Zacuto Let DSLRs and 35MM Duke It Out in ‘The Great Camera Shootout 2010’

Zacuto, popular sales and rental house for custom camera packages, has shot its way once more into original content with “The Great Camera Shootout 2010: a three part web series where gunslinging HD DSLRs face-off against legendary 35mm Film.” For those fascinated by the latest in camera technologies, especially those looking for the most cost-effective options for web production while keeping production values as high as possible, this 3-part webisodic series is exactly what you’re looking for. And hardcore film aficionados who are wondering at the possibilities of HD replacing 35 MM will find the series informative and often surprising.

The series showcases the top performing hybrid HD-DSLR cameras: Canon: 5D MKII, 7D, 1D, 550D/T2i Rebel, Nikon D3s, Panasonic GH1 and compares the image quality of these cameras against the gold standard of 35mm film. The Canon 5D MKII test includes the new 24p firmware. “We were determined to make this an unbiased test”, says web series director Steve Weiss

, in the first episode. “We don’t sell any of these cameras, we don’t particularly care how these cameras fare out. Really, more importantly, this is not an awards type of test.”

Some of the controlled camera assessment tests featured in the series include latitude, resolution, sensitivity, speed and ultra high speed, noise, color and green screen. The battery of tests were administered under strict controls and then screened to various professionals at one of three screening locations: Stag Theater at Skywalker Ranch, LucasFilms Ltd., AFI (American Film Institute) Theater in Hollywood and the FilmWorkers Astro Color Timing Theater in Chicago.

The cast of the series includes Jens Bogehegn (Web Series Executive Producer), Robert Primes ASC (Director of Photography), Philip Bloom (DP – Color Profiles), Gary Adcock (Digerati), Ryan Emerson (Colorist) and Steve Weiss (Web Series Director). Special appearances include: Shane Hurlbut, ASC, Stephen Goldblatt ASC, BSC Stephen Lighthill, ASC, Rick McCallum, The Bui Brothers and more.

Every Friday for the run of the show, Zacuto will be giving out gear such Z-Grip Point+Shoots, Z-Finder Jr.’s and Z-finder Pros. Each week they will randomly select a winner based off of original and creative comments posted to each video. Some fun comments Tubefilter found include:

Ryan Lawrence Hinman: “In 1998, my 11 minute student film was shot on 16mm (it was about Roller Derby). It cost me $5000. I could have done a comparable film today for less than $1000, including the print. I’m going to go now and cry myself to sleep on my little pillow.”

Nic Wassell: “My appreciation in bad haiku!

Zacuto thank you…
DSLRs – I’m in awe!
Philip Bloom dazzles!”

The next episode of the series will premiere April 7.