Messages

31

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Zeiss users: Do you ever wish for auto focus?

« on: April 02, 2012, 12:32:16 AM »

I have the Zeiss ZF 50mm and 85mm both f1.4

I mostly shoot video, so the focus pull is really smooth, and I like the Zeiss color rendition. It's very interesting and unique looking.

BUT, the thing I dislike about the Zeiss lenses are the chromatic aberrations are pretty bad when shot wide open. This is a known issue with pretty much all the Zeiss lenses, except the most recent models where Zeiss publicly stated that they tried really hard to address this issue.

I had the Canon 50mm f1.4, and it was much better when shot wide open. Less haze and less purple fringing.

The 85mm also has very noticeable purple fringing when shot wide open. Not sure how the Canon 85mm f1.2 is in that regard, but overall, just because of the fairly sever chromatic aberrations, I prefer the Canons.

32

EOS Bodies / 5D3 is Soft because of the Low Pass filter - interesting article

« on: April 01, 2012, 03:19:46 PM »

As a video guy, I was very disappointed by how soft the 5D3 image was, and apparently many stills people are finding the same thing.

I read 2 interesting articles this morning by James Miller, a DP who went into his new 5D3 and removed the Low Pass filter and the sharpness of the camera dramatically increased. Interesting read. Of course, nobody should attempt this until (if ever) more is documented.

With that said, I can see this being a desired camera mod. and good little money maker for a camera shop that knows what they are doing.

Article 1

http://philipbloom.net/2012/04/01/a-drastic-solution-to-increasing-sharpness-with-the-5dmkiii/

Article 2

http://www.eoshd.com/content/7727/james-miller-removes-optical-low-pass-filter-from-5d-mark-iii-for-resolution-increase

33

EOS Bodies / Re: Is 5DIII softer than 5DII?

« on: April 01, 2012, 02:59:54 PM »

The issue is happening because Canon put too strong of a low-pass filter in the 5D3 to deal with the aliasing and moire.

James Miller, a camera tech kind of guy, took out his low pass filter and the details of the image was MUCH sharper.

Here's the article. I believe it applies to both stills and video

http://www.eoshd.com/content/7727/james-miller-removes-optical-low-pass-filter-from-5d-mark-iii-for-resolution-increase

A second article on the fix

http://philipbloom.net/2012/04/01/a-drastic-solution-to-increasing-sharpness-with-the-5dmkiii/

34

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Sony announced 4k camera... gives a great indication toward 4k DSLR pricing

« on: April 01, 2012, 10:34:27 AM »

To me, this Sony camera looks like it's set to compete with the very over-priced C-300.

I believe the Sony will probably be at least 4:2:2 8 bit and if it is, it will completely destroy the C-300, especially since it's reported to be able to shoot really high frame rates of 480 fps and even 960 fps at reduced resolution (but we will see about that).

I'm sure as we speak, many people are cancelling their C-300 which is in back order right now.

Canon's pricing has been ridiculous lately (the C-300 is so high it's laughable) and the 5D3 is priced a good bit more than the D-800,even though it's under-spec'd

Sony video is going to give Canon a huge reality check at NAB, and I am glad. This will force Canon to start acting like a reasonable company and COMPETE, something they haven't had to do for a long time. Especially now that Sony can adapt all EOS lenses perfectly with the Metabones adaptor.

The EOS 4K will be a bit unique in that it's going to be full-frame video. But Canon has been a bit up-staged at this point, so they will be forced to include features in the EOS 4K that they otherwise probably wouldn't have.

As for the C-300, it's going to be obsolete very quickly so Canon should just move on from that camera. It was close to being obsolete the moment they released it, especially since the Sony F3 can already do 4:4:4.

For me, I want a Full Frame video camera that can do crop modes of 1.6x and 3x (like the Nikons), a flip screen, true HD, peaking and maybe a few other bells and whistles. A better 5D3.

But now that Sony is going to be shooting really high FPS rates, I'm thinking the 4K EOS will have to be able to at least do 120 FPS.

