Snowfun

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.

I went all Kessler (slider plus the motorised controller, jib, tripod & head). Not sure whether it fits the budget but it all fits together and does everything I need (and probably a lot more than I’m capable of...)

A neighbour friend of mine - a dedicated and competent Canon DSLR chap - admitted to me last weekend that his girlfriend now gets better pictures on her phone - always with her and perfect for “memory” pictures. Phones will inevitably improve whilst sales of large, heavy ugly black boxes will decline. Both equally dramatically. And at this point I sulk that Jim’s Hydrogen with its add-on camera modules failed...

Sony G Master series must be up there for the sharp clinical look? I see they have just released the GM 50mm f/1.2 around the £€$2k mark. I’m sticking with my MF Nikon 50...

Given the previous thread about the pandemic, why not simply a 5x5 short film (ie 25s comprising 5 scenes of 5 seconds each) on the theme: Perceptions of Pandemic. So anyone who feels that they’ve been staring at the same 4 walls for the past 12 months will have to be creative and find a 5th scene. Who knows, you could compile the best of the shorts and persuade one of the reputable media outlets to showcase them - a global view of what Covid has meant to a group of creatives.

I’ll start. The first thing to say is that I am extremely fortunate insofar as the pandemic has (with the exception of not being able to head north for the winter) been extremely positive. Working for a University the move to deliver lectures and other meetings online has been so much fun. An opportunity to build a green screen “studio” (around an Atem mini) and “play” with different techniques for online delivery. Everyone else in the institution has been screen sharing in Teams/Zoom - but it’s so easy with a little investment of time and money to dramatically improve on that. Last week I discovered the Aida HD100A - so much more convenient to use than the P4k and the reduction in quality won’t be noticed. And since a Video Assist is doing the recording (HDMI output from Atem) the simple Aida is perfect. Simple things like “top and tail” a video - adding a title sequence and some simple credits is a huge improvement over the usual first few seconds watching the lecturer fiddle around and settle. But... I am aware that not many will have been so fortunate. Yes, I need to get out more (I need to get to a post office!) but life at home has overall been positive. ”Filmmaking” has “saved” the work I do. Without being able to produce short films and negotiate live video sessions life would have been miserable. But that’s easy to say when ones income is not directly linked to the ability to create short films. That’s my perspective.

Given the choice I’d have preferred eND I’ve ibis in the A7Siii... Why don’t camera manufacturers offer such options? A sort of “build-a-bear” for camera-kiddies.

The combination of these processors working in tandem with (presumably an updated) FCP is going to be an extremely attractive package. Yes, the numbers tell one story but Apple Prores raw, Apple FCP and Apple silicon pulling together in the same direction at the same time... Irrestistible.

Useful to know. One question I have is how does the camera know whether to apply NR to the signal leaving the camera? The decision to record Prores raw or another Prores flavour is surely independent of whatever internal processing is applied to the output signal? But I could just be missing something and confusing myself!

As a result of internal noise reduction? Can’t this be totally eliminated by external recording? To either a Ninja for Prores raw or BM Video Assist et al for Prores 422. (I’m not suggesting that you would want to use an external recorder, just asking whether internal NR can be bypassed).

I thought @Andrew Reid’s piece was excellent. Useful insights. The rest of the thread proves one thing - we are all looking for different things from our cameras/tools. “Brilliant” that we have so many to choose from. I’m enjoying my Siii.

The RED Hydrogen tried... unfortunately the camera module never appeared and it all rather fizzled out.

10k? Surely a Komodo?

BritBox & BBC app. Those are the “advantages” for me...

I’d noticed these and also asked the same question. I suspect that not many people have direct experience. Given the cost the new DJI seem to be a more “sensible” purchase. But I’d welcome the opportunity to support the project - we should get Giantommaso (assuming he is indeed the chap behind this) on here (with Andrew’s blessing) to tell us more about the product and point out any benefits over the main rivals. And in an open transparent way - I don’t want a Hawaiian trip all expenses paid to test it...

Composition is easy. With all the lenses and associated tools we now have it is trivial to get the look we want. What’s harder is getting the look other people appreciate...

I was safe - I knew you’d pick it up! (With apologies to @ntblowz for rather getting side tracked by obscure reminiscing).

Now I will spend the rest of the day with Annabella Lwin‘s vocals echoing around my head...

And, indeed, whether any external recording (eg BM Video Assist prores) also prevents it... Don’t mind the Sony eating Canon, Nikon et al for breakfast but stars?