A camera test with a difference – multicam shoot for “Bunny Suit” with the Sony A7S, Nikon D750 and 5 others

Cameron Laing / Sony A7S

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffGBavFPXvw[/youtube]
[pullquote]

Bunny Suit – Weird Ballad live at Tempelton Studio, Berlin. Directed by Andrew Reid. Watch on YouTube.

[/pullquote]
Berlin based band Bunny Suit (follow here on Facebook / SoundCloud) recently went into Temeplton Studio to lay down some tracks.

We decided to shoot a live video of the recording which would then be synced up perfectly with the final mix of the tracks in post.

The Sony A7S in this shoot is graded using the lovely “Manchester” LUT from James Miller’s Deluts pack. But there were 6 other cameras backing it up. Can you tell which is which!?

Read moreA camera test with a difference – multicam shoot for “Bunny Suit” with the Sony A7S, Nikon D750 and 5 others

Evolving Sony A7S Review (Part 1)

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/101260603[/vimeo]

I’ve had the A7S for over a week now and can share my initial thoughts, even some firm conclusions. Here’s one I’ve come to already – the Sony A7S is the best consumer camera Sony have ever made.

For $2500 the video performance of the A7S sits between the FS700 ($8000) and F5 ($17,000) yet the full frame sensor lends more character and allows for groundbreaking low light performance.

Read moreEvolving Sony A7S Review (Part 1)

Sample video – comparing the Sony RX10, A7R and FS100

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/80134787[/vimeo]

Download the original file at Vimeo

Note: This is an early-days test I did quickly before a shoot today. A larger one encompassing more cameras (GH3, D5200, 5D Mark III, Blackmagic Pocket Camera) and scenes will be on EOSHD during the coming week.

The Sony RX10 appears to play in the same ballpark as the Sony FS100. Is this the new budget king for semi-pro videographers?

Read moreSample video – comparing the Sony RX10, A7R and FS100

Metabones Speed Booster adapter – full review

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/57901943[/vimeo]

Buy the E-mount Metabones Speed Booster – $599 for Canon EOS lens adapter, $399 for others

The Metabones Speed Booster adapter brings the full frame look to Sony mirrorless APS-C and Super 35mm E-mount. (Indeed it will bring the Super 35mm look to Micro Four Thirds but not until March).

It also gives you an extra stop of light. F2.8 becomes F2.0 and F2.0 becomes F1.4. F1.2 becomes a lightning fast F0.90.

It would appear the full frame sensor is now rather pointless. Is there a catch, a trade off in image quality?

Read moreMetabones Speed Booster adapter – full review

LOMO anamorphic goes Super 35mm – my music video shot on the FS100

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/54261970[/vimeo]

Get Dreamleaver by Herdwhite on iTunes

Embedded video not showing? Click here to view or download on Vimeo

A big thanks to Ciecio7 for donating his superb OCT19 to E-Mount lens adapter for this shoot. This is available on eBay.

We shot this with the young German movie actress Lili Zahavi (IMDB) and theatre actor Niklas Brubach. A big thanks to both of them for their performances. This is a music video for my fellow friend from Manchester “Herdwhite” whose track Dreamleaver was recorded here in Berlin.

The Sony FS100 has a nice image but it isn’t as organic as the Blackmagic Cinema Camera. To make it more organic you use organic lenses. Actually as Herdwhite would tell you it is the same with music. You can use a drum sample – but it is not as organic as a real drummer. Anamorphic gives you instant production value if used well.

Read moreLOMO anamorphic goes Super 35mm – my music video shot on the FS100

The EOSHD Blackmagic Cinema Camera Shootout

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/53821829[/vimeo]

In a joint shootout with Slashcam in Berlin, EOSHD put the Blackmagic Cinema Camera into a bear pit against all rivalling cameras between $500 and $4000.

It was a clear day and the results are just as stark. Download the full 2.5K shootout video. Here’s my verdict on which camera you should buy – based purely on image quality.

The following cameras are in this test:

  • Blackmagic Cinema Camera (retail)
  • Panasonic GH3 (pre-production v0.5)
  • Panasonic GH2 (hacked)
  • Sony FS100
  • Canon 5D Mark III
  • Sony NEX VG-900 (full frame E-mount camcorder)

Read moreThe EOSHD Blackmagic Cinema Camera Shootout

Introduction to LOMO OCT 19 cinema lenses on the GH2 and FS100

Above: Lily & Niklas magic hour amour, shot with OCT 19 LOMO 35mm anamorphic

The OCT19 mount is a Super 35mm cinema camera mount from Russia, essentially was their equivalent of PL mount.

Long time EOSHD readers will know I am in love with the look of OCT 18 mount lenses, but mechanically speaking they are very basic. OCT 19 lenses are improved mechanically, much more solid.

Read moreIntroduction to LOMO OCT 19 cinema lenses on the GH2 and FS100

Light for free using natural light sources

Imagine if every photo was lit using a flash gun, well the same goes for cinematic scenes. Often some of the most interesting and varied light is already right in front of you. Not everything has to be studio light rig based.

I don’t think of ‘lighting a scene’ as always directly controlled, often it is wild. Lighting you can control is only half of the cinematographer’s job and so many films make use of the sun as a key light. Terrence Malick has based a career on magic hour light!

The world of natural light is expansive and varied. As someone who has chased light a lot with DSLRs, and avoided the expense, power requirements and weight of having to carry lights around with me, here are some of my tips for a successful natural light shoot.

Read moreLight for free using natural light sources