Snowfun

An easy question for me - A7Sii (or A7S indeed) for the low light abilities.

Have you thought about equipping your wheelchair with quick release plates (+/ Manfrotto 143 magic arm kits?) and using it as a mobile platform for your shots? There is no need to suffer excessive pain if mobility is best served by using your chair - so why not optimise that? You could wire it up for external batteries. I recently broke a metatarsal and had to use a wheelchair at airports - I was impressed by how smooth a ride they give (think steadicam). I also used a walking frame (neither foot was load bearing) for a couple of weeks - no tripod required! The event is NEC not Excel London isn't it?

For peace of mind, might it be worthwhile getting a couple more Sony batteries for the A6300? They are small and easy to carry and their mere presence will be a comfort once you see the battery bars fading before your eyes. Remember a charger too!

The implication is that you have the A6300 already? If so, then I'd forget the external recorder option. Focus instead on improving grading, editing, "effects" skills in FCP (or...) so you can improve the look. I too make short films for "family & friends" and the biggest improvements in image quality have been made by hours of practice grading (in fact even simpler things like editing and choice of soundtrack). Simply having a better camera/recorder (which, yes, would give an improved image file) will result in a negligible return compared to your developing talent in post processing. Some of the "best" sequences I have come from my Sony rx1004 - simply because it tends to be in my pocket at the right time and place. And, yes, of course I enjoy playing with the rigged A7S or grading the raw files from my BMCC & Pocket. But in terms of the quality of the final product the two biggest factors are 1. Getting the camera shooting and 2. Skills with FCP. Both of those are free!!!

The rx1004 is ideal as an in-the-pocket do it all for travel - i love mine. And a bmpcc for the more pre-planned moments? Again, I love mine (slr magic 12mm lens albeit quite heavy). Same cards - cheap and widely available. Cheap batteries. Possibly a cheap slider for the pocket (the baby Ratrig is ideal for travel). Who cares if they don't match precisely... It's a "once in a lifetime" holiday film you're making not a business necessity. In situations like this I think the almost negligible differences in image quality between the various option is irrelevant - which will be more fun to use?

I'm new to it too so take what I say with the appropriate caution. I use a Shogun with my A7S partly for the 4k external recording but, more importantly, it lets me see what's going on. I reason that if I know what's going on, I'll learn more (albeit I do this for fun so no pressure). No matter where the camera is pointing, the monitor can be angled so I can conveniently see it. The coloured wave forms are big and easy to use. As is the focus peaking, zebras and overlays (I'm a "scissors" anamorphic type...). I recently took my bmpcc to Oslo for a long weekend and found it very difficult to use because of the poor display - definitely missed the Shogun (although obviously not in keeping with walking aroung with the Pocket). With the A7S, it makes the whole experience more enjoyable - therefore I go out to shoot more often etc. So, to me, yes, it is an important tool. But whether in terms of important functionality it is, is another issue.

I think it is important to focus on how to avoid this situation in the future not merely to be dogmatic about the current one. To the OP's credit, note that there is an acceptance that the band were allowing him to do this in order to gain experience and assemble a portfolio (and, thereby, build reputation). So the benefits flowed both ways.

The definitive response needs to come from a lawyer well versed in Canadian law. But that notwithstanding I think the tale you tell is a reminder that things do go wrong with friendly arangements and it is always best to have something written down. I would be tempted to have a lawyer draw up a template contract/agreement for this type of work so that all parties know what is proposed. A little investment and thought in advance could save a lot of needless hassle.

Why didn't I think of that!

I suspect that those of us in the UK don't always appreciate how fortunate we are... (different debate about the extent to which we should be grateful to the EU!!!)

I'd appreciate your thoughts... Steadicam Solo or Ronin M? (to be used primarily with BMPCC). Or, of course, alternatives to either of those. Standard walking around type of shots. The sort of thing which almost look ok handheld but which always (in my experience) suffer from annoying jitter & shudder. I'm liking the fact that the Solo is battery free as I want this for travel and often in cold climates. But am I likely to get totally frustrated at my inability to use it properly? I wouldn't want to go down the vest/arm route. I also think the monopod option for the Solo makes a lot of sense. Obviously there is a significant cost saving in the Solo but there is no point in saving money if the end result looks significantly "cheaper". Ideas & advice? Thanks.

