Axel

One thing to note.  ACR applies sharpening by default on dng files.  So if you haven't zeroed it the noise does get lifted a bit.

Hi everyone,
I'd like to share my new short film 'a moment before awakening' 
Created by me in Bory Tucholskie National Park (Poland)
Hope you'll like it

YT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvsaVcFnKw8
or
VIMEO
https://vimeo.com/74399092
 

Owner of the G6 since yesterday. Colors are definitely nicer than those of the GH2. Now I am all for grading, not because I detest good video out-of-cam, but because it's fun. An image that shines does so because of vivid skin tones. So it's not just a matter of shoving colors in post to cover the so-called skin line, but mainly because a broader spectrum around that line was recorded in the first place (must be the Canon magic). Otherwise your motifs will look doughy. I don't know yet, how good the colors actually are compared to EOS.
 
With raw, you shouldn't have to worry about colors, if post-grading raw photos is comparable. I will have the Pocket (hopefully it won't take too long), and it will have a complete, well-thought-out rig from the beginning, and some day raw, for the price of a Mark III (body only).

https://vimeo.com/74887302
 

On Super8 I would go through about 5-8 rolls of Kodachrome. Once the sun went down the shoot would be over and I would head to the bar. Usually would get a 3-5 minute piece with about a 4:1 ratio.

Then I thank you very much. This is great news for me. So the answer is G6.

Axel - G6 viewfinder is great superb - much better than the GH2 finder
better colours and higher resolution
I use finder all the time rather than the screen its very accurate to use for focusing -
I highly recomend it - it is one of the big plus points for the G6 - you do NOT need to buy a third party add on finder

I trust your verdict.
 
What about the OLED-viewfinder though? That kept me from buying the GH3 then. I definitely need to judge focus through the viewfinder, I even adapted a Zacuto eyepiece (an oval ring, hard work) to shove onto the hot shoe:

 
Background is, I carry around the camera wherever I go, it really is my run&gun companion. I am not for swivel screens or bulky Hoodmans.

Still the (where is the love? Wasn't that a Lenny K. song?) old GH2 with a hack and some ol' glass. G6, from what I've seen so far, is more videoish.

In general: Especially if you're starting out, don't search for the cinematic look! Embrace digital. Make it better with innovative lighting (doesn't need to cost you a cent), well scouted and dressed locations, good acting (which always equals good directing) asf. Find a good story strong enough to shake the world. Tell something with all your deepest and honest emotion. The rest will find you and never leave you.

http://vimeo.com/75728395

"The Pocket" is a polarising camera. It's as tempting to rave about the camera as it is to criticise it for obvious shortcomings.

However - bottom line is that this is an extraordinary tool. It is 90% of what I loved about the Blackmagic Cinema Camera without the bulk and strange form factor. In my mind it replaces the Panasonic GH2 as the cult favourite of prosumer video because it has an absolutely beautiful film like output and a very accessible price.

Read the full article here

Camera supplied by CVP who came through and fulfilled my pre-order from NAB in early April. Personal note: I was saddened to learn of the death of CEO Phil Baxter earlier this month and in Phil's memory a fund has been set up which will donate a pot of cash to the Make A Wish Foundation UK charity. This charity helps fund memorable experiences for young people fighting life threatening illnesses. Donate here even just a small amount helps those kids.

The Blackmagic Pocket Camera is finally at EOSHD HQ, and comes from one of the first new batches to ship since the white orb sensor calibration issue was resolved. Have they fixed it? Let's not get too caught up in things like that for the moment. For me this camera is all about the lenses.

I've been a Micro Four Thirds shooter since day one with the G1 back in 2008. This was the first camera to tempt me away from Canon and over the last 5 years I've been building a rather ridiculously obsessive collection of Micro Four Thirds glass for my GH1, GH2 and lately the GH3, as well as c-mount glass.

The best c-mount glass is mainly vintage Super 16mm from the 60's and 70's. Classics like the Kern Switar 26mm F1.1 for instance, which an ex-BBC cinematographer once described to me as being "made by spacemen" such was the performance before the technological era of computer assisted optics design.

