Andrew Reid

[html][img]http://www.eoshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/canon-c300.jpg[/img] Whilst I still prefer the small size and ‘tourist’ stealth factor of DSLRs for the kind of shooting I do, I can recognise why a great many want a Canon C300. The handling, EF mount, image quality and low light performance – as well as built in ND, audio monitoring and build quality are worth the money to many professionals. But actually there are some myths flying around about the C300 and the competition is far stronger sub $10,000, even sub $6,000 than people realise. [url="http://www.eoshd.com/content/6876/dispelling-the-myths-is-the-canon-c300-worth-15999/"]Read full article[/url] [/html]

[html][img]http://www.eoshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/canonef-emount_08.jpg[/img] Pricing has been announced for the Canon C300. As expected it is $15,999. B&H are taking pre-orders for the [url="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/839221-REG/Canon_5819B002_EOS_C300_PL_Cinema.html/BI/6943/KBID/7492"]PL mount version here[/url] and the [url="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/839220-REG/Canon_5779B002_C300_Cinema_EOS_Camcorder.html/BI/6943/KBID/7492"]EF mount C300 here[/url]. Both are the same price. Orders will ship 30th January. This is great news for NEX 5N and FS100 owners. Suddenly that limited range of E-mount lenses have been supplemented by the entire Canon EOS range! Metabones are set to release a fully electronic interface adapter for Canon EF lenses to Sony e-mount (NEX 5N, FS100). Unlike the bulky MTF adapter it has electronic communication between the Sony body and Canon lens itself so you can adjust aperture on the camera. It also supports IS and requires no external power. [url="http://www.eoshd.com/content/6868/sony-nex-e-mount-gets-metabones-399-electronic-canon-ef-adapter-canon-c300-available-for-pre-order/"]Read full article[/url] [/html]

[html][url="http://www.eoshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/gh2-iso12800-tips-small.jpg"][img]http://www.eoshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/gh2-iso12800-tips-small-660x412.jpg[/img][/url] 1080p frame at ISO 12,800 from the GH2 – click to enlarge The GH2 is the best low light DSLR. It is a myth it cannot compete with the FS100 or Canon C300. I am currently experimenting a lot with my GH2 and Nikon J1. I’ve seen some new opportunities with these… With the GH2 I am refunding my techniques for getting cinematic extreme low light at ISO 12,800 and F0.95. Due to the way CMOS sensors behave you are actually able to get a very film like ISO 800 grain over well exposed areas of an image and such is the F0.95 aperture on the Voigtlander Nokton and the high ISO, it is very easy to get an exposure in the dimmest of light. The noise is hideous in the lows and red / blue chroma channels, but you crush that noise out with a high contrast black and white picture profile and it solves the issue. [url="http://www.eoshd.com/content/6858/tips-for-clean-iso-6400-and-12800-on-the-gh2-and-5d-mark-ii/"]Read full article[/url] [/html]

There are no full 1080p samples from the 1DX out there yet to my knowledge. That one is 540p and compressed for the web, can't be judged. The G1X files are straight from the card and can be judged. I am sure the 1DX will be better as it has DIGIC5+, but in case of DIGIC5 on 650D and even 5D Mark III, this doesn't bode well. Remember that all the DIGIC 4 cameras had similar video quality across the board.

Nice image quality for Super 8. I see they will also have Super 16 and S35 models out. Any idea of release dates?

