Notes On Video

SEO Tips - Film Riot's Ryan Connolly Weighs In On The Canon C300 Vs. RED Scarlet (11/19) | $4.95 Trials Summation of Ryan Connolly's view of the two cameras: Connolly chooses the Scarlet because: It can shoot 4K with better resolution. It's "future-proof," with the ability to upgrade the sensor later. Re: Reasons to go for C300 over RED Scarlet X? | Tim Le | DVInfo So if you ignore image resolution and total cost, lots of reasons to like the C300 : Media - Scarlet exclusively uses RED SSD. The least expensive 64 GB drive is $950 and gets you about 25 minutes of run time. - C300 uses off the shelf CF cards (but must meet minimum speeds). You can buy a 2 pack of 32 GB CF cards for $145. If you don't make a backup, 64 GB will get you 160 min of run time. - Conclusion: C300 media is almost an order of magnitude more economical. If you consider cost per minute of run time, it's almost 40X more economical. RED's high performance certainly comes...

Award winning editor Steve Audette [ Frontline, Nova ], speaking at last nights Pub Night at Rule Boston Camera : A big problem that happens all the time with documentaries, is that you think you know what your story is when you go to make the documentary. You frequently find out, I would say 99% of the time, that the story is in the footage. It’s not necessarily the pre-conceived idea that you went in with. And the truth of the story is in that footage, if you just let it be told.

First Look: Canon EOS C300 Cinema Camera | Barry Braverman | Studio Daily Cinematographer Barry Braverman offers his take on the Canon C300 : More problematic for some folks may be the Canon 8-bit recording and HD-SDI output. To be fair, Canon extracts a remarkable 12-bits worth of data for each pixel, a very high level of performance that the company describes as “the best 1080p 4:2:2 implementation in the business.” Still, for most of us operating in the higher end of the industry, a ten-bit recording system like Sony’s HDCAM SR, Apple’s ProRes and Panasonic’s AVC-Intra are pretty much the norm now... The Simplest, Fastest Interview Lighting Setup—Ever | Art Adams | ProVideoCoalition One light, a couple of pieces of foam core, and you're done? Lighting doesn't get much simpler than this! Yes, it looks simple. Deceptively simple. Believe it or not, it takes a long time to learn to light so simply. There was a time when I used every light on the truck (or the van) on ...

Everyone knows what a Neutral Density filter does [ Makes it darker - Ed], and what a UV filter does [ Keeps dust off the lens -Ed], but what does a Haze filter  do? Today on " What Does That Filter Do? " we look at Tiffen's Glimmerglass . Reading the specs, the first few seem pretty straight forward... Softens Fine Details Like Blemishes Adds Slight Glow to Highlights Reduces Contrast Minimal Highlight Flare It's the next one that catches your attention: Generates a Silver Sparkle in the Glass A sparkle in the glass?! Well that'll look good for those "Director with the camera" shots!  But then... Brings a Psychological Edge to the Shot Makes Subject Feel More Confident I'm sorry, what?!! A filter that brings a psychological edge to the shot by making the subject feel more confident?! They offer a few more details: The main feature of Glimmerglass is that it produces a silver sparkle in the front of the filter that makes your su...

Final Cut Pro X: Version 10.0.2 release notes | Support | Apple Bug fixes for Final Cut Pro X : Fixes an issue in which a title may revert to the default font after restarting Final Cut Pro X Resolves an issue that could cause files recorded with certain third-party mobile devices to play back incorrectly Addresses a stability issue caused by changing the start time on a Compound Clip Blackmagic Design adds Avid DNxHD Recording and Playback to HyperDeck Studio | Blackmagic An update to the inexpensive solid state recorder, the HyperDeck Shuttle , will be available at the end of November: DNxHD is a broadcast industry standard for media files and adding native support for this compressed video format into HyperDeck Studio will allow dramatically longer recording times, lower media storage costs, and full file format compatibility with Avid Media Composer® systems. All media is recorded in MXF format, so it’s immediately available in Media Composer without any time consuming ...

