meudig

I've been away for a while, just working on scripts and trying not to wast too much time on the internet. I just came back to share my newest lens find. I wanted an 8(ish)mm lens (24mm equivalent) for the bmpcc, to split the difference between my Fuji 12.5mm and Computar 6.5mm. I'd been thinking of the SLR Magic 8mm, but even though it's super cheap for what it is, I couldn't really afford it at the moment, plus reviews I'd read here noted the difficulty of the focus ring and set screw. Then I remembered a video on youtube showing off different lenses, including the Cosmicar 8.5mm f/1.5. I had bought what turned out to be the 2/3 format version a couple years ago when I first saw the video, which doesn't cover the sensor. The version that covers a 1" sensor has a larger front, like the Cosmicar 6.5mm lens I used to own, and it never shows up on ebay, and others had previously gone for $500 a couple years ago. But I managed to find one bundled with an "As-Is" CCTV camera.

I was aware that this lens would need some modification, and luckily it took a very small amount of hand-filing the edges, as I've done with Cosmicar lenses in the past. This one only took about 30 minutes to complete, unlike other lenses. My copy also needs a little cleaning. I love this lens. It's pretty sharp from edge to edge, even wide open. It's distorted, but it's acceptable to me (I like a bit of distortion). Some grabs from the video:

f/11.

f/1.5

F/2
Since my Fuji 12.5mm is only good from edge to edge at around f/4 or lower, and my Computar 6.5mm is garbage above f/8, this may become by go-to wide angle lens. It should work well for glidecam shots too.

Magic lantern is making a lot of progress with 3K+ on the 5D mark 2!
Seems what happened with the 5 year old mark III in 2017 is now happening with the 10 year old mark II...
3K announcement: https://www.magiclantern.fm/forum/index.php?topic=19336.msg205638#msg205638
Initial 4K progress (10.5 frames per second): https://www.magiclantern.fm/forum/index.php?topic=19336.msg208417#msg208417
Initial 5K progress (6.5 frames per second): https://www.magiclantern.fm/forum/index.php?topic=19336.msg208355#msg208355
The 5D mark II has always been limited to 30fps, but there is also some progress in getting higher framerates:  https://twitter.com/autoexec_bin/status/1048804509827452928
The forum user reddeercity has some builds on that thread.
I am super excited about this, even spent 100 pound on a new motherboard to fix my camera.
Video I made using the 3K build:
Shot in 2880x1080 resolution, Graded + converted to ProRes using MLV App (https://github.com/ilia3101/MLV-App), edited in Pitivi on linuX.
Lenses: Jupiter 9, Helios 44, Takumar 135mm, cosina 19-35 (for one shot)
If anyone wants an MLV or DNG or something from the video I can provide.

(cross-post from another thread)
I’ve just designed a nice minimal 3D printed solution for a handheld rig. It’s simple and light, either SSD only or SSD + power for 2:15hrs. If I get enough interest I’ll make up a batch for sale ?
batbox4k.com

Canon 24-70mm f/4 on the 5D Mark III. Processed through Resolve using its basic Rec709 conversion in the Raw Tab and then some curve adjustments...

Resolve crashes more than Premiere for me??

Another one from the Canon 28mm 1.8. 
Say cheese...

Yeah DOF is definitely a way to make a boring shot look a bit more interesting. Better lighting or set design are better ways to accomplish and interesting shot but of course that isn't always possible to do.

What annoys me is the new Star Wars films (Rogue One ahem) which have incredible sets, scenery, and backdrops, yet every damn shot was shallow.

Don’t you also have the E-M1ii?! I know you’re not big on 1080p but the E-M1ii picked up where the E-M5ii left off and went from 77mbps all-i with the E-M5ii to 202mbps all-i on the E-M1ii, can you confirm the 1080p quality?

No need to get an EM5 II now the E-M10 III exists though. It's way better for video.

@Alt Shoo Luckily you can read all about it here. It's been posted in some em5ii discussions before.
 
 

It's not a good idea to judge banding by youtube footage.
If I apply more contrast to the youtube frame to show banding, this is what I get:

Now if I go to vimeo and download the original ungraded version, and apply about the same contrast, this is what I get:

 
And the original ungraded version uploaded to vimeo is still 8bit! In 10bit you will have even less banding.

I often get banding added in youtube compression so I wouldn't read to much into it before seeing original clips.

BREAKING X-T3 NEWS:
Fujifilm has decided to axe their upcoming X-T3 release because Jon is “not feeling it.”
MORE TO COME

One more using the mv1080 mode, 1736x1120 14bit raw
My color grading skills dont do any of this justice.
 
 

Here are my tests from the past day with 1736x1120 resolution.
https://vimeo.com/286711725
https://vimeo.com/286711914
Using a $30 toy c-mount lens
(can't figure out how to embed...)

And still no Cinelike D
I'm going to wait for the Leica version of it so I can feel as let down but with a slightly more elitist glow.

Hang on, let me just check my collection of 35mms ....

Here’s another shot from the Canon 28mm f/1.8 I bought a few months back for a song. I actually didn’t expect a lot from it when I bought it, but it’s been my goto lens for my short film...

But I really need to start investing in some lights. I got a great recommendation from Jon, with the Fotodiox Flapjacks, but does anyone else have any good suggestions for on camera lights?

A couple Minolta lenses can be converted by changing out the mount but not with a simple adapter... they require one of the adapters with glass. Same goes for FD lenses. Now I found a Minolta 35mm 1.8 that was converted that I use with my 5D3. It’s a lovely lens. Here’s a few Raw screengrabs from a test shoot...

But honestly since you may need EF in the future, you’re probably better off with the Nikon Nikkor lenses. They are so well built and the IQ is simply gorgeous. Some of the ai-s lenses are still sold new today.
Here’s a frame from my short film and a test shot from the Nikkor 35mm 1.4...
 
 


If you can look past my meager color grading skills, you can still see the attributes of the lenses.
Unfortunately I had to sell off some of my favorite Nikkor lenses but I may buy new copies. Or I may get a couple Zeiss ZF lenses instead and replace the mounts with Leitax EF mounts. Or if I do go with Nikkors, I’ll probably do the same.

A lot of progress has been made on the EOS M in the last two days and it looks like they've been able to make the camera shoot in mv1080 mode using the full aps-c sensor (no crop) for the first time ever (as opposed to the mv720 mode that the camera was always stuck in). This means that the EOS M will now be as capable as the other digic 5 cameras.... so what I said before about anamorphic shooting changes completely - this will now be a great camera for anamorphic as it can record max 1736x1120 (3:2 aspect ratio) which I think uses the whole sensor height and width. Will do my first test soon - liveview preview isn't working fully yet though. Can't wait for the Viltrox speed booster to be released soon and shoot full frame raw video with this £100 camera!
Here's the forum post and first footage: https://www.magiclantern.fm/forum/index.php?topic=9741.msg203530#msg203530