Michiel78

Because you have a great camera, one perfectly capable of capturing beautiful images? One that actually exists right now?

Don't be too torn up about this - you're looking at probably a $4000 package with the base brick, plus more on top for all your cords and cabling. And if, down the road, you want to make the switch, you're in luck - these MFT bodies actually hold their value reasonably well (especially the Olympus ones).

In the meantime, don't stress! You still have a highly capable shooter. There will always be new gear!

Nice little demo - watch on youtube and crank up the resolution

Hey guys,
 
Been following EOSHD for ages, and sometimes get to implement things I've learnt on here, at work (for a small DLSR based production company). I wanted to share a recent experience we had in the office when testing out the DitoGear OmniSlider which we saw the review for on the main EOSHD blog. 
 
We were playing around with the "repeat movement" programming we stumbled across a pretty cool technique - something we then went on to use on a paid client job! Check it out:
 

Thanks for confirming the GM1 as a great cam, and that FCPX 10.1 has no issues with AVCHD.
 
I just went for the G6, although I do mind its plasticky body a little bit (the camera vanity indeed), but it's even cheaper than the Speedbooster now! So I'm staying within my 1000€ budget, while opening up an amazing range of lenses for the future. 

Jason, FYI:
 
The D5300 doesn't have a headphone jack.
 
Any claim that the GH3 gives better video quality than the D5300 is entirely subjective. The GH3 has better resolution, but the D5300 has better dynamic range, colour, low light and a larger sensor. I prefer the D5300 image to the GH3's. The GH3 is easier to use for video, so in that way you may get better video from it. The D5300 is a bit of a pain to use, but if you're talking about graduating to pro stuff like BMPC4K down the road, you need to learn your way around a camera anyway.
 
The G6, GM1 and GX7 are the only Panasonic models with focus peaking AFAIK.
 
Personally I wouldn't buy any Canon APS-C DSLR - including the 70D. Moire, aliasing and softness are deal breakers for me (and relative to D5300 poor low light and DR too). I own a G6 and a D5300, having sold my Canon 600D because I was tired of softness, moire and aliasing. You'll get that with a 70D too. Autofocus might be nice, but if you're looking to learn how to shoot like a pro then manual is the way to go.
 
The G6 is by far the best deal out there at the moment for video. I would recommend it as a perfect camera for a beginner who wants to learn how to shoot video 'properly' - it has all the tools you need and is so easy to use compared to Canon, Nikon etc. The difficulty is deciding whether to go for MFT glass or get an adapter/speed booster and use Nikon mount glass. MFT is perhaps the easy route as it's small and communicates with the camera. SB + Nikon mount (e.g. Sigma 18-35; AI-s manual primes) is the best investment because you can use them on almost any future camera you buy, the result is more filmic than MFT, and the SB gives you Super-35mm crop and improved low-light. The G6 gives you all the tools you need to shoot with manual lenses anyway (peaking, histogram, etc). Resolution of the G6 is much better than the D5300, and it's easier to use, but in all other ways I prefer the D5300 image.
 
My 2 cents  :)

I wouldn't want to put anyone off the D5300. I'm completely happy with mine based on the criteria I listed above. It's just without histogram, or focus peaking, touch screen, etc. some of those other options seem like friendlier video choices. 

As far as inspiration...it just comes, but you have to be looking for it. If you're constantly looking for a good story to tell, then you'll start to see images, and if you focus on them and look for ways to bridge them together, a story begins to form.
 
Probably not very helpful, but it's hard to say exactly where ideas or inspiration comes from. But once you get into the habit of dreaming cinematically, I find that more ideas flow from there.

I have had the GM1 for a few weeks now, its fantastic. No issues at all importing into FCPX and editing. I am finding that in most cases the video quality is as good if not better than the GH3. One point of interest is that since getting the little one the big one has had hardly any use at all. In fact i am thinking of selling the GH3 whilst its still under warranty and before any new models come out.

Those are all valid concerns.  I like the GM1, but I don't plan on running around with it as my A cam.  It's a stealthy and small option to capture nondescript shooting. That's the biggest feature of the cam for me.  However, when not trying to "steal" shots I certainly don't plan on running and gunning with the thing (even though I'm confident that I could do so if needed).  It'll serve well though for more considered (sticks/slider) shots, flying, and getting into tight corners.

I think a few wires may have got crossed here. Serves me right for getting my back up I suppose  :wacko: 
I wasn't suggesting non-tech stuff shouldn't be discussed all over this forum, I just meant if you specifically want to divert a topic to say forget about the tech and focus on the other stuff, there is a place to do that. I should perhaps have put it more diplomatically.I certainly don't regard the non technical stuff as silly or daft, that's the bit I like best! What I think is daft is when someone asks a technical question and they get a response saying focus on the story. It happens too often and it's not helpful - it's patronising. I'll shut up now though, before I dig myself a deeper hole … 

Skip,
 
Sometimes you know the story beforehand, but to me, many times the story comes while filming or editing. Although it's not easy: sometimes you have the story and visuals outlined in your head but can't get them on your screen. That's frustrating and could lead to a form of 'writers block'.
 
