Notes On Video

Canon teases 'exclusive screening' in Las Vegas, new Cinema EOS products coming at NAB? | Zach Honig | Engadget Canon has something else up their sleeves?! Could this be the 4K DSLR they talked about back when they rolled out the C300 , or something else? With both its 1D and 5D-series models already confirmed for 2012, today's Canon teaser hints at something slightly different -- and, according to our sources, a major announcement. The event is set for April 15th -- during the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show in Las Vegas 24 mm tilt / shift lens from Samyang launched this summer | Megapiksel I have the Rokinon 35mm f1.4 lens, and it's a nice combination of quality build and optics in a manual lens, so it's exciting to see that Samyang (sold as Rokinon and other names) is working on a tilt-shift lens. I've wanted a tilt-shift lens for a long time, but Canon's are really expensive (their TS-E 24mm f/3.5 is $2,100) and I just don't ...

First day with the Canon EOS C300 | Paul Joy | Blog Paul explores his new camera and discovers how to customize some of the operational functions: I use special modes like over cranking and interval record a lot and it’s always nice to have a quick peep at the clip you just recorded once the completed. If you’re in a special mode on the C300 though the rec/review button doesn’t function and an “invalid operation” error appears on the LCD. The only way to use the rec/review button is to disable the special mode first. That’s just a bit annoying and I’m sure could be fixed in the software. Priorities & Differences: Nikon D800 vs Canon 5D MkIII | Mike Curtis | Pro Photo Coalition A comparison of these two new cameras, primarily for the still photographer, though video functions are mentioned: I don’t see any possible way for the 5D Mark III to do anything but best the D800 in low light performance, and it could easily be over a stop of difference between the two. Time will t...

Canon 5D Mark III Full-Frame 22MP, 6 FPS, HDR | Ken Rockwell A look at some of the features in the 5D Mark III , primarily from the still photographer's perspective: The defective rear power switch lever that used to knock itself to OFF all the time has been put where it belongs, on the top of the camera. 1987's Canon EOS 650 had this correct with the switch on top; I'm unsure why Canon ever botched this on most of their now-obsolete DSLRs. Extent of rolling shutter reduction on 5D Mark III | Andrew Reid | EOSHD The original video has now been removed, but Andrew looked at this comparison between the 5D Mark II and III and says the III reduced rolling shutter by half: The 5D Mark III is a (expensive) refinement of a great cinema camera. As we know, ISO performance is almost clean at ISO 3200, and much improved at 6400 and 12,800. Aliasing and moire are reduced. There’s less false detail. The codec is fixed big time. HDMI no longer drops to 540p and so is much b...

Canon Announces EOS 5D3 DSLR Camera | Glidetrack | Blog Interesting description of the Canon  5D3 as a stop-gap before the 1DX arrives ( I don't think that's how Canon imagined it ): A few of the new features mentioned above have been borrowed from the EOS – 1D X so you need to decide whether you want this puppy now or wait until the end of April (if we’re lucky) for the 1D X. There is no point in forking out $10,000 for two cameras that are going to have the same specifications and features. The new shooter looks really similar to the current 5D II model but on closer inspection there are a few subtle changes – improved weather sealing, adjustments to the buttons and tweaks to the info display on the back. My thoughts on the new Canon 5D mark III | Paul Gwilliams | Blog Looks at the new features in the 5D3 : Moiré, aliasing and rolling shutter: Those dreaded three things that have plagued DSLR’s ever since their inception are apparently much improved on the 5d3 – I’...

At a recent Boston Creative Pro User Group meeting, Philip Hodgetts talked about meta data, the latest update to  Final Cut Pro X, and demoed his utility 7toX for Final Cut Pro , which lets you take Final Cut Pro 7 projects across to Final Cut Pro X . 7toX for Final Cut Pro Philip started out by demoing the conversion of an existing Final Cut Pro 7 sequence to Final Cut Pro X . To do the export you go to the menu item File>Export>XML, and you can choose to send the entire project, or just a Sequence. Both are converted to an Event in Final Cut Pro X , and the Sequence appears as a Compound clip in the Event. He explained: The reason it's a Compound Clip is because in the current version of FCPX, if we send it an Event and a Project, it doesn't know that they are associated. It's a limitation of the way the XML is currently expressed. We have some positive signs that Apple has listened to the need and in a future version we'll be able to send it a version ...

Let's be clear; while I have aspirations to color grading, I'm still a novice. I've worked with the Three-way Color Corrector in Final Cut Pro 7 for quite some time; with varying success. I've also played a bit with the new color correction tool in Final Cut Pro X , and though it's different, it didn't make me feel like I could do much of a better job. So I'm always interested in tools that might make color correction simpler, or easier. Enter Moods from Yanobox, a color grading plug-in that works in Final Cut Pro X , Motion and After Effects . I tried it out on Final Cut Pro X, and it runs within FxFactory. To use Moods , choose Yanobox from the Effects list in Final Cut Pro X , and you see Moods , and a collection of  Moods Presets . You can either drag the Moods effect onto a clip and then adjust the settings, or you can apply one of the presets to use as a starting point and then adjust any of the settings as you please. Yanobox Moods applied ...

Astonishing Canon 5D Mark III ISO 12,800 video | Andrew Reid | EOSHD A sample video posted on Vimeo compares the 5D Mark II and III and appears to show a big reduction in noise (sample frames are posted on the EOSHD site): Here is a shot from Japan which was shot with both the 5D Mark II and 5D Mark III (with beta firmware) by a camera reviewer. The cleanness and lack of noise is something quite remarkable. Are we in for a incredible low light treat – a truly ground breaking camera? For official samples of still images and videos:  Canon 5D Mark III samples image & movies | Canon Japan Tascam DR-100 mkII vs Zoom H4n Review | Paul Joy A comparison between the Tascam DR-100 [$269] and the Zoom H4n . Price is about the same, so as Paul notes, it really comes down to features, and while the DR-100 mostly comes out ahead in that area, he did note a troubling problem with sync between the DR-100 's audio and audio recorded on other devices: Design wise there’s a few...

