popalock

ok thanks for the pointer.  I just want fusion for animated title openers, and 3d tracking text, animated split screen.  nothing too fancy

ok thanks for the responses.  Yup, I guess as it's free why not, give Resolve/Fusion a go.  I'm just worried about spending a long time learning it only to ditch it.  Would rather simply commit early on.  Will try and keep it simple and see how it manages on my system.

thanks!

So, I've never used any proper video editing software but want to start in a big way.  Given that I'm starting from fresh does it make more sense to go straight to Blackmagic software given it's free and apparently industry leading instead of the classic Adobe combo?  Adobe CC is pricey and I don't want to use any of the other creative apps.

I have PC laptop with

 - 16gb of ram,

 - i7 8th gen processor, 4 core

 - 256gb SSD, 

 - Graphics:  NVIDIA GeForce MX150 with 2GB of GDDR5 VRAM 

 

There are a few in depth training videos for Fusion on Udemy so I think I can get hold of all the training I need for either combo.  My understanding is that the Blackmagic software is quicker (eg in rendering) but looks kinda weird with the "node" based approach in Fusion.

Let me know!

thanks!

 

@Geoff CB am in the UK.  I work in London while I live to the east of London (Essex/Suffolk).

@Zak Forsman yup I know the me looking over an editor's shoulder can seem like a creative no-no, but you need to keep in mind A LOT has gone into to shooting the spot so far.  Concept, script, music etc.. my vision is going to be instrumental in making this happen.

For the audio I went into a studio and spent a couple of hours or so in sorting out the track (VO + music) that we will use and the collaborative aspect of things worked really well.  So I know working closely as a team can bear fruit.

@Policar yup good idea - will at least triage the footage I've got to save some time.

 

 

Have a load of footage and need it edited for a spot.  Have a "vision" more or less what I want, but ultimately want it professionally edited.  So my idea is to find a good editor, and literally sit with them and work on the edit collaboratively together.

Any idea how I should go about finding someone local(ish) to me?

thanks

hmmm yeah: " Frame rates up to 17,791 fps (resolution dependant) "

 

1280*1024 = 500fps

1024*720 = 700fps

640*480 = 1850fps

320*240 = 5725fps

192*96 = 17791fps

 

yeah renting sounds like a good option.  Just had a quick look at renting (in the UK) and it looks like I'd get a Phantom for a day or so for same price as buying this camera outright..  ouch

looking into getting a super slow motion camera for some research I might be doing and came across a new kickstarter backed camera: http://edgertronic.com

 

at $5500 is this a bargain or is there anything else out there for similar or less money?  Problem is I don't know how slow I need to go down to..

very slick - which vendor is this from? was previously vBulletin if I remember right

5d3 finally gets a good AF system and with the lack of FF competition out there, it'll will by default earn a best buy award despite the hefty price tag, and rightly so.

Canon simply knows it can get away with it while competition lags behind it.  makes perfect business sense to screw over consumers, who are price elastic, with limited new features in this new model.  HOWEVER, by pissing off your client base, you are conversely making it easier for future competition to jump in and steal your customer base - enter the scene BMD cinema camera.

I'm a Canon 5D owner, but not a proud one.  The day a more friendly competitor emerges with a full frame offering, who doesn't want to screw me over, and who has good lens compatibility/options, I'll be leaving Canon with a massive sigh of relief

I'm shooting in 3 hour blocks (in 45min intervals) and swapping batteries from my GH2, but having been connected to a tripod is proving a total b!tch.  So I'm looking for options which would be either an extended battery pack OR a much easier way to QUICKLY swap out batteries while being connected to a tripod

Any ideas? 

I've found this [url=http://dolgin.net/zen_dolgin/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=18&products_id=99][b][i]extended GH2 battery plate[/i][/b][/url] but it's not particularly cheap + I'll have to think about where to mount it(and so opens the door to more problems)

I bought my GH2 a little while back, new, with the 14-140 OIS lens for £800 (about $1200), new with 1yr guarantee.

