Messages

1

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: Canon 5D Mark iii HDMI Clean Output?

« on: April 28, 2013, 07:26:51 AM »

It got leaked and various people had it on dropbox and the like. The link I got it from is dead. EOS HD had a link that had still worked. Don't know if it still does. It's easy to find since the firmware news is on their front page. There are links on POTN and all over. Google google.

Hope to test f/8 tomorrow.

Thanks. I'll just wait two more days until Canon sends me the e-mail. I'm too busy editing my BMCC video footage from a weekend trip in which I didn't even touch the 5D3. My wife got some great photos with the 5D3. If it sounds like I've moved on...

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EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: Canon 5D Mark iii HDMI Clean Output?

« on: April 27, 2013, 09:00:54 PM »

Nobody else has anything to say about the new firmware??

LTRLI: You're talking about the Canon firmware? Where did you get the new firmware? It doesn't appear to be available for download yet. That might be why others, like me, who might be interested in it have not received it yet.

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EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: Feedback for first real estate video

« on: April 24, 2013, 05:41:51 PM »

Nicely done.

I've not shot real estate videos, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn... Seriously, I've bought and sold a lot of real estate, so my thoughts center around the selling/buying side in terms of what I'd want to see as a buyer and what I'd want to show as a seller.

As others have said, it needs some movement/interest, perhaps achieved from interesting angles, pulled focus, and something to give it life (I like the food and candles ideas). Since you can't go back and shoot, those are things to keep in mind for the next one.

For this one, I wonder if editing it a little differently might work better. It seemed to jump indoors and out without real motivation for doing so. I can see jumping outdoors after looking through a window, but it didn't seem to flow as is. I favor a more straight-forward approach, such as a "tour" or a one-room-at-a-time style. It doesn't have to be boring, but it seems to me that it should not jump around too much. Perhaps some motion on the stills of the pool table room and the bedroom at the beginning? The outdoors are a real selling point. This means that you should begin and end with the outdoors. Hook them with the best and leave them with a good taste in their mouth. The view of the outside back is impressive. Perhaps that motivates the movement from outside to inside. Then tour the inside and leave them with the walk down the deck and the view from the dock?

Just my thoughts. Nice work overall.

4

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: Upgrading...Canon 60D to...GH3

« on: April 24, 2013, 08:01:14 AM »

My own $0.02 on your list of questions. My assumption is that you are trying to stretch a budget.

Camera: The 5D Mark III is a great camera. A refurb will help you save money. You can often find it new for less than $3000 using CanonPriceWatch, so make sure the refurb is discounted below that.

Lenses: For video only, you probably can't go wrong with Canon, Rokinon, Tamron, or Zeiss. I have at least one of each, except for Rokinon (and they seem to have a good bang for the buck). I have bought my Zeiss lenses used from LensRentals and saved quite a bit. I doubt I'll buy another lens new. Don't overlook the non-L primes from Canon. I have the 50mm 1.4 and it is very good. It is about the shame sharpness as my Zeiss 50mm 1.4. I just like the look of Zeiss, so I prefer it. Also, for video, the manual focus operation of Zeiss lenses is much nicer than even Canon L lenses. On operation, the Rokinon Cine lenses are worth a look. Don't go too crazy here. You can only use one lens at a time! I strongly prefer primes. For interviews, a 50mm (on the crop sensor 60D or the full frame 5D Mark III) is nice, as is an 85mm (on a full frame). The 50mm 1.8 would do great for interviews on a 5D Mark III, especially once you stop down a few.

Loupe/Monitor: Axilrod mentioned the LCDVF. I love mine. Best accessory I have!

ND: A variable ND is handy. I've found it to be great in some circumstances and hit-or-miss in others (in terms of negatively affecting the image quality). I find the image quality to be better with fixed ND's. Consider a set of 0.6-1.2 ND (I have Tiffens). Get one set based on the largest filter ring you need (probably 77mm or 82mm), then get cheap step-down rings to adapt to smaller filter sizes. You might then need a cheap flexible screw-on hood, too. You can stack fixed ND's, which is what I find myself doing when I don't need the flexibility of the variable ND.

Slider: I don't have one. Sometimes I want one, but not very often. Might be different if I had one. I do have a skate-dolly (DIY slider). Nice effect, but for interviews, I don't find it critical.

Lights: I would put this as the first priority if you don't have any. Look for sales on 3-light kits at B&H or Adorama. You don't need to spend a fortune on lights, but some money spent on lights probably has a larger impact on the overall image more than the upgrading the camera or lenses that you already have. Good lighting will go farther in making your shot look professional than upgrading your other equipment.

