newfoundmass

Smallrig 450d light is on sale for $699 today at B&H. That's a great deal

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1729862-REG/smallrig_3970_rc350b_cob_bi_color_led.html

38 minutes ago, Stefano Capasso said:

Hello upgrading from xt3 and looking for a new tool. IQ, af,stabilization and htt more close to run and gun are the feature i look for. I am not going to to much color correction, si the best is out of the cam. If in that proce range would exists a camcorder with conparable.feature i would consider it.

Thanks for suggestion

The X-H2S would be a good option if you don't want to have to sell and buy all new lenses. If you don't mind changing systems then the S5ii is, in my opinion, the most compelling camera in that price range for what you're looking to do. It has good autofocus and the best stabilization of the bunch. You can't beat Sony's lens selection though. L-mount is catching up but still is a bit behind.

5 hours ago, ac6000cw said:

For a height comparison, these are the three relatively small stereo mics I use, mounted on my Pana G9 (which is around the same size as an S5).

Tascam TM-2x (cardioid capsule X-Y stereo, plug-in power). Overall the most flexible, with a switchable low-cut filter, two sensitivity settings and a shock mount that works.

Boya BY-PVM50 (cardioid capsule X-Y stereo, uses LR44 battery). The 3.5mm jack is at the rear centre of the barrel, and the mic can be moved forward and back in the shock mount.

Boya BY-MM3 (omni capsule stereo, plug-in power). This is overall the smallest/lightest/least obtrusive, but as it's non-directional it's only really suitable for 'ambient sound' recording.

Posts like this are why I love this forum. Between all of us we have such a wide range of gear that there's a good chance someone has/has experience with something!

I do think, money (and quality!) wise, it was probably better to just buy a bigger bag haha but the Tascam is decent for something you can get for well under $100 used (often times in barely used condition.) I think I paid maybe $120 total for both of mine? I don't tweak them a ton, because honestly I'm just using them to get a decentish stereo sound of the crowd from multiple directions and they're going into an audio mix that has three other audio sources in addition to the two stereo ones. The built in mics just don't cut it, and shotgun mics don't provide any immersiveness (though are good to hear blows connecting.) I could most definitely set up a better system overall with all the gear I have, but I'm just one man, so I just do the best I can without driving myself too crazy!

Free To Use Sounds is such a great channel. Really nice guy too that offers a lot of his sounds for free!

Buying a slightly bigger bag was probably the right choice, haha

I hope to find someone that loves me as much as markr041 loves Sony cameras.

4 minutes ago, hyalinejim said:

Oh nice! You've got it! Have you any videos online that feature it?

I also am now researching AT9945CM and AT9946CM

I didn't film the above examples, but I assume they're better than what I can provide! All my online examples feature heavily mixed audio from multiple cameras (one of which is a shotgun mic) with commentary/voice overs and music. I will go through my raw footage and see if I can get some good examples though!

The Sennheiser I'm sure produces a better sound overall sound but for under $100 these blew away the internal microphones, and accomplished what I needed them to!

13 minutes ago, hyalinejim said:

I found the Tascam TM-2X which is but from YT reviews it sounds not great at all 😞

I've found it's pretty decent personally! I was scared because all the reviews for it were OLD and on DSLRs with crappy preamps, or featured people trying to use it as a vlogging mic, but I used it on my GH5 and now one of my S5s and I think it does a pretty good job. I've found it translates the arena sound pretty well, which is what I wanted. 

1 hour ago, hyalinejim said:

Well, it's certainly a lot cheaper than the MKE440! And practical too, like I could use it for other things.

BUT! I've suddenly realised that because the tripod socket is in the middle, it will protrude probably around 4cm behind the viewfinder of the S5II. And I do sometimes like to shoot video through the viewfinder. It also makes it more awkward to get in and out of a camera bag.

If I could get it to sit forward a bit that would help.

Add a bracket to move the hotshoe towards the side maybe?

1 hour ago, hyalinejim said:

Now we're getting somewhere! It's only 32mm high, which is great! If I could find a low profile hot shoe mount for it I'd probably be in a very good position with this.

You should be able to find one for cheap! I stole that idea from @Mattias Burling when I was filming with the OG Pocket!

6 hours ago, hyalinejim said:

I'm sure these give very good sound quality, but I'm not sure how I feel about a directional, mono mic. I think I prefer stereo for these travel/family occasions as the ambient soundscape is as interesting to me as the people/landscape. I think it gives you a better sense of being there.

The Sennheiser is probably better overall, but I use two Tascam TM-2X Stereo XY Condenser Microphones for my pro-wrestling work and I'm happy with them! Aside from the price, I like them because they're compact, which is a real plus when around a wrestling ring and filming through the ring ropes!

