Tower Cam

Here's a camera support system you'll probably saw on the Oscars operated by my old friend Dave Eastwood.

The Standard Tower Cam can go from 5'-15' as fast as 3' per second while carrying 132 pounds (I guess that means I can't ride along).   You can also hang the Tower Cam upside down from the grid so the camera comes down.

There's also different sizes:  The Tower Cam XS is 3'-5, the FX is 6'-16' and the Tower Cam XL goes 10' to a whopping 32'.

Finally, there is the CruiseCam, a remote controlled motor assisted dolly.  You can mount a Tower Cam onto the CruiseCam for complete remote operation, like a Furio, but the Cruise Cam can also be controlled by a riding operator via a foot pedal.

He's rents these along with all his jibs and Steadicams.  Check out his website at http://www.fluidpicturesinc.com/

Field of View Calculator

Here's somehting handy, the AbleCine Field of View Calculator.

Not only does it compare Field of View for just about every popular camera but shows a Sensor Size Overlay, gives the dimensions of the sensors and tells you the crop factor in both directions.

http://www.abelcine.com/fov/

Canon RC-6

My buddy Jeff Vasquez has been working on a Stand Up Paddle Movie and has been getting some great stills and video using his Canon 7D and some very long glass.

Telephoto lenses not only magnify the image but every time you touch the tripod or camera.  Jeff found that every time he started the camera he would get a little vibration at the head of each shot from pushing the start button.  I've heard others are having the same problem.

A cheap solution is the Canon RC-6 remote control.  Only $30 bucks MSRP and even less at B&H and Amazon.  But the trick is the IR sensor is on the front of the camera.  I've been told the IR signal will bounce off the walls in a small room so you can start the camera from behind.  But outside you'll need to hold the remote in your lens hand.  Tie it off to the camera and after starting the camera just let go of the remote.  Or at least that's the theory...

http://shop.usa.canon.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10051_10051_246251_-1

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&N=0&Q=&Ntt=%2Bcanon+Rc-6+Remote&A=endecaSearch

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-RC-6-Wireless-Controller-Digital/dp/B0037NX6JY

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001483690867&ref=ts

http://www.vasquezstudios.com/

Tilt Shift Taco App

After playing with Brad Hagen's AF-100 over at Video Resources we went to lunch.  Brad had previously told me about this cool Tilt Shift App for the iphone and I had downloaded the free version.  When the food came instead of eating hot food we took pictures of our plates.  That's what happens when DP's go to lunch together.

I decided to use the window to backlight my taco and used a white paper napkin leaned against my water glass to fill.  I thought I was pretty cool until I saw Brad using the chrome napkin dispenser as a reflector...

Check out Brad's Blog, The Happy Fork and see what he had for lunch and more of the Tilt Shift app.

http://artandmobile.com/tiltshift/

http://www.thehappyfork.com/

The Ninja and the AF100

I went to Video Resources last week to check out their Panasonic AF100's and see what they are using for lenses.  Brad Hagen was an early RED adopter (he bought RED cameras #15 and #16) and got his two AF100's back in December.

BTW, last year Brad upgraded his two RED's to MX cameras and wouldn't go back.  You can check out tests between the old chip and the X on his website ShootWithRed.  Brad says he shoots anything with audio with the RED and carries his 5D for b-roll.  Now he's starting using the AF100 in the same role as the RED because the AF100 has XLR inputs, level control, proper monitoring, etc.

While the AF100 has the large sensor shallower depth of field of the RED there is a huge difference in data rate.  That 25mgps Panasonic codec can't compete with R3D.  But Brad is looking to close the gap with the help of a Ninja.

No, not some guy in black pajamas but the Atomos Ninja, a new box that accepts HDMI in and uses swappable hard drives so you can archive using cheap hd's.  Plus, it's only $1000.

And what about my original interest, what is he using for lenses?  Mostly his RED zooms.  I've heard more than one person complain about the RED zoom but they looked pretty sharp to me, especially for the price.  I wasn't looking at a chart (but then again, I don't shoot charts) but it looked about as sharp as the prime we also tried (Brad has a full set of RED Pro Primes).

And he had a little Panasonic G 20mm f1.7 pancake lens that looked pretty good... especially for $350 bucks!  What was really surprising was the weight:  The AF100 weighs less than three pounds.  Add the pancake lens and a battery and the total rig couldn't weigh four pounds.  Now there's a camera even I wouldn't mind using on a Steadi-cam.

http://www.atomos.com/
http://www.videoresources.com/
http://shootwithred.com/
http://www.red.com/store/lenses/product/red-zoom-18-50mm-t3-i

Arri Alexa Direct To Edit

A really funny video showing the Arri Alexa Direct To Edit feature.

