Ratguity

Just out (Nov 20, 2014).
 
Fixes various issues including some compatibility issues with the Sony A7S.
 
For the update and details see (Windows version):
http://www.metabones.com/article/of/MARK_IV_Firmware_Win
 
For the mac version, see:
http://www.metabones.com/article/of/MARK_IV_Firmware_Mac

I have a Panasonic 14-45 with the external button for OIS (good for Blackmagic) and got it used for $170.  The lens feels very plastic-y but the images are very good.  I compared to a Nikon 24mm and couldn't see any difference.  As for the f-stop. Having the lowest possible is nice, but you shouldn't lose any sleep over it.  Except for shallower DOF with a wider lens, you can still use any lens in low light at 3.5, say, you just gain a bit of noise.  A little time with noise reduction will probably get you to where you were with 2.8 with no work.
 
Also, lenses that say that they go 2.8 through out the range, for example, are not exact in that--at least not in my experience.  Of course, we'll wait for Andy to bring the truth down from mount Panasonic :)

Do you guys know any other lens other than Panasonic 14-50mm F2.8-3.5 OIS that Andrew mentioned in his latest article which has image stabilisation and is not as expensive as the native offerings.
 
Panasonic 12-35 f2.8 and Olympus 12-40 f2.8 look good but they are out of my budget. Still the problem is that four third to micro four third adapters are not very cheap. They are some generic adapters on Ebay but I am not sure how good they are. I don't really care about auto focus but I would like to have image stabilisation. Any suggestion?

I would get a set of Canon FD primes 20 24 28 35 50 85 100 and an RJ speedbooster for Canon FD - micro 4/3
 
you can shoot a whole movie on them and they are superb lenses , great warm colour tinge superb blacks and very sharp

Hey - 
 
 
Recently just bought the GH4 and was looking at some Rokinon and SLR Magic lenses. I was wondering if I should get them MFT mount or purchase a speed booster and get the EF mount?
 
I am assuming the crop factor will decrease if I get the EF and speed booster but the fact that I won't have to use a adapter with the MFT is great.
 
Just want to get some thoughts on this?
 
Also can anyone recommend other primes that are great with the GH4?
 
Thanks

I learned this technique some 6 or 7 years ago in some short Photoshop course and totally forgot about it.
There are different combinations of CMYK percentages that represent common variations of proper skintones from various races.
Of course, no skintone is exactly the same so this is used as a guideline and you adjust the percentages just a little bit for your actual subject.
Then you can throw that corrected still into your editing suite and use it as a reference.
 
Here is tutorial link:
 
http://www.graphicconnectionkc.com/skin-tone-correction.html
 
At the bottom of that page are most common skintones with CMYK percentages.

this will be one of the most subjective threads on the forum as everyone sees things in their own way.
There is no rules on this as anything goes , there are some techniques that are useful to know , but mostly I do this totally by feel and look.

One thing I love about the a7s is the shallow DOF / Cinema look for video.  However, I threw the 18-200 original silver lens on it yesterday and shot my daughter's indoor gymnastics.  Full continuous AF, with a range equivalent to 27-300mm.
It worked out fantastically!  My 5 year old girl ran from one side of the gym up to our seats and it held focus very well (of course I was hard set at F/8, but still).  How cool is it that this camera bascially doubles as a run and gun / camcorder when you need it?
The OIS from that lens was simply...brilliant.  Highly recommended for any handheld video.
Face tracking works a treat, and so does object tracking.  Never even tried these before as it's my only Sony lens.
 
FYI
Shawn

Ordered :)

Now what's the best way to use electronic aperture EF lenses with it?

The official EOSHD thread for discussion of grading and colour correction. Techniques, software, codecs, etc.

In stock at the new price at B&H here:
 
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/964117-REG/blackmagic_design_blackmagic_pocket_cinema_camera.html/BI/6943/KBID/7492
 
And Adorama http://www.adorama.com/BMCCP.html&&1&KBID=66885 â€¦

"Blackmagic Design today announced an exciting Summer Special discount for the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera for the low price of US$495. With a normal recommended retail price of US$995, this Summer Special represents incredible value and is available for a limited time and will end on the 31st of August 2014...
 
http://www.blackmagicdesign.com/uk/press/pressdetails?releaseID=61418

Looks absolutely fantastic - certainly the best 60p slow mo HD image on the planet
 
Link to You Tube to watch in 1080p HD
 
Check the whole vid (its in Japanese and French) for features.
 
Video footage kicks in around 9 minutes in
 

Love the new sigma 18-35mm for sharpness and convenience.
 
But worked as an AC for a DP with leica lenses. Darn that 100mm was tasty!