Monopod: I have one. Used it sometimes. Haven't used it much recently. With the LCDVF, I get a lot of stabilization from having contact with my head. When I need more, I prefer a tripod. It is handy if you are moving your position (where you stand) a lot. Likewise, I have a rig. What I love about DSLRs is that people don't get freaked out by them the way they do a video camera. A rig ruins that. Sometimes a rig is great. If you are doing a lot of pro handheld, then you need it. If you are doing set shots, a tripod is often the way to go.

Tripod: You definitely need a video, fluid-head tripod. This is a fairly expensive item ($500+), but worth it.

Follow Focus: I don't have one. Sometimes, I wish I did. You can get by just using the focus ring on the lens. This is definitely a "nice to have" item.

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EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: High noise at low ISO

« on: April 23, 2013, 09:19:52 PM »

Dear Friends,
Have just shot some footage using Canon 5D Mark III @ 500 ISO(!), 1920 x 1080 ALL-I, ZEISS ZE-series lenses.
Here are the grabs from the footage while playing in QuickTime.
Shot in Technicolor Cinestyle profile. No editing/grading whatsoever.
The question is - how come the noise is so bad?
1. Could I mess up the settings?

Yes. Your settings are most likely the problem. For video, the general rule is to use ISO multiples of 160: 160, 320, 640, 1250,... These are the low-noise ISO's for video. You are likely to have much less noise at ISO 640 than at ISO 500. In fact, ISO 640 is less noisy than ISO 200 for video.

Also, make sure that you have disabled Highlight Tone Priority (set it to OFF in the third camera menu).

Cinestyle is fine. You might also try Neutral (0,-4,-2,0).
See this video:

5D Mark III ISO Noise on Vimeo	Small | Large

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EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: ND filters for video? Suggestions?

« on: April 21, 2013, 09:58:04 PM »

Variable ND is definitely the way to go, I think.  It all depends on which brand you pick.  There are quite a few brands in the market but I think only two have been proven to be the best ones: Singh-Ray and Heliopan.  Singh-Ray gives you up to 8 stops.  Fixed NDs are just too inconvenient.
For convenience, yes. But for highest quality it sounds like there is a sacrifice with variable ND. For me, personally, I will go for better quality, even if it means the inconvenience of switching filters quite a bit.

I also assume that setting the camera to variable ISO will stretch the range of each filter. Anyone have experience with that?

If you are going for better quality, then I strongly advise against setting the camera to auto ISO. If you need variable exposure in a particular scene, a variable ND, even considering its potential weaknesses vs. fixed NDs, will provide a better result than the auto ISO.

Letting the Camera choose the ISO can result in the use of relatively noisy ISOs. Try some shots and then see if you think the results are okay.

I also don't consider the need to switch out ND's to be too much of a hassle when I need to adjust for light between two separate shots. As I said above, if you need the ability to change exposure during shots, a variable ND is worth it, even with the slight hit to image quality.

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EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: Upgrading...Canon 60D to...GH3

« on: April 20, 2013, 10:25:07 AM »

I agree with Mt. Spokane. Better yet, if you are considering long-term investments that will eventually cost $1000's over time, it might be worth a few $100s to rent a GH3 (or better yet, borrow one from someone locally) and try it out. Shoot footage on both under the circumstances that you think you will face the most and compare the footage. No expert can tell what you prefer. The thoughts offered here by me (and, I assume, others) is given in the spirit of things to consider. I said it anyway, even though it goes without saying.

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EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: Upgrading...Canon 60D to...GH3

« on: April 19, 2013, 04:35:30 PM »

As usual, Axilrod makes some good points. The only thing I think is yet to be seen is how competent of an "A cam" the BM Pocket Camera will be. If it shoots at native ISO 800, then it should be fine in lower light. When properly handled (e.g., a tripod or something to keep it steady), I suspect its image will be better than most DSLRs and perhaps better than the GH3. The GH3 might still have a slight advantage in low light. So, if you are shooting in low light, this may be a deciding factor.

I don't have a 60D, but I have the T3i/600D, which has the same sensor and very similar features. I find the lowlight capability to be reasonably good and have no second thoughts at ISO 640, so I'm puzzled as to why you say "above 600" is no good. To me, the image at ISO 640 is very clean  - to the point that I don't even bother trying to stretch to ISO 320. I've used ISO 1250 with good (not great, perhaps) results. Yes, a faster lens will help a little, but not much compared with what you already have. I have a 24mm 1.4L, but I try to shoot no lower than f2.0.

Not having a GH2 or GH3, I can't say how great they are. All I know is what I read - and people seem to love them. In most of the videos comparing the Canon's with the GH3, I will admit that there is more detail in the GH2/GH3, but I tend to favor the overall image (including color and contrast) of the Canon DSLRs. While this is clearly a personal preference, my point is that resolution isn't everything. Perhaps it is the lens used?

