Notes On Video

Arri Alexa vs. Sony F3 w/S-log vs. Canon 7D | Hello World Communications | Vimeo This video includes ungraded and graded versions of several scenes shot with the three cameras. The Alexa and Sony PMW-F3 were set at 800 iso and 5600k. The Alexa recording ProRes4444 in Log C, Film Matrix on. PMW-F3 recording on Cinedeck in ProRes4444 in SLog. The 7D was added as a base reference shooting at 400 iso, 5600K. An interesting comparison, though I wish some of the framing of the different shots were closer between the cameras. Digital Negative Sony PMW-F3 | TV Specialists | Vimeo Comparing standard REC 709 video vs "digital negative" (i.e. S-Log video) shot with the Sony PMW-F3 . The S-Log capability - which is a paid firmware update for the PMW-F3 - really makes a difference. A Short Rant: Sony has been using the term "digital negative" for the S-Log encoding, which is actually a gamma function used to better reproduce the entire tonal range that comes fr...

At the recent Rule Boston Camera TEXPO I got to see the prototype of the Fastec TS3Cine high speed camera. The following are notes from a presentation given by Tom Talbot, and a short video I shot that shows the body of the camera. You can see samples of video shot with the camera sensor on the company website, and in the full video of the presentation [link below]. The Fastec TS3Cine is a high-speed, comparatively compact camera that can shot 720p at up to 720 frames per second. The developer of the camera, Fastec, is a San Diego company, but they are partnering with Rule Boston Camera, who is the sole US and Canadian distributor for the camera.

Notes to Steve Jobs at Boston Apple Store Even though I never met him, Steve Jobs had a profound impact on my professional life. Both directly, through his personality and vision, and indirectly through the  Mac  and  iPhone.  The graphics/arts/video capabilities of the Mac  have made it possible for me to do things that seemed unimaginable when I first typed a FORTRAN program onto punch cards. But I'm not going to bore you with all that. I did, however want to note one thing that struck me just a day or two after he died: Siri may well be the last major disruption of the computer industry that Steve Jobs will be associated with. Steve may not have actually invented these things, but his fingers are all over WYSIWYG, menus and mice, the death of the floppy, USB, the digital music player, and on and on. It was therefore interesting to see this segment of an interview with Walter Mossberg at the D10 Conference , where Mossberg asked Jobs about Google's A...

Panasonic AG-AC160 Video Review | Philip Johnston | HD Warrior Philip's video review of Panasonic's AG-AC160 [$4,675]. This is a 1/3"-Type 2.2 Mp 3MOS Sensor camcorder with a 22x lens. He demonstrates a number of things including the digital zoom functionality that works well at 2x, but falls apart by the time you get to 10x (i.e. 220x!!). He really likes the optical lens, which is very sharp, and does some comparisons to the Sony HXR-NX5U [$3,999], which has a similar lens and sensors, but is 18 months older; he thinks the AG-AC160 is slightly better. I like the way he answers email questions from readers in the review. Sound Design on Tom Guilmette’s PhantomFlex Vegas Hotel Video | Ron Dawson | Dare Dreamer Ron looks at Tom Guilmette's " Locked in a Vegas Hotel Room with a Phantom Flex " and thinks that part of the reason it has been so popular is because of the creative use of sound in the video: But, IMHO, what makes this video so entertaini...

I was going to post this in today's Quick Links , but I think it's so important I want to high-light it on it's own: Random Thoughts and upcoming speaking engagements | Vincent Laforet | Blog Vincent offers brief thoughts on Steve Jobs, Siri , the upcoming Canon and RED announcements, and the Canon 1D X , and concludes with some comments he made while speaking recently at the College of Southern Nevada: Then I asked two other questions: "How many of you expect to make your living from creating or providing content?" Close to half of the audience responded by raising their hands up. When I asked the same audience: "How many of you believe that you should pay for content?" Less than a dozen people kept their hands up…