Sony F3 with S-LOG Shoots Ghost of Goodnight Lane | Jonny Revolt | Creative COW Magazine An insider's report on the first feature film to be shot on the Sony PMW-F3 The S-LOG option for the F3 also means that you can now use the dual-link 3G SDI ports on the back of the F3 to output 4:4:4 signals that capture the entire tonal range of that 35mm chip. The S-LOG option also adds a stop to the F3's standard range, for a total of 13.5 stops, about the same as the RED Epic, and very nearly as much range as Alexa, for much less money. Blackmagic Design Announces DaVinci Resolve Lite now Includes Unlimited Color Correction Nodes! | Blackmagic This is pretty amazing. The free version of DaVinci Resolve now supports more than two color correction nodes (think of a node as an effect) per clip. Reportedly, only the first 10 are real time (possibly due to the one GPU limitation?) but this change is pretty huge; the two nodes limitation was the one big limitation of the lite versio...

Though I bought Final Cut Pro X on the day of release, I have to admit that I haven't really done much with it since. I spent a little time experimenting with the new features (particularly editing DSLR footage without first transcoding) when I first installed it, and while it was interesting, I found it a bit disorienting. After that initial playing, each time a project came up I ended up editing it in Final Cut Pro 7 or Premiere Pro . Mostly it's an issue of familiarity and comfort; I know I can get it done in FCP 7 , and how long it will take. Why risk using something else when you have a deadline? But yesterday I wanted to edit together a demo reel, and I wasn't in a hurry. And I thought it would be a great experiment to actually edit a real project in  Final Cut Pro X because there was a mix of formats, and the editing was very simple. And after spending the afternoon playing with Final Cut Pro X I've come to the following conclusion: it might be okay on th...

Rough Guide to DSLR Video ( Beginner / Intermediate ) | Ben Edwards | IContactVideo A very good overview and introduction to shooting video with DSLR for those new to the topic: The main reasons people like DSLRs are: The footage they produce looks great. I have a Sony Z1 (£2000) and the stuff I have shot on a Canon 550D (£500) looks as good if not better. The colours are vivid and the depth of field is nice and shallow (see Depth of Field section). Sale: Red Giant Quick Looks 90% Off - Only $11! Celebrate 11/11/11 | Tollfarm Sale ends today on Red Giant Quick Looks : Quick Looks sets the mood for your footage in seconds, whether it’s a urban grunge, a desert sunrise, or the film stocks used in classic movies. Quick Looks is a lite version of Magic Bullet Looks, giving you the same speed and creative options but at a lower price. You can easily define the style of your video or film by choosing from 100+ look presets that add color and light to every scene, from a wedding...

Tuesday Nov 15 6:30pm - 9pm BAVUG - The Powderhouse Punch At the Boston Avid Users Group meeting Rob Kirwan of Powderhouse Productions discusses how Powderhouse grew up with Avid and how they use Avid products such as Media Composer, Symphony and Interplay in their current setup and workflow. He will also touch on how the products have changed production models, business, etc. Registration page: Eventbrite Wednesday Nov 16 10am - 12noon Rule Boston Camera - COMPLETE HIGH-PERFORMANCE STUDIO SOLUTION Sony introdcues the HXC-D70 2/3" CMOS studio camera system and the MCS-8M compact audio video switcher - perfect for the small entry-level studio set-up in terms of both design and budget. RSVP to  events@rule.com Wednesday Nov 16 7pm - 9:30pm BOSFCPUG - Inside the Cutting Room: Sam O’Steen and the Editing of “The Graduate" Join BOSFCPUG and renowned author BOBBIE O'STEEN ("Cut to the Chase," "The Invisible Cut") for an in-depth discussion ...