I can resell the lens, no problem for £400 ($600) given by ebay completed sale levels.  That leaves me $600 for the body only, for a brand new camera with 1yr warranty.  bar-gain!!

now, the best bit is as I'm VAT registered (ie a registered business), I can reclaim 20% back from the tax man

I did have to wait a while on ebay till something came up that matched my criteria, but came up it did

admittedly the easiest thing to do is just stick on a good video mic (like the Rode video mic pro that I have), and shoot away.  the problem is that the "pro" tag just doesn't live up to its hyped up name - it will sound amateurish even so (for the stuff that I shoot - music).  Yes, you might & at some point will forget to hit record on the audio device.  But I've forgotten to switch on the video mic as well and got no sound at all.  Either way you'll screw up somewhere no matter what you do

audio & video files do not need to match in length. Re organisation, if you're shooting a music session like me, it will be simple, just record one massively long audio file, and the video clips will just arrange themselves automatically with the plugin.  If you're shooting something over the course of several days, sporadically throughout the day, you'll need to figure out a way of labelling the video clips & audio files otherwise I can imagine it will get messy & sync in batches

Yes it's one more thing to carry, set up, worry about & has an extra step in post.  BUT, it WILL sound SO MUCH better.  For music video, this makes or breaks the recording.  For interviews, not as important.  If you are doing interviews then you might want to consider getting a lavalier mic.  Either way, you'll want a mic close to your subject

I'm leaning towards the Roland R26 - two different types of mics built in, allowing you to pick & choose, or mix, what sounds best in post + has XLR & 3.5mm jack inputs giving you lots of options.  Not cheap, but I've saved on getting a GH2

some examples of using the R26 in a video context - there is simply no way you could shoot this with a single mic slapped onto the top of your camera, given how far back you are from the subject & the poor sound recording quality of the GH2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJEsfmGEwwo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUeVI1LgzoI

syncing in post is actually very straight forward by the looks of things (haven't tried it yet myself).  You just need to get a plugin for Adobe Premiere Pro or FC Pro, and the software will automatically sync & match up the GH2's on-board sound with the externally recorded sound. 

The best bit is imagine a set up where you have multiple cams & separate sound recording devices.  You'd think it'd take you forever to sync?  Wrong.  Literally a few clicks and the plugin takes ALL the files, and sync's away.  Come back in a couple of minute after having made yourself a cup of tea and you're good to go.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYbAdTkP7FU

think there are other plugins you can use

You will get the best audio if recorded separately, close to source. and it will sound WAY better.

Last off, put it this way - right now by the sounds of things, being a noob, you probably will be happy recording on board with an ok mic.  But eventually you'll move over to recording separately, so I'd just do it now and get over the issue of a few clicks

not a stupid question

I'm thinking of ditching on-board recording altogether, to using a separate H4n with additional mics, closer to where the sound source, and syncing in post. 

I've been using the Sennheiser video mic pro straight into the camera, and audio is still rubbish (although obviously better than the camera's mic)

Of course it all depends on what kind of sound you'll be recording & where you'll be positioned from the source

yeah there are big similarities with Apple.  I had been thinking about "what would I design as the next generation video camera" - better than HD resolution, raw, large touch screen interface, break-away design, EF lens compatible etc..  and then boom - Blackmagic beats me to it! b@stards..  Honestly guys, it isn't rocket science what we wanted

Blackmagic have delivered this obvious vision of the future (from the spec sheet anyhow), given it an Apple-like touch screen interface experience + the solid block of aluminium construction thing (which looks uber cool, but will be rubbish to hold, just like the iphone 4..), AND... the real icing on the cake - the beginning of the ecosystem which is how Apple have managed to hold onto it's zillions of customers - ie packaged software that we might actually use & like!  Camera hardware specs aside, keep an eye out on what they do with the software - that's where things might get real interesting..

Don't worry, BMD will turn nasty just like Apple has done too - it's the evil corporate way free market economics works..

just saw the below on youtube (re: blackmagic camera). Very funny..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuN9t3hd_yM

@markm - the BM is priced at £2310 including VAT in the UK

Question I've got to all those who bought a 5D3; who's gonna sell up now, and if not, why not? Seriously am interested in the reasons for sticking with Canon (from a video perspective)

[quote]11-16mm Tokina F2.8 covers your wide angle stuff[/quote]

&

[quote]LOMO OCT18 and rangefinder glass (also Nokton 25mm F0.95) won't adapt but you will still have a GH3 for that[/quote]

EXACTLY!!!  for wider angle kiss goodbye to anything less than F2.8.  also this camera in its current state cannot be a replacement for the GH(X) series allowing you to shoot anamorphic & use lomo lenses.