Another event coming up in November for those in Boston from Rule Boston Camera : PHILIP BLOOM and MIKE SUTTON offer two, one-day workshops covering lensing options and solutions, high-speed demos [with footage], storytelling via camera movement with Kessler gear [as both demos and footage!] Cameras include the AF100, FS100, Alexa, Epic, Red One MX and Phantom Flex [and TS3Cine if Available!] WHEN:   Saturday, 11/19 from 9am to 5pm or Sunday, 11/20 from 9am to 5pm WHERE:   Rule Boston Camera, 395 Western Avenue, Brighton MA 02135 COST: $199 for one-day workshop Breakfast and Lunch included. contact events@rule.com

LockPort has announced the LockPort7 , a smart mini to full-size HDMI adapter that clamps to the side of the Canon 7D and protects the camera's HDMI port. The company already sells a LockPort5 for the Canon 5D . In addition to providing a full-size HDMI connection, the company says that the device protects the expensive to repair mini-HDMI plug on the camera. The LockPort7 adapter is designed to attach easily to the RedRock Micro DSLR Baseplate [$229.50]. The adapter has gold plated contacts and the HDMI 90° output is available as either FRONT or REAR orientation (2 different adapters.) Delivery is expected in mid November, and the list price is $99. The company says that they are also developing a LockPort UNIVERSAL (for 5D and 7D ). www.lockcircle.com Lockport7 attached to Redrock Micro DSLR Baseplate

Here's some more thoughts on the Canon 1D X from around the web. Most of these center on it's video capabilities. Understand that even though several of these articles are sort of negative, I wouldn't knock the 1D X as a professional still camera: it's just not a good investment if you're buying it as a video camera, particularly given that Canon is expected to announce a large-sensor video camera (or cameras) in a couple of weeks: Canon 1D X: What the compression? | Chris Marino | Wide Open Camera A discussion of the new compression options in the 1D X , as well as speculation whether the expected forthcoming large-sensor video camera will use the same compression, or will have the 50Mbps 4:2:2 MPEG-2 compression found in Canon's current professional video cameras? If I had to bet money, I'd say the upcoming video camera will have MPEG-2 compression as I suspect this camera is being developed by the video camera division rather than the DSLR divisio...

Shoulder Pad Kit, 15mm | Half Inch Rails A set of soft malleable plastic pads for 15mm rails that can be used as a simple shoulder pad. Watch the video to get a good idea of what they are. MPEG-2 basic training | Ned Soseman | Broadcast Engineering A technical introduction to the MPEG-2 compressor. The article describes how the MPEG-2 specification defines the decoder, but not the encoder. Different companies can write and use their own encoders, as long as the bit stream created is MPEG-2 compliant. The same policy is true for AVCHD enocders/decoders. MPEG-2 has two main compression components: intraframe spatial compression and interframe motion compression. Encoders use various techniques, some proprietary, to maintain the maximum allowed bit rate while at the same time allocating bits to both compression components. This balancing act can sometimes be unsuccessful. It is a tradeoff between allocating bits for detail in a single frame and bits to represent the changes (m...

iPhone 4S vs iPhone 4 Video Footage Comparison | AWMTstudios | YouTube Another comparison of the video quality of the iPhone 4S and it's predecessor: Various shots from both iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s filmed holding at same time with shake to test stabilisation. iPhone 4S shows dramatical increase in latitude and the stabilization is amazing too. Same field of view. Shows flickering in Europe, but overall is a major improvement. Creating Subclips in Final Cut Pro X | Larry Jordan | YouTube Yes, you can still create Subclips in Final Cut Pro X , but they aren't called Subclips any more; you create "Favorites" instead. In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows you how to create Favorites, and attach keywords. There's one important limitation: you can't have overlapping Favorites. Here Are Ten Tips To Create A Viral Video | James DeJulio | Business Insider Want to create a viral video hit? Maybe this article will help you: 3) Create videos tha...

