Anaconda_

Thanks John, that's exactly what I fear haha. Do you prefer the BMD file over the internal 4K of the camera? any chance you could share some comparisons, with raw files, not YouTube? I'm guessing the g85 and GX80 won't be all that different in this test  

Hey all,

I'm new to external recorders, but since buying a GX80 for mess-about films (holidays, family etc.) I've been looking into external audio options. Surprisingly the Atomos recorders (second hand and HD only) are one of the cheapest ways to get an audio in. BUT I'm wondering if it's worth it? Setting audio input aside, will the image benefit from recording from the GX80 HDMI over internal 4K?

Would it be worth recording the internal 4K along side the 1080p on the Blade, and then using the prores files as a proxy to edit quicker, and sync it all up to the 4K later? If the Blade shot 1080p50 I'd go without blinking and have the 4K and slowmotion at the same time... shame. On that not - how would the internal 1080p50 match up to the Blade 1080p25 - I imagine they'd be totally different, but that might be one useful way of using it.

I'm really attracted to the size of these and the Ninja Star. The Blade for example is more or less the same size as the GX80, so wouldn't make the camera so intimidating. If I went for a 40K recorder like the Ninja Assassin, it's so big in comparison, it defeats the point of buying a smaller camera.

Kind of thinking out loud here, but what are people's thoughts? Is there a chance of a smaller 4K recorder coming out relatively soon? (asked this here before, but information changes on a daily basis with this kind of stuff)

34 minutes ago, BTM_Pix said:

1) What is the deal with the number of Tesla S cars? Are they heavily subsidised or something because they are absolutely everywhere. I thought I was seeing things when I saw they were used as taxis!

2) How can one quick squirt of sauce on the top layer of a cone of frites penetrate the rest of them? If I did that with an English cone of chips it would only cover the exposed ones yet your places manage to make it coat every one of them in the cone. It seems to be the reverse of what you are able to do with reclaiming the land from the sea.

1) There's a Tesla showroom near Schipol, so I guess there's some kind of deal with taxi companies based around there. As for private owners - there's no road tax, minimal maintenance and also the Dutch just love green energy. I think as of last year all trains are run 100% on wind power! I'm not sure if they're subsidised, but you're right, there certainly are a lot of Teslas driving around.

2) Since most of Holland is below sea level the gravity is obviously different to most other places. This I believe is why the sauce can get down to the bottom of the cone. Incidentally, I also believe that's why the Dutch are so tall. If you measure from sea level, the heads are the same height as everyone else - it's just their feet are a foot or two lower down.

As for the camera stores thing. There's tonnes of fantastic shops in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Den Haag - the 3 'big' cities - But in my town, there's only one good one left and a couple of independents, which are basically just second hand lens stores. Good for a look around, but you can't go in wanting anything specific. Media Markt are good with their selection and competitively priced too. (and open to price matching online stores)

https://www.atomos.com/sumo

"It is worth to note that the above list applies only to Netflix original programming, not acquired product"

They'll build the costs of these cameras into the budget of the show. If I was going to make something for Netflix, they'd be paying all this bills, so I'll use whatever camera the want me to. If I was going to shoot a documentary independently, then sell it to Netflix, I could use any camera I wanted because it's not their production, so long as the final product is of a high standard. 

That's nothing new though. If you're shooting a wedding and they request 4K - shoot 4K. If you're making a corporate video and they want B&W, make it B&W. The only difference with Netflix is they're recommending specific cameras, that are tried and tested. There's also more than likely some sort of partnership/deal going on with the manufacturers, but that of course, will stay behind closed doors.

In my opinion, this list is pretty useless in the public domain and only serves as publicity for the cameras on it, making people think they need the few models listed in the hopes of producing content. - furthering the theory of some kind of deal between NF and the camera makers.

In short - pay no attention to this list UNLESS you're in negotiations with Netflix about making original content for them... anyone here doing that? Can I help?

When he was shouting about being under Citizens Arrest, I couldn't help thinking about Michael Palin in his Monty Python days. Which makes it even funnier, because he now makes travel docs, and there was a Python sketch on the first page of this thread!

Ah ok, thanks for the info! It that makes much less of a difference than I thought haha. Yeah all black is good, but my pasty arms will always be a problem I guess.

Hey all,

I shoot a lot of interviews, and quite a few recently have needed to be outside, which is fine, it looks nice. The problem is however on a sunny day. I don't want the talent squinting, and even putting them in a shady spot doesn't always solve this, so often they like to wear sunglasses. In comes the reflections.

If I put a polarising filter over the lens, will that get rid of the reflections? OR will it make the sunglasses see through, so you'll be able to see the talent's eyes through the glass, which could actually be worse.