I get the point that telephoto lenses with low F stops is a nice plus, but it misses the bigger point that there is a reason why 28, 35, 50 & 85mm lenses have been SO popular for 35mm format.  They are the best focal lengths (for 35mm), period.  The glass we use means everything to create "that" shot.  Without them, we're screwed, you have NO workaround.  Battery life, and ergonomics you can get around and still shoot what you want to.  But without the right focal length [size=14pt][b]& F stop[/b][/size], you're f**k'd

This BM camera is quite simply AMAZING - I have pre-ordered one.  But it nonetheless leaves a bitter taste because despite the company thinking so much about how to create the next generation of budget video cameras from a form & interface experience, they forgot about one of the fundamentals of photography/videography - options with regards to focal length and F stop.

Please can everyone bombard them complaining about this point.  If fixed, it'll change everything iPhone style. M43 makes so much sense here.  I'd happily give up autofocus & image stabilisation on my EF lenses if that's the choice.

There is only 1 real worry with this camera - lens compatibility/incompatibility.  We need to know which lenses will work & which wont since we all have our own inventory of lenses I'm sure we'll want to use with this camera.  I've some EF lenses (great, they'll work) but I've also a GH2 and am acquiring manual lenses for that.  Will these "vintage" lenses work or not?  that is the ONLY [i][b]important[/b][/i] question.  then there's anamorphic..

All this chat about documentary vs film, and batteries are minor points, and quite frankly BS

sorry, don't have time to read through all the posts.  You can pre-order already you know.

Just got mine in the UK done for £1925 ex VAT!!

I probably wouldn't bother even though I just got a GH2 myself!  I'm also a Canon user (5D1) and thing which really frustrates me is the inability to [b]easily[/b] use my EF autofocus lenses with the GH2.  So I'm having to buy adapters + additional lenses.  Creates a lot of clutter at home.

Having said that, if you really need to shoot great detailed HD video, then you don't have a choice IMO, and should get one (other options are far to pricey)

I'm off to Moscow next week and was thinking of going for a lens hunt in some of the Moscow flea markets at some point.

1 - any point?  Or would I be better sourcing any of the vintage Russian lenses off eBay instead?

2 - location wise, any recommendations where best to go?

3 - any particular tips on what to look out for etc?  (aside from usual glass damage, fungus, oil on blades)

thanks!

I need to take some proper macro footage of small stuff (say 1cm in diameter) with my GH2.  Am struggling to find any recommendations aside from a Vivitar 90mm f2.5 manual lens. 

Any other ideas?

Andrew, great article BUT you're missing one REALLY important factor - if you're on a proper budget you're going to want to shoot stills with the same camera, ideally.  The GH2 vs any of the 5D series just can't compete with the FF goodness (for stills) despite AF problems on the earlier 5D models.

I just bought a GH2 for video (all thanks goes to Andrew for that!).  But I've a 5D1 with EF prime lenses that are going to be a pain to use on the GH2.

So the only thing I can conclude from all this, if I'm to maintain great resolution, is I should sell off both my 5D1 + lenses, and my newly purchased GH2, and [b]get a D800 which combines the best of both worlds[/b]

The reason why the 5D3 is going to sell well, despite being purposely crippled by Canon, is that most people aren't as resolution orientated as you Andrew, AND they want to be able to shoot great stills with the same camera. 

Canon are going to stay at the top for sales, just like Apple with the iphone, not because their product is the best in all ways, but because the total package is convincing AND because jumping ship to another brand will be a painful process

Life just isn't fair..

thanks Andrew - very solid advice.  Can you give an example or two of what a handheld rig could be? just want to make sure the whole thing is within budget and physically practical for me. thanks!

oh and one other thing – is there any solution to the aperture changing on the Panasonic OIS lenses?  Ie the image getting darker as I zoom in as the lens is not a constant aperture?  Of is this not something I need to worry about?

Have to say it sounds like opting for stabilised rig & using my newish canon & old pentax primes might be the best/cheaper option if I was to go with the GH2