Snowfun

The cross?

Am I part of the problem... My local heritage steam railway (yes, back to the train theme) wanted some promotional video to put on their FB site. I offered to do this for them - in return for an "all access" pass. No fee. It took ages. The train only runs 3 times a day so to collate a series of shots in different locations was not a trivial exercise. I used my Blackmagics, a FX30 on a gimbal, a drone, an RX0 and my iPhone. So far I've provided 3 short videos. Which they love. And so, apparently, do those people who view such sites on FB. Objectively - I'm the first to admit - they are probably dreadful. Poorly "graded" and edited. But. in my defence, they are atmospheric, the drone shots give a different perspective and, in terms of what they want, they are a success. The expectations of the majority of people looking at heritage steam railway sites on FB are, in terms of cinematography, low. Hence, to succeed, one only needs to reach a low bar. And as a hobbyist volunteer I think I achieved that. So two points: 1. By doing this on a voluntary basis am I diminishing the real value or worth of a professional cinematographer? 2. If they had to pay they wouldn't have done it (they couldn't afford it). I suppose that what I am actually saying can be summarised as "it's good enough".

I bought my OM4 Ti new... but can't remember how much I paid!

Loch Morlich (near Aviemore) Early 2024. https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2C4TvVo5sm/?igsh=MWFwaWV0cnBqc3Vvbw==

Almost snap!

Absolutely no new cameras in 2025. Chord Electronics will be taking my money as I need to upgrade my audio system. (Indeed, a couple of cameras less - FX30 & BM4kStudio will head towards MPB). Seasonal felicitations!

If I could start from zero I’d almost definitely go Komodo plus my 16 Pro Max. I might go BM Pyxis rather than the “Nikon” but at the end of the day I think Komodo would win. I’ll write it up here one day but for what I do that combination is a winning one. Totally going off “SLR” form factor cameras - there’s a total absence of imaginative use of the technology. I love the user interface - and thus the user experience / of my BM 4k/6k. Press the menu button and it’s all there, on screen. I assume the Komodo is similar?

May one enquire how you define build “quality”? Is it water or dust resistance? Physical strength of the body? Perceived “feel”? Reliability and resilience over time? Strength of the in/out ports? All of these? Unless you have performed some sort of objective tests - have you? - I’m not sure what the post is hoping to achieve. I’ve never been impressed by the perceived feel of my Blackmagics but they have never failed me. And - crucially - at the price there must be some degree of compromise.

Isn’t that precisely the problem? What we “believe” to be true isn’t enough. We should endeavour to listen to the evidence so we know what is true. (And, yes, we can argue about the evidence and its significance but that is all part of the epistemological process - it doesn’t diminish the difference between what is true and what is not. Irrespective of what I, or anyone else, might believe).

The obvious ones: Blackmagic (4k & 6k) and Sony (FX30). But I’m tempted now to add Apple. The 16 pro max is just so convenient and unobtrusive. Recording ProRes to an external SSD makes it a genuine video tool. Not to produce the highest quality cinematic image but as a tool to capture the world it is up there with the rest.

Not the word that sprang to mind when I tried to test it earlier. I tried. I really did. But it is utterly dreadful. I’m still not sure what the Menu, Set, Up & Down buttons do. Mainly because most of the time I didn’t know which, if any, button I pressed. No control via the VA. No idea about AF (that must be in the manual - that, of course, I didn’t read). I used an Olympus 12-45 Pro lens. Yes, it is fantastic in the use scenario it was designed for (controlled and repeatable lighting etc.). But for fools such as I trying to use it outside it is the quintessential nightmare. Perhaps I grow increasingly intolerant with age and podgy finger syndrome. So it’s my fault not BMs. It’s back in its box awaiting MPB…

I have one. The buttons. They are designed simply to irritate me. They succeed. Far too small with little feedback. I’ve actually packed mine away to sell on but I might get chance to answer your question over the eeekend. It’s such a super concept. But, at least for me, entirely unusable. I got a FX30 to “replace” it.

@zlfan you use an impressive range of cameras! It would be useful and interesting to see, as requested by @Benjamin Hilton, some images from them to put your comments in context.

No issue with Heliopan. But not used others so can’t compare.

Quick question… I’m producing short promotional films for a local heritage railway (steam locomotives etc.) Most of the time my shots don’t contain people or, if they do, they are people I’ve dragged along as props. But occasionally another person creeps in - should I not use this on the basis that the individual didn’t give permission? What are the “guidelines”? Not simply in terms of what one can do but also what one should do. Or perhaps incidental folk are fine because they are just part of the background? Thoughts?

From Aiden K, a producer of adult content (“Analmals” - I kid you not) on the h4vUser forum (the bygone glory days of the Red Hydrogen) “Since many of us probably don’t know many, if ANY other people with a Hydrogen, we don’t get much chance to use the new Holochat app. I was thinking about having a little contest, the next time I am shooting a scene, I’ll pull one lucky winner to have my performer(s) call and have a quick chat with them so they can experience the app. If you’re interested, pls send me a PM for more details! 18+ only please.” I doubt there was ever much of a story in these “scenes” but clearly he felt that the 3d camera would add something… https://h4vuser.net/t/holochat-contest/6902

The all new Panasonic Pope? Not convinced that an appeal to faith over reason will continue to sway the “S” believers…

That sort of makes the decision! Anything "magical" is good. And moving from BM to FX30 (albeit with various stuff in-between such as the AX53 etc.) is an AF step I am looking forward to.

That's useful. Yes. And no. There is only one project at the moment but I will hope to do other (personal) stuff in due course. I create a lot of lecture material for work so there its always a need.

It’s a heritage railway I am involved with on a volunteer basis. No aspirations to become a professional or do this for income. But I want to produce something decent (primarily for my satisfaction as I suspect they will be grateful for anything…) FX30 is certainly #1 currently (the R5C did also appear in the running this morning but the benefits are limited). Had actually thought about an FX6 but it would be too much of a vanity project… Realistically, my BMs will cover the external shots - the stunning landscapes and scenery - and an insta360 will do a lot of the “clamp to the loco” work.

That’s the view I’m coming round to. I thought there might be some singing the praises of the C200 AF/tracking but the FX30 simply ticks the boxes.

What’s the advantage here? (Ignore the price). Presumably in the real world (as opposed to YT “reviews”) the AF systems are very similar.

I’ve been asked to produce a short promotional film which will benefit from having autofocus. Primarily because I’d be useless at trying to pull focus. My current stable revolves around Blackmagic. So no AF (at least not continuous for the pedants). Tracking would certainly be useful. Options I’ve been thinking about… FX30 (£1900) C200 (£2800) Anything else? Doesn’t need to be full frame (hence the FX30 rather than FX3). Internal recording only (and the raw of the C200 isn’t really a significant advantage). IQ is possibly secondary to the quality and reliability of AF. I will also use my iPhone surreptitiously. I hope to get away with the cheap Sony/Canon “kit” lenses available in E and EF. The more carefully thought out and planned shots will be the BM6k. I’m not remotely interested in stills so a thoroughbred hybrid isn’t necessary. It will be collated from sequences shot over several months on an ad hoc basis so renting isn’t an option. Audio will be recorded separately (ambient only - no voices). Thoughts? (And please no fps 60 vs 24 or DR 10 vs 15 debates!) Between those 2 (or similar) which has the better tracking and AF? Cheers, Tim

All good stuff as always. Thank you.

Yes. And by which time no one will be watching films made by someone else anyway… “AI, make me a Western/Romance/Horror… “ No camera needed. (Goodness, I hope not!)