And that is completely your option. Hell thats what makes forums like indietalk go 'round.
And yet, i gave DV its due, the same as I give HDV, 4k, 35mm and 65mm its due. They all have a certain purpose.
DV and all digital formats have a certain asthetic which film cannot achieve as well and film has a certain asthetic that digital cannot achieve as well. Thats all. Theres no more discussion, because
they are not the same. They do not capture light the same, they do not have the same resolution, and they are not projected the same.
Lets assume we ran a test. We have one set, one lighted scene, and we have whatever DV camera you choose and any standard industry 35mm camera. You shoot the same scene twice, once with each camera.
In a real cinema projection (15' or wider) you cannot stack a 720x480 DV image directly up against a 4k 35mm image without the DV image going off and whimpering in the corner from solid embarassment.
DV is PAINFULLY lacking in resolution and latitude compared to film, but those same limitations can achieve a desired effect, similar to reversal film achieving a higher contrasted and saturated image.
That said, in a direct comparison of the same shot, there is no question in terms of the most asthetically pleasing and theoretically more sophisticated format.
And while your experience as a system administrator is wonderful (hey! I come from a tech background too!), it really has no relevance to a discussion on the asthetics of two formats nor the reality of the business behind the movie industry as a whole.
Furthermore, when you next discuss with a distributor about your next project, make sure to tell them you're going to shoot it on DV and don't have the budget for a 35mm blowup, you have no name talent and its not a hot genre film. That really gets the buzz going.
But again, I think this conversation is getting off track. Its best to treat these formats simply as what they are, different medium to acquire different asthetic, which is most appropriate for your project? And if your excuse for not allowing anything but DV into your budget is because you are self funding your project or can only raise enough to shoot on DV, then I think you are
severely limiting yourself and very possibly harming your project.
Thats not to say that you shouldn't make your movie on DV. You just need to realistic views on the potential outcome, and although you can make a beautiful little piece on DV or s8, or 1q6, or 35, it is what it is, and its potential place in the market is pretty well carved out at this point. How many films shot on DV right now are playing at your local Amc, Regal, or any other chain? Is that because theres nobody out there making beautiful films on DV?
Now if you look at the movies that
have been shot on DV and had major theatrical distribution, its because there was some major driving force behind it - well known stars, the video asthetic, or a documentary on a hot topic.
Thats not the way I wish it was. Thats the way it is. Maybe the future will change that but we're in the business of making productions for today not five years or more down the road.