Messages

286

Lenses / Re: Buying my first L lens...which one is best for video?

« on: January 07, 2012, 06:24:02 AM »

I'd definitely go for the 70-200 f/4 IS: not only is IS very useful for video on such a long lens, but the difference in optics is big too: the non-IS version is a lot softer
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=404&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=104&CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0

287

PowerShot Cameras / Re: Recommendations for *really* inexpensive P&S camera for a child

« on: January 03, 2012, 01:08:37 PM »

I just bought 3 of these for some 4-year-old nephews
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004FLL5BS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=similaar-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004FLL5BS

the good:
* cheap as can be
* they're definitely real cameras (i.e. not toys)
* easy to use
* water resistant
* no zoom (that's the first thing that would break)

the bad:
* no zoom
* screen could be bigger

the ugly:
* no lithium battery; ni-mh AA batteries are never ready when I need them

288

Canon General / Re: Canon 16-35 vs Tamron 17-50

« on: January 02, 2012, 12:40:53 PM »

I have the tamron 17-50 f/2.8 non-VC and I think it's one of the best standard zoom lenses you can get for APS-C

so much so that I think it doesn't make any sense to "upgrade" to canon L options, be it 17-40 or 16-35: depending on the settings, the image will range from very slightly better to actually worse, and price is a lot higher

the only upgrade I would consider is to the 17-55 f/2.8 IS, in case you need the sharpest standard zoom for APS-C and IS too, and are ready to pay for it; I haven't gone that route because again the difference is not huge, the price is steep and I don't need IS that much - and I wouldn't want to spend so much on a lens that won't work on fullframe, to use it on a camera that has no microadjustment

289

Lenses / Re: UW lens recommendation for 7d?

« on: January 02, 2012, 04:28:44 AM »

I have the tokina 11-16 and it's an amazing lens, sharp and fast, and with very little distortion (in all cases: for such a wide lens)

you can see it compared with other common lenses (none of them ultra wide angle) in my lens sharpness tests: http://www.similaar.com/foto/lenstests/lenstestsa.html

290

Canon General / Re: Short film - Canon 7D

« on: January 01, 2012, 02:58:41 PM »

nice work: it looks absolutely great!!

I'm not particularly fond of the color grade (too monochromatic, you killed everything but the yellows), but if you told me it was a pro corporate clip, I definitely wouldn't say it's below average



also, maybe you already know about these, but anyway:

head over to www.dvxuser.com for lots of tips and info for shooting video on your DSLR

and for color correction, prolost.com is absolutely the best place to go (everybody should visit this, not just videographers):
http://prolost.com/blog/2011/1/27/color-correcting-food-with-colorista-ii.html
http://prolost.com/memorycolors/
http://prolost.com/blog/2007/10/22/hue-are-you.html
http://prolost.com/ciituts
http://prolost.com/blog/2009/6/23/got-me-a-side-job.html
http://prolost.com/blog/2010/2/24/mojo-tour.html

291

EOS Bodies / Re: How often do you shoot video with your DSLR?

« on: December 21, 2011, 10:05:19 AM »

my DSLR only shoots stills for use as custom white balance, and for lens tests; everything else is video, so I guess my answer is "100%"

edit: I'm sorry, no disrespect, and please don't take this badly, but I hate it when -usually uninformed- people say "if you want to shoot video just use a video camera" - most often they don't have a clue - did I tell them to use a point-and-shoot instead of their DSLR? because it's basically the same: tiny sensor, s___ty pictures

292

EOS Bodies / Re: Is mirrorless camera replacement to DSLRs or just hybrid of aim/shoot and DSLR?R

« on: December 21, 2011, 10:04:08 AM »

* features: size doesn't always matter, but without a mirror there's no phase-detect autofocus, and what you can have in a mirrorless camera (contrast-detect autofocus) is still lagging (particularly, much slower)

is it only a question of processing power? what is the bootleneck?

it's an unsolvable technological thing: you need a mirror if you're going to use phase-detect autofocus, which is the better way to do AF
with time (and processing power), contrast-detect AF may get good enough that most people don't care for phase-detect AF, but even then it will probably not be as good (it will have advantages, though: it doesn't require microadjustment, by design you can't get systematic front-focusing or back-focusing)

more here:
http://www.similaar.com/foto/tuten/510.html
and a much more technical discussion in the 3 lensrentals links at the bottom of that page