 

[url=http://www.eoshd.com/content/11233/blackmagic-pocket-cinema-camera-first-impressions]Read the full article here[/url]

Probably indeed a problem with the hack.
 
 
 
So it looks the camera was perhaps put off after a longer clip at a high data rate, and the index was not finished.
 
After a long recording, make a very short recording (just 1 or 2 seconds).
 
Probably QT will not open the file. I once had such a clip (with FCP 7 then). Premiere also didn't recognize the clip. But Toast did. Open Toast in the media conversion window (or so, I have a german version). Drag & drop your clip into it, export as QT, ProRes (gear icon lets you set export codecs). My problem was, I could only export the audio as an extra clip (make it Aiff) and had to synchronize both in the NLE. 
 
If this doesn't work, either upgrade to 10.8 (AVCHD is played back by QT without conversion, the upgrade is safe) - but I bet it won't work either, because still OSX doesn't like .mts without or with wrong metadata.
 
Or take your card to a windows computer, where you export both clips with highest quality settings of H.264.

Why don't manufacturers concentrate on making better cameras rather than higher res ones. High res and quality do NOT go hand in hand.
 
1080p, no moire, 13+ stops DR, 5DIII low light capability, 10bit 422 codec, Peaking, Zebras etc.......... this will be a much more valuble production tool to the 'consumer market' than a 4K, 9stop DR, 8bit codec, No Zebra, No Peaking camera.
 
Most people who bought the GH3 for video use it for Low/No budget shoots, corporates and events. Having 13 stops DR, great low light ability, Zebras and Peaking makes your shoot sooooo much easier than having 4K in a crappy camera.

I've just finished up a shoot using the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera on a professional shoot, so I thought I would share my experience with the camera in this environment. (I will post the video when its finished up)
 
The Shoot
 
My business was hired to shoot a music video for a concept on Green Screen. It was a parody of infomercials, so the task was to film various models and comedic hosts demonstrating several very silly products. I was the DoP/camera operator, and we also had a director, 2 assistants, 2 photographers and  a make up artist.
 
The Gear
The Blackmagic was mounted on rails in a Wooden Camera Cage, with just a Follow Focus. I had 4 x Sandisk Extreme Pro SD cards, 3 batteries, mic, charger and AC adapter. The camera was connected through HDMI to an external monitor. The green screen was lit with 2 Kino Flo 4-Banks, and the models with Kino Flo Diva 401s and Dedolights. 
 
I would not recommend the Wooden Cage. Its just ok. The screw holes all over it make no sense. The battery charger was the worst piece of kit I've ever used in the history of video production. Cant remember the brand (begins with a H), but lots of companies are selling it with the camera as a bundle. You can put AA batteries in it and its so fiddly. It sucks. 
 
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera Feedback
Whilst I was impressed with the BMPCC, I did have various issues with the camera - mostly with the lack of in-camera formatting and batteries. I will display these through Pros and Cons. 
 
Pros
+ The build is solid and of high quality
 
+ The back screen is nice and clear, a very decent size!
 
+ Very simple to use meaning you can focus on creating
 
+ Image quality is fantastic. Compared it with the GH3 in flat profile and the difference was staggering
 
+ Skin tones are beautiful, very organic
 
+ Not much dynamic range to see, but the roll-off was very smooth on the models
 
+ The size makes it easy to handle and not a pain to shift around. Nice and quick.
 
+ Zebras are very useful. Wish I had these on my GH3!
 
Cons
- This camera eats memory cards for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Used all of the 4 x 32gb cards. So the cost of running this camera at a professional level could be quite costly.
 
- Battery life is dreadful. The shoot was 8 hours long and we went through 9 full charges. 
 
- No ability to format cards in camera. Completely unacceptable. We ran out of space, backed up the cards and tried to format one to exFat on a Mac. Camera wasn't having it. 10 mins left til close. So had to use GH3 for last 2 shots. Director wasn't happy. 
 