[html][img]http://www.eoshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/canon-g1x.jpg[/img] Don’t forget to download the original videos and view full screen The G1X is the first of Canon’s large sensor cameras to use their long awaited DIGIC 5 image processor. 3 years in the making, it largely determines how the sensor is downscaled to 1080p. It also determines resolution, bitrate, encoding and how much aliasing and moire is produced in the downscaling / pixel binning process. DIGIC 5 is built around a video core unlike the older DIGIC 4 and it largely determines whether Canon’s DSLRs in 2012 like the 5D Mark III, 1DX and 650D will be hit or miss because those too will all be DIGIC 5. So there is a strong possibility that the G1X is indicative of the image we will be getting from those. I certainly hope not… Today [url="http://***URL removed***/previews/canong1x/page6.asp#video"]DPReview[/url] posted some direct from the G1X Quicktime clips in 1080/24p H.264 format. EOSHD has the analysis… [url="http://www.eoshd.com/content/6841/canon-g1x-video-samples-digic-5-im-not-impressed/"]Read full article[/url] [/html]

[html][img]http://www.eoshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/ces-hotrod-eoshd.jpg[/img] Illya Friedman of [url="http://www.hotrodcameras.com"]Hot Rod Cameras[/url]Â investigated CES 2012 this year for EOSHD. Rather than reel off what we already know about new cameras, specs and product announcements Illya has written about the overall trends for the show and what it is like to go there. It is a unique and exclusive take on the biggest consumer entertainment show in the world – enjoy! Illya also has a hands on look at a 8K TV, Sony 4K home theatre projector, the Nikon D4 and the very promising Fuji X Pro 1. [url="http://www.eoshd.com/?p=6828/"]Read full article[/url] [/html]

[html][url="http://www.vimeo.com/33429338"]http://www.vimeo.com/33429338[/url] [url="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16538189"]Here’s the proof – watch the report at the BBC News here[/url] BBC man in Vienna Johnnie Behiri has been rigging up with the NEX 5N to shoot for the BBC, which completely destroys the myth that DSLRs can’t be approved for broadcast work. Shot in 1080/25p with only the 18-55mm kit lens and 16mm F2.8 pancake, Johnnie says the NEX 5N ”is a lot of fun to work with. Its low light capability is very nice and working in even 1600 ISO is a absolutely ‘worry free’”. [url="http://www.eoshd.com/?p=6825/"]Read full article[/url] [/html]

[quote author=Tzedekh link=topic=175.msg1295#msg1295 date=1326671966] This is virtually the same camera as the prototype shown at the 2011 CES and rumored to be projected to sell for about $2K ("[url=http://www.eoshd.com/content/498/meet-the-prosumer-camcorder-which-is-4k-for-2k][u]Meet the prosumer camcorder which is 4K for $2K[/u][/url]"). At that price it would have been a no-brainer. [/quote] Looks like the price went up! At that point $2k was just a rumour though. That it is $5k is not surprising. Wait until you see the prices of the first 50 inch 4K TVs.

[html][img]http://www.eoshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/samsung-WB850F1.jpg[/img] Samsung have revealed a new CMOS sensor which does 4K/30p (12MP at 30 frames per second). The bad news? It is trapped inside the body of a $400 compact camera! [url="http://www.eoshd.com/content/6817/samsung-in-cmos-break-through-pulls-4k-video-off-sensor-in-400-compact-camera/"]Read full article[/url] [/html]

[html][img]http://www.eoshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/gh2-tokina-zacuto-bw.jpg[/img] Above: Panasonic GH2 with [url="http://www.eoshd.com/content/3500/zacuto-evf-flip-review"]Zacuto EVF [review at EOSHD][/url] and Tokina 11-16mm F2.8 (constant aperture) The GH2 is the only true hybrid video DSLR. Video on all other DSLRs is an add-on but on the GH2 it is a core feature. It is an approach Canon will eventually take with the 4K Cinema EOS DSLR in what is going to be a very exciting 2012 – hopefully it will have an EVF and you can pluck stills from the 4K video stream. But the GH2 is currently the trail blazer in video. [url="http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2012/01/15/panasonic-learning-from-the-fringe-taking-small-steps"]Imaging Resource’s David and Arthur Etchells caught up with Panasnonic’s Darin Pepple at CES[/url] to see how Panasonic currently view the GH2 hack (“Like souping up a car, go for it!”) and their plans for the GH3 and future lenses (constant apertures, powered zooms). [url="http://www.eoshd.com/content/6810/panasonic-talk-gh2-hack-committed-to-video-on-gh3/"]Read full article[/url] [/html]

You cannot expect a cinematographer to also write the script. I think most important thing is to first figure out what kind of filmmaker you are before you figure out which camera you like best.