The user manual for the Canon WFT-E6 Wireless File Transmitter has appeared on the net and is available here: http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/5/0300007175/01/WFT-E6_VIDEO_EN.pdf [PDF] Philip Johnston at HD Warrior posted a short article about using it last week: Testing the Canon WFT-E6 Wi-Fi dongle with the C300 (Updated) Downside is the slight delay in picture reaching the iPad it updates about 1fps, Tudor has asked if this could be used as a directors hand held remote monitor, yes if he or she is only using it for composition, shot length etc. Lip sync or moving shots…no ! I will ask Canon if the lag can be improved upon. B & H lists the Canon WFT-E6A Wireless Transmitter (note the "A") for $499, and only mentions the EOS-1D X , though I think it's the same one that works with the C300 . And the 5D Mark II now lists at $2,199 .

A Week With The Canon C300 | Alister Chapman | XDCAM-User Alister gives his opinion of the Canon C300 . He notes a number of pluses, particularly the image quality it produces without the need for an external recorder; the Sony PMW-F3 does a bit better, but only when using an external recorder, which isn't as convenient when shooting mobile. He also finds that while the LCD panel on the C300 is better, he thinks the top handle is large and bulky: However…. The F3 still IMHO produces a marginally better image and generally I prefer the F3′s ergonomics, especially on a tripod or shoulder rig. If you don’t need 50Mb/s then the F3 is excellent. If you need high end performance, squeezing every last bit out of the image, the F3 is better than the C300 IMHO, largely down to the 10 bit output and flatter log curve. NEX-FS100U and NEX-FS100UK Firmware Upgrade [coming] | Sony Europe Sony Europe says the firmware update for the NEX-FS100 is coming March 22: Added 50Hz recording sy...

Three years ago I bought a new MacBook Pro . About a month after I bought the machine, it developed an odd problem: it would lock up, the screen would go on the fritz, and then it would shut down or freeze. After this happened a couple of times, it stopped booting entirely. I took it into the Apple Store and they decided it was the hard drive. [ They also thought it might have been my fault for installing a piece of software that wasn't compatible with that version of OS X, but we won't go into that. ] They replaced the hard drive. Two weeks later, it started happening again. I took it back, and they decided it was the graphics card, so they replaced the entire motherboard. This took several days, during which I had no computer, which may explain my later behavior... After that, the machine worked, except for one problem; every now and again the screen would flicker - or have a black flash - that was about as quick as your eye blinking. It was enough to be noticeable, but...

A round-up of coverage on the 5D Mark III from around the web: The long awaited Canon 5D mkIII…is it what we were hoping for? | Philip Bloom | Blog The mkiii has been desperately needed by many, including me. Why? The full frame aesthetic is so unique and still has a very clear place for me as a filmmaker. I own and adore my C300 but really want a full frame Canon DSLR for all my lenses that has next to no image issues and has a wickedly sharp image! Of course it is also much smaller and is perfect for my timelapse. Canon Launch 5D MKIII – Headphone Jack, ALL-I Recording And Better Controls | Dan Chung | DSLR News Shooter Headphone monitoring is a big deal on this camera and it is the first time this has been seen on a Canon DSLR – even the EOS-1D X does not have a headphone socket. For news video and documentaries this means the 5DmkIII is a much better choice than the more expensive flagship model. Other audio features are the same as the 1D X and they include adjustmen...

The 5D Mark III lit up the web yesterday, here's some of the best Twitterverse comments: I'm underwhelmed by the 5D Mark III's video capability. More impressive is the drop in the Mark II price. Danfung Dennis @Danfung Best thing about the 5DmKIII - LPE6 batteries, no need to buy a load of new ones - I laud Canon for that Dan Chung @DSLRinformer All three of the Canon 5D Mark III videos demonstrate two undeniable facts: • Dramatic reduction in moiré • Canon needs @vincentlaforet A Prolost comment points out that the 5D Mark III's sensor res is exactly 3x 1080p, which bodes well for better video: prolost.com/blog/2012/3/1/… Stu Maschwitz @5tu So the 5D3 is exactly what I said it would be: a mini version of the 1DX. Reduced aliasing, moire (not gone), better stills. Paul Antico @AnticipateMedia Viewfinder magnification 5DMk3 vs D800. 0.71x vs 0.70x. Is that a game of Japanese one-upmanship if ever I saw one!? 5D Mk 3 ISO 1600 looks like ISO 100 o...

Sony Professional - NEX-FS100 In Depth: Introduction | Sony Professional | Vimeo Sony Europe is putting together a series on the NEX-FS100 , this is the next part: For more videos from the NEX-FS100 In Depth series, visit: NXCAM & AVCHD Guides The NEX-FS100 in-depth videos, created and produced by one of Sony's Independent Certified Exerts , Matt Davis, give a unique preview from a specialist's perspective. This first video introduces the key features of the NEX-FS100. Other videos in the series will cover key subjects such as: kit lenses, depth of field, bending time, picture profiles and downloading video. Canon Cinema EOS C300 Custom Picture settings | Kevin Ritchie | Vimeo Picture Profile tests for the Canon C300 : This video shows examples of the 3 preset Canon C300 Custom Picture profiles: Off, EOS Std, and Cinema. In additional I have shot each of the available Gamma and Color Matrix settings to show how they effect the image. The Custom Picture setting...