photographer-at-large

I attended a Black Magic event today and got to play around with the BMPCC4k for a while (maybe 30 mins or so).
I cannot discuss all my observations for fear of causing unnecessary panic, but I will state a few things I noticed. 
1. The autofocus is not the best, but with the M43 lens advantage, and focus peaking  things should be fine.
2. A lot of firmware features were disabled and flavours of ProRes were limited along with recording capabilities, to prevent people from sharing random non final firmware footage.
3. The on-board fans for the camera were not only absolutely silent, they were also unnoticeable (I put my finger over the vents and noticed almost nothing).
4. The Windowed HD is a substantial crop. So Metabones may make a BMPCC4k specific adaptor (which would be essential IMHO).
5. Low Light seems decent. I would like to compare the GH5s with it, though the Black Magic doesn't seem to have any noise reduction, and so at higher ISOs, noise seemed visible (as was the high level of detail in the image). I think once a few units reach reviewers, I would love to see this reviewed for low light, among other things.
6. I found it to be heavy with cinema lenses. But I guess this may have been due to the lenses more than the body. Also after the composite, it should shave off at least 100gms off the weight. 
7. Very impressive ergonomics. Especially the wheels the grip.
After Panasonic's IBIS + OIS we're literally spoit if anything doesn't offer anything like that (Canon cameras?), it's a little disappointing (I know stabilizers are good enough).
I feel Blackmagic is working with a lot of accessory makers. I hope they get a battery grip with atleast 3 hours of juice. 
If Panasonic tweaks the VLog, I am sure they can easily get atleast another Stop of Dynamic Range out of the cameras (if not more).
I realised that M43 is in need of a very fast zoom lens with a decent Range (f2 12-36mm). They could make it fat or large, who really cares. And it must have good OIS (for cameras that don't have IBIS).

WOW...so B&H/Luxli have quietly released their 1X1 RGBW light (Luxli Timpani) . It's available on July 2nd.  At $1000 seems like a reasonable price for a 1x1 RGBW panel with such a  hight CRI color. 
 
The question for most people is, should you buy multiple Luxli cellos or 1 Timpani. Cello retails for $400. But It goes one sale some times at $300 or $350.  4 cellos at sale is about $1200 which a few more LED than a Timpani but basically close enough. So 4 Cellos will give you more flexility, the Timpani might be easier to deal with, just having one light to worry about. Either defuse it, or bounce, etc. I guess Ideal case you have one Timpani couple of Cellos and one COB light source. 

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1353086-REG/luxli_timpani_1x1_1x1_rgb_studio_light.html
 
 
 

It's actually 5.2"

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2018/04/final-cut-pro-x-update-introduces-prores-raw-and-advanced-closed-captioning/

agree, hoping Sound Devices surprises with PIX-E 5.5" Monitor Recorder capable of ProRes RAW

I am hopping for the following: 

SAME Camera as A7III with same sensor but: 
+ weather sealing and A7RIII screen/viewfinder (this is a given...) 
+ 4k60p
+ 1080-240p
+ 10 bit
Keeping the same A7III sensor is great: Makes it cheaper for Sony, gives us A7III-like image quality for stills (12mp not good enough for me) and most important allows for APSC video mode. Having 2 lenses in one is just great. Put a 20 or 24mm on that and you get a very wide + standard 35mm, and put a light 50mm prime and you get a useful standard 50mm + a portrait lens 75mm. 
This gives you 24/35/50/75mm covered with just 2 lenses. How amazing is that? 

For me, this would blow the GH5. Just make it Sony! 
Oh, and the only potential issue with my spec list would be Rolling Shutter with the 24mpx..... Hopefully they can sort that out. 

I waste too much time on social media and forums! Thus I see stuff pretty quick. 
 
 
Somewhere between nope and no. Well, they might surprise us. But I doubt it, as it is their lowest end units. A pity, as a MixPre6T I might seriously consider, but as it is now then it is pointless for my needs with it  being limited to only four channels when running TC in the bag. 


Watching a very interesting tear down of the G3 at the moment:
 
 
 
 
 

Looks good. It’s about time the entered the space. Wonder if the will integrate the crystal sky monitor with it. 

