Configuring a DSLR rig: phase one

 It took me about half a year but I believe I finally have everything a functional rig should comprise of: a Gini rig, a follow focus, a camera light, a matte box and a monitor. For the first time I have put it all the elements together and it has been a puzzle. Instead of everything working the way I hoped for, I am running into all sorts of issues. First one: I cannot use my batterygrip on my Canon 550D/T2i because both the mattebox and follow focus don't raise that high. For the same reason I can't use my Manfrotto quick release plate and I really dislike having to screw my camera unto the Gini camera plate. The follow focus and the mattebox fight for space the left side of the rig. With a wide angle lens I cannot slide my matte box unto the lens because the FF sits in the way...
Balancing this rig will be a real challenge. I guess I've learned that building a rig is like designing a tool: it will work only after a lot of trial and error. Phase one is finding a place for everything and making it work with my most important lenses. Phase two will be balancing it for shoulderwork.

Stunning looks: don't fix it in post!

Fix it in-camera. People always talk about getting the most neutral or 'flat' picture profiles as possible, to be able to tweak the look of their video later on with color correction software. But there are some good arguments why you don't want to go that route. For one: you don't have time to manipulate all the shots in postproduction. Or: you don't have the skills.
Another good reason is that you can get such incredible result tweaking the camera settings that there simply is no reason to want more. This fine looking, very informative video shows you how to play around with the settings in camera so you can get that specific look you want, without any color correction after the shoot.

3.2 gigabyte panorama picture?

We all know panorama pictures: a series of pictures 'stitched together' to form a very wide angle view photograph. A gigapixel photograph is not a series of photo's stitched together but a series of panorama photo's stitched together: an über-panorama photograph! Making such a photograph manually is painstaking and not the most enlightening chore imaginable. Unless you're a monk and find peace and enlightment in repitition...
For non-monks Gigapan systems developed a robot that makes these pictures for you, and much better than you could do yourself. Here you can take a look at some pictures taken with this device. Combine these with timelapse and the freak-factor is complete...

Testing my 'film-lens' collection

Earlier this year I bought a set of Carl-Zeiss Jena and Meyer-Optik prime lenses that had been modified for film-use. The seller had made the aperture-rings click-less for smooth, jitter-free aperture adjustment and every lens had a custom-made gear ring for easier focussing, with or without follow-focus.
The seller considered this a set 'that belonged together' because the footage of these lenses was supposed to cut well together and the lenses cover a nice range from 20mm to 135mm.
Meanwhile I had been bitten by the lens-bug and have acquired quite a few other lenses, impulsively or because I had really liked the footage that was shot with that particular lens. I have shot a lot of footage with all these lenses but never really tested that first collection of Carl-Zeiss Jena's and Meyer-Optik's.
In the next week I'm planning to put this collection to the test and see what makes these lenses special.

CLICK-LESS APERTURE RING AND CUSTOM GEAR RING

I've Sold my Soul without Selling my Film...

...so now it's time to Sell my Film without Selling my Soul. At least that's what the authors of this book promise with the book of the same title. The book is free up untill October 1 and you can get different versions: for iPad, iPhone, pdf, Kindle, Sony E-Reader, you name it. Enhanced with video interviews with filmmakers. Only the paperback will cost money.
This is a great initative and promises to be of great help in raising money for postproduction for the documentary I'm working on.
I've been trying to download a copy for my iPad but I can't because it's only offered in the US iTunes Store, not in the Dutch one..??!! What the..? I am a World Citizen, not a prisoner of Holland?! Come on, Apple, figure it out. You're getting worse than Mickeysoft! Luckily I was able to download a pdf from the film collaborative's website but I want to watch those interviews as well!@! Anyway, get your copy while it's free and make sure to spread the word.

In search of the best 4x4...

The search for a set of 4x4 filters for my mattebox is on. I've been doing some online research and I talked to a Tiffen representative at IBC last week and we could have talked the entire day. Selecting and using filters is a science all in its own... Initially I set out to buy a ND-filter because that's the main reason I bought the mattebox: to control the light coming in without having to have an ND-filter for every lens...but there's so much more to filters.
And there's so many more filters: Polarizers, ND's, graduated ND's, Black Mist, Skin Tone Enhancers, Hard Edged, Soft Edged, Diffusion filters, Sunset and Sunrise filters... after a talk to the Tiffen guy I was convinced I needed them all. Total cost would run into thousands of Euro's.

