Snowfun

Took 2 Sony RX0ii away last week. All the holiday memories are stored on the iPhone. Well, all but the memory of wondering why I bothered to pretend I’d use the RX0…

As a BM pocket user I’m not sure I even have “features” let alone enough to give them up…

University professor so I’ll definitely be replaced… not convinced that’s such a bad thing!

Kessler K pod plus head approx £1200 Payload approx 70 kg. The Celestron telescope mount is approx £900.

I use a Kessler K-pod with Hercules head for Astrophotography. It stays where you put it. Not “budget” but certainly a lot cheaper than a quality cine tripod. I hate carrying it because it tries to snap my arms but once it’s in position it’s superb. One alternative might be to go for a telescope tripod - these are solid and not needing fluid heads are cheap(er). A Celestron Advanced VX Mount for example will come with a study set of legs and you could easily amend the mount.

“Work” isn’t primarily film or video related. I make short films to illustrate the courses/lectures I teach at University - so it’s me talking at a fixed distance in front of a green screen and the P4k plus Nikon 24mm is perfect for my workflow. I have a “studio” set up and the P4k lives on the tripod. My recently acquired P6k has a Nikon 50-300mm attached (and bolted to a frame) so not easy to change. Given the price of BM’s pocket series it made sense for me to get the P6k for fun rather than dismantling the set up and using the 4k.

Aida HD for Teams meetings… P4k for work related videos. P6k for fun. Photographs - primarily iPhone, occasionally A6000.

BM Pocket. Either the 4k or 6k - I’d let your lens preference decide. But only if you’re looking for the best image quality at the price - if convenience is a priority then I guess any of the affordable mirrorless cameras on the market (Sony, Sigma, Panasonic, Canon etc) will do a superb job in capable hands. if the camera is fixed and you know the preferred focal length then the 6k plus a Zeiss EF would be a good combination. Or a used (and cheaper) Nikon alternative with F-EF adapter. The choice isn’t really “what camera?”, it’s how do you want/need/like to work? AF or MF etc.

Update for anyone interested. I got a P6KG2 (I don't really need built-in ND and WEX were offering a free viewfinder). I also bought a lovely Nikon 50-300mm AIS ED (from Grays of Westminster) which looks fun although I have not yet assembled enough Smallrig bits and pieces to adequately support it. I suspect it'd pull the front off the Blackmagic if left unsupported. Balancing it on the tripod will be a challenge. I also have the Nikon 24,28,50,85 (Urth F-EF adapters) and I got what must be the most awful lens I have ever handled - the Canon EF50 (optically I'm sure it's wonderful but it feels utterly dreadful and even more cheap than it was). What little footage I've seen from the monster zoom looks quite promising and the sheer imposing nature of the thing definitely inspires me to want to get out and film stuff. There is something special about a smooth focus ring. And enjoying the process is, for me, at least as important as the product (which realistically only a handful of people will watch so arguably is actually the least important aspect of the activity...) Couple of downsides: the battery grip seems to make the camera reluctant to switch off and the Kondor Blue cage simply doesn't fit (the USB C cable holder is in the wrong place and is too small). Now replaced by single NP batteries and a Smallrig cage. Battery grip for sale!

I think the 12-40mm and 40-150mm might be a better combination for me. I'm leaning towards the 4k - primarily because of the lens selection (I already have a Voigtlander 10.5mm MFT but no EF). Given the uncertain future (?) of MFT I might be left with redundant glass in due course but it is relatively cheap now. And presumably even EF isn't the best investment anyway. I don't really need internal ND, I have a bucket full of Hawk Woods NP970s and the smallrig adapters, a smallHD monitor (if/when my knees are too old to cope with the non-tilting display) and I confess to quite enjoying the "features" that would undoubtably be limitations in a professional environment. I've run both now for several years (starting with the A7S and the 2.5k, Pocket, micro and 4k) so 100% understand! But I prefer the simplicity of the BM. Even If at times it is an annoying simplicity. This question arose when I woke up and decided to upgrade the Sony to an FX6 and only then did I start to actually think about it...

I’m bored of my A7S3. There’s nothing wrong with it. It exposes. It focusses. It churns out Prores raw (with the Atomos). It’s damn good. But it’s boring and there is no joy in using it. So I thought I’d get a second Pocket. (The one I have is used as a “studio” camera I use for work-related videos on sticks - set up with Nikon glass). But 4k or 6k? If I get the 4k I can also get the Olympus 12-100 f/4 and the 100-400 f/5-6.3 obviously in MFT. If I go for the 6k (probably pro) I’d get the Canon EF 24-105 f/4L. The Olympus lenses might be more fun to use (easier to manual focus?)… but there are some advantages to the 6k pro. The image from either would be absolutely fine (until I ruin it in Resolve…) I know the specification and technical differences - but which would be more fun? Thoughts?

I’m not sure that really matters. What we really should fear is when humanity is bereft of the ability to distinguish between propaganda - irrespective of the source - and useful, factual information. And, possibly worse, lacking in any apparent desire to be able to differentiate between the two.