I've also used a Zoom H1 as a mic hotshoed to my camera before with good results!

I'm still rocking the Rode Micro and am quite happy with it!

22 hours ago, SRV1981 said:

Everyone's needs are different.  As stated, some folks don't have the time/luxury/desire to setup external lighting and having a competent camera for lowlight would be very helpful.  If the noise was not a distraction/noticeable then i'd agree with you.  That said, I am unsure if it is on the FX30.  I'll have to dig in deeper to see how the fx30 compares in lower lit conditions to the fx3/a7siii to see if it is really a noticeable difference.  

I'm not trying to lecture you, so forgive me if it comes off that way, but I don't know that you're getting the point that I was trying to make. 

How do you think we used to film in a low light situation when running and gunning with cameras that were infinitely worse at it than even a modern M43 camera? As @IronFilm said, the FX30 is miles ahead of what we had available to us back then, but people were still able to run and gun with those cameras in low light situations because we knew how to get around that limitation. Back then though we didn't have the luxury of owning LED pocket lights that cost under $100 and could easily be added to the camera's hot shoe. 

Is the hassle of carrying a small Aperture light when you need it really worth spending more on a FX3/A7Siii for those low light situations? For some I guess it is? Just seems silly to me.

8 hours ago, SRV1981 said:

This video was helpful thanks! Makes me feel the fx30 is good enough for most situations, including lowlight with the right lens pairing.  

I'm not sure about this.  We're not living a decade ago and for those who don't have more than themselves and no lighting - ISO performance and options today are what's relevant.  Fault with the user ... could you unpack how that plays out in lowlight as a single operater?

Advancements in technology are great, but people are becoming slaves to it. Lets say for arguments sake the FX30 has very poor low light performance (it doesn't) but it fits your needs perfectly otherwise. What do you do? Decide to keep looking/wait until the "right" camera comes along, or do you buy it because it's the best overall option and work around it's low light performance by carrying a small light or two?

I've been doing video for 25 years, since I was 13 years old. One of the first things I learned was how to adapt and get around limitations. To me that's a big part of what we as videographers and filmmakers do. We are problem solvers! 

So yeah, when seeing people complain about a camera's lowlight performance because it can't see in the dark or gets grainy at ISO 3200 it makes some of us start asking "what are we doing here?!" There are 100s of affordable little lights that can easily fit into any bag. Grab a few of them and just start shooting!

13 hours ago, IronFilm said:

The FX30 has low light performance people would have given their kidney for a decade or two ago. 

The fault is with the user, not the camera, if you can't get good images out of it. 

Yeah, it's yet another example of how spoiled we are.

I came from the world of camcorders, so people talking about M43 being terrible in low light made me chuckle.

1 hour ago, markr041 said:

Yes, I acquired the a7siii when it first came out for its video features. It was the best option, then. As soon as the fx3 was introduced I traded. The fx3 was clearly superior as a video tool, even without the updates.

I agree not upgrading the a7siii is deliberate marketing. But if the new features of the fx3 are important and one's profession is video it seems odd to not trade up.

If a professional hangs on to the a7siii, then it is actually clear the new features are unimportant to her. The trade up cost is a tax-reducing investment and is a trivial expense, again, for a professional making a living based on video quality.

Just whining is not professional. Worse are those who say they will never buy Sony again over this. That is surely not professional.

Being a Sony apologist isn't particularly professional, either. You've argued that the A7siii isn't meant for professionals, even though the very first thing Sony said in it's marketing material was how this camera is for "movie makers."

Quote

 

Imagination in Motion

Taking the S series to a whole new level of full-frame movie expression, spectacular new speed combines with supreme sensitivity and ultra-low noise to put previously impossible 4K movie shoots on the menu, with high dynamic range, breathtaking focusing, and extra-strong image stabilisation. Your new creative potential awaits.

For visual trailblazers
With extreme full-frame movie performance including high sensitivity (expanded ISO up to 409600), 15-stop wide dynamic range, 4K 120p1, fast and dependable autofocusing, and extra-strong image stabilisation, the α7S III again raises the bar for movie makers.

 

You've then faulted people for not immediately selling their A7siii and buying the FX3, because apparently that's a reasonable thing to expect people to do less than a year after they dropped $3500 on the A7siii. Frankly it's pretty ridiculous for Sony to have released the FX3 in the first place just six or so months after the A7siii, given it was pretty much the same camera in a different body, but that's a debate for another day.

And now you're faulting folks, many who use the camera professionally, for feeling burnt because they dare "whine" about features being withheld from their flagship cameras but not entry level ones even though it could be easily done in a firmware update.

