and I say again - basically -all this is true and real.
As you go up into the Red and other HD+ resolution cameras this truth - basically - holds true. For instance, the work flow for the Red (camera system) is complicated for several reasons, not the least of which is the image size. The size of images is 4k about 3 x that of HD. Huge files that most desktop (Final Cut, etc) have a great deal of problem dealing with. The solution and result of applying some common sense is to shoot if you want to at 4k (if you need the size for theatrical release or sfx (special effects ) work but then transfer the images to 2k or even 1080p - hd and edit as normal. If your going to TV (commercials, etc.) this is the best you can do anyway - tv stations only want 1080p HD size projects. You realize that if you do apply common sense and the above is true for your project, just shoot at 2k. That gives you the image size to 'move' your picture around in post as you are still only using the 1080p size image anyway.
So, the expense of shooting on the Red or Film for that matter (post costs) is a question that people should be asking - in more depth. Yes, there are times to do it. However, for the purposes of this blog entry - think about what you are using it for.
Ask Not What the Format Can Do For You But What You Need The Format For - and push Post people for real answers not ones based on their own snobbish feelings toward certain formats. Most times they get you with the 'What if' (what if you want to do .... later or what if someone changes their mind). Agency people want to know why everything costs so much money. The fear is why.
Don't give into the fear.
Jason
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2U2NyI/techland.com/2010/09/09/two-minute-video-camera-shopping-skip-the-megapixels/
