Messages

1

Lenses / Re: 70-200 Choices

« on: June 12, 2013, 10:02:42 AM »

You are forgetting the brand new Tamron 2.8 vc which is exactly at your budget MSRP ($1500).  It supposedly is as sharp or even a bit sharper than the canon vII. 

2

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Genus 77mm ND Fader Circular Filter: Adequate for a serious amateur?

« on: May 30, 2013, 02:04:28 PM »

You know, I have some no-name fader that I think is a copy of the LCW one (though not sure) and it works just fine.  Done $150,000 worth of video work through it and never had a client or editor say "hmm, seems your fader ND is not up to snuff." 

3

EOS Bodies / Re: 5D Mark III & RAW Video, A Case Study

« on: May 30, 2013, 11:53:27 AM »

The raw looks too warm. But I didn't like the halo around the fire of the candle of the H.264 at 200%. Interesting stuff and I can't wait for ML to get to the 6D, if it ever does.

Remember in looking at all these raw samples that much of it is entirely the decisions that the person who took it made in color correction in post - 90% of which I've found to be questionable.  Usually they are either garish colors or not correcting the magenta slant that comes straight out of the camera. 

4

Street & City / Re: How to not get beat up when photographing public places?

« on: May 28, 2013, 10:40:29 PM »

Alot of people are mentioning problems they've had in far off exotic places. I find that the WORST problems I've had are right here in North America.

Recently was in a nice quiet neighbourhood trying out a new lens, taking a shot of a road and bridge (sun was out, bright blue sky, a few clouds). A van drove up to me and asked what I was doing. I told them I was taking a picture. They then proceeded to claim (very aggressively) that it's illegal to take a picture of them and that I'd be in trouble.

Little more detail here: this was a quiet residential area road. They were about half a mile away when I took the shot (never mind I was shooting with an 8mm lens...). Their aggressive attitude was astonishing. I told them I deleted the shot with them "in it" (the tiny spec that they were) and walked away. They drove off, only to return a few minutes latter, stopping in the middle of the road and taking a picture of me with their camera phone? I just smiled and kept walking.

People seem to have this impression that ANY picture taken of them (even if they are half a mile away behind tinted windows) without "permission" is illegal, and they get VERY aggressive about it if you look like anything beyond a kid with a camera phone.

Was in a best buy once trying out a camera (one of the Samsung WiFi cameras) and this guy walks up to me saying he's calling the cops cause I took a pic of him. It wasn't even my camera...

Wow...that's very interesting. I've yet to encounter something like this before.

Then again, I live in New Orleans, where cameras are pretty common out and about with all the tourists, maybe that and the laid back attitude down here keeps it friendly, but honestly, I've never heard of this type reaction or aggression before till this thread.

C

The ONLY problems I've ever had, shooting documentaries all over the world and the country were in Louisiana - did 3 projects there.  Buncha crazy paranoids, I tell ya!  Maybe NO is different than the rest of the state (our crew mostly had run ins with police around Baton Rouge and then further south closer to Houma.  I'm sure you're a nice guy but honestly I spent almost a year there shooting those pieces and I don't care if I ever go back - beautiful scenery and the ladies are pretty too, but I really really was left with a bad impression of the people. 

5

Canon General / Re: Will Third Party Firmware Void Your Canon Warranty?

« on: May 28, 2013, 12:30:09 PM »

Recall that the entirety of the 1dx/1dc legal threats come from a single report here on canon rumors that CR was "told by someone" at canon that they would "bring the full weight" Canon's legal team if somebody tried to modify the 1 series.  Not exactly a definitive response.  In this case it's at least a bit more legit coming from the CR guy, but it's amazing how one offhanded comment on some message board or a random hyperbole from EOSHD becomes somehow fact.  The DSLR video community is so incestuous. 

6

Pricewatch Deals / Re: Rakuten 20% cash back-Memorial day

« on: May 27, 2013, 12:43:11 AM »

Ugh.  It's the former buy.com.  It's a huge site in Japan.  It's perfectly legit and one of the more reliable retailers in the world. 

