The Great Camera Shootout 2011 Part 2

Here's the second part of Zacuto's Great Camera Shootout 2011 entitled "Sensors & Sensitivity".

Fair warning, it's techie but if you just want to see image comparisons here's the tests you want to see.  Go to:  6:45, 9:00 and 21:50.  Very interesting for anyone who uses cameras.

http://www.zacuto.com/the-great-camera-shootout-2011/episode-two

Color Grading in FCPX

16 free Color Grading Tutorials and how to do it in FCPX.

Even if you don't use FCPX some of the tutorials are good for explaining what is color grading and the correct order of steps.  

I was taught to always "Push and Pull".  When you push something in one direction you got to pull something else in another.  Push the blues, pull the skin tones.  Push the brightness, pull the contrast. 

http://vimeo.com/user6379404/videos

iPhone SLR Mount

At first I thought this was outlandish but an iphone SLR Mount may just be the future.  Who says the next DSLR's won't be as thin as a credit card?

Now, if they can do something about the inverted image...

http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/iphone-slr-mount/

Cameraman Boot Camp

Isn't this the way you learned to be a camera op?

FCPX Review From POP

Here's a Review of FCPX without the emotion.  Author Oliver Peters shows what's new, what's different and what's lost with the new FCP.

  I think my favorite line is the last, "FCP X is ready for prime time now, although Prime Time might not be ready for it!"


Thanks to Matthew Kendall for sending this.
http://www.2-pop.com/article/108832

Follow Focus Made of Legos

Want a follow focus but too expensive?  Got some of your kid's legos laying around?  Then, you can make yourself a Lego Follow Focus.

Check out the video at: http://www.petapixel.com/2011/02/12/follow-focus-made-entirely-with-lego/

Sony F35 Now 12-bit

Sony is offering a free 12-big upgrade for the F35.  It can record 12 bit to both the SRW-5800/2 deck and the SRMASTER field recorder which records 12-bit signals to solid state memory cards.

12 bit is over 68 million colors as opposed to over 1 million for 10 bit.  

http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/show-highend/resource.solutions.bbsccms-assets-show-highend-hdcamsr.shtml

ProMAX "FCP7 to AVID" Webinar

ProMAX is offering a "Switching from FCP to AVID" Webinar tomorrow, Thursday July 21 at 10-11a PST.

ProMAX is the place I bought by first FCP system (FCP1.4 on a Power Mac 4 tower) and now even they want you to switch.  What is the world coming to?

You have questions?  They have answers... maybe.  Log in at:

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/195681994

"Plot Device" Red Giant Software Demo Reel

Red Giant software came up with a clever way to demo the various looks available using their software.

When the $10,000 video hit the web at the end of June, it started making the rounds at film studios and agencies, and calls started coming in.   27 year old director Seth Worly, who produces videos for a Christian Ministry, is planning an August trip to Los Angeles and has lined up meetings with CAA, UTA, WME, some management firms and producers.  Now, that's clever...


http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/hollywoods-hottest-short-film-plot-212275?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thr%2Ffilm+%28The+Hollywood+Reporter+-+Movies%29

New NLE For DSLR's

Not happy with FCPX?  Want a new open source collaborative NLE that's designed for DSLR's and doubles as a distribution platform?

Maybe you want Novacut.  The trick is you have to Kickstart it...

http://www.definitionmagazine.com/journal/2011/7/4/hate-fcp-x-try-novacut-but-youll-need-to-kick-start-it.html

Crabby Cam

Caption A:  I've been working with this new operator but he's a little crabby.
or
Caption B:  These days, anyone with a camera thinks they are a DP... and will work for crap!

Please post your own caption and we'll see who's the funniest!

Patrick Fitch sent me this shot.

Rube Goldberg Photography

Very cool...

But these guys have way too much time on their hands...

Film And Tapeless Shooting Ratios

I'll cut to the chase.  We shoot more now and we don't cut between takes.  Better for the performance.  Makes me glad to be a cameraman and not an editor.

Or is that the other way around?  Now, we shoot more and an editor has more choices although he's got to search through more stuff...

http://www.studiodaily.com/blog/?p=6001

SketchUp Pro 8

As if Google doesn't make enough money, they offer SketchUp Pro 8.  It's a pre-viz tool that's pretty cool... except it costs $500 bucks!

Google offers a trial download.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bJ3s_cUV3s

Stolen Duclos Lenses

Duclos Lenses was recently broken into and 30 nearly finished 11-16mm conversion lenses were ripped off.  I've included a Lens List pdf so if you come across an Duclos lenses please check the serial numbers.