- No indication of recording time left. No idea if 1 second left on 60 mins! Again, this is unacceptable. 
 
- Auto focus is absolutely terrible. I don't use it much, but its useful when you are against time in a studio. Just doesn't work. Why bother Blackmagic? Your features HAVE to work. 
 
- Focus Peaking is temperamental. It works, then sort of does, then doesn't at all. Maybe something wrong with this unit? 
 
- Manual focusing with the Panny zooms seemed to be a lot more fiddly on this camera than on the GH3. It seems to be much more intricate and I have no idea why that is. The director agreed. 
 
- No articulated screen. Its 2013. I don't want to sit on the floor or bend over in front of models to see the screen. 
 
- Moire. Can't handle fine lines. 
 
Conclusion
Having only use the camera once for a studio shoot, its hard for me to give a full opinion on this camera - but from my experience there are some definite quirks that I feel are a major issue for its use in a professional (and general usage) environment for its target 'DSLR video user' market. 
 
Ok, it shoots in 10 bit ProRes and has a beautiful image. It will shoot RAW soon. Its cheap. But...
 
For professional use, the fact you cant see how much recording time you have left or even format a card is a completely ludicrous omission and causes issues. Issues that take more time, more work, more stress, more stuff you shouldn't have to deal with in a camera. Blackmagic need to sort this out, it cant be difficult. 
 
The fact the the camera is labelled 'Pocket' is mind boggling. Batteries constantly need charging, and its always a worry. If you were to really carry this round in your 'Pocket', expect to need a bagful of batteries. Or you are screwed. 
 
The focusing area of the camera also seems unfinished. Auto focus doesn't work, and peaking just can't be arsed half the time. Didn't they test the camera, or is it a good-egg, bad egg thing with the production line? 
 
My opinion so far is that this camera isn't completely ready for use in a professional environment, and is better suited as a hobbyist item for (very) short films. If you can afford lots of storage, 60 billion batteries and a ton of memory cards, and dont mind a few workarounds then you should enjoy it - its a cool gadget with a beautiful image that a video DSLR really needs. 
 
Its very quirky and needs more work, which is expected of a 1st generation model. Lets hope for more improvements and a Blackmagic employee facepalm about essential little features that are unacceptably missing. 
 
I like it. Its just a pain in the arse. Like my fiance. You might just have to put up with its issues just because its so beautiful ;)

A short film from Germany, shot with the Pocket. They speak english, because Germany isn't exactly the home of cinematographic talent, and the latter has to be invited from elsewhere. However, it's graded rather extremely, but it has a story and not just landscape or cats. One of the marks of cinema.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ_INEKUQpA#t=22

A short film from Germany, shot with the Pocket. They speak english, because Germany isn't exactly the home of cinematographic talent, and the latter has to be invited from elsewhere. However, it's graded rather extremely, but it has a story and not just landscape or cats. One of the marks of cinema.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ_INEKUQpA#t=22

Don't be irritated by hypes. I still soldier on with my reliable GH2. Never before in my life had I made so many videos. 
 
 
That's it. The more better graded raw videos will flood the net, the more will all those 4k-downscalers (I call them 'Pro-Dads' for the amateur dad's software Mercalli) realize how "so last century" and how desperately videoish their Son-Pan-Can-4k pixel-puddles look
 
 
Good question. The downside of ProRes is that it's not particularly state of the art in terms of efficiency, it's like carrying around a kettle of soup, though a bouillon cube would do and some hot water at home. Compression is not the devil, and Panasonic did always well with highly compressed codecs. Just think about a clever way to avoid the high data rates and big files that come with raw. 
 
Also, Panasonic always tried to be compatible. Probably they provide a solution for every big NLE. I wouldn't worry about that.