More to your question, "why invest 1000 in glass for a mediocre body?" Answer: because the glass matters more than the body. To me, the most important ingredients to a good picture are: 1) Photographer, 2) Light; 3) Lens; 4) Camera (or sensor). I've based this not only my own experience, but on what I've read most pros believe, too. From a pure cost perspective, the lens should last far longer than the camera body. So, I suggest not skimping on the lenses. Indeed, my original choice of Canon for my first DSLR was based on the glass that I could get. Indeed, I'm not looking forward to getting the Pocket Camera, if only because I don't spend a ton a different set of glass and, therefore, I won't have glass as good as the EF-mount glass that I have (and I have a small-fortune in EF glass that, for the reasons above, I don't regret spending).

Just my thoughts.

9

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: Results: Filming 720p 60fps at super high shutter speeds

« on: April 16, 2013, 08:02:44 AM »

Oh, and just for future reference, the 180 degree rule has nothing to do with shutter speed. It's the imaginary line between two people cinematographers use while framing shots. For example, you wouldn't begin a scene that has two people talking with the camera positioned on their left side, and the suddenly switch from one persons POV to their right side as it would look as if they suddenly were talking to the back of the other person's head. The general rule for shutter speed if double whatever your frame rate is.

I think that, in the context of this thread, the 180 degree has everything to do with shutter speed and is well-known to mean specifically double-the-frame-rate, as is already stated in this thread.

And yes, the 180 degree rule that you cite is a common rule of composition.

For future reference, you might want to clarifying the following.

Be careful with bumping up the shutter speed too much on DSLRs though, as at higher levels it can create clipping and rolling shutter, which you definitely do not want.

It is my understanding that rolling shutter is not caused by shutter speed at all, as you seem to imply. Rolling shutter refers to how the data are read off the sensor and occurs on regardless of shutter speed or frame rate. It is most noticeable on fast motion, regardless of shutter speed. I'm also unsure of your use of the term "clipping". I have always used "clipping" to refer to loss of detail in bright objects because the sensor "clips" by reaching its RGB highest value. This is usually caused by an image being overexposed. It seems that a high shutter speed would (holding light, ISO, and aperture constant) go against clipping. But, perhaps I am unaware of another common meaning of the word "clipping" when referring to video.

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EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: Upgrading...Canon 60D to...GH3

« on: April 16, 2013, 07:44:04 AM »

For anyone considering a GH3, I would also suggest considering the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera http://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6796

As someone who has used hacked Canon DSLRs to achieve higher bitrates, I can say that shooting in 4:2:2 ProRes was exactly what I was trying to achieve. Even better is the ability to shoot in raw.

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera Key Features
• High resolution 1080HD Super 16mm sized sensor with superior handing of image detail.
• Super wide 13 stops of dynamic range allows capture of increased details for feature film look.
• Compatible with extremely high quality Micro Four Thirds lenses. Compatible with other mounts via common third party adapters such as PL mount and Super 16 cine lenses.
• Built in SD card allows long duration recording with easy to use media.
• Open file formats compatible with popular NLE software such as ProRes 422 (HQ) and lossless compressed CinemaDNG 12 bit RAW. No custom file formats.
• Features all standard connections, including mini jack mic/line audio in, micro HDMI output for monitoring with camera status graphic overlay, headphone mini jack, LANC remote control and standard DC 12 power connection.
• Built in LCD for camera settings via easy to use menus.  
• Supports 1080HD resolution capture in 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97 and 30 fps.
• Compatible with DaVinci Resolve Lite color grading software.

Availability and Price
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera is available in July for US$995 from Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide.

With Blackmagic Design's various camera options (the Cinema Camera is available now and Pocket Camera and the Production Camera at 4k are due in July), I'm hard pressed to recommend serious video shooters to go with any DSLR. While DSLRs' flexibility and all-around features are hard to beat, with the ability to shoot photos being their strongest suit, the video quality just doesn't compare, in my opinion.

Otherwise, I understand the GH3 to be a very nice camera.

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EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: ND filters for video? Suggestions?

« on: April 15, 2013, 08:06:59 PM »

I can confirm the X as you approach max with the Lightcraft Workshop variable ND. My variable ND also has a dark spot on the top right corner of the frame which may not be present in all, but that problem isn't the only problem I have with the variable ND. My recommendation is to just buy a set of fixed at the largest filter size and then use some step up rings for your other lenses.

+1
The set of Tiffen's I mentioned above are 77mm (since my Canon L lenses are 77mm). I use step downs to fit my 72mm and 58mm filter threads. The only drawback is that the hood then doesn't fit. So, I have two (cheap) flexible hoods with 77mm threads (one for wides and another for normal) that work quite well.