Having had a camera stolen from me once this kind of stuff really pisses me off.

http://matthewduclos.wordpress.com/2011/07/07/setback/
http://www.hotrodcameras.com/2009/11/hot-rod-cameras-new-duclos-tokina-11-16-received-on-11-16/
http://matthewduclos.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/stolen-dl-list.pdf

Teleprompter iPad App

Here's a couple more iPad Apps in including a screenwriting app and another slate.  But the one that caught my eye is the Teleprompter app.

Note the iPad actually being used as the monitor.  The software allows you to use the iPad with or without the mirror, just using the ipad above or below the lens or as a stand alone.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/9BlgWT/www.coolhunting.com/tech/apps-on-set.php

http://www.bodelin.com/proprompter/

New RED Epic Price: $58,000

The Epic's price tag was supposed to be $40,000 but some how the cost of a RED Epic Package crept up to $58,000.  That's 3.5 times the price of a Red One.  I think if I was spending that kind of money I'd get an Alexa.

On the other hand, it's American made...

http://www.red.com/store/epic/product/epic-m

http://www.filmmaking.net/blog/show_article.asp?id=150

Avid "Crossgrade" Extended

Avid has announced it will extend it's $995 promotional price of Media Composer 5.5 through September to FCP users.  Avid also says since the FCPX rollout, sales of Media Composer has doubled.

This is probably due to Apple taking FCP7 off it's website.  You can't buy it anymore.  Period.  It's now FCPX or nothing.

If you're a small user, well, maybe you'll learn to like X.  But the big boys will switch.  For example, Dinsey owns 2700 licenses for FCP.  FCPX works though an itunes account which means Disney would have to have 2700 individual itune accounts that can't talk to each other.  They ain't going to do that.

If the big boys switch, then so will all the after market people.  So, we will end up switching.

I personally don't like Avid, they caused me problems (read, cost me money on a job) way back when I owned a post business.  I guess I'll keep using my FCP as long as possible.  And then, maybe I'll look at Adobe...

http://www.studiodaily.com/main/news/headlines/13276.html

Master Chef Fake Crowd Scene

Looks like someone at Master Chef has been reading my blog about how to add people to a shot.  I'm just damn proud.

They wanted to show that thousands of people were clamoring to be on the show just like American Idol.  Well, not so much, so they added in more crowd.  Now, if they could just digitally add ratings and viewers...

http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/06/22/masterchef-fake-crowd-shot-photo/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+entertainmentweekly%2Fausiellofiles+%28Entertainment+Weekly%2FEW.com%27s%3A+The+Ausiello+Files%29

Lytro's Light Field Camera

It's an over-used phrase but the Lytro's Light Field Camera really could be a game changer.  

I've always said that everything can be fixed in post except focus.  With the Light Field camera that's no longer a problem.

http://www.lytro.com/cameras

Zacuto's Camera Shootout 2011 Part One

Here's the link to Zacuto's Camera Shootout 2011: Part One.   This year Robert Primes, ASC compared 12 pro large sensor cameras and part one specifically looks at dynamic range and latitude.  

You don't have to watch the full 30 minutes.  What you really want to see is:
The Shadow Detail Test at 12:16
The Highlight Detail Test at 17:56
Over and Under Exposure Latitude at 21:26.

What's interesting is how the different camera's latitude range is divided between shadow and highlight.  It reminds me of the adage, "Expose for the highlights in video, expose for the shadows in film".

I'll cut to the chase:  The Sony F35, Alexa and Red MX are the big winners and probably in that order, although it's really hard to see noise and detail on a highly compressed web video.

On the other hand, some of the cameras are one tenth the price of the big boys but give 90% of the picture quality... and you can light around that difference.

Unfortunately, they don't rate the ASA of the different cameras.  The test was shot at 320 ASA (maybe so film could be included) but I'd really like to see the same tests at 800 ASA.  

http://www.zacuto.com/the-great-camera-shootout-2011/episode-one

DIY Equipment

Trying to save some money on camera support gear?  Get out your PVC cutter....

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/7g7nma/www.abracadabravideos.com/DIY/DIYpage1.htm

Viewfactor

Remember the old America the Beautiful film at Disneyland?  Ever wanted to do Circle-Vision 360 yourself but thought it was too expensive?  Now you can.

Saw this at the Viewfactor booth at CineGear Expo.  There's but nothing about on the website but still... pretty cool.  Now, if they just made something for "bullet time"...

Spintec Rain Deflector

Saw the Spintec Rain Deflector at Cine Gear.  What a great gadget for shooting in rain or mist.

