Here at 16oz we have extensively tested all available purchasing and leasing options for cinema style filming here are some details on the choices we made:
Camera Systems
Our current most popular camera systems are the Phantom Veo 4k and Red DSMC2 Monstro but we also carry the Red 8k FF V-Raptor, Red DSMC2 Gemini and Red Dragon cameras.
No matter what camera we use we have invested massively in the accessories that allow them to work well in every situation.
Lenses and and other optics
16oz carries an impressive range of LPL + PL glass. As digital cameras tend to homogenise cinematic images we have carefully picked what we believe are the best Optical tools to counteract this trend.
Optics does not stop with lenses you must also consider the role of diffusion within the optical formulas and we use lots of interesting varieties – some one off samples and custom made magic.
What lenses are right for your project? Let us show you!
The Studio
16oz studio space is both an atelier for us as film artists/craftspeople and also an essential component in a wider commercial tool/offering.
As much as it is perfect for high speed shoots or smaller film projects it is also an essential space for us to keep constantly researching, developing and investing in new tools and the companion approaches that keep our craft sharp and up to date.
Then there was 'light'
Without some form of light there can not be an image. The important question is what lights and how they should be used. At 16oz we tested every known light on the market and have invested in those fixtures that offer the best performance for what we do. Our main testing criteria was that our main fixtures must offer beautiful full colour spectrum light that is flicker free up to 2000fps. Silicon imagers produce cleaner images with daylight balanced fixtures and therefore we tend towards daylight balanced fixtures. We do carry a range of Tungsten fixtures but we mainly use them for effects or as Tungsten balanced light.
Camera GRIP. This is ‘motion’ film after all…
At 16oz Studio we have invested in a wide range of camera grip equipment to allow us to easily execute moving shots. We have limited our investment to tools that can be expertly managed, moved and deployed by the 16oz internal team. Sometimes we will insist on bringing in a third party resource (for example for complex Moco programming work). Predictably we own dollies, jib arms, sliders, car rigs etc. but what is unique is the amount of thought, testing and research that went into these acquisitions. As with all 16oz equipment investments we are never concerned about the hire-ability of each tool but simply its special ‘use value’ to us as filmmakers.
Data management, back-up and processing
16oz takes very seriously the safety of all rushes. The combination of insurance company approved process and some clever workflow investments means that we can guarantee there is no safer place to trust precious rushes. Safety is not the only important consideration. With exceptional speed comes flexibility and interesting creative options. We offer Live grading, Dual LTO 7 backup, Offsite safety copies etc...
Post Production
16oz Studio is able to offer a very near set post service. Whether it is having a editor cut the material as it is captured for super fast turn around jobs or having all the rushes (or rushes selects) graded near set to allow clear visualisation of end product through editorial, please discuss with us what is possible. We also have Grade 1 and 4k monitoring and a cost effective post edit grade and conform facility. With more than 200TB of super fast storage we can deal with any size project.