When you are just starting, lesson 1, let raw be lesson 101, second volume. You can start with just about every camera. If I lost my whole equipment in a fire and just had so much money, I'd be torn between those choices:
 
1. GH2, used (latest biddings in € on ebay), 500 €, with SLR magic 12mm and SLR 25mm, cheap tripod, cheap but well chosen shoulder rig, Tascam audio recorder or the like.
2. BlackMagic Pocket, new, 880 €, SLR magic 12mm (wait for other aproved lenses), cheap tripod, cheap but well chosen shoulder rig, Tascam audio recorder or the like.
 
and, if I was into photography in earnest:
3. 5D M2, used, with kit lens 24-105, ~1800 €, external EVF via HDMI, able to zoom in the 5D's output, peaking, that means Zacuto or this price class, ~800 €, Sachtler ACE, 550 €, relatively cheap, but VERY well chosen shoulder rig (let's say, 300 €). Tascam or the like.
 
Why not the ACE in any case? 
 
Because, I wrote this before, the main duty of a tripod is to stand motionless. Many tripods under 100 € will do with light cameras. Only if you wish to make very good, smooth pans, the fluid head needs to be of high quality. And still it's a craft only mastered by few, most pans have either the wrong speed or are unnessesary und uncinematic.
 
But why the ACE for the 5D then? Because it is relatively small and lightweight, yet built well enough to carry the 5D. You get heavy weight, low duty junk for ~150 €, but it's not worth the shipping costs. And besides this, the head allows for good pans.

Because, many who own the BMCC (and were aware of it's, er, challenges) don't stop praising it. And from day one, they produced images, not possible with any other camera for a roughly comparable price. Because even now, a few weeks after the first shots of the Pocket were published (some of which showed no orbs, making the calibration theory somewhat believable), you can as well see the limitations as well as the potential. No one can produce a camera like this for this price and have no issues. Of cause, smart people lean back and wait until the worst issues are cleared.

Yes, seems that simple and fast calibration did the trick. A very attractive 10-bit-codec, resolution much better than expected, with a promise to get raw some day, for under 1000 bucks - and still lamenting? Reminds me of a song from the 90's. I just can't get enough ...

Read my general approach here.
 
About me: Bad photographer, good storyteller. Find your personal strength and make it your unique feature, work on your weaknesses. For example, I like to propose to reenact the proposal (or the situation when the lovers first met). This is fun, the clients will allow you to direct many things afterwards, whereas otherwise they feel they hired a magician who makes their bush-league wedding look like the Venice film festival. Some videographers can.
 
Facts:
> Few weddings in winter
> If you want publish excerpts to advertise your business you have to be aware of personal rights and music asf.
> Shit happens:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocqB6_y71xE

the '20x' profit margins go to pay off the huge initial R+D expenses that these companies like zucuto put into their products.  Zacuto will actually see less than half of the retail price.  for that money you get customer support as well as a top quality product,  Since the Chinese only need to purchase a single zacuto evf to copy, their r+d costs are as much as it costs to buy the product they intend to copy.  
Though it is often nice to benefit from the cost effective chinese knock offs, the more we do, the less progress will happen with new products since the pioneers will go bust leaving the chinese with no one to copy.

I am somewhat surprised that no one mentioned Hiding Place, although it is already three days old:
http://vimeo.com/72996911
 
I understand, Bloom had fallen from grace. The more relentlessly we can pull the clip to pieces. But actually, despite it is sepia sunset again, I find it quite nice.
 
In the german SlashCam forum they have a Pocket already, and right after there were reports in the BM forum about grisly artifacts, they made own tests. The effect is called sensor blooming or white orbs or black hole sun phenomenon. Maybe a sensor problem, that would be bad. Maybe software, maybe the codec.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stCTphrtqfo
 
Easy to reproduce: Parts of the image that really clip tend to 'bloom'. If the clipping is very heavy, the center of the white area turns black.

I don't know. I think I will stick to my GH3 for my Micro Four Thirds glass.
 
And at £1500 the BMCC mFT is an option.
 
I can't risk having shots ruined by big white invaders from outer space.

Sang de Navet - "Three men, two women and a whole lot of trouble"
 
Trailer for a film which is currently in development and looking for funding.
 
shot over a weekend.
 
all comments & reactions welcome!
 
http://www.vimeo.com/72806937
 
website: http://joachim.tv/projects/turnip-blood/