Messages

76

Software & Accessories / Re: using lights for first time and not sure what set up to get??

« on: August 04, 2011, 09:34:29 AM »

I do those kinds of shots 8 hours a day 7 days a week... You can get by with 2 lamps.
We use 2400watts to use in cooperation with daylight.

We shoot with reflectors most the time and for textiles I would even use a grid to really make the texture pop.
For the white outs we shoot 1 lamp with reflector through a large 230cm x 130cm homemade diffuser made from frost filter and a wooden frame and then soften the shot with 1 or 2 white boards.

One thing you have to remember is that the world only has one lamp... once you start messing with lighting from several directions you start bending the truth and pretty fast photos of products will look out of place or unnatural.

The environment shots I would definately shoot as daylight and then an indirect lamp whose light will support the daylight direction. For softening I would again use a white board.

The white boards we have are large styrofoam 1.5 inch thick boards. They can probably be bought from most large retailers of photographic and video equipment.

Two examples of something I did this week... Copyrighted ofcourse.

Bedroom:
Lamp at camera left bouncing on walls and window > aids the light direction and makes it a bit softer.
Whiteboard camera right > in fact a couple I think. Adjust the distance per taste.
Depending on motive: F8 - F11/16 not higher... it get tideous shooting more than one second (our Sinars with ancient PhaseOne backs are touchy about shutter speeds longer than 1 second for some reason).

White out:
Lamp through diffuser camera right pretty high up. Adjust height per taste of shadow.
White board camera left completely up against the table, just out of camera view.
High aperture unless client wants DOF... We shoot F16-22 on almost all of these.

77

EOS Bodies / Re: Why Do You Need 250 60D's?

« on: August 02, 2011, 09:02:11 AM »

Shitty in the sense that this is no more than an advert for Canon... it's so blantantly obvious that it becomes tacky.

The execution says more about the human technicians behind the scenes than the camera itself... much less the band.

It's fun to watch... but an achievement from Canon?? Far from it.

78

EOS Bodies / Re: No Finalized 5D Mark III Yet [CR2]

« on: July 28, 2011, 09:43:59 AM »

I'm one of those guys who has already left Canon for Panasonic and I know two friends who just left for the Sony FS100.  Canon is about to lose huge if they don't produce a competitor to the AF100 and FS100 fast!

I have no facts to support, but my guess is the majortyof people leaving Canon were not terribly commited to begin with.

From photographer to big-time filmmaker because a dslr shoots video? Nah.

Are you referring to Vincent Laforet?  Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist who switched from still photography and moved from New york to Hollywood where he now does video full time?  Of course, he now uses Canon DSLR's, Red, Sony, Arri, and others, but it was because of the 5D MK II that he made the switch, and has more business than his company can handle.  The right tool for the job.

He is a photographer, and a camera is a tool, be it video or still, its the guy behind the lens who makes it all work.

Yes... but the guy behind the camera, would never chose a Canon over a Red or an Arri if it was available to him, atleast only for the fun of it.

79

EOS Bodies / Re: No Finalized 5D Mark III Yet [CR2]

« on: July 28, 2011, 09:41:55 AM »

All that aside, this thread is about the 5D Mark2 and its successor. Talking about the AF-100 and FS-100 is not at all relevant or helpful.

True in the sense that it will cut down sales of the 5D mkII when people realise that the video in it is seriously outdated. This thread is not only about the tech behind Canon, but also a guideline for people who are looking for alternatives since it would seem that Canon can't get their finger out their ass.

I'm here to tell you guys who are wanting to step up from the old fashioned tech that makes up the 5D... take the leap and go Pana or better yet Sony.

In regards to the price that is twice as high... that is true, but you are also getting atleast twice as much for the money. You get xlr, peaking, zebra, 4:2:2, all the good stuff, and the camera is basicly as easy to work with as turning it on.

Now... how does this tie into the debate on mkii and iii? It does because we shouldn't be celebrating Canon just because it's canonrumors, that is biased, uninformative and ignorant to do so. If something better comes along, the smart people move on (Look at Philip Bloom... and others), we don't hang around waiting for our dear Canon love to come up with something that can remotely compete with what is on the market at the moment.

The Philip Bloom blog says all that is needed to be said in regards what Canon needs to fill into a competing camera. Until they come up with this, do yourself and your paying clients a favor and upgrade instead of running around with toy canons in massive rigs and "nice try" software hacks.

Disclaimer: I own a 5D mk II and several Ls, but from now on I'll only pack it out when I need a B cam or doing stills.

80

United Kingdom & Ireland / Re: Best place to buy photographic equipment in the uk?

« on: July 23, 2011, 11:33:17 AM »

I live in Denmark, but have recently bought a lot of gear from the UK, mainly because it's cheaper and I can buy without VAT.

If I could suggest one source at the moment, it would be prokit.co.uk. They have been extremely nice during my purchase of the Sony FS100 and accessories. I would definitely buy from them again.

81

United Kingdom & Ireland / Re: My first online portfolio!

« on: July 23, 2011, 11:31:49 AM »

One thing, and probably the most important thing (I have a hard time maintaining this myself...) is always to kill your darlings.

What do I mean?

Well, photographers in general have hard time getting rid of needless photos, because they somehow got attached to it, either because of the mood they were in during the taking of the photo or because something happened.
But I'm here to tell you, that if your photo doesn't have a commercial value, be very very strict in your selection.
Don't include something just because you think it's kinda cute or nice. If you for one millisecond is in doubt wether or not to include a photo... don't.

A portfolio is only as good as the worst photo included in it... sad to say, but it's true.