"Minorities are taken seriously"... Even those minority groups who try to do civilised society harm? No one - certainly not me - would object to your eloquently stated desire for a more equal world. But surely you must also chuckle at the irony that here we are in this forum discussing whether we "need 4k" and sort of ignoring the fact that others "need" clean water, healthcare, basic education & human rights (including I would argue in those countries where a lot of the gear we use is made...) You stance wrt BH and other stores might or might not be legitimate and/or effective. I'm sure we all have our own ways of contributing and making statements so public displays of the armour of the shining knight isn't necessary. I agree with your basic premise (assuming this to be that we need to reduce the world's inequalities). I'm not so convinced that this is the time or the place or the vehicle to do it. Tim

It's slightly tragic if you needed a film to teach you that. It is preposterous to speak of "people", "we" and "our" in that sentence as if humanity is a homogenous mass who agree with and adhere to an objective "ethical standard". I suspect you are implying that "we" should agree with your ethical code... And that is just as discriminatory as everything else you object to.

And that is certainly a decision you have the right to make. One remains to be convinced that it justifies this thread in the context of this forum however. Just as an aside, one might wonder whether you maintain the same degree of humanitarian concern for the workers and their families in (at least some of) the countries in which your equipment (not to mention your household goods and chattels more generally) was probably manufactured. It would be a more relevant exercise, in this context, to use your eloquence and writing skills to produce a "Guide to Lighting" for our friend Zach and others (including myself) who are new to the techniques and methods used by the more experienced.

Cutting the top & bottom off is certainly cheaper... (that's my approach)

SLR Magic 12mm purchased. With a VND so I can use it wide open.

I'm surprised Sony have never done something with the PS Vita for this. It exists (with what appears to be limited success) and could - I speculate - be useful as a field monitor.

Choice now between the Samyang 12mm and the SLE Magic 12mm T1.6. The fully "real" manual focus and aperture are, I think, preferable...

Hi, Any thoughts/opinions/advice on chosing between the Olympus 17mm and the Samyang 12mm? Or, I daresay, a Panasonic equivalent in there too. I'm looking for a one lens set-up for "city breaks" and want something different to my Voigtlander 35mm I have been using. I don't want to spend much! The field of view differemce between the 17 and 12 doesn't worry me - I zoom with legs and make do with what I have! (Indeed that's partly the fun - getting what I want with what's available). I use the Samyang 24mm on my A7s and am happy with it - enjoying MF etc. So in that respect the Samyang 12mm would be fine. But would I gain anything with the Olympus? Sort of AF and iris adjustment... And it's smaller. Thoughts? Tim

Do you enjoy the process as much as the product? I have an A7s and it's superb for aurora shooting. But it's "horrid" to use (with Shogun and v-loks). The BMPCC on the other hand is something I rather enjoy using. It's simple and elegant and gives you something you can play with (ie grade etc.) back home. And you will be carrying it with you at all times. To me, a lot of the enjoyment is the process - the product isn't the sole or even primary goal.

All this raises a dilemma... Blackmagic Pocket (£696 in UK) or wait for this... I have a BMCC (too big for holiday travel), A6000 (used mainly for stills), rx1004 and A7s/shogun (used only for aurora filming). I do enjoy "fiddling" (any other term would be to overstate my competence) with the Blackmagic image so the Pocket is still number 1 but it's tempting to replace the A6000 with the A6300... Pocket is possibly over-priced now? (It's ridiculous to say that, I know). Pocket 2 @ NAB? (but delivery "in May" not soon enough...) I head to Oslo for a long-weekend in March (wonderful light) and want something pocketable. So either I use the rx1004 (and ? buy the A6300 later) or get a Pocket now. Thoughts? Tim

I don't like the emphasis GoPro are placing on connectivity and solutions for image-to-final-product workflow. I bought a Session and like it but have zero interest in wifi or cloud or gopro's editor. A decent image in a one-touch waterproof box is all I want. A lot of "typical" GoPro users I know (skiers, climbers, canoeists etc.) are using their 'phones to capture those "memorable moments".

Sounds like PKN remixed... with typical finnish driving? Not a UMK16 entry I hope! Fun video!

A link to footage I shot of the aurora in Saariselka (Lapland, 3rd Jan 2016). Not claiming it's cinematic or has any artistic or technical merit. But the A7S impressed me. Unfortunately the Manfrotto video head froze (-28) so the camera movement isn't great. Slog at 25/40k iso recorded in Shogun with Samyang 24mm T1.5. All realtime and graded to look as it was. https://click.email.vimeo.com/?qs=ff270841caf6f31e744cb88599a9d8de085489b11b5dbc3463e3bbbeb700f83f45a0e34df8e2abf53c8965fc89d1490a

I like it. Just one thought... even tho' it is a traverse, there are times when the ratio does rather beg the question of what the feet are using! As a climbing film - as opposed to a short with some climbing in it - I'd like to see hands & feet at all times... It's interesting that you portray it as a relaxed and calm activity (music & other cuts). Rock ballet rather than the powerful thuggery it sometimes turns into! Personal choice - I'd have desaturated the colours. Thank you for posting. Tim