Earth | Time Lapse View from Space, Fly Over | NASA, ISS | Vimeo Okay, it's really a timelapse, but it's pretty amazing, So this is what the end of 2001: A Space Odyssey was all about! Time lapse sequences of photographs taken by Ron Garan fragileoasis.org/​bloggernauts/​Astro_Ron and the crew of expedition 28 & 29 onboard the International Space Station from August to October, 2011, who to my knowledge shot these pictures at an altitude of around 350 km with a high ISO HD Camera developed by NHK Japan, nicknamed the SS-HDTV camera.

5D Mark II Firmware 2.1.1 | CanonRumors Another update on a firmware update, this time with details, but the update is still not actually available anywhere to download! No noted change in video performance. Q&A | 07. { WHITE BALANCE & KELVIN } | Casey L. Warren | Blog Turn off Auto White Balance and learn about all things Kelvin: 4. Keep things consistent. To me, I focus less on getting the whites balanced and more on overall color balance & consistency. If you are shooting a narrative, then focus in on the people. If you are shooting a product demo video, the focus is on the product -- make sure that the focus of what you are shooting is kept consistent throughout different lighting environments in the piece. For example, if you were to make a brochure for the Canon 5d mark II, you would want to make sure that the black color of the camera is kept consistent in daylight, indoor, mixed, etc, etc lighting environments, and you can do this with Kelvin. Interview...

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It's not all C300's and Scarlet X's here at NotesOnVideo. In fact, I don't even have the budget to dream about those cameras, so let's talk about something I might be able to afford... One of the most popular video's I've posted on YouTube is oddly enough this little piece on the Canon XF100 [$2,995] XF105   [$3,999] taken at last year's Canon Expo in New York. [ Yes, I have no idea why it had 57,000 views either...-Ed] I think people must assume I work for Canon or something, because I get questions about the camera, like the one's below. And even though I've never even used the camera, I'm happy to take a swipe at answering them: Hi there... here are some questions I have about this camera: 1. Has it got a good zoom? How much? It's pretty good. 10x (30.4mm-304mm, 35mm equivalent] I don't know how smooth the zoom is on the camera (or whether that's important to you.) I'm told that it has the same lens block as t...

5D Mark II Firmware 2.1.1 Sighting | CanonRumors A link appears on Canon USA site, but it's not live...yet. Confirmed, Panasonic bringing 25p to the GH2 | Andrew Reid | Tumblr And a firmware update for the Panasonic GH2 is expected in December: I contacted a source at Panasonic about what the ‘new video mode’ is on the official GH2 firmware update that is coming in December. It is a 24Mbit 1080/25p output stored in a AVCHD 50i wrapper, meaning you can finally extract a clean high bitrate 25p (progressive) feed from the camera for PAL broadcast work. ARRI Alexa Now Has in Camera Support for Avid DNxHD Codec | Cinescopophilia An update for the Arri Alexa : The ability to record native Avid DNxHD, as MXF files in-camera, creates a unique proposition for the 35 mm digital capture industry and is another first for the ALEXA camera system. Autumn Trail - Shooting for Fun | Jon Palfrey | Blog A short video shot with a Glidetrack slider, with an interesting shot at 1:10...

Hands-On Impressions of the Canon EOS C300 | Angelo Lorenzo | No Film School He did get to handle the camera at the announcement event, but this is really a summary of his thoughts about the C300 vs the Scarlet , the image quality of the demo's shown, and a conclusion that we really need more than 2K. The C300’s base sensitivity is rated at 640 ISO or 850 ISO (if you’re using Canon Log color) and spans a full 12 stops even at 20,000 ISO (higher ISO settings are known to reduce exposure latitude). A Canon rep pulled me aside to hint that their spec sheet is conservative, with 13+ stops in the field. What is the point of the Canon C300? | Phil Rhodes | HD Magazine The Canon 5D Mark II not withstanding, Phil believes that "Canon really do seem to have a talent for failing to do the obvious thing at the obvious time," and that the C300 is too expensive and/or too late. He's heard that the image quality is very good, but has concerns about the compression and ou...