A little expensive at $1725 bucks but I guess if you have to have one, you have to have one.  I think you can rent it for $225 a day.  But $225 bucks buys a lot of Rain X...

http://www.innovision-optics.com/prod/spintec.shtml

Alexa Studio

The Arri Alexa and Alexa Plus is going to be joined by a third model, the Arri Alexa Studio.

The Studio incorporates 2 major differences.  First, it has a 35mm sized 4x3 chip for shooting anamorphic.  And second, the Studio will come with an optical viewfinder for the old school film types.  They were still showing the mock-up at Cine Gear.

Arri claims that it's easier for the operator to judge focus with an optical viewfinder rather than electronic but now that the A/C's have a monitor and people back at video village are watching large HD monitors I think everyone on set can judge focus.

http://www.arri.com/press/press_english/press_release.html?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=668&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=1781&cHash=74419939d9

SpyderCrane Mini Crawler

Creepiest thing I saw at CineGear was the SpyderCrane Mini Crawler.

The SpyderCrane was designed for confined areas, able to get through doorways but it looks really great for getting a lift on uneven ground or slopes.

http://www.spydercrane.com/mini%20crawlers/mini_crawlers.html

Old School TV Cameras

Eyes of a Generation is a great site for those interested in old time TV equipment... and no cracks!  Although I do have to admit I think I ran a TK-47...

Although, I do have to admit I think I ran a TK-47...

http://www.eyesofageneration.com/cameras.php

Sony F65

Sony enters the 4k market with the F65.   They'll give RED a run for the money with this camera with an 8k sensor.  The F65's got a 20 Megapixel Super 35 sized sensor with an active image area of 18.3 Megapixels with a 1.9:1 aspect ratio.

I got my hands on it at CineGear and it basically feels very F35ish.

The battery looking thing is actually a  dockable SRMemory Card recorder.  The capacities available are 256 Gb, 512 Gb 1TB.  This is where the data rates don't add up.  A memory card recording at 24 fps will store about an hour of footage in 4K16bit RAW and up to 8 hours of HD.

http://pro.sony.com/bbsccms/ext/digitalcinematography/f65.html

a Sony FS-100

Here's something impressive I saw at CineGear.  I also saw this Sony FS-100.  That chip is the same one as the F3, which is 40% larger than the chip on the Panasonic AF-100.

Is the picture quality as good as the F3?  In a word, no.  But the 100 is $6000 and the F3 $16,000 and the picture difference isn't worth $10,000 grand.

But they did dumb down the FS100 to get you to spend the extra money.  The F3 is 10 bit, the 100 is 8 bit.  The F3 has HDSDI for outboard recording and the 100 only has HDMI.  As an operator, my biggest pet peeve is the 100 doesn't have behind the lens ND filters.  But strangely, the 100 records full 1080 at 60 frames where the F3 can only record slo-mo at 720 lines.

The F3 also has a zoom rocker switch and the 100 doesn't, although the 100 has the e-mount which allows for both auto-focus and auto-iris.  Birger Engineering also showed their  follow focus/lens control which fits between the lens and the camera body which allows yout to control focus and iris thru the lens' electronics  I bet this ends up as an iphone app before long.

Here's an AF100 Overview by Able Cine and a bunch of good stuff at Cinema 5D.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ol3Lx2gvo0&feature=related

http://www.cinema5d.com/news/?category_name=fs100

http://www.birger.com/

RED Scarlet/Epic Light

New test footage from the Epic Light renamed back to the Scarlet again.
RED Scarlet Test Footage on reduser.net.

The Scarlet does have the 2/3" chip so depth of field is forever but I do like the way the RED handles the highlights.  Take a look, look takers...

http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?59527-Scarlet-8x-internal-120FPS-test

Technicolor CineStyle

Log space comes to the Canon 5D.  Technicolor as been working with Canon USA to create CineStyle which puts the standard H.264 REC709 color space into a log color space.  This includes both video and stills.

What does this mean to you the user?  Like all log space recordings, the image looks very low contrast and washed out on the monitor but all the detail is recorded, especially in the shadows.

This also means that you have to color correct every shot you take.  No wonder Technicolor is giving it away.  And by last Saturday, according to the Technicolor guys at CineGear Expo 35,000 people had downloaded CineStyle.

Even if you were at CineExpo it was easy to miss the sign that directed you to Technicolor where they were showing off CineStyle and what you could do with it, especially using Technicolor's DP Lights on-set color correction system.  Technicolor has a suite of new products, including DP Lights, Share Vue, Your Vue, Movie Slate and CineStyle.