Thanks Hoodlum!

Samuel - interesting. There's another disadvantage to CineStyle and other flat profiles however, and that is a compressed tonal range. HDR is bad for skin tones.

[html][img]http://www.eoshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/david-cameron-pinewood-studios.jpg[/img] British Prime Minister David Cameron went on a visit to Pinewood studios last week to enjoy the company of his elitist counterparts in the film industry. As part of accepting their generous hospitality, Cameron said that he wants to make more money available for commercially successful filmmakers rather than funding unproven ones. EOSHD sends his assistant Watson to investigate – who finds a tiny flaw in Cameron’s plot… [url="http://www.eoshd.com/content/6802/the-british-government-wants-to-help-filmmakers-cut-their-money-and-give-it-to-big-studios/"]Read full article[/url] [/html]

[html][img]http://www.eoshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/hmq10.jpg[/img] The Alexa Studio only shoots 2K and HD but apparently the consumer world has decided it is rubbish and we should all rush out and buy 4K cameras and displays. Hence the semi-pro JVC HMQ10 which goes on sale in March is the first 4K camera to break under the $5K mark or £4K. I’ve been keeping an eye on what JVC are doing with their quick Falconbird processor lately but it seems their strategy is a complete mess to me. [url="http://www.eoshd.com/content/6795/4k-for-4k-and-why-you-probably-shouldnt-get-a-jvc-hmq10/"]Read full article[/url] [/html]

[html][img]http://www.eoshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/olympus-pen-om.jpg[/img] “Don’t be afraid to cannibalise yourself” said Steve Jobs. “If you don’t do it, someone else will”. [url="http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2012/01/11/imaging-resource-interviewtoshiyuki-terada-and-sally-smith-clemens-olympus"]In an interview with Imaging Resource[/url], Toshiyuki Terada of Olympus speaks candidly about Sony and Nikon. [url="http://www.eoshd.com/?p=6789/"]Read full article[/url] [/html]

The GH2 is good when you crush the blacks like in the 12,800 video I posted (Thanks Amro). The NEX 5N is good in low light, it holds onto a lot of shadow detail but the overall image isn't as good as the GH2 in my opinion, looks more compressed and lower res. The 5D Mark II (OK it may not be under $1000 but just FYI) holds onto colour more accurately than anything else in low light. But again it cannot beat the GH2 for sheer detail. Overall I recommend the GH2.

[html][img]http://www.eoshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Casino-movie.jpg[/img] Why is the buzz all about cameras? People are crazy for gear. When the Canon 1DX was announced it was in the top 10 trending topics for the UK on Twitter for most of the day, despite the fact nobody can own one until March 2012. Here EOSHD offers a possible explanation for why gear, rather than filmmaking itself, gets so much more attention. [url="http://www.eoshd.com/content/6785/to-invest-in-gear-or-creativity-it-all-comes-down-to-risk/"]Read full article[/url] [/html]

She sends audio via HDMI in playback mode but not, sadly, live. The next generation of DSLRs including the D4 have better audio monitoring and send an audio signal via the latest HDMI spec during recording. GH3 should be improved in this area. Anyway - entering playback mode and checking audio levels on a few test shots is not that hard. Want better audio monitoring? For the lazy there is always the option to throw $6000 at the problem until it turns into an FS100  :P I always keep in mind that what we get for our $600 with the GH2 is pretty amazing.

