# Video in studio, but film outdoors?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-in-studio-but-film-outdoors/76380>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 15, 2001, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-in-studio-but-film-outdoors/76380 "2001-08-15T14:12:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jet\_Jaguar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jet_jaguar/32/3562_2.png) [@Jet\_Jaguar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Jaguar)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2001, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-in-studio-but-film-outdoors/76380/1 "2001-08-15T14:12:12Z")

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Why is it that TV shows (generally sitcoms) often use video tape for scenes shot in the studio, but use film for outdoor location scenes? Can’t they take a portable video camera? Are there technical reasons (maybe film is better in natural light or something), or is it a logistics thing?

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**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2001, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-in-studio-but-film-outdoors/76380/2 "2001-08-15T14:26:33Z")

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I suspect that it is because the quality of portable video cameras is lower than studio cameras. If you notice, studio camera’s are fairly heavy things mounted on some kind of stand. Not practical for the outdoors.

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**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2001, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-in-studio-but-film-outdoors/76380/3 "2001-08-15T14:46:44Z")

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Cause its cheaper.