What makes it even funnier is it was shot on a Red....

http://www.freshdv.com/2011/02/inspiration-alexa.html

Do You Like Fighting Robots?

Didn't take a job today because the production got bigger as the budget got smaller.  Hmmm.  A lot of that going around....

http://vfxsoldier.wordpress.com/2010/11/04/do-you-like-fighting-robots/

I especially like the tag line "Commentary On The Visual Effects Industry's March To The Bottom".

First RED EPIC M8 Footage

Here ya go:  http://www.freshdv.com/2011/02/epic-m8-footage.html

Only it's not exactly the Hobbit.  Can't believe it takes that many people in post to make these images...

Sachtler DSLR Tripod

Now that I'm so used to a very light head I wonder if this Sachtler isn't overkill for a 3 pound camera?  But I do like that dovetail plate that gets the camera and lens up above the adapter plate.

http://www.sachtler.com/en/fluid-head-cine-dslr.html

What A VFX Artist Really Does

Have you ever wanted to work on cool movies and do those big visual effects?

Maybe this will change your mind:
http://www.cracked.com/article_18486_the-5-miserable-vfx-jobs-that-make-movies-possible.html

Alexa Simulator

This is fun... if you're a camera geek like me.

It's a Alexa Simulator that allows you to play with, uh, I mean, learn the software menu structure on the Alexa.

http://www.arridigital.com/simulator/index.html

Shooting in LOG

 Confused about shooting log?  No, not this. Here's a pretty good explanation.

http://blog.abelcine.com/2011/02/03/why-shoot-in-log/

Go Pro LCD

I'm sure you all know about the GoPro.  You can buy these things off the shelf at the local surf shots.

One of the Go Pro's big limitations was it didn't have an LCD screen to set a shot, it was more of a point and shoot thing.  Well, Go Pro has come up with a monitor that includes a screen and speaker for only $80 bucks!

Moreover, they've got a clever way of attaching it so there's no wires and you can easily detach the monitor to keep the camera as small and light as possible.  One caveat, it can't be used with the cheaper 960 and 170 models because they don't have the back port.

I guess you could buy just one monitor and use it to set all your shots.  I've worked with both the Sony and Panasonic lipstick cameras and the cheap one cost over two thousand.  That means you could buy 10 Go Pros... and a monitor for the same price.

I think this is going to give Sony and Pansonic a run for their, I mean, your money.

http://gopro.com/hd-hero-accessories/lcd-bacpac/

Eye Direct

Eye Direct:  Solving the problem of getting non-talent to look in the camera lens?

Or just creepy?

http://philipbloom.net/2011/01/27/eyedirect/

Virtual Backlot

Go to Stargate Studios and check out the Virtual Backlot reel in the lower left hand corner under Compilation Reels (not the Virtual Backlot tab).

This is the best visual effects reel I've ever seen.  It's not the big SFX stuff at the beginning that's impressive, it's the everyday scenes where you would never even guess it's a visual effect.

Everything can be shot on the lot, just like the old days.

http://www.stargatestudios.net/

Lens Skirt

Here's an idea for shooting through windows, the Lens Skirt.  I could actually use one of these shooting skylines from hotel windows.

Now, how can I make one of these for $5 bucks....

http://cinescopophilia.com/?p=3866&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lenskirt-allows-you-to-shoot-through-glass-stopping-relections

Pink Ponies: A Case Study

Yep...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRDhx8Lo37E

My 5D Rig

Here's a couple of links for brackets:
http://store.zacuto.com/dslr-z-cage.html
http://www.ktekbooms.com/norbert/
http://www.idcphotography.com/kart/index.php?p=product&id=127&parent=31

But before you plop down $870 bucks for one of these take a look at this picture, specifically, the monitor bracket.

I needed a way to mount a monitor, it was the weekend and the shoot was Monday morning.  I went down to Home Depot and bought a couple of framing brackets, bent them in a vice and pop-riveted them together.  I drilled some 1/4-20 holes in it and viola, instant bracket.

Total cost, $8 bucks.  It would have cost me $5 but I bought thin brackets the first time around, thin enough to be bent by hand.  These were too wobbly.  In retrospect, I should have painted it black so it would be super cool.  And I could have gotten a rental on it, too.