The announcement of a ~$7,000 DSLR is probably of interest to only a small minority of video shooters, but the announcement of the EOS 1D X should be of interest to everyone because of what it could mean for a future  5D Mark III or  7D Mark II or other DSLR Canon might release. In particular, the minimization of moiré - reportedly because they are no longer doing line skipping when scaling the image from the sensor down to HD resolutions - should make for a noticeable improvement in image quality. Hopefully that will flow on to all of Canon's other new DSLRs. Here's what others are saying: FINALLY the full frame Canon 1DX DSLR featuring “improved video”  | Philip Bloom | Blog We also now have a single clip length of up to maximum of 29 minutes and 59 seconds (that stupid EU tax rule stopping it going longer!) which is terrific news! Manual audio is featured and levels can be adjusted WHILST recording with meters on screen during recording!…but I still see no si...

Canon has announced the Canon 1D X , their new flagship DSLR which has a number of new features, including the DIGIC 5+ image processor and a $7,000 price tag: Featuring advanced video-capture capabilities, the Canon EOS-1D X’s upgraded imaging system and Dual DIGIC 5+ deliver greatly enhanced movie quality. In particular, the camera minimizes the occurrence of color artifacts and moiré, and enables the shooting of low-noise video even in dark conditions. Notice that they say the camera "minimizes" moiré, which is, of course, a good thing, and the camera has an ISO of 25600. The proof though, is in the video, and we'll have to wait for that... On the other hand, it's still using AVC/H.264 and it seems as though it's evolutionary in it's video capabilities rather than revolutionary. There doesn't appear to be any 4:2:2 HDMI out or anything like that. The only really startling thing might be the Gigabit-Ethernet connection. I also want to know if it'...

Apple iPhone 4S vs 4 Low Light Comparison | Anticipate Media | Vimeo Paul Antico shot a short video with both phones (I nearly wrote cameras ) in a kitchen illuminated only with small fluorescent bulbs. There's some noticeable differences in color and image stability. Event though he doesn't think it will replace his NEX-FS100 (!) he does think the iPhone 4S is usable as a B or C camera: The hallmark of the new 4S camera, for video, at first is both its detail at 1080P and real time image stabilization. It is also significantly lower in noise (stills and video). And the white balancing is better, so the colors are more true. NOTE: I got to try out Siri for the first time this weekend. I'll be writing about that separately, but I was quite impressed! iPhone 4S / Canon 5d MKII Side by Side Comparison | Robino Films | Vimeo From the sublime to the ridiculous; or is it? A comparison of the iPhone 4S and the Canon 5D Mark II , with side-by-side and full frames of vid...

Just a reminder of what's coming up this week and next... Oct 18 TEXPO @ Rule Boston Camera A smaller trade-show event with several dozen vendors including 16x9, AJA, ARRI, Avid, Birger, Cinedeck, Fujinon, CatDV, Matrox, Panasonic, Steadicam and Studio Network Solutions. Oct 18 SMPTE New England Sean Olive, Director of Acoustic Research, Harman International talks on "Some New Evidence that Teenagers May Prefer Accurate Sound Reproduction" at Boston College, Fulton Hall, Newton, MA. Oct 27 Boston SuperMeet This all day event (seminars during the day, meetings in the evening) will feature Oscar & BAFTA Award-Winning Editor Walter Murch. Nov 2 2011 New England Broadcast & Cable Expo The 3rd annual New England Broadcast and Cable Expo in Worcester, MA will be held in conjunction with the 14th annual Media Educators of America (formerly Video Educators of New England) fall conference. Nov 11-12 Futures of Entertainment 5 An annual event explori...

Canon Rumors There's all sorts of rumors about what Canon will announce on October 18th and November 3rd. The Canonrumors site thinks a 1D model will be announced on October 18th, while Jared Abrams, who's been talking a lot about the two video cameras expected on November 3rd, now thinks they will announce a 5D Mark 3 on that day. Behind the Lens: Tips for shooting video | Mike Yoder | LJWorld A photojournist who finds himself increasingly shooting video, Yoder offers some tips for those "exploring the new world of multimedia storytelling." Think in sequences. If you later want to piece together your footage and create a short film, consider gathering video from different points of view to provide the viewer with varied perspective. Still photographers tend to move around a subject with the goal of capturing just one moment that best documents the subject. With video, you need all the perspectives and cutaways to create a flow of visual information rather...