But first: I assume you're fully used to your D5300, know your camera, you can set it up quick and easy so you're not missing important shots. It's like a racing driver knowing his car inside out. 
 
Then: if you have a story in your head, go out and film it. If you don't have inspiration, no worries: just go to a city or forrest or something you've never been too. Stop fretting about wanting to make that great film, don't shoot yet, just feel the atmosphere, the mood the new surroundings give you. Then try to capture that mood. Some possess this quality naturally, others have to learn it, but if you train this often, you can distill the mood/emotions/story faster and easily convey that to your film. The advice from Brandon is great too, as is Tosvus'. If you see or hear or read something which touch in an emotional way, a song on the radio, a story in an newspaper, a quote on the internet; save it somewhere and use it later. Point I'm trying to make is: inspiration is always there, sometimes we don't know where to look for it, sometimes we're looking too hard for it when it's already there. It's conveying that inspiration to film is what we have to learn.
 
Post-production: personally I find this the most difficult, because I've got the visuals and story or mood in my head, but my shots are not what I envisioned them to be. Sometimes I really have to push myself to start editing, use all the anti-procrastionation techniques, and once I've taken that hurdle, many times it flows from there. Don't let the drive for perfection get you, I've heard many great filmmakers are not entirely happy with the films they've made, even if they've won numerous awards and the public loves them... 
Just try and convey your story, and about the noise or neat video: story comes first. Even if an image is not up to your standards from a technical point of view, but it is essential in conveying an emotion, use it! Hell, Philip Bloom made a compelling story filmed with a VGA-Barbie-camera ;)
 
And if, after editing, it's not really the masterpiece you've wanted, so what... It's not like Van Gogh or Rembrandt always painted masterpieces every time, but from every trial you learn, and this leads to experience, which maybe makes your next movie into a masterpiece, or at least your filming-life a little bit easier ;) Good luck. 

Hey Skip,
 
Regarding NeatVideo, yes, get it.  It's a lifesaver about half the time and unusable about half the time (if the footage is too mushy and grainy), but it will save your ass at some point.
 
Regarding test footage, try this: try to get a stranger to let you film their daily life for an hour or two.  Somebody random off the street from a radically different walk of life.  Show them a little reel of your work on your phone if possible in order to get them to agree.  Then try to film them in an up-close, intimate way that sheds new light on the details of how they live.  Try to use only natural sound, no music, for a challenge.
 
Example:

 
OR try to re-work your b-roll footage into something with spoken narration to give it a tone poem feel. Maybe use your own voice for VO.
 
Example:

Find a great song that you feel is relevant to Mexico or the mood you wish to convey, and think about what you would like to capture to make great music video for it.

sorry, no experience with neatvideo..

Ah camera vanity! Yes I suffer from that too.
 
Having played with them all, my opinion:
 
GM1: cute, difficult to use for video
GX7: Thought I'd like it but wasn't taken with the design at all when I actually held it. If you haven't held one, I'd try it.
G6: Handles like a DSLR while being small and light, good for video even without add-ons/rig,
 
Looks in front of + inside the camera are the ones that really matter ...

Another vote for the G6. AFAIK the only real advantage of the GX7 sensor is low light performance, and the G6 isn't exactly bad there - especially with SB. You can get them crazy cheap at the moment on ebay too (£275 body only on ebay UK!).
 
The G6 is a true hybrid camera - sooo simple to shoot video with. It's also much more ergonomic than the GM1 or GX7. Similar size to GX7 but handles much better for video. I don't like the GX7's wobbly EVF for video, and I really don't like the GM1's lack of EVF, especially if traveling.
 
If I were you, my choice would be G6, Speed Booster and Nikon 50mm 1.8 Pancake. You then have a small camera made for shooting video with a superb image, and you're investing a large percentage of your cash on the SB and lens which will potentially last you a lifetime. And your growing Nikon collection can go on any camera you buy in the future. Go for MFT glass (e.g. 20mm) if you want to be able to use auto mode a lot, but with focus peaking, EVF and histogram the G6 is a dream for manual glass, which IMHO is waaaay more filmic looking than MFT glass. 
 
I completely agree with Julian - I wouldn't have the GM1 OR the GX7 as my main video cam. They are interesting in image terms for video, but I really think they have been made primarily as stills cameras. I excitedly got to play with a friend's GX7 recently and immediately felt glad I'd gone for the G6 - much more video orientated. The D5300 is extremely small and light (have you held one? - not really that much bigger than a G6 with SB) but yes, a little annoying for video 'on the go'. I love the image I'm getting from my D5300 but if I'm travelling/keeping things light or need ease of use, I grab my G6.
 