SMPTE/New England's next meeting is Wednesday, November 30 Please join SMPTE New England and The Boston Avid Users Group as we welcome Steve Sarafian of Sony for a presentation on tapeless workflows utilizing Avid’s AMA plug-in. Mr. Sarafian will focus on the theory and practical applications of this technology allowing direct access and editing of Sony metadata and media on Avid editing systems without the need to transcode, copy, or import your footage. Steve’s presentation will covers topics including: XDCAM and XDCAM EX – AMA workflows Metadata and Logging with XDCAM Browser Working with XDCAM EX spanned clips HDCAM SR - Working with the SRW-5800 file based workflows SR-R1000 and the SRR1 SRMaster Recorder AMA Plug in. XDCAM Station - AMA workflow with a hybrid Optical Disc/SxS deck. Wednesday, November 30, 2011 Doors open at 6:30pm Presentation at 7:00pm Avid Headquarters 75 Network Drive (off Middlesex Tpk., near Rte. 62) Burlington, MA 01803 Tel. 978-6...

Everyone has been waiting a long while for Redrock to ship their microRemote follow-focus system, but they've just sent out an update that suggests they are closer to shipping: The microRemote is Alive and Well and (Almost) Ready to Rock This is an update on the Redrock Micro microRemote system. We know you have been patiently waiting and wondering the status of the microRemote . Since our last update, we have been working tirelessly to perfect the microRemote performance and features while maintaining its extraordinary affordability. Now, we have some breakthrough news to share with you. How Far We've Come First, a little background. As you may know, the microRemote has already been demonstrated and used at many events to rave reviews. Users have reported microRemote performance is on par or better than their own current wireless focusing systems costing 10 TIMES the microRemote . Everyone loves the revolutionary iPhone/iPod Touch interface, a groundbreaking adva...

The Boston Avid Users Group is meeting next Tuesday at Powderhouse Productions . If you're interested in attending you might want to hurry over to the registration page as there's only a few seats left (particularly in the General Admission category.) How do you make consistently entertaining television programs on tight budgets and tight deadlines? Ask Rob Kirwan at Powderhouse Productions. At our next BAVUG meeting, Rob will discuss how Powderhouse grew up with Avid and how they use Avid products such as Media Composer, Symphony and Interplay in their current setup and workflow. He will also touch on how the products have changed production models, business, etc. Rob will also discuss his theories of editing style and how Powderhouse uses those theories in every program they produce to create a consistent product. Powderhouse Productions 212 Elm St Somerville, MA 02144 Tuesday, November 15, 2011 from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM (ET)

Organizing Media in the Event Library | Connor Crosby | Final Cut Whiz Customizing the appearance of the Event Library and organizing media in Smart and Keyword Collections: Keyword Collections are – you guessed it – collections made from keywords. To create Keyword Collections, simply click on the key icon (found between the Event Library and Timeline). Now select a clip you want to apply a keyword and type it in the text box on the popup window. Final Cut Pro X allows you to create shortcuts for keywords by typing words next to the short keys (look at image below). Using Roles to Manage Complex Projects | Larry Jordan | Blog On a related note, this post is from last month, but I think I missed it. Larry explains the role of 'roles' in FCPX : These are a new kind of labels which allow us to flag clips by type. Roles can help us in two significant ways: tracking and managing clips during the edit and exporting just the clips we need. This article talks about the first ...

In case you haven't been following me on Twitter , I'm now writing a column for Filmmaker Magazine's website on Cinematography. You can find the second piece, which was posted Tuesday, here: REACTION TO THE CANON C300 AND RED SCARLET-X . This is an exciting new challenge, and I plan to cover a wide range of topics in this column. And if you have ideas for topics, let me know! Also, there's no plan's to change this blog, or reduce the frequency of posting here, so you'll still find the usual collection of news and feature items here! - Michael