This is silly. @Andrew Reid you should check to see if his IP address is located at one of Sony's headquarters! 😉

2 hours ago, markr041 said:

The fx3 and fx30 are cameras for people who take video seriously. And cameras like the a7s iii are not for them or other hybrids

People can repeat that until they're blue in the face but it won't suddenly make it true. 

It's kind of gimmicky, but I kinda like the different colors. They're fun.

Yeah JCC has always had decent gear. I'll probably purchase this with the summer coming, if only to shade my pale ass a little (there's a bigger version available!) From the sun!

3 hours ago, Davide DB said:

Never without it when shooting under tropical sun

 

Is that a real product? 

Edit: it is, I'll be damned!

2 hours ago, seanzzxx said:

Does anyone know what ProRes resolutions and aspect ratios the 5iix will be able to shoot internally? 1080p open gate in 422 10 bit would be awesome. 

I'm not sure it has been confirmed either way. I heard a few say it was 1080p only, but others didn't mention that at all 

4 minutes ago, MrSMW said:

In fact, if anything, scrap the f2 aspect which is only available something like 35-40mm and just make it a constant aperture f2.8 so maybe a little smaller and lighter…

I took would not be opposed to this.

I do hope more of these companies start making L-mount versions now that the system has seen an increase in interest.

34 minutes ago, IronFilm said:

I agree, the next generation of us filmmakers will more likely have come up via a pathway of being aspiring youtubers/tiktokkers/instagrammers than because they were aspiring to be the next Richard Deakins 

The B Cam Op on the film I just finished was yet another example of exactly that, he was a fairly successful Instagram Influencer who has now transitioned over into the Camera Dept on film sets. (owns a RED Weapon and RED Komodo) 

There are good and bad things about it, I definitely get why people dread it, but it's the future. Social media is how they get their feet wet and THEN that's when their world opens up to filmmaking and videography. I mean, we're already seeing it happen. People who think my friend is a rare example aren't paying attention.

On 4/4/2023 at 2:53 PM, Kisaha said:

how is it possible to know that one will keep a camera for more than 5 years? Maybe the kid shoots with 3 Alexa's next..or what should have done when asked to film for 75$? Buy a 4.000$ camera instantly (which wasn't probably released yet?!?)? Moot point..

Whatever your way is, you never make ONE purchase, and stay with it forever..

You're still missing the point. No one is saying you buy one camera and that's it. Someone starting their video journey though probably shouldn't have to purchase a whole new camera in a year or two because the camera they spent $2200 on can't record for extended periods or in hot conditions without overheating. At least not in 2023, anyway. 

People need to stop making excuses for these companies.

21 hours ago, SRV1981 said:

 

He's a nice enough dude, but unfortunately he's a Sony shill. I probably wouldn't take what he has to say, re: whether you should buy a camera, very seriously.

6 hours ago, kye said:

I'm curious to know what cameras people are actually using?

By reading the forums I get the impression that everyone is using the latest and (so called) greatest cameras, but I suspect that's not the case.  I haven't been posting lately because I've gotten the impression that no-one would be interested unless I was pixel-peeing a Z9 or whatever, and I've moved past that now.

Right now I'm shooting with two Lumix S5 bodies and a GH5. I don't intend to "upgrade" anytime soon. Before getting a second S5 I was still using a G85 and GX85! I do miss the GX85 though, it was so nice to have such a tiny camera with good video quality. I might end up getting another one, we'll see.

Welcome back! To be honest I wish there were more threads about things that weren't about the latest cameras!

20 minutes ago, Snowfun said:

Aida HD for Teams meetings…

P4k for work related videos.

P6k for fun.

Photographs - primarily iPhone, occasionally A6000.

 

Any reason why you use the P4K over the P6K for work?

Times change, as does how people get into video production and videography. You're unable to see things from a perspective that isn't yours @Kisaha. If you're a 21 year old kid (that's how old he was when he got his first paid gig) that is offered $75 to film a theater performance because you happen to own a camera for a YouTube channel you're trying to get off the ground, you're not going to have the experience and knowledge of someone that has been doing it for years and years. You're also probably not going to turn that opportunity down, either, because that's a credit card payment for the camera you put on credit.

I was only relaying how his path into videography began, and how he first purchased a camera that was limited and how that impacted his unexpected, but ultimately successful, transition into doing paid work. He now shoots with three A7siii bodies and is doing well for himself. His criticism of the ZV-E1 is pretty valid, because 5 years ago he would've been the target demo for this camera, probably purchased it, and found he'd spent $2200 on a camera that he couldn't use for the work he'd eventually end up doing. As he put it, there's dozens of better options that won't limit a person from following whatever path they end up taking, whether it's being a YouTuber or becoming interested in filmmaking or videography as a job.

His perspective was different from mine, and obviously yours, so I figured it was worth sharing.