Sony A6000 with Zeiss 50mm F1.4 on Speed Booster

The Sony A600 is the best Sony consumer camera yet for video. A Nikon D5300 in a mirrorless body, with far more features, the image quality is closer to the FS700 in 1080p than to a NEX 7 or A5000. The pristine sharp EVF, a magnified focus assist which can be activated whilst recording (rare!), peaking, zebra, 16:9 screen and of course the mirrorless form factor. This is arguably the best current 'cheap' camera for video, de-throning the GH2 and GH3. At just $650 it is an absolute bargain.

Read the full article here

I've bought the first feature film from Joshua Caldwell, "Layover": I've bought the version with special content, and I'm very happy, because it is full of great informations.

http://layoverfilm.com

I heartily recommend it to you all, it is really amazing and it's great to see that it's not the camera, but the man to make a great movie.

Joshua made it "guerrilla-style", with available lights, handelded, but there are many great scenes that I don't understand how he made so stable without a stedycam or a gimbal stabilizer (i.e. the scene with the girl walking in the airport at 00:08) or the scene with the bike (from 1:37).

Some little parts were made with a GoPro, but the most is shot with a Canon 5D. 





 

The Panasonic LX100 is an engineering marvel. Along with the Apple Watch this has been the most impressive feat of miniaturisation of 2014 so far. To take both of these products travelling would be extremely liberating relative to taking a clunky DSLR and a standard smartphone. If the application of the technology is impressive, wait to you see what is being applied. The specs are outstanding for a camera of this kind, with the large Micro Four Thirds sensor of the GH4 sitting behind a Leica 24-75mm F1.7-2.8 lens, with 4K video, 11fps continuous shooting, and the same 4 core image processor as the GH4.

Read the full article here

You guys are the best!!

Read my thoughts at DPReview in the Panasonic GH4 review (page 7), here

As was the case with the GH3, the GH4's video capabilities were enough to achieve a gold award at DPReview.

Read the full article here

good news - I think I will be on here alot!

There are plenty of discussions about a6000, but there are only few touching a5100. Is there a big difference between both in terms of video quality beside an XAVC-S 50mbit in a5100?
I am kind of confused if a5100 has an identical video engine/readout as a6000. In the initial a5100 press release Sony had the following statement:
"Additionally, with the power of the BIONZ X processor, the camera is able to read, process and output data from all of the sensor’s pixels during video recording, ensuring that it produces the highest quality video possible by eliminating aliasing, moiré and false color artifacts."
Which was later revised and removed. Not sure if it was a copy/paste error from A7s or there was some improvement made in the readout(potentially pixel binning of the whole sensor without any line skipping). But since the wording was ambiguous and kind of implied the direct pixel readout they decided just to get rid of this statement altogether.
I’ve seen some footages/test results/reports showing a significant improvement compared to older NEX’es and some showing very little. I suspect inconsistency could be attributed to different binning methods used for 24/25/30p and 50/60p modes. In the later mode engine might do line skipping to be able to keep up. Not sure how plausible is this theory.
 
In addition, I found this test which I am taking with a grain of salt since I couldn’t verify who did it. It shows the noise level of a5100 to be significantly lower at ISO 6400 compared to both A5000 and 5R. If this improvement is real, it should indicate that a5100 does in fact have less line skipping. And while pixel binning wouldn’t completely get rid of moire and wouldn’t produce same image as direct pixel readout, I will take it anytime over line skipping.

 
P.S. At this point I am basically deliberating if I should upgrade from my Nex 5R to either A5100 or Panasonic LX100, which would be better suited for non-professional work in moderate light conditions. In the case of LX100 I would probably film in 4K with intention to downsample it to get a razor sharp 1080p.
 

I'm trying to load some h265 files in Premiere Pro. Doesn't work. It doesn't give an error, just keeps saying 'Media Pending'.
 
Tried google, but I only find stuff like: http://www.cinemartin.com/cinec/plin/ - plugins to export h265.
 
The iPhone 6 shoots h265 and I suppose some people want to edit their footage on their computer. Is there a plugin/codec I can install to get it to work in Premiere? If not, what would be the best/easiest workflow? (Windows).
 
Already installed some codecs on my computer to get smooth playback - this works fine now.

ah, just found this!! http://www.eoshd.com/2014/08/sony-a7s-x70-pinewood-studios/

I've been considering the merits of selling my C100 and 5d3 (and t2i) for a sony system. Am I crazy to consider this? The image and functionality seems to be weighing in favor of sony, at a cheaper price no less.
 
I shoot both stills and video from weddings to documentaries and some smaller scale but consistent commercial work. I'd probably want some of the native sony lenses to have good AF at weddings - probably the 70-200 and the 55 prime. Manual focus nikkor for the rest. 
 
Thoughts? Am I crazy or is Canon really that uncool. 

Anyone tried one yet? At $2300, with everything you need, XLR inputs, ND Filters, Zeiss Zoom, soon to be released 4K, variable codecs, could be a real winner? Could be the cheap 4K Camera to beat??
 
 
www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1072752-REG/sony_pxw_x70_professional_xdcam_compact.html