82

EOS Bodies / Re: EF Mount Video Camera [CR1]

« on: July 21, 2011, 12:14:47 AM »

Wauw.... I... really dont care. A companys survival is purely based on its current achievements, not past ones. What ever they have done and achieved in the past doens't give me proper updates and fixes for a system I paid a great deal for.

Canon has failed and probably because their native leaders are still stuck in that medieval mindset of pride and respect rather than actually achieving something and being innovative.

My next move would be, instead of waiting for the Birger mount, to start investing in old Nikon glass for my video system.

83

EOS Bodies / Re: EF Mount Video Camera [CR1]

« on: July 20, 2011, 02:36:46 AM »

If they can do better than Sony who with the FS100 has managed to produce a real prosumer video cam with the form factor of a dsrl (or Hasselblad) then they have a chance... but here are the things they really need to be putting into this camera in order to have a small chance at winning terrain:

- 4:4:4 raw video out, preferably in both HDMI and SDI or atleast 4:2:2
- Atleast 2K
- bulid in ND filter
- the same light sensitivity as the FS100 or better ( it can literally see in the dark with minimal of noise )
- XLR input for mics.
- Form factor... really really think about this before you send it out.

The Sony FS100 will in some months time be able to take EF lenses through the aid of the Birger mount adapter system. You can already attach EF lenses to it with dumb adapters (no aperture control... but this is what var ND filters are for) and you can find additional adapters for all types of lenses even the good old ones.

IMO... Canon is too late here... just like they are with the D series. Most likely this will be something people dream about for a years time and then Sony and Pana are already ready with their next shining star, or wait... did I forget to mention Scarlet RED (good luck there Canon)?

I don't think they'll remain on top for much longer. To be honest that bugs me, since I've invested a lot in Canon gear. But the things I got can last a life time, so why bother buying more...

Fail Canon... fail.

84

Software & Accessories / Re: Need Backpack recommendations

« on: July 19, 2011, 03:02:29 PM »

I always praise this bag when people ask

It currently holds:
- 5D with batterygrip
- 70-200 mounted on it.
- 100mm macro
- 24-70
- extension tubes screwed together
- 2 extra batteries
- flash
- random cables
- charger
- and the pockets in the top part are water tight and holds random papers, manuals, cd's.. whatever.

The inside is build up with soft deviders that you can customize yourself.

It has two front pockets, one large one small and it fits a 15" laptop in the back pocket, or a foldable lastolite.

In the bottom it has a zipper that opens up to the build in rain cover.

All in all a very nice and protective run and gun as well as a general back pack for your gear.


I present.... the Lowe Pro Runner 350AW:

85

Contests / Re: Holga Giveaway

« on: July 19, 2011, 09:30:43 AM »

Heh, what a great idea! Those would be a nice complement to my Holga cam... you gotta love that something so basic can put so much charm into a photograph

86

EOS Bodies / Re: New Canon 5D Mark III rumor

« on: July 11, 2011, 08:52:13 AM »

I hope they'll come out with something soon... Basicly I've decided that I don't need a new still camera, but I do need something better than the 5D's video (honestly... it's good for it's build, but really not good when one starts to think in terms of professionality).

So Canon... if  you do read this. Please don't give me a reason to stop investing in your gear, cause that's what is about to happen. The Sony FS100 is looking very appealing right now when Canon hasn't even announced a mk III, and if I pull the trigger on that, I wont look back. Really can't be bothered to wait around for this...

Oh, and please do make sure that we get 4:2:2 atleast, remove rolling shutter, aliasing and boost that framerate to 60 atleast. Forget about the pixel race... As a full time commercial photographer, I don't really care anymore. Crist, we're shooting adverts on old Phase One backs with 6 mp on old Sinars and it looks smashing.

87

EOS Bodies / Re: Short Film Shot on T2i

« on: June 26, 2011, 10:28:02 AM »

Nice work... You know, everytime someone does a nice short I keep saying to myself "ok, now we've seen the posibilities of the 5D", but this was nicely executed and had the feel of a larger production.

I like how you used the 1: 2.35 aspect... It's hands down my favourite aspect ratio, even for web.

Recently I've come to terms with the fact that making shorts like yours are half about sound design and with the sound recording of the 5D being a complete joke, I'm about to invest 15.000 dollars in sound gear and a steadicam Pilot.
May I ask what hardware your sound designer used to capture the dialog and ambience etc. in these shots?

My only thing was like the comment Cornershot made... the slides are a bit too far for my taste, it's like they have become a fad. I think a nice shoulder mounted or steadicam pan would have done the trick equally as well, maybe a bit better.

Thanks for a nice experience...

Torben

88

EOS Bodies / Re: Movie Post Production

« on: June 14, 2011, 01:35:10 AM »

Sign up for Dropbox or Yousendit and put your files up there for people to download. Simple as that...

89

Software & Accessories / Re: advice on CF brand

« on: June 12, 2011, 12:32:26 PM »

I'm in the Sandisk camp as well... The only brand I've had 0 problems with. Currently I have two 16gb 90mbs and they are superb.
I think cf cards are probably one of the last peripherals where I wont compromise my choice. 

90

EOS Bodies / Re: Still no slo mo for the 5D Mark III ? Yeuck!

« on: May 29, 2011, 03:47:10 PM »

If they fail to achieve higher frame rate on the Mk III, I wont even consider upgrading... I'd rather go full video and that makes Canon losers.

Things that need to be in the MK III or it's a useless upgrade:

- Weather sealed completely...

- Better AF

- Higher framerate

- Higher resolution for when doing still jobs.

Nice to have:

- Raw video

- Video AF

But I don't expect Canon to cater their customers that much.

I would very much say... that if they don't produce all four of the above, I wont consider upgrading till next model comes along. Screw money makers... I'm not that loyal.