If you're using FCPX to edit, I import AVCHD directly from the card ('copy media' box is ticked automatically) and my workflow is no different to MP4. I know it's not the approved way of doing it, but it's absolutely fine. I really have no idea why people go on about it as a problem so much. No need for conversion IMO. The MP4 codecs are fine on the G6, but 24P AVCHD is the best ...
 
Unless you have a very clear reason to go for the GX7 over the G6, I would give the G6 very serious consideration.

How is it easier for the Macbook? Because of the AVCHD, or am I missing something here?
 
I wouldn't worry too much about the easiness or toghness of the codec, because that is pretty easy to bypass. Just invest about 30 bucks or €ugenes to a small converter app that will convert the AVCHD (or other codecs, too) .MTS files to uncompressed .mov file, which will then be much easier for the editor and Macbook. Not any harder than the MP4. No need for more memory or processor power just because of some crappy compressed codec like AVCHD. 

Thanks Julian. Funny we're talking English here while both from the Netherlands ;)
 
I'm considering the G6, but although it's the cheapest option, it uses a relative older sensor than the GX7 and GM1, but it has peaking.
I like the G6 audio-input, the better EVF.
 
It seems have to decide if I take my camera bag with me or not... I'm planning to use a small backpack so GX7+20mm will fit... choices choices...

Personally Jurgen, I wouldn't risk further harming your sensor and go to the store you've bought the camera for advice. Many specialized camerastores are experienced in cleaning your cam/sensors and will do it for a small fee or sometimes free of charge. And otherwise they will ship it to an official repair center.
 
I don't know, but if you're using a small microfiber cloth (for cleaning lenses or glasses or such) I think it has to be absolutely clean for any impurities on it could scratch your sensor...
 
But... found some useful links: http://www.mu-43.com/showthread.php?t=21725 
and http://photosol.com/product/sensor-swab-plus-4-pack-type-1/
 
It seems the SensorSwab is pre-moistened with cleaning solution, so I assume it would remove fingerprints as well, and it's packed sterile so no impurities that could damage your sensor.
 
I don't have any experience with SensorSwabs myself so use it at your own risk :)

I love the GM1 as a technical achievement and I think it's a great camera. But I probably wouldn't want to have it as my only camera, if we're talking stills + video, because of the ergonomics.
 
If you are climbing mountains and every gram counts, or you want to be able to store your camera in your pocket at all times, then the GM1 makes sense.
 
Actually, I don't think it would be a bad idea to throw in the Panasonic G6 into this equation... cheaper than any of them (so definately get the speed booster with it!), ergonomics are pretty good. EVF + flipscreen. It just is a bit bigger... but if you plan on using a speed booster + nikkor lenses, you are going to carry it in a bag anyway. What's the difference if there is a GX7 or G6 in your bag...? not much.
 
The G6 is quite a bit smaller than the EOS 60D, and half the weight: http://camerasize.com/compare/#100,455

Took it to a camera shop today and had it serviced by their professional technician (who was kind enough to let me sit in and observe). Really good guy, one of those dudes who looks like he's been doing it for 30 years and you can tell really knows his stuff. Got it out no problem, took some test photos at a couple of different apertures, put together a little swab kit for me and that was that.

Definitely glad I sought advice on this forum and happy with the way things turned out. Everything looks great! Thanks guys!

Personally Jurgen, I wouldn't risk further harming your sensor and go to the store you've bought the camera for advice. Many specialized camerastores are experienced in cleaning your cam/sensors and will do it for a small fee or sometimes free of charge. And otherwise they will ship it to an official repair center.
 
I don't know, but if you're using a small microfiber cloth (for cleaning lenses or glasses or such) I think it has to be absolutely clean for any impurities on it could scratch your sensor...
 
But... found some useful links: http://www.mu-43.com/showthread.php?t=21725 
and http://photosol.com/product/sensor-swab-plus-4-pack-type-1/
 
It seems the SensorSwab is pre-moistened with cleaning solution, so I assume it would remove fingerprints as well, and it's packed sterile so no impurities that could damage your sensor.
 
I don't have any experience with SensorSwabs myself so use it at your own risk :)

Yes it's definitely FCPX stabilisation - it wasn't there in the original shot. Those shots were all handheld with non-VR primes so they had to be stabilised. This was primarily a DR test so it didn't matter to me too much.
 
I need to work on my biceps a bit ...

Tripod my friend, the old fashion classic tripod :)

Okay..... Just did run around the block ..... It's so light, it tends to wobble a bit in your hand ..... But I really like it......

If you go to the video's Vimeo page, in the comments he has linked to a download of a short full-res shot. There's lots of annoying autofocus, but in the focused bits you can clearly see the footage is very sharp, the noise looks very pleasant and I can't see any aliasing. This shot is at 1250 ISO.