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Genesis, Yay or Nay?

I haven't seen the new Superman, one of the first movies shot with the new Genesis digital camera system. But two filmmakers I know have, and are split on the Genesis' output.

Joel thinks the images look great:

The image quality was so incredible that I'm starting to believe our next project may very well be shot on digital video if we can get access to cameras of that caliber (when Superman Returns was in pre-production, there was only one Genesis prototype in existence). It's exciting to see video which is so close to the look, feel, and quality of film.

Zak thinks the blacks are too crushed:

Whats with the absolute lack (meaning ZERO DETAIL =[ ) in the BLACKS? I hope to god it was an artistic decision, somehow I think it’s the jank dynamic range of the panavision genesis (which was the main reason I went to see the film tonight, because most of my film is going to be shot digitally on the RED camera, I wanted to see what a digital film was like, and maybe think about what if that’s what my film turns out looking like) I hope to god the redcam has better detail in the blacks. Even in fight club when you cant see any detail at all in their hair its better than this, this was really bad, it reminded me of when I compress something with sorenson video 3 and I cant see anything afterwards in the shadows, and I have to go back and brighten everything in the master copy before I compress it and upload it to the internet, only higher resolution. It was really depressing. After a while I didn’t notice it unless I thought about it, and I doubt anyone really cares or is affected by it in any serious way. Because its STUPIDMAN for christs sakes. But MY FILM is ALL ABOUT THE BLACKS so that’s why im so concerned by this issue with the panavision genesis. My film is entirely underexposed, my film LIVES in the blacks. And the genesis DOESN’T HAVE ANY BLACKS.

This difference of opinion could well not be the fault of the Genesis, of course, but of the projector in the theaters they saw it in.

I'll probably see Superman Returns sometime this week. Then, like John McLauglin, I will declare unequivocally whether Zak or Joel is correct.

UPDATE: My verdict is in.

About J. Ott

John Ott is a writer, filmmaker and futurist. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.