DLSR Rig Chart

Semi-interesting, although if your looking for a rig it's really interesting.

http://www.dslrrigcomparison.com/ 

A Photoshop Tutorial For Everyone

Yo yo yo, spy this Photoshop Tutorial.

It actually makes sense, I think...

http://www.mediabistro.com/mediajobsdaily/cmy-killah-the-most-entertaining-photoshop-tutorial-ever_b5308?c=rss

ALZO 770L LED Video Light

ALZO 770L LED Video Light 

• Compact and lightweight with ABS housing
• Includes & Metal Shoe Mount and Metal Barndoors
• Metal Shoe mount includes 1/4" x 20 female thread
• 70 LEDs produce broad soft light (7 x 10 array)
• COLOR TEMPERATURE 5600K
• Wide beam angle = 60 degrees (3 m width @ 2 m distance)
• Output = 100 LUX @ 1m
• 2 hour self contained Li-ion battery (60% duty cycle)
• Continuous operation with accessory 12-volt power set (see accessories)
• USB charging port allows many charging options
• Includes dual port USB charging cable and AC adaptor
• 4 LED battery power monitor indicator - 1 LED charging indicator
• Adjustable articulated support allows positioning of light
• 4" x 3.25" face dimension with removable plastic diffuser
• Weight = 12 oz

And all this for $67.50!  Now, would someone please buy one to see if it's any good?

http://www.alzovideo.com/alzo_on_camera_video_light_770l.htm

DOF, Angle of View and Sensor Size

Here's an interesting Prolost Blog about DOF, Angle of View and Sensor Size comparing 2/3" up to full size 35mm.

What may be more interesting is this Cinema Crop Chart.  I'm not sure the figures are entirely correct.  I think a 'standard' lens on a 2/3" camera is about 17mm, but perhaps that's 4x3 not 16x9.

I don't think I've ever seen Aperature Change To Match DOF numbers anywhere.

http://prolost.com/blog/2011/1/9/the-shot-you-can-make.html
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?227826-Relative-Focal-Length-Angle-of-View-and-CCF-Chart

For The Lack Of An "O"

OK, look at this carefully.  And if you can't find the spelling mistake there's a job for you at Fox 39.

Read The Comments.  My favorite is, "I can't believe you misspelled Dupnik".  This more than makes up for the Polar Bears....

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=500046234892&set=a.317963274892.146923.200632219892

Improve Your FCP Chops

Here's a few FCP tricks for you part-time editors like me.

Some of these I knew and forgotten because I don't use them all the time and some I've never seen.

http://digitalfilms.wordpress.com/2010/12/27/improving-your-fcp-chops/

1000 fps from 60 fps using Motion

This tutorial shows you how to use Motion to get 1000 fps look from regular old 60 frame video and then import it all at 24 fps into FCP.  So simple even I can do it.

You can some artifacts in the final video but it works amazingly well.

http://vimeo.com/18441588

http://vimeo.com/17905045

Sony SRW-9000PL

We hear about the lower end cameras but the higher end systems not so much.  The Sony 9000 is definitely higher end.  The new version of this 9000PL camcorder has the same Super 35mm sensor that's in the F-35 and a PL mount, hence the PL.   Sony considers the 9000PL a b-camera to the F-35.

I saw the 9000 at Band Pro's One World stacked up against the F3 and looking at the monitor it would be hard for a layman to tell the difference in picture on the monitor.  But the real difference (besides all the picture processing) is not what image the cameras put out but what they record.

The Sony F3 records a wimpy 35mbps in a 4:2:0 color space while the Sony 9000 is recording 4:2:2 at 440mbps.  Stick in the optional HKSR-9003 circuit board into the 9000 and the camera is capable of recording a whopping 880 mbps 4:4:4 signal.  Now, that's impressive!

There's also a optional HKSR-9002 board that allows S-log gamma recording and variable frame rates.

Earlier in 2010 I heard the MSRP of this camera was supposed to be around $130,000 but I know more than one company is selling the stock 4:2:2 version for $72,000 bucks.  I suppose this is the replacement for my F900 but cameras in this range are not what clients are asking for.

I guess I start looking at the Panasonic 100 again....

http://www.bandpro.com/products/cameras/digital-cinema.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=86&category_id=75
http://www.abelcine.com/store/Sony-SRW-9000PL-HDCAM-SR-Camera/

The Bechdel Test for Women in Movies

It's not exactly about camera gear but it's definitely about filmmaking.