CineStyle will work on any DSLR but it is optimized for the 5D II, which is what they see being used as a second camera in work they are taking in shop.

And check out some examples of log space shooting at Phillip Bloom's blog.

http://www.technicolor.com/en/hi/cinema/filmmaking/digital-printer-lights/cinestyle

http://www.technicolor.com/en/hi/advertising/commercials/digital-printer-lights

http://philipbloom.net/2011/05/10/various-example-of-technicolor-cinestyle-for-canon-dslrs/

Continuity for iPad

Know any Scripty's?  Continuity is probably not ready for prime time but one to keep your eye on this app.  iPad only.

http://continuity.n00bdev.com/

http://www.ipadappsdude.com/continuity-utilities/

Chinese 3D Porn

Finally, proof that 3D is not a fad: Chinese 3D porn.

You can't even make up stuff like this...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/apr/06/china-3d-porn-film-released

TechnoJib

Looking for something like a TechnoCrane but lighter, cheaper and can be operated by one person?

The TechoJib comes in two sizes:  The TechnoJib 15 with a 9' reach and the TechnoJib 24' with 15' of extension.

The jib can telescope out at a rate of 5' per second, fast enough to knock any grip or talent to the ground in less than 3 seconds!

The west coast contact is http://www.telescopicjib.com/

AE: Creating An Audience With One Person

A neat little After Effects tutorial.

http://ae.tutsplus.com/tutorials/vfx/creating-a-full-audience-with-depth-from-one-person/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+aetuts+%28Aetuts%2B%29

Luminair ipad/iphone app

The Luminair ipad app almost makes me want to be a Lighting Director again.  No more dimmer board 'cause you carry it around in your pocket.

Thru DMX you can control a Universe (512 channels) with a single ipad.   512 channels sounds like a lot but these days lights use multiple channels, 23 channels for a moving light and 3 channels for each LED light.  But these are grouped so you can change colors instantly with a simple picker.

I was talking to an LD for the Food Network who now has to use two separate Universes to light his show.  He has one ipad/Universe just for moving lights and another ipad/Universe for LED washes and tungsten sources.

Plus, he has two more in back-up running blacked out in case the primary ipads freeze on him... which has happened to him on a live show.  I've been there!  He simply unblacks the back-ups and runs the show on those.  So, a dimmer board with 1024 channels and a back-up dimmer board for $2400 bucks... the price of 4 ipads.

While he runs his own board in the booth, his gaffer is on the floor with the iphone app, focusing lights, etc.

Manufacturers are just starting to make lights with built in routers so each is like a mini-computer that can be controlled wirelessly.  Then all you have to do is figure out how to make those lights battery powered and we'll never have to run a cable again!

Check out the videos on the website and on youtube.  This one will lead you to a bunch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5yJQ8RzIZ0&feature=related

http://synthe-fx.com/products/luminairipad
http://synthe-fx.com/products/luminair

More on FCP X

Larry Jordan gives a better report on the new FCP X.  He brings up a bunch of stuff I never knew like no matter how much ram you have in your computer FCP 7 was never designed to use more than 4GB.

FCP X is a whole new animal but that triggers bigger questions such as will my FCP 7 project open up in X?  Like Larry says, it's not only what they're talking about but what they're not talking about.

http://www.larryjordan.biz/app_bin/wordpress/archives/1452#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed

Black Magic Hyperdeck Shuttle

OK, this is a little cheaper.  Still uses the expensive but fast SSD (more expensive than cards) but the drive unit it cheap, just $345.

http://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/hyperdeckshuttle/

FCP X

Why is it called FCP X?  Because it's not a new version of the old FCP.  It's completely new, made to take full advantage of newer computer technology.  Plus, it's only $299.

Note there's no mention of "Studio".  No Color, no Soundtrack but perhaps that's all ready built in.  Available in June.

http://philipbloom.net/2011/04/13/new-apple-64-bit-final-cut-pro-x-announced-for-299-available-in-june/

Script Cops

Script Cops.  I do love the bit at 3:39... or does it make me a little nervous?

http://vimeo.com/7027154

Mini Skater

The Mini Skater is new take on an old idea.  I've always just used a skate board or put the camera on a blanket and pulled it around but this can be much more precise.

See the degree markings around the wheels?  There's a chart that tells you at what angle to set the wheels to  get a certain dolly circumference.  This means repeatable dollies around a point.

Plus, there's a quick way to adjust the tilt.  But you still can't tilt while shooting.  Pretty cool demo reel...

http://www.budgetvideo.com/detail.php?prod=47799dcf15bd3&sub=44a8523202cea