34 minutes ago, jonpais said:

Could you share some video samples? I wouldn't trust anything less than a $50 UV filter on my lenses, so I'd be very skeptical of a speed booster for only $121, especially one with only two reviews at 
Amazon, one of which says it didn't communicate with their camera. 

Sure, I can upload some, but I'm not sure what you want to see. It's not a speedbooster, so there's no glass between your lens and sensor... it's just a gap. This is just an adapter to put EF lenses on MFT body. In camera I can adjust aperture and like I said, AF seems to work well, but it's not something I use, so that's just a nice bonus. 

Let me know what you'd like me to test with it, and I'll shoot some random clips today. 

Just an update for those interested. The product in the top post recently arrived and I used it on a shoot yesterday. Works like a charm and I'd definitely recommend it. Weirdly though, the first time I put my Sigma 18-35 f1.8 on it, when I zoomed in the aperture changed to f4 on the long end, then back to 1.8 of the wide. I took the lens off, then straight back on and it fixed the problem. This also happened the first time I put this lens on my Metabones though.

EDIT: The autofocus does work too, which of course comes in handy from time to time, although I'll never use it for video work.

1 minute ago, BTM_Pix said:

The DR10X doesn't have the slate function unfortunately . 

Why on earth does everyone keep limiting their products. Lunatics.

13 hours ago, BTM_Pix said:

The solution to that problem for Panasonic cameras is that the Tascam mic has a slate tone it outputs when you press record on it which can be used to automatically put the camera into record.

I just haven't released it yet .....

Damn man, you're really going for it with these cams.

I don't own the Tascam mic, but how can you ensure that another sound, say someone clapping, wont stop the camera from recording? Also, I know it depends on your usage, but wouldn't you say the DR10X is a better option? That way you could get a wired lav and still have the recorder on camera for the slate tone or plug in a shotgun for camera mounted audio. It just seems more versatile to me, so wondering why you'd go with the DR10SG.

2 hours ago, jase said:

An Atomos can be had for arround 270 + CFast.. mh, tough decision.

My real concern with the Ninja star is that my GX80 will look like a spaghetti monster, when the star is attached next to an external mic with HDMI + Mic cable

I also looked at this, but would prefer to stay 4K. I did think though, you could mount the Star under the camera and use a very short HDMI (both mini plugs anyway) so the Star is almost like a base plate. Then have the mic in the hotshoe. It wouldn't be too much a spaghetti monster, or make the camera much bigger than sticking a mic on the top anyway...

The problem I have with recording using that Tascam thing, or a Zoom or anything else like it. You have to press record twice. Chances are, you'll (or at least I would) just leave the audio running, which could be a hassle to sync. My temporary audio solution is to whack a GoPro on the hotshoe and have a mic going into that via USB. Then I can leave the GoPro recording, and also have a wide and a mid/close at any given time. It also means that as long as I'm holding the camera somewhat pointed in the right direction and kind of steady.

That also solves the FOMAS issue I battle with haha! 

32 minutes ago, AaronChicago said:

I can't believe Atomos hasn't updated the Star with 4k.

I know right, they'd fly off the shelves.

Hey guys,

I've been looking to get an external recorder to use with both my JVC LS300 and GX80 (not at the same time of course) and obviously BlackMagic's Video Assist and the Atomos Inferno are awesome, but for the type of shooting I do, having an extra monitor would slow me down quite a lot. The Ninja Star though (https://www.atomos.com/ninja-star) would be perfect, as I could mount it and forget it's even there. It would also give me audio in on the GX80 which is a bonus!

The problem is, I'd like to record 4K. Is there something on the market that can do this for me?

Oh well, CineD is already more than expected when we all bought this camera. I don't think the score is 1-0, it's more like 0-1. So there's no V-Log, but you can't miss what you never had. Thanks again for the time and effort BTM_Pix. You rock! 

I might be wrong, but it seems like the same deal as this: http://pro.jvc.com/pro/promo/ninja/index.html 

And it's not quite as amazing as it seems (but still fantastic)

Basically, JVC gives you $1000 rebate anyway (even before this bundle), then you get $150 back as well if you buy the bundle. On top of that you get $250 worth of accessories for the Ninja. and after all the math and valuing things, I guess it works out at $1 - but it's not as simple as a camera that costs $3595 + €1 for the Inferno.

In reality it's a camera that costs $2595 + $851 for the inferno + $250 for the accessories = $3596

NOTES:

1) I bought this camera before the bundle, so trying to make myself feel better about missing out.

2) My maths is terrible, please correct any errors (but be sensitive, see note 1.)

15 hours ago, BTM_Pix said:

The issue is more to do with finding people with the camera and firmware needed than the actual process itself.