Now I've calmed down somewhat and am looking at a starter kit from Formatt. A polarizer for better contrast/reduce reflections, two ND filters for controlling the amount of light entering the lens, Super Mist for softening harsh/blue light and a Skin Tone filter for creating warm skin tone or warming outdoor shots of foliage, trees and the likes. But will I use all these filters? And how good is Formatt? People rave about Schneider and Tiffen but you hear little about Formatt. I just saw them at Zacuto's online store- a reputable store and maker of high-end gear. But does that make Formatt high end? To be continued...

Photoshop for Video Tips & Tricks

 I am not a Photoshop-adept by any means. I enviously eyeball people who effortlessly skate through layers, click frolickly on a filter here and an alpha channel there.... I can't stand it... I desperately want to be proficient at Photoshop but the reality is: I use it too little to ever really crack that nut.

For people like me, Video University has a helpful sheet with Photoshop for Video Tips & Tricks.

Some of the topics include:

• Creating an Image for Video Use

• Tips for Viewing Pixel Aspect Ratios

• Using Logos

• Extracting Elements from an Image

    

  If you want to go more in-depth, Photoshop guru Richard Harrington's Photoshop for Video has gotten some great reviews on Amazon- and beyond.

Living for The Shot

I was sent this video yesterday and was blown away by the power of these images and the great voice-over. (I understood only half of it but that was more than enough) Passion, poetry, craftsmanship combine to make it much more than the sum of the elements. Raw and subtle, smooth and rough, beautiful and dangerous... there's no denying this one...

The Great 50mm 1.4 Shootout

I own two great 50mm prime lenses: the Canon FD 50mm 1.4 and the Super Takumar 50mm 1.4 I They are both fast, sharp and I love the images they produce. Since they're both 50mm 1.4 it is interesting to see how these two wonderful lenses perform and how they compare in a number of different situations.

The 3,- DSLR grip

I posted this about 8 months ago, albeit in Dutch at the time: a 3,- grip that improves stability when shooting handheld with a DSLR by 100%. I haven't used it much because I don't shoot much handheld. But the day before yesterday I shot a short interview using the combination of the old flash bracket and GH2 and it worked very nicely. Secondhand shops have buckets full of these and I even got a discount: 2 for 5,-! If you combine them you have a dual handshooter for walking staircases, for instance. They even fold up for ultra-portability. Don't leave home without one... (or two)

A small taste of IBC Amsterdam

I did a short interview with filmmakers Nino Leitner and Sebastian Weingartner at the Sachtler stand at IBC about DSLR's, gear and related topics. They were there promoting the new Sachtler Ace tripod kit. Here is a review by Philip Bloom, a friend and colleague of theirs. (they offer DSLR workshops together) I did this all handholding the GH2 so there is a slight increase of shaking towards the end... (kind of silly: I was filming at the Sachtler stand, surrounded by tripods and decided to go handheld...)

Nino & Sebastian at IBC Amsterdam from Filmersblog on Vimeo.

At IBC interviewing Nino and Sebastian

Just did a short interview using the GH2 at the Sachtler stand.
Will post video later!

Usable audio on the Canon 550D/T2i

With Magic Lantern installed on the Canon 550D/T2i you can get good audio without having to buy separate audio recorders and sync that audio later in post. Many have said that the audio is not good enough for professional use. Period. But if you listen to Mordy here, the audio is perfectly usable for interviews. He also gives some good tips on setting the levels.


Canon T2i/550D with Magic Lantern: DSLR Audio that you can use! from Mordy G on Vimeo.

The Cost of Carelessness

(PART OF) MY EX1-R BEFORE REASSEMBLY

I just picked up my repaired Sony EX1-R that dropped to the ground a few months ago. Total costs: €630,70 (the equivalent of US $885,-) Parts were €330,-, labor €200,- Fortunately I am insured but unfortunately the first €250,- is at my own risk.
Nico, owner and only employee of Camcorder Service, has done a nice job of putting my camera back together and documented the repair with a series of photographs. If you like to take a look at the inside of an EX1-R, here's your chance:

XLR UNIT: A VERY TIGHT FIT ACCORDING TO NICO...

MICROPHONE UNIT

Sony's $600,- NEX-5N vs Panasonic's $1000,- GH2

I've played around a little with the Sony NEX-5N in an electronics store during my trip to the USAand really liked the quality of this little gem. Shallow depth of field and interchangeable lenses, comparable to what you can get with a DSLR in a package that slips into your vest pocket!

EOSHD has done a comparison with the GH2. I thought the NEX-5N looked nice in the store... but seeing this... we can conclude that the GH2 is capable of much, much better video. Which is not to say that I wouldn't mind a Sony NEX-5N for Christmas...