Basically, here’s how it works.  A movie just has to pass these three simple questions: 

1.  Are there two or more women in it who have names

2.  Do they talk to each other,

3.  Do they talk to each other about something other then a man.

The spooky thing is I think both Shellter and Shadows pass the test...

Happy New Year!

Compact Primes V.2

I wish Santa would have brought me a set of these for Christmas.

Why do I think these are so nifty?  
1.  The front diameter is the same 114mm size on the standard set
2.  The focus and gear positions are the same
3.  14 blade iris for truely round bokah/circles of confusion
4.  You can change the mount for PL to EF to 4/3 to etc.
5.  They cover a full sized 24mm x 36mm sensor
6.  They have a long focus rotation.  


Oh,  and they are sharp, fast and relatively cheap.  And did we mention they're made by Zeiss?


Why is it so important they have the same front diameter and the focus and gear positions are constant?  Because you don't have to change the mattbox and follow focus every time you switch lenses.  This takes more time than the actual swapping of the lenses and that's a lot of time saved over a production day.


I also mention the long focus rotation.  If you're operating and pulling focus you want a short focus rotation.  On a video lens I can go from 3' to infinity without have to turn the focus ring  half way round.

But for a 1st AC this short rotation is a major pain in the butt.  Short rotation focus pulls are tiny and hard to hit exactly.  The CP.2 lenses rotate a full 300 degrees and it's much easier for a first to set and hit focus marks.


On the other hand, it's almost impossible for an operator to pull focus from 3' to 30' feet.


There are a couple of other small bummers.  Check this out:


http://www.freshdv.com/2010/10/mmm-zeiss-primes.html


They bring up an interesting point about the 18mm:  It vignettes on the 5D.  What they don't mention is the 18mm is slower than the rest of the set, too.  


I don't think the 18mm is considered part of the "standard" set, which are listed as the 21mm-100mm lenses (not including the close focus lenses).

What makes the "CP.2's" better than the original Compact Primes?  The first version of these lenses were made for RED owners and are only PL mount.  Also, the lens back was longer.  If you wanted to use the CP's on a DSLR you had to pull out the mirror and put in a PL mount.


The CP.2's have a shorter end and it's easy to change the mount to just about anything.

Here's an interesting manual for changing the mount and adjusting flange depth on the Compact Primes.  Makes you wish they had a back focus...


http://www.zeiss.com/C12575690045D103/EmbedTitelIntern/MountChangeInstructionsCP.2/$File/MountChangeInstructionsCP2_EN.pdf

F3 Footage from Philip Bloom

Philip Bloom gets a Sony F3 for Christmas (and I mean just for Christmas) and makes a little short with his sister.

It's the first I've seen of the new lenses that come with the camera.  I wish he had left the footage clean so I could see how sharp the lenses are instead of using all the post filtration.

He makes some interesting observations between the Panasonic F-101 (the European version of the F100) versus the Sony F3 and the Sony lenses versus the Zeiss Compact Primes.

http://philipbloom.net/2010/12/26/stardust/

3 Ways To View IMDB

If you're like me you use IMDB to check out the credits of movies but the new layout pushes credits down to make room for photos, videos, trivia and star signs.

How would you like to get rid of all that and be able to go straight to the credits like this:

Writer John August from johnaugust.com (a ton of useful information about screenwriting) has come up with IMDB Less that brings the credits to the top anytime you go to IMDB.

BIG TIP of the day:  Still miss the original version of IMDB?  Just add a "+" symbol to the end of any imdb url and there's the original layout

Try it for yourself.  Here's the new SHELLTER IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1378339/

And here's the original SHELLTER IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1378339/+

http://quoteunquoteapps.com/less-imdb
http://johnaugust.com/archives/2010/less-imd

Toland ASC iPhone App

For those of you who like toys and iphone apps there is the Toland ASC Digital Assistant from Chemical Wedding.  This is more for AC's than anybody, is kinda pricey but it does splits.  Nice!

Chemical Wedding also has the Helios Sun Calculator.  Some of the views require a real imagination to figure sun position and shadow length but I guess like anything else if you use it enough you'd get good with it.

Also fun, even for non-camera types is the Director's Viewfinder.  Good for telephoto but since the iphone is like a 27mm in Super 35mm what do you do about wide angle lenses? 

Find out at:

http://www.chemicalwedding.tv/home.html