Wide lens for video

Yes and yes to the last two posts.

18mm is standard as the widest lens in a cinematic kit (though the popular zooms now are 15.5mm or 16mm at the wide end). 7D is close enough to equivalent to Super35 lens-wise, but that translates to 24mm-28mm on the 5D. So a 14mm on the 5D would be closer to an 8mm, which is as wide as cinema lenses (for Super35) get and they are almost never used, except maybe for an extreme effect or music video.

Gilliam loves going wide and he does it well. Didn't know 14mm was his preferred lens, but I am not surprised to learn that.
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Best movie settings?

Jesse said:
Policar, it's marketing? It's FREE.

Most marketing is free.

The cameras aren't.

I've used both neutral and log extensively. I recently shot some B roll for a made-for-tv feature (A camera was Alexa, B camera Epic) and because it was a log show I shot most of the footage in cinestyle. (Cinestyle was introduced for intercutting with log footage and NOT as a "flat" high DR alternative, as it offers no additional DR over neutral with contrast set at low.) I accidentally shot some footage in neutral with contrast low, too.

Ultimately, even in a log show, there was no material advantage to shooting cinestyle. Sure the corrections were closer to the corrections for the Alexa footage, but not significantly. And there was no more DR and tonality was slightly poorer. A total wash when the footage was exposed well, but cinestyle footage exposed wrong looks dreadful.

As for manual white balance, I disagree very strongly with suggestions to white balance manually. I shoot 3200K for tungsten lit scenes and night exteriors with uncorrected HMIs (personal preference) and 5600K for daylight. Fluorescent preset for fluorescent to ward off the green cast. Then adjust in post. I can understand using cloudy white balance for cloudy scenes or to add a warm pop to a daylight image, but if you white balance every shot or set up manually you will have catastrophes in post. Not all light sources are meant to be neutral and when they are 3200K, fluorescent, and 5600K have you covered for 99% of set ups. I've heard stories of very inexperienced first timers doing this--white balancing every shot--and the cast and crew laughing behind their backs and the footage coming out just horrible. DO NOT do this. It's such a bad idea it's almost comic. At best it's innocuous; at worst it will ruin your footage and cost tons of time in post. DO NOT white balance each shot manually unless you have a very good reason to.

24p is NTSC. PAL is 25fps.

Basti187's recommendation is excellent. You can try cinestyle but you will come to the same conclusion the rest of us have--it's useful in theory for intercutting footage with a log show. In practice, all it does is hurt tonality. Look up prolost flat. That's what his recommendation is similar to.
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Missing Lens?

leolol said:
Lee Filters can work with adapters but the 14mm doesnt have a filter thread. But there are adapters available!

I know it a really different price point but the samyang 14mm is also a very nice lens and af on super-wide angles isnt that important.

That Samyang looks like quite a bargain considering what you get.

Does anyone have any experience with the Nikon 14-24 with 16-9 Novoflex adapter? I've read great things about this combination and even Lee offers a filter system specifically for this lens (unfortunately the Big Stopper doesn't fit, though).
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120-400 OS Sigma &7D

pwp said:
Hmmm sounds decidedly odd. Do your other lenses work OK on your 7D?

The Sigma 120-400 is never going to be a match for good L glass such as the most obvious equivalent, the Canon 100-400L. But the Sigma is half the price. Even so, what you describe absolutely shouldn't be happening. If you bought it new I'd be looking at a refund or a fresh copy if you're still inside the 14 day DOA period.

-PW
way outside return period,grey import[AUS],all other lenses,bar Sigma 150 F2.8 macro: 100 f2.8L IS,70-300 L IS,70-200 f4 L and Tokina 11-16 are sharp and crisp,the Siggy 150 is fine in manual and sometimes AF,doesn't display same degree of Doris,shall post so as to give you fine folks an idea of prob
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Hold out for EF 35/2 IS or jump in with classic 35 1.4L

I like my primes to be small, light and fast. Just the opposite of my zooms. I would like to own a 35L but I think what I would benifit more from is the 35 f/2 IS. Perfect for a small event or party where IS is helpful for low light as well as a relatively wide aperture for moving subjects. I really like my 50 f/1.8 but on a 7D (I prefer my 7D for it's AF and speed) it's just a bit too long and focuses quite slow. The 35 f/2 IS sounds perfect. Can't wait!
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Best flash for 5Dmk3?