The moral of the story is: Competition is GREAT for everyone.

35

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Sony's rumored FS-700 and Canon C300 problems...tough day for Canon video

« on: March 30, 2012, 08:24:09 PM »

I'm really happy about this. Canon just got CHECKED big time by Sony. Sony is really hungry, Canon is just complacent in video as they have shown in their recent, very lackluster video offerings. Even Nikon seems to have passed them with the D800.

The C-300 is way over priced and the 4K Sony will just destroy that camera especially at 1/2 the price.. The 4K EOS better be good, and if anything, this will force Canon to improve it instead of just releasing their usual lackluster video offering.

I'm really happy. Canon finally is getting their reality check. They have to make competitive products now.

36

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon Invite April 16, 2012 at NAB

« on: March 29, 2012, 01:59:21 PM »

Could be high MP too imho

I doubt this will be high mega-pixel. If anything it will be a low mega-pixel because the higher the mega-pixel, the more the image has to be downscaled to video which makes it for worse video.

Plus, most video people don't really need high megapixels.

37

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon Invite April 16, 2012 at NAB

« on: March 29, 2012, 10:24:32 AM »

I think the photo features will be dumbed down. Canon promised a full frame DSLR that's skewed towards video, so I think it will probably be a lower megapixel. As someone who shoots video and does some stills, mostly timelapses, that's fine with me. 12 megapixels is perfect for video because then the resolution is native 4K and requires no sensor downsampling which will result in super clean video. Plus, isn't 12 megpixels a 13" x 10" print at 300 dpi? For me, that plenty.

Probably also will dumbed down autofocus system (7D is fine with me as I don't need 61 points of AF), and maybe not as high ISO for stills.

38

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon Invite April 16, 2012 at NAB

« on: March 29, 2012, 09:51:15 AM »

I actually think this camera will be coming out sooner than later in "the distant future."

Why? Because for video people, the 5D3 was a pretty big letdown, mainly just because it still has the soft image. Many video people cancelled their orders and others like myself just are not going to order a 5D3.

Plus, the Sony FS-100 is kicking the S#*t out Canon and stealing serious sales, and Canon needs something to compete in the $4K to $6k range, and that's probably going to be the 4k EOS.

They need to come out with it soon. I can't wait any longer, especially now that the FS-100 can use all of Canon EOS lenses with the Metabones electronic adaptor.

I'm wondering if the C-300 is going to receive a serious price cut or some type of firmware upgrade. The Sony F3 now includes 4:4:4 to ext. recorder which is far superior to the codec of the C-300 (same price range). Canon needs to either up the game or drop the price on the seriously over priced C-300.

39

EOS Bodies / Re: 4K is out there

« on: March 27, 2012, 05:55:10 PM »

I seriously hope this is true since the 5D3 was a pretty big letdown for most video people.

If the 4K C camer is good, I will buy it the day it comes out. Been waiting too long.

40

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon 5DMarkIII or Panasonic GH2 for video use???

« on: March 27, 2012, 05:53:42 PM »

The GH2 has the great, true 1000 lines of resolution that the 5D3 should have, but that has been crippled.

SUCKS on the part of Canon to do that especially since the 5D3 costs 3.5x as much.

With that said, Canon's colors are much better and the GH2 has a 2x crop so Canon has much more control over the DOF, which are huge factors. And the Full frame has much better low light than the m43 format.

41

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon Cinema EOS 4K Camera [CR1]

« on: March 25, 2012, 03:37:46 PM »

Neenko. I work in Television and we have a very large green screen at our studio, so a 4K camera would be nice. What I really want it TRUE 1080p, unlike what Canon is currently offering the new 5D3 which is still up-res'd 720, so the image is soft.

And YES, Canon is continually letting down the video people. With all their Digic 4 releases, they never fixed the moire / aliasing problem that started with the 5D2. The subsequent 7D, T2i, 60D and T3i all had the same un-fixed video issues.

Then canon released the C-300. At $16,000, it's truly overprice especially considering it does not have 10 bit compression nor 1080p 60fps. Canon does not have a mid-range video solution (between $3K to $6K) that is satisfactory.