Astonishing what this stuff is capable of. And equally astonishing how cheap they can sell it. There were times I assumed Blackmagic had moved into refrigeration - everything is “pretty cool”.

My Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM. Why? It’s a silly choice. But I do a lot of aurora filming and that lens is perfect. (I also use the 14mm f/1.8 GM but since I’m only allowed one that’s it).

I’m a fan of Kessler stuff. Yes, it’s relatively expensive (possibly stupidly so) but it’s rugged, does exactly what it’s told and has more bolt holes in convenient places than I would ever need. The kessler quick release plates are Arca compatible. https://kesslercrane.com/products/kwik-release-receiver-only-mg1001 I have acquired a silly amount of Kessler stuff over the years so as I say I am a bit of a fan. But it’s possibly not a direct alternative to the ones you mention.

This must be a claimant of the title for the “best”? Sony E 18-110mm F4 G OSS

Take care Andrew. Let the family’s love carry you all through this.

“Professional” if I was permitted additional words - convenient, useful, adaptable, manageable, cost-efficient… I am not a professional broadcaster but for my use they are super little cameras especially when matched to the Atem. https://aidaimaging.com/hd-100a/ I have two of the cheapest model.

I use them for delivering recorded and live lectures & meetings (using Teams). The Atem handled the green screen side of things so I had the Keynote slides behind me.

I’d definitely go with 2 (or more) AIDA cameras fed into a BM Atem for this. They are cheap and capable and the setup is easy to use (either live streamed or recorded - in the latter case there are, of course, multiple options either to record each camera separately and mix in post or simply to record a single output from the Atem). I use 2 x HD100A but there are other more expensive options.

Potential story line. Based on a true story. Potential to develop the various themes alluded to by Andrew - do we really control our own lives? Manipulation of junior staff. Rejection and alienation when things are no longer perfect. “Save Me” A young recently qualified doctor has the world at her feet. Attractive, intelligent and ambitious, she wants a career in emergency medicine. And she is getting what she wants. She is also saving lives. She is used to relaxing at the end of a hard shift. Having a drink with friends and colleagues. Casual sex if and when the mood takes her. Lifestyle choice. Nothing wrong with a drink after work. Nothing wrong with enjoying life. She attracts attention. Not just because of her looks but because she works hard. She wants to succeed. She is eager to participate in research and writing papers and doing an extra shift. More saving lives. “We should have a chat about what’s next…” “We should discuss your project ideas…” “We need to decide your next move…” “We’ll go for a drink after work…” And, she can’t say no. It’s a ladder and she’s looking up from the bottom rung. She wants to climb. Choices. And she’s still saving lives. A drink. On Monday. A meeting on Tuesday. In the bar. Dinner Wednesday. Wine. Lunch on Thursday. Only a glass of Chardonnay. Patients won’t notice. They’re being saved. Senior staff delighted to be discussing work with her. In the bar. The restaurants and nightclubs in town. Looking after her future in the profession. Helping her. Nurses commenting about them being seen out with “the blonde” again. Massaged egos. Manipulation. Choices? Who controls her life? Another drink. Might as well have a glass before leaving the house. Shame not to finish the bottle. Spiral. Descent. Patient complaint. Management meeting. Quick drink to prepare. Suspension pending investigation. Friends are suddenly too busy to go out clubbing. Colleagues are working that night. No problem. The local bar is open. New friends. Buy them all a round. Money not an issue. [insert steady decline into alcoholism] No friends. No money. No job. Hope? Casual sex. If someone is paying. Drink. Theft. Drink. Violence. Drink. Sex. Drink. Theft. Drink. Violence. Drink. Sex. Friends and colleagues. They no longer return calls or emails. Too busy saving lives. Different friends. Know where to sit on the street and beg. Know where to find alcohol. Suicidal thoughts. Despair. Hope? She pleads. Who will save me? [insert ending] Happy to help!

I could sort of understand the Xperia Pro model. Silly expensive but it did have features which, in the right market, justified the price. But I can’t understand why Sony have used the “Pro” branding for this. It’s not “pro” anything (other than possibly “pro-fit” for Sony). Makes the original Pro less appealing (I’d love one for my A7Siii because it would make touch focus so much easier - I think). Bizarre branding decision.

Thanks. Will give it another go!

Without hassling Andrew about this does anyone know how to install these in FCP? Mea culpa but I can’t follow the “simple” instructions… the folder structure seems to be different. I’m using os 11.4 with nothing complex going on. Thanks!

I constructed a holder for my iPad which sits above the lens (on 15mm rails). I use a Bluetooth controller but rather than using a teleprompt app I simply put my text into a Keynote (Apple’s PowerPoint) presentation, breaking it up nicely and click to advance to the next slide. This actually introduces a natural pause too. I’m not looking into the lens but at an “upper body” distance one wouldn’t notice. The holder also supports a laptop (which sits on top of the cage) if required. All works well for my needs. Highly adaptable as I use it with the P4k, Aida HD100 (a super little camera) or A7Siii just by changing the height and position on the rods. I did think about going down the angled glass route but decided that it was expensive diminishing returns.