7

Street & City / Re: How to not get beat up when photographing public places?

« on: March 18, 2013, 11:25:09 AM »

Weird - I shoot video constantly on streets and public places, and include people all the time.  I'm not inconspicuous - I've got a huge video tripod with a fluid head on it.  Nobody, other than drunks and crazy people has ever said a word in all the years I've been working.  Occasionally people ask about my project, but they are friendly and interested.  I just spent 2 weeks in downtown LA shooting and the only attention I attracted was from another videographer.  Who was very friendly. 

8

Lenses / Re: 17-40mm advice please!

« on: March 01, 2013, 11:06:02 PM »

I recently went through this and ultimately decided on the Tokina 16-28.  Time will tell if it's a good choice.  But it was the same price (or actually a bit cheaper) than the 17-40 which I just couldn't bring myself to buy.  My almost sole focus is video though, so it's in that context.

9

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: 6D not usable for shooting video?

« on: February 07, 2013, 01:23:55 PM »

It's funny, I'm editing a piece right now that is a mix of 5DII and III footage, and the aliasing and moire are *shocking* everytime I pull up a 5DII shot in comparison.  One of the shooters on the piece commented that the 5dIII 720p looks about exactly the same as the 5DII 1080p in terms of quality.

10

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: How did they make this vid?

« on: January 24, 2013, 03:34:15 PM »

Why would you think this was shot with a DSLR at all, much less a 7D?

You're awful quiet all of a sudden....

I barely read this forum much.  Why would I post a follow up?   

11

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: How to start the video recording remote on 5D M3?

« on: January 24, 2013, 03:31:25 PM »

You understand that the camera doesn't have autofocus while recording, right? 

A simple way to remotely start/stop is to reassign the shutter release to start stop video (you can do this in the menu) then use a timelapse remote or other shutter trigger to start stop.

12

Canon General / Re: The tax monster is coming soon. What are you planning on doing with your refund?

« on: January 18, 2013, 12:55:47 PM »

Given that with the latest tax changes we are about $1200 poorer every month, I do not believe I'll be buying anything.

I would say that sucks, but if you are loosing $1200 a month to a 2% tax increase I don't feel sorry for you.

It's a lot more than 2%.

Then you are doing something wrong and need a better accountant

If he is in a very high tax bracket, then it could indeed be a lot more than 2%.  But if he's making that much he's probably not a pro photographer/videographer and is a hobbyist.

13

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: How did they make this vid?

« on: January 18, 2013, 12:46:59 AM »

Why would you think this was shot with a DSLR at all, much less a 7D?

Anyway, as said before, first shot is probably a dolly and the rest is 100% steadicam.  (I'm a steadicam operator).  It wasn't an incredibly talented one - it was a competent one - all the horizon floating, changing headroom, bad framing "floaty" look  that you see in 90% of web videos that are out there are a good way to not work very much ever again if anybody sees it.  There's a certain proficiency you have to achieve to be an operator, and not just an owner, and this is a good example of that. 

14

Canon General / Re: The tax monster is coming soon. What are you planning on doing with your refund?

« on: January 17, 2013, 06:21:16 PM »

What the hell is a tax refund?   

If you overpaid in taxes (in the USA), you can typically get the refunded taxes back in a refund.  =)  no guarantees in other countries.

He was being sarcastic.  I thought the same question...the only people the get refunds are the people have "jobs".   

15

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: jpg vs. RAW...

« on: December 20, 2012, 11:58:25 AM »

Why would you shoot a timelapse at 8fps - might as well just shoot video and speed up a little in post. 

I shoot in jpg because for my purposes (slotting in to 1080p videos) even lowest quality jpgs on a modern dslr are overkill.  For general purpose (generally showing a sunset, or traffic at night, etc) I use 1fps and give a bit of long shutter at night.