The 5D3 comes out, and the video is STILL up-res'd 700 lines which results in the same soft image.

What most video people wanted in the 5D3 was just 3 things 1) no Moire 2) no aliasing 3) True 1080p HD. Canon did 2 out of the 3, but still didn't do the 3rd major request of TRUE 1000 line HD.

For the Stills crowd, the 5D3 is great. For the video people, Canon is still playing games and people are getting really tire of waiting. That's why they need to release the 4K C-DSLR soon. For me, 4K isn't super important. I just want good 2K resolution, which Canon does not currently offer except in the $16,000 C-300.

42

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon Cinema EOS 4K Camera [CR1]

« on: March 25, 2012, 02:55:41 PM »

I think a 5D form factor would be perfect. not too big (like the 1D) and not too small (like the GH2). I definitely don't want it tall like the 1D. Also, most people who have been "liberated" from the tradition camcorder box style video cameras DON'T want to go back. Shooting with the DSLR form is so NICE for video. Easy to handhold, smaller and more portable. Just makes sense.

The 4K CDSLR needs to come SOON. The 5D3 is a BIG letdown because of the low resolution. Canon is losing a lot of ground and business to the Sony FS-100, more so now with the Metabone EOS adaptor. I'm giving Canon till NAB to see what they have, or else I might also have to go the FS-100 route like so many others are. I just can't wait any longer for a decent video solution from Canon. They just keep letting down the video people time and time again.

43

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5D Mark III Reviews

« on: March 22, 2012, 08:42:28 PM »

Yes, the reviews of the video have been pretty POOR as a whole.

Even DP Philip Bloom, the person who basically popularized the video DSLR movement who sold countless cameras for Canon seemed let down. And he's a very optimistic person. The main reason for all the discord is POOR, upscaled 700 lines of resolution. Some people are going as far as saying the new 5D3 has a softer image than the 5D2 because of the way they are dealing with Moire and Aliasing by blurring the pixels.

To Canon, the video people deserved a lot better than this. I'm passing on the 5D3 and hopefully the 4K C-DSLR comes out at NAB. I don't want to buy a Sony FS-100, but I might just have no choice soon as I've waiting so long for a decent video solution from Canon, only to be let down again and again

44

EOS Bodies / Re: The Megapixels are Coming [CR1]

« on: March 14, 2012, 10:27:20 AM »

They need to hurry with the 4K C-DSLR. Sony is kicking Canon's A$$ now in video and a LOT of people have switched to the Sony FS-100, especially now that the Metabones adaptor allows full electronic interface with the FS-100 and Canon lenses. Canon could have owned that market, but they slept on it, so Sony took advantage and came out on top.

The 5D3 is shaping up to be a real disappointment in video since it's still has the soft, up-res'd false HD (at least in the early test models). So yeah, the 4K C-DSLR really needs to come out. And have a FLIP SCREEN for God sake. We need it for video.

If it's not soon, I'm going to have to buy the Sony FS-100. I'm not thrilled about it since I now hate shooting with the video camera form, but I need a better picture.

If the 4K DSLR came out at NAB in April, I would buy it the next day even it it is $6000. I need a better video solution and I cannot wait much longer.

And NO, that is not going to be the high mega-pixel camera from Canon. Video requires low mega-pixels because then the processor has less work to do to down-scale the image into a 2K output (or in this case a 2K to 4K) output.

45

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: Is Continous Autofocus a big deal for those who shoot video

« on: March 13, 2012, 12:43:11 AM »

I shot mostly video. Although for studio stuff, continuous autofocus is not important, but I can see how it would be great for certain things. For example, if you wanted to shoot a steadycam shot with a longer lens to get a shallow DOF. It would be almost impossible to keep in focus without Autofocus.

That would be a great use for it.

I'm thinking the 4K VDSLR will probably have it, especially since rumors have it that it might be mirrorless. The mirror is completely useless for video, so not sure why they would have it in that camera.