Large Sensor Camera News

What ProRes codec to use with DSLRs?
If you're a DSLR user editing with Final Cut Pro, you know that for best performance you have to transcode to ProRes. But the question is: which flavor? Because there's several of them:
  • ProRes 422 (Proxy)
  • ProRes 422 (LT)
  • ProRes 422 - sometimes referred to as "normal"
  • ProRes 422 (HQ)
  • ProRes 444
Steve Sander has done some tests using footage from Canon DSLRs and writes about it over at Converge. He actually sees little visual difference even between LT and HQ, but recommends using ProRes 422 "normal" in most situations. I happen to think it's great advice; given that I use normal all the time...
Check the article for the exceptions!
Converge: The best ProRes codec to use when editing 5D and 7D footage
Apple: Final Cut Pro 7. Expanded ProRes Family



Here comes the Ninja
The Ninja, a digital recorder that captures HDMI output to notebook HDD or SSD drives in ProRes format (it's a competitor to the AJA Ki Pro) should be available shortly. But David Fox at UrbanFox.tv reports that Canon DSLR users maybe less than impressed with it because:
...it seems that Canon has put at white square or a red dot on a corner of the output, which will be noticeable if you try to use it as full HD
The thing is, no Canon DSLR outputs full HD anyway, so I'm not sure why anyone is that excited about capturing the HDMI output with one of these anyway.

Maybe for a few people, it makes sense...

But if you have a camera like the Sony HXR-NX5u, which outputs full HDMI in better quality than it stores internally, now that might make some sense.

UrbanFox.TV: Ninja ships – disappoints DSLR users
NotesOnVideo: The Ninja looks cool....but...



Panasonic AG-AF100 News
After using HDSLRs for a recent shoot, Cinematographer Rich Lerner - who's worked on a number of documentaries in his 25 year career, including A Story of Healing and The Urban Elephant - says he plans to use the AF100 for his next project. Panasonic wants you to know.
CriticalView: Cinematographer Spotlight: Rich Lerner

Snehal Patel Panasonic AG-AF100 workshop
If you're in LA and want to learn about the AG-AF100 from the ground up, this might be worth attending. The linked page lists everything that will be covered.
Date & Time: Sat, Feb 26, 12:00pm - 6:00pm
Location: Stray Angel Films, Los Angeles
Cost: $400
PhotoCineNews: Panasonic AG-AF100 Workshop with Snehal Patel



Sony PMW-F3 News
Filippo Chiesa has posted footage from his first shoot with the Sony PMW-F3 and a Carl Zeiss Distagon 35mm 1:1,2 PL mount lens.
Vimeo: Sony PMW-F3 1st short test


PMW-F3 overview
Jesse Miller at the .video show interviews Sony Camera Specialist Joe Schimizzi about the Sony PMW-F3. It's an introductory overview only, so if you haven't read anything about the PMW-F3 so far, watch this!
YouTube: Sony PMW-F3 with Jesse Miller and Joe Schimizzi


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sony GV-D200 review

Image
Sony GV-D200 I've been using a Sony GV-D200 deck to transfer old Video8 and Hi8 tapes. Some of these tapes are over twenty years old, and no longer having a Hi8 camcorder that worked I was concerned that if I didn't do something about transferring them to a more modern format soon, I might never be able to. While Sony no longer make camcorders that use these tapes - that I know of - Sony does still sell the GV-D200 deck (or Video Walkman, as it's sometimes labelled.) They also offer the GV-D800, which is almost identical but adds a small LCD screen for about $120 more. I didn't think I'd need a screen since I was using this to capture to the computer, but you will need an external monitor when you first set it up. Physically, the device is small. At 5 7/8" wide, 5 3/8" deep and 2" high, it's the smallest video deck I've encountered. I used to have a Video8 deck that I thought was small; and it was twice as deep and twice as high. The t...
Read more

Response: Which iPhone to Get?

Image
In response to my iPhone musings, I got the following reader email which actually sums up a lot of my second and third thoughts too: You might have a point about the fancier camera, but otherwise I would buy the smaller model. Its screen is about the same size as that of my Nexus 4, and I don't feel at all like it limits me with a too-small screen. But I do sometimes stretch to get my thumb the reach to the other corner of the screen. It is plenty big for a phone. A phone is a pocket thing. (Well, in my case it lives an ancient REI soft sunglasses case that I have on my belt.) Ubiquitous, handy, convenient, almost always with me. Small is crucial for all of that. Certainly a large screen is cool, but you need a place to put it: don't break a fundamental feature of a pocket phone by getting too big. That is what your small tablet is for. I have my phone with me almost always. I have my Nexus 7 tablet with me nearly as much. The bigger screen is great, yet it fits in some...
Read more

Should you buy the Sony NEX-FS100 Kit Lens?

Image
The Sony NEX-FS100 is available in two configurations: B & H : NEX-FS100U Camcorder only $4,999 B & H : NEX-FS100U (with 18-200mm lens) $5,599 But what does that extra $600 get you? It get's you this: Sony 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Zoom Lens for NEX Camera This lens is also available separately for $799.99, so at $200 off you'd think everyone would be jumping on it. But not so fast... In his article about switching from the Canon 5D Mark II to the Sony NEX-FS100 , Paul Antico  at Need Creative says of the kit lens: 7) Its 18-200 F3.6-6.3 kit lens absolutely sucks and should be avoided (thankfully, you can order it without one) [ 1 ] But is it that bad? At B & H 's site, 43 reviews give it an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars. That's not a bad rating, though many of these people are using it for stills, and the most common complaint noted is how large and heavy it is. Of course this feeling of size would be exacerbated when you put it on a tiny camera ...
Read more