[quote author=arknox link=topic=157.msg1227#msg1227 date=1326400419] If only we could judge which camera was best simply by how sharp it is. How about dynamic range, light sensitivity, colour rendition etc. Hacked high bit rate helps to capture available detail and make grading easier but it can only take the GH2 so far. The D4 may well be softer than the GH2, but in terms of image quality, sharpness and price may well be the only cards the GH2 can play against it. That WHY footage looked great in my opinion. [/quote] I really think WHY could have been shot on any DSLR and looked about the same. Saw nothing special. Yes as others and myself have mentioned it is a compressed web video, but that doesn't account for just how soft the resolution is on the 1080p YouTube stream even on locked down shots. Something is quite disturbing there. I'm holding final judgement of course - going to wait for this to come out in the wash so to speak!

[quote author=Sara link=topic=157.msg1225#msg1225 date=1326399842] Resolution aside - its the jello wobble effect that I can't stand seeing in DSLR movies.  Lots students I know are getting sick of the Canon 5D jello effect as well and are dumping their gear in favor of renting more expensive Alexa / Red / SI-2k equipment. Im saving for a Ikonoskop personally. [/quote] It just depends how much you move the camera. I stay away from too many whip pans and sideways sweeps. I think it is a shame if students are renting such expensive gear, because part of learning and being creative is to overcome the limitations of a camera, not throw money at the problem until it disappears. If I were a student now, I'd feel pretty spoilt with all that DSLRs have to offer and I wish I had them in my university days.

[html][img]http://www.eoshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/macbook-kingston-hyperx-ssd.jpg[/img] [url="http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&pub=5574929666&toolid=10001&campid=5336727214&customid=&icep_item=280802020791&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg"]Get the Kingston HyperX 240GB SSD upgrade kit brand new on eBay for $529[/url][img]http://rover.ebay.com/roverimp/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=2&pub=5574929666&toolid=10001&campid=5336727214&customid=&item=280802020791&mpt=[CACHEBUSTER][/img] Like FCPX Apple shipped their 2011 MacBook Pro models somewhat under-specced for video editing. Despite having a quad core model I was still getting pretty shoddy performance in Premiere Pro CS5.5 with Apple’s default configuration of 4GB of RAM and a 750GB 5400RPM hard drive on occasions. Although the processor is an absolute beast, it isn’t coupled to the RAM and disk it really deserves. Apple did this for supply reasons as well as cost so they have a good excuse, but it still sucks. Here’s the solution. [url="http://www.eoshd.com/content/6709/choosing-an-ssd-for-your-macbook-pro/"]Read full article[/url] [/html]

[html][img]http://www.eoshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/manfrotto-701hdv-and-acratech.jpg[/img] Where to buy -Â Acratech Levelling Base at [url="http://www.adorama.com/ACRLBS.html?KBID=66885"]Adorama[/url] in the US and [url="http://www.bobrigby.com/acratech/levellingbase.html"]Bob Rigby in the UK / Europe[/url]. Manfrotto 701HDV [url="http://www.adorama.com/BG701HDV.html?KBID=66885"]at Adorama[/url] US and [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001D2LJ3Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=ec0d4-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B001D2LJ3Q"]Amazon[/url] UK. [url="http://www.eoshd.com/content/6692/the-quest-for-a-small-light-levelling-video-tripod-and-head"]In part 1 I began my quest[/url] for a small, light and compact video head with levelling capability to level off a shot quickly. Because I move around a lot on location I set a weight limit of 3kg including legs and to keep in the spirit of what DSLRs are all about, the price has to be as accessible as the camera. Here’s what I settled on… [url="http://www.eoshd.com/content/6770/the-quest-for-a-small-light-levelling-video-tripod-and-head-result/"]Read full article[/url] [/html]

The GH2 isn't discontinued at all. The GH2 with 14-140mm kit is discontinued because the new kit zooms are coming, such as the 12-35mm. The other GH2 kits are still in stock at B&H. [url=http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=gh2&N=0&InitialSearch=yes]http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=gh2&N=0&InitialSearch=yes[/url] My sources say Photokina 2012 (September) at the earliest for the GH3.