Sony NEX 5N versus Panasonic GH2 - EOSHD Review from Andrew Reid on Vimeo.

The Speed of Lenses

I conducted another entirely non-scientific test to see what the speed of lenses means for a bunch of lenses I own. What does it mean when a manufacturer claims that a lens has a maximum aperture of 1.2? I guess it means only what it means to our eyes.
So I took 8 lenses that are supposedly 'fast' and shot wide open with very dim light. You get an idea how the different lenses fare in low light, and how they fare in comparison to one another.
It is an unfair comparison in most cases. You can only compare a 50mm 1.4 against another 50mm 1.4. (which I did) But I also threw in my 25mm 1.4, just because it's a 1.4...
I lined up film lenses, TV lenses, FD, M42 and C-mount, all of them under f2.0

The one question that remains is: Is there an institution verifying claims of lens-speeds by manufacturers? (in other words: how do we know what we're paying for?)

Camera: Panasonic GH2

Music: ' I'm getting Ready' by Michael Kiwanuka

The Speed of Lenses from Filmersblog on Vimeo.

Funky, dirtcheap 'magic rig'

I've seen this device before and am intrigued by the design. It actually looks great and I am really curious how this contraption feels and works in real life. For the price, I am tempted to buy it but I shouldn't. I have too much crap as it is. On the other hand, whatever I don't use I can usually sell without too much of a loss.This design is truly a 'spider', despite all the other devices that have been given that name. I like how it folds up, transforms into a low-angle shooter, cage, shoulder rig and everything inbetween. Of course it is not going to hold a follow focus and I'm not sure how much weight it can handle before involuntarily 'folding all by itself'. But at 73 dollars shipped... that's a steal- even if it's half as good as it looks! (for that price you can even melt it and sell it with profit to the scrap-metal dealer ;-)

Give a little, take a little...

Here's a guy who has put a lot of hard work into building a blog called NoFilmSchool, creating a lot of great content with the intention to realize his one great dream: to produce and direct his own feature film. Koo gave us a lot, the DSRL Cinematography Guide, for example, but also countless good articles on 'How to Build a Hackintosh', gear reviews and other good stuff that filmers and editors need to get things done & get it done on a budget.
After all that he's given away for free, he is now asking us to help him realize his dream by making a contribution to the production of his film Man-Child, a movie 'exploring the high stakes world of youth basketbal'. I pledged $25,-, not an amount that is going to hurt me, and if only 5000 people give that same amount (1% of his half million visitors a month) he can make his dream come true. We don't need big studios or big business to get our projects realized... we only need eachother.

Where's my jib?

If there's one thing I hate it's waiting. Especially if things keep being moved forward without obvious reason and you're not being informed. No, I'm not talking about your average video assignment where appointments and dates fly around like leaves in the wind- I'm talking about something I paid for over 2 months ago and that should have been delivered one month back...
Now 'things' happen and we all understand that, but rule number one in this -and any- business is to communicate to your customers what's going on. People will put up with a lot if only you will keep them informed. But that is not happening with my order from Glideshot Industries. I made special arrangements because I expected my jib to arrive at a certain time. But for no apparent reason that's all changed and I'm being kept in the dark. I'm afraid those high tilt shots won't be part of my shoot next week. And that s*cks. Just because it's a budget jib I shouldn't be getting 'budget service'..?

Mailbox: LP-E6 + charger

 

I received my aftermarket LP-E6 battery and charger today that I ordered while in the US. In addition to another set of 2 batteries plus charger I bought during my stay in America for use with my SmallHD DP4, I now have three batteries and 2 chargers in total.
The charger I received today is a familiar one: the same model that came with my first order of LP-E6 batteries. It has a removable battery-plate that you can swap for other types of camera batteries. The battery is 1800 mAh as opposed to the 2200 mAh from my previous (US) order. The printing on the battery is also different but the body feels and looks the same.

WHO VERIFIES WHAT MANUFACTURERS CLAIM?

You can use a single LP-E6 to power the DP4 so I'm curious to see whether the 2200 mAh lasts longer than the 1800 mAh. Moreover: does or can anyone verify/control what Chinese manufactureres put on their products? How do we even know that 1800 mAh is not really 1400 mAh? Or is that just the risk we take at $15 for a battery+charger incl shipping, a fraction of official Canon battery prices..?

Note: the batteries I bought from the US seller for 19,- are still holding up, after about 3,5 hours of operation on the DP4. In addition to the wall-charger they ship with a car-charger.  So they look like a much better deal. Seller does not guarantee info-recognition in camera but that's a feature I don't need.