Using ND filters for EFP

[Bob Franco]

I wondering how to work with the excellent light sensitivity of the Red camera while doing run and gun, quick EFP shooting. Sometimes you don't have the luxury of plenty of set up time. Today I was shooting with my Sony and was constantly switching ND, which is built into the camera.
On the Red cam, I'm thinking of using Nikon lenses with a matte box. In daylight I would guess that I would use a screw-on ND on each lens I have, to speed up the basic ND setup and then have a second ND filter, if needed, in the matte box. Because of the wide dynamic range I'm thinking I could be a stop under or over the ideal stop and still have a good picture. Anybody have any ideas on how you will approach the type of shooting you may be doing now with cameras that have built in ND filters and in-camera iris control with the Red camera?

Bob

[Ken Corben]

"Fast Moving Scenario" is the buzz term. I've been kicking this one around a bit based on Red's 500 ISO rating and the 11 stops of latitude with the "half under" practice from film.

Who's to say really until it is field tested - even then, the operators will have personal choices/opinions. I am thinking screw on ND filters for single operator, fast moving, hand held with out a matte box. Why?

Well if I am using an ND 2 in daylight I'm ISO 125 at 1/48th sec exposure and living in f-stops where critical focus won't kill me as it would below f5.6, no? Also, hand held with a matte box that covers 16:9 is wieldy and I'm used to having a first and second AC to reduce the workload. It may take a few seconds more to screw and unscrew ND's rather than dropping them in but the lighter load for fast moving hand held is the deciding factor.

If I am on sticks for an "event" then the reverse is true and I have the luxury of an assistant and matte box is the way to go.

Of course this is just thinking out loud - Gibby and I are going to test these theories to the max in order to develop a tried and true working system for any given application.

Sharky