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High Definition – HD

Is film dead?

No, most certainly not!

Over the past few years I have been closely connected with the introduction of HD and, while I believe the pictures can be wonderful, the reasons for choosing to shoot with HD, as opposed to film, are not as numerous as it first appeared.

Three-chip cameras

The first wave of HD cameras with their three-chip configuration were, and indeed still are, able to emulate the quality of image obtainable when using 35 mm film, but only if you used the finest lenses. Many so-called HD lenses produced a picture nowhere near the camera’s capability, which caused the cameras to get a mixed reception. Those that saw demonstration films shot with top quality lenses, such as Panavision’s, were usually ...

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