293

EOS Bodies / Re: Is mirrorless camera replacement to DSLRs or just hybrid of aim/shoot and DSLR?R

« on: December 21, 2011, 04:34:22 AM »

there's two things to look at here:

* features: size doesn't always matter, but without a mirror there's no phase-detect autofocus, and what you can have in a mirrorless camera (contrast-detect autofocus) is still lagging (particularly, much slower)

* image quality: some mirrorless cameras have mediocre image quality when compared with DSLRs (e.g. every micro-four-thirds camera I've looked into in detail), but others are just on par (for example, the nex-5n uses exactly the same sensor as the D7000)

those little cameras are catching up real fast...

294

Lenses / Re: Of your current lens line up, which ones would you replace if stolen/damaged?

« on: December 19, 2011, 03:14:50 PM »

for sure, I'd get again:
* Leitz Elmarit-R 35mm f/2.8
* Leitz Summilux-R 50mm f/1.4
* Leitz Elmarit-R 90mm f/2.8

295

EOS Bodies / Re: Shooting on a higher shutter over buying an ND filter?

« on: December 19, 2011, 10:07:01 AM »

^ that's also very true

my current ND filters cost me $25 each, and they deliver very nice image quality (there's a bit of IR spill, but not any sharpness issues, even when stacking all filters)
http://www.similaar.com/foto/equipment/us_acc.html#filter

the biggest problem with that is that changing filters is slow and painful; the LCW fader ND is a cheap alternative that's a breeze to use, but it has some sharpness issues (which become huge on long lenses)

296

EOS Bodies / Re: any flaws in the canon 60d?

« on: December 19, 2011, 10:01:19 AM »

* "save a bit more and going for the 5D2" is a bit misleading: glass for the 5D2 is, in general, a lot more expensive

* it's not for sure that 650D will have better video quality than the current generation; in particular, if it keeps the same sensor it would probably keep line-skipping too, and therefore aliasing and moire, even if it has digic 5; the reason is that getting rid of line-skipping on the current 18mpix sensor could lead to massive rolling shutter issues: read-out time on this sensor is around 60ms, and line-skipping lowers that to 20ms; digic 5 wouldn't help you here: you need a new sensor with faster read-out time (like the on on the 1Dx)

297

EOS Bodies / Re: Hey everyone! anyone have experience filming freerunning/parkour?

« on: December 19, 2011, 06:14:00 AM »

this thread made me learn how to turn on video on my 5D2

so thats step 1 about what 999,999 to go now ?

my basic photography tutorial has a section on video, it may be a good place to start
http://www.similaar.com/foto/tuten/600.html



edit: also, to the OP:
usually, the place to look for great, pro-looking videos, is vimeo:

http://vimeo.com/22157500
	Small | Large

http://vimeo.com/5318821
	Small | Large

298

EOS Bodies / Re: Shooting on a higher shutter over buying an ND filter?

« on: December 19, 2011, 06:08:07 AM »

for shooting 1/50s f/1.8 on a shiny day, you need a hell of a lot of filtering: around 6 stops

if you just want to use it for casual videos, and don't use long lenses (i.e. stick to 70mm and below), an ND fader is the least painful option (on long lenses, it kills your images; check my tests above)

299

EOS Bodies / Re: any flaws in the canon 60d?

« on: December 19, 2011, 05:59:54 AM »

as others have said, it doesn't have microadjustment

if you're going to use autofocus on fast lenses, it's absolutely a must: without it, only luck will give you good focus

so much so that in that case I'd rather go for a second-hand 50D than for the 60D

http://www.similaar.com/foto/tuten/510.html

300

EOS Bodies / Re: Shooting on a higher shutter over buying an ND filter?

« on: December 18, 2011, 02:05:30 PM »

I'm sorry, but I found that video terribly unnerving: it looks even more adrenalitic than a fight from gladiator, yet it's supposed to be sweet and nice - it doesn't work at all for me, I was expecting some maniac to come out of the bushes and start killing people, otherwise my brain can't make sense of it

you may be interested in this:
http://www.similaar.com/foto/tuten/630.html

and you probably will find my ND tests useful too:
http://www.similaar.com/foto/lenstests/lenstestsn.html