I found their picks interesting:
 

I've been interested in the Moondog Labs anamorphic adapter for the iPhone and didn't know they did a version with a 37mm thread on it until I came across this video.
OK, so quality wise its not going to have people ditching their Isocramas but its a cheap way to get into having a go and can also do double duty for its original target platform of the iPhone (something which is now even more interesting with the new LOG version of FilmicPro)
 

Looks like Panasonic 14mm 2.5 and Panasonic 14-42mm PZ lens is the best fit for Moondog, 14mm 2.5 slight vignetting but usable, 14-42mm PZ usable from 18mm and up, unlike Panasonic 14-42 II which only 35mm and up is usable.  Another guy tested 20mm 1.7 but seems unusable, the 45mm 1.8 looks pretty bad at 1.8 aperture.. probably need to step down.
 
I am waiting for my one to arrive, which I will try on 12mm 2.0, 15mm 1.7, 25mm 1.7, 42.5 mm 1.7, Leica 45mm 2.8, Sigma 60mm 2.8 and Olympus 14-42EZ and see how they fair.

Discussion already at:
 

Sigma Art 24-70mm with IS could be a nice combo.

Sigma Art 24-70mm with IS could be a nice combo.

Isn't that just reflections of her hair, 
and terrific that the sensor picked up that subtlety?

Yeah, he says the GH5 will NEVER have USB charging! End of story. Around the 20 minute mark Panasonic rep states it.
 

The Sony A6500 can be powered via USB (but then you can't use a remote, there is only one USB port). The 30 min limit can easily be removed with open memories tweak, and the overheating shutdown can be overridden in the menu (in a test they had it record for an hour in midday sun). I have that checked, but to be honest: I'd never record for more than, say, 20 minutes, because it gets very hot. Can't be healthy for the sensor ...

For me it isn't about recording time
it is about trekking for 1 week in the mountains without any power source and without the wish to bring 10 batteries with me. 
One 20.000 mah powerbank will charge camera, phone, gps... 
Also the convenience of' not bringing a dedicated charger while traveling. 
This is really bummer. I can't get how they can fuck up something so easy to not fuck up. Frustrating. 
Well I am still receiving mine but might return it after testing it in Patagonia 

Sony A7II/R/S with the tweak will record unlimited, not overheat and can be powered by USB. However, the camera battery gets depleted a bit also (someone should confirm this).

The dummy battery solution will let you do that though as long as your rechargeable power bank can output 9v as well as USB.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Computers-Accessories/Lanparte-Coupler-Battery-Panasonic-DMC-GH3/B00LHNBF08/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1490621048&sr=8-2&keywords=gh4+dummy+battery
If you want to take a couple of batteries that you can recharge off the USB port of the power bank as well then these are ideal 
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Newmowa-Charger-Panasonic-DMW-BLF19-DMC-GH3/dp/B00Z65W732/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1490621097&sr=8-2&keywords=gh4+usb+charger
I have sets of these for most of my different camera types velcroed into a tray running off a multi output USB charger so I can be charging all of them off one outlet.
Then when I'm going away its just a question of pulling the right chargers out of the tray and I can recharge batteries off the usb outlet of my laptop or a regular iPhone charger. Saves a ton of space and hassle.
 

Exhibit A !
8 chargers for simultaneous charging of 16 batteries with storage for charged and need charging, all off one mains outlet and fits in a tray the size of a kitchen drawer.
They all sit on a strip of velcro so can be detached easily for travel.
Total cost was around £90 with an average of about £9 per battery charger and I think roughly £25 for the USB distributor and cables. Plus £2 for the plastic tray obviously! 
It was worth it for the lack of clutter alone and having to root through bags to find chargers and batteries all the time.

Try a camcorder? Not sure about USB power but surely you can rig something else up. 

Well I know for sure the Panny GH4, GH5 has no limit. With the factory battery pack you should be able to get 6 hours, but as far as I know you can not charge them using USB. The GH5 on paper does not even have a USB port. C port. Sort of same difference. 

This pack contains a dummy battery for GH4 that you can connect to a rechargeable power bank that outputs 9v
Alternatively most recent Panasonic camcorders can be USB powered
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ex-Pro®-Replacement-Panasonic-DMW-AC8EB-DMW-DCC12/dp/B00EF7J91U/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1490548051&sr=1-2&keywords=gh4+power