Kathode-Ray said:
I vote for the Metz Mecablitz 58 AF-2 digital. Works very well, even the custom functions can be set in camera.

Basically it's a 580 clone, with a bit extra. It has a USB port for future firmware upgrades, and a small secondary flash at the front for fills, I like that very much. Oh, and you don't have to study the manual to get it working, the menu is very straight-forward ;)

Ray

If you only have one flash, this also has the useful feature of a smaller secondary on the flash which can be used for front fill when you're bouncing the main unit. I have the AF-1 (bought it 3 weeks before the AF-2 came out and 1 week before the related AF-1 prie drop, teach me not to hit the internet before a purchase).

Like it quite a bit, has all the functions of a 580EX, plus the above and some strobing capabilities.
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Death Valley

bgran8 said:
Thank you, everyone for the tips. I wish there were more clouds in the forecast, but maybe we'll luck out and get a few. Any tips on where exactly to go to get a good picture of the Furnace Creek dunes? It will be dark when I get there in the morning, so any suggestions on where to park and how far I need to walk would help out. Thanks again.

Stovepipe Wells, about 30 min from Furnace Creek. Parking is signed - probably a 15 min walk from the lot to the dunes.
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Visiting Napa Valley. Need tips

Amazing feedback. Thanks folks. I have jotted them down on google maps for reference. Looks like my wife came up with similar points of interest. And really appreciate the advice on drinking and driving, I dont drink but I can't say the same for the other drivers that may be driving on those roads, so will keep that in mind. I had no idea, so thanks again for the heads up! You folks are awesome. ^_^
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5D MK III music video

For me, I really like the creative angles and the motion is nice.

However, There's too much contrast. You're black are very black. Additionally, the whole environment is very monochromatic. There are a lot of earth tones and very little contrast in color. I really think it's a little fatiguing to watch.

That all being said, this could have been exactly what the band wanted.
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Any hope for new APS-H camera

I'm an unashamed frontline fan of APS-H. But I think my 1D4 may well be my last APS-H body. From a business viewpoint it makes complete sense for Canon to rationalize to FF and APS-C. What Dr Neuro says about the profitable environment Canon has created to push people into new, longer lenses will chime with a lot of photographers. For my particular needs the 300 f/2.8is on APS-H is practical and ideal. But on FF 1DX the need to dig deep for a 400 f/2.8isII will be essential. So I'll be squeezing maximum life out of the 1D4, delaying the 1DX/400 f/2.8isII purchase.

Another reason for holding off on the 1DX/400 f/2.8isII purchase is the potential for a 7DII presenting as a high quality APS-C alternative to the 1D4. Not that superb 1-Series build/ergonomics we know and love, but a substantially viable, inexpensive sports/wildlife/BIF 1D4 replacement. With even more reach.

-PW
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Canon 85L 1.2 vs Sigma 85 1.4... Has anyone tried both?

I had the Sigma 85/1.4 first. The IQ and AF speed were great, but the focus was inconsistent. I sent it in to Sigma along with my 5D3 for them to calibrate it, but it still wasn't right, so I returned it and bought the 85L. That is a nearly perfect lens. I have no complaints, including AF speed, which I find to be perfectly adequate for shots of my 16-month old daughter who never stops moving.

However, I'm now considering trying another copy of the Sigma. Why? Because, as others have pointed out, if it's 95% as good as the 85L then I can use the $1,000 or so I'll net on the transaction to buy another lens, or perhaps an OM-D for travel, which I've been considering. The other thing I preferred about the Sigma was the lower weight and smaller size relative to the 85L.

Although... I could easily imagine selling the 85L and regretting it afterward. It really is a magical lens.
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5Dii auto iso stuck on 400.

SLIM FINGER said:
neuroanatomist said:
It's not a bug, it's a feature. Or so they say...

Your camera is functioning normally, it's just that for some reason, Canon decided that with a flash attached or in M mode, Auto ISO should be locked at ISO 400. You can set the ISO manually to whatever you want. If your C# settings are based on M mode, the same limitation applies.

Not that it helps, but for the 7D and subsequent cameras, Auto ISO works in M mode, so you set aperture and shutter speed, and the camera sets the ISO to achieve the metered exposure.

You should all read this Neuros post again carefuly !!
It states " with a flash attached " - thats the point .... If flash is not attached it goes over 400...

Maybe YOU should read Neuro's post again carefully; "with a flash attached OR in M mode". So even if there is no flash attached, in M mode AutoISO is limited at 400.
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