Forum | Tech Geek Speak | DSLR

mikedensem

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 17:18:00 +1200

I think it would be useful to share DSLR tips etc as it is a great transition platform – but full of issues and gotchas

mikedensem

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 17:27:44 +1200

I have a Canon 550D which is great but I need many extras to make it useful:
I have a Zacuto optical viewfinder which is good for focus (but that's about all). I have various stabilization (dolly, steadiecam etc) but the camera on its own is very light and needs…

mikedensem

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 13:47:30 +1200

I think I want one of these too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFpf2eeQvIA&feature=feedu

Antone using this and has any feedback?

Searlo

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 21:04:37 +1200

You can get a decent quality Canon 50mm lens @ 1.8f I think for a few hundred dollars at Photo and Video. Really useful for low light etc.

Am also shooting on DSLR (Canon 60D) but have gone down the seperate audio route with a Tascam DR-100. Might take a…

treefrog

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 12:50:38 +1200

Is jellocam a potential element for this year? If so, you go girl!

SkooterManProd

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:24:52 +1200

I've found that using some simple audio effects on Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 helps to get rid of the auto gain that happens when using an external mic on my Canon 550D. EQ and DeNoiser do a pretty good job of reducing the gain to a level that is hardly…

mikedensem

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 18:35:53 +1200

Thanks for the tip.
My big concern is when the gain ramps up in the silence and crushes the start of the first new sound (vocal). Not sure hopw to deal with that.

zzzzzzz

Sat, 23 Apr 2011 03:07:56 +1200

this thread made me curious enough to install magic lantern on my 550d. Most of the features are still pretty rough. I don't know that any of the focus or assist modes would do me much good, but the manual audio controls worked just fine. Definitely worth considering for 48…

mikedensem

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 11:08:53 +1200

Yes, I'm going to do it too (nervous). Did you run into any issues? Do you know if you can undo this later?

HamishG

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 22:37:38 +1200

So this will be my first year editing with DSLR media, my mates got a 500d that well be using.

The stats of my pc arent great, and I've got a codec Matrox Mpeg2 I-Frame HD that I'm currently using to convert the .mov files to a format that allows…

ShadowGhost

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 23:04:42 +1200

decent quality Canon 50mm lens @ 1.8f

I love my 50mm 1.8f with its hard stops (only time it is off the camera is when I'm shooting stills).
But on a 60D its the same as a 85mm, which makes it more telphoto than wide.

ShadowGhost

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 23:12:12 +1200

Check out Shane Hurlbut's intro to DSLR http://www.hdslrhub.com/

With gran/noise = (on Canon's) use native ISOs and turn camera off often so it can cool down (a hot sensor is a noisy sensor). If you can see the noise on the back LCD then it is really bad.

Problem with…

treefrog

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 10:29:44 +1200

I have a professionally constructed DSLR document, as a PDF, made by users of DSLRs for new users.
Very detailed document, full of very helpful advice (lighting, lenses, f/stops, workflow, file types, audio etc) about getting the most from your DSLR.

If you would like a copy (free, of course,…

HunryPencil

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 12:23:36 +1200

Hi craig, your email doesnt work. It got bounced back multiple times