The variable ND is nice for its flexibility and the results can be fine - also have a 77mm one. The footage from the following video used a variable ND for all of the footage from 2:12 to 5:20.

Sorry - I tried posting the link without the huge video window, but couldn't.

Weekend at the Lake on Vimeo	Small | Large

Don't bother with the rest of the video, as the video was more of a personal project). The footage in that time is from a 90 minute boat ride, with changing light, shot with the Canon 24mm 1.4L and a T3i/600D. I was able to ride the variable ND to manage exposure using my desired aperture. Given that we were on a boat and I didn't want to carry anything other than the camera, changing the ND would have been nearly impossible. So, variable ND's have their utility. In a set shot, I wouldn't use it in favor of fixed ND's. For flexibility, I'm glad I have one in my kit.

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EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: ND filters for video? Suggestions?

« on: April 15, 2013, 05:02:07 PM »

I have a set of Tiffen NDs (.3, .6, and 1.2) that seem to work quite well without being too expensive. I generally favor B&W filters, but opted for the Tiffens for cost reasons and have not found a reason to regret it, yet.

I have had issues with variable ND's negatively affecting the image on a DSLR when used on the Canon 70-200mm. Thus, I try to stick with fixed ND's, if I can get away with it.

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EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: Canon 5D Mark iii HDMI Clean Output?

« on: April 12, 2013, 05:19:17 PM »

Yah, I just jumped ship to the BMCC. I ordered from Adorama last night, and i already got a notice that it is shipping this week. I guess they've figures out their supply issues.

I waited as long as I could for Canon to give me something with raw that was affordable. I like to grade my video like i grade my pictures, and there was no way i could do this with Canon.

Hopefully they'll come around soon.

Congratulations! I suspect that you will like it and produce some very nice moving images with it.

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Third Party Manufacturers / Re: The Blackmagic Production Camera 4K

« on: April 12, 2013, 08:07:13 AM »

The Blackmagic Design cameras are pretty awesome for what they are and how they've burst onto the video market, but for us Windows-based PC owners without a brand new Thunderbolt input device, they're useless. I don't even think that a stand-alone SSD reader exists, so that puts the kibosh on my interest. As if I have the cash-ola to spend anyways! 

I'm a Windows-only user at the moment and have no problems working with my Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera (BMCC). You can read ProRes in Windows. BMD's DaVinci Resolve is on Windows. My BMCC uses exFat-formatted SSD drives. Thunderbolt is only used for monitoring and scopes while recording and is not necessary (or even used) for ingesting video from the camera.

All the praise of the BMCC and the anticipated new cameras that I'm reading here is well-deserved. My wife has a 5D Mark III for stills shooting. I borrowed it for video shooting quite a bit and was about ready to buy one until I started fancying a BMCC. I'm very glad I didn't buy another 5D Mark III. The BMCC is so far beyond a DSLR that I don't know if I'll ever pick up a DSLR for video again, especially after my BM Pocket Camera arrives.

As someone said earlier, ask a stills photog if they would ever give up raw. Once you have it in video, you won't want to either.

And, the 4:2:2 modes on the BMCC blow away my Canons in resolution and color.

I've ordered both new cameras, but will probably cancel the 4k. I really don't have a need for it. The Pocket cam will solve one issue that I don't like about the BMCC vs. a DSLR: the BMCC's form factor is not "handheld-friendly". Like Cayenne, I plan to buy one MFT lens (the Panny 12-35 with IS) and use the cam as a "walking around" cam. If an active-MFT to active-EF adapter comes out, all the better so I can use all my EF-mount glass.

A correction to something in this thread. The BMCC does suffer from moire. However, because it resolves so much detail, it is actually possible to reduce the effects of the moire and clean it up nicely, mostly through chroma blur. In doing so, the moire isn't bothersome to me on this camera, when it was something I just hated about some DSLRs.

There is a reason that BMD has stolen the show at NAB two years in a row. They're delivering what people want.

The next traditional companies that need to start worrying are the Adobe's and Apple's: BMD's DaVinci Resolve might end up replacing their post tools. Resolve is amazing.

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EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: New 5D3 Firmware Spotted!!!!!!!

« on: April 10, 2013, 02:02:42 PM »

Interesting (to me) tidbits in the video, none of which is really surprising
- Embedded timecode
- 8-bit 4:2:2

I'm looking forward to getting the new firmware and trying it out on my wife's 5D3 and my Hyperdeck Shuttle. But, now that I have my BMCC, I'm not sure I'll ever shoot video with a Canon DSLR again, especially not after the Pocket Cam version is released.