Would it be worth making a new topic called 'Looking for GH4 owner on firmware XX' since GH4 owners might not be reading through 23 pages of about modding the GX80? I mean, I don't read through the Samsung Hack topics, because I don't have that camera.

I use the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and it's fine. I got it in the studio package with a microphone and some headphones (needed to do some quick voiceovers so ran to the nearest store). It also came with a free copy of Cubase, so if I ever wanted to get into music production, there's a good starting point. It's very small and the red's kinda stylish I guess haha. Both XLR ports are also 1/4" jack inputs, and it's nice to have that option.

15 minutes ago, gethin said:

I'm doing a bit of testing with this at the moment with the gx85.  Messing with cinelike with a flat curve vs say standard with -5 highliights +5 shadows.  I took it out to the beach the other evening and I'm thinking that it makes no sense to use it when the dynamic range can easily be captured in an alternative profile.  What do we think about this?  Ideally in 8 bit dont we want the tonal range to be spread across as much of the histogram as possible rather than bunched in the middle? (whilst avoiding clipping). 

I'm not sure about the other things you're asking about, but I was talking to the guys behind the Leeming LUT (http://www.leeminglutone.com/) about these settings. Here's what they said:

"Highlight shadow should stay at 0. Setting them otherwise actually causes artifacts and isn't recommended."

Also, before we could get Cine-D on the GX80, they said this, so I assume now we have Cine-D, it's even more reliable:

"The GH5 Cine-D LUT will work on your GX80 without issue. Use the same setup guide as the GH5 as much as possible and you'll be golden. Just change sharpness to the value you like, or -3 as a default."

Also going by their info, you should ETTR, get the histogram heavy on the right, without clipping. Check it out on their website http://www.leeminglutone.com/.

Isnt that over powered - and does that matter? The GX80 battery is 7.2v and that one is 8.4V

Hey guys,

Since so many people here appear to be using GX cameras, does anyone know of a way to power them through a usb? When I plug my camera in, it asks to be turned off to charge. So trying to shoot a time lapse or something on the battery is very limiting. Is there an adapter somewhere that lets you plug into a mains supply?

31 minutes ago, tugela said:

Vinyl is not better. Digital recordings are far more accurate than any analog recording and don't have any of the artifacts associated with less than perfect pressings, scratches and dust. People like to say that vinyl is better basically because it makes them feel more refined than the common people who listen to digital. It is the same as those folk who drool over the rare expensive wines mostly because they are rare, not because of intrinsic quality over less rare wines.

There is an irony here, most of those vinyl recordings people drool over were mastered in digital in the first place, lol. The best quality playback is live. Go support actual artists. 

I get ya, I meant how the 'Normal' setting for a Spotify stream is 96kbit/s. I guess that only adds to the point though. The digital recordings may be better, but the delivery format doesn't necessarily represent that. Much the same as an 8k recording is better, but the delivery format may not be 8k.

6 minutes ago, Justin Bacle said:

PS : If we apply our thinking about audio formats. People ditched the 33rpm vinyl records and adopted the CD, then everything went online. But there is still people listening to Vinyl Records, event cassettes are making a comeback ! Maybe, some people still wanna use 480p cameras for the nostalgic effect. Nothing wrong about it :D 

But by going from vinyl to CD and then online, lots of quality has been lost. People mostly listen to vinyl for the quality of the playback - or so they say. I look at it this way, quality was lost going from film (vinyl) to digital (CD/online) but audio has continued to get worse for the average listener, while the resolution race is constantly making video 'better'.

8K is more than enough, but since when was that ever a problem? When you make a film, do you shoot just enough to edit, or do you shoot more than enough? When you cook a meal for friends, is it not better to have some leftovers? You can't cut a piece of string longer, so best to start off with more than you need.

I'm a freelance editor. I make a TV show every week and it's guaranteed work 5 days a week for as long as I want it. I also do camera jobs most weeks, or weekends. So long as I meet the deadlines on the TV show, they're flexible, and don't mind me taking the work home where necessary. That also accommodates more jobs that pay higher mid-week.

Since the editing is guaranteed work, I don't charge as much as I do for 1 off jobs, but it gives me a steady income I can count on, which is many ways is more valuable as a freelancer. I also have a good accountant friend who helps me get some nice breaks. He advises me when I should stop buying gear, and when I should buy more to make my company look more successful. I don't know how or what he's doing, but he's basically told me that since I'm a 1 man company, if I invest x-amount every year on equipment, research material and things like that, the government don't take so much at the end of the tax year. I'm not a numbers kind of guy, but it seems to be working out for me.

Like the other post here says though, I do have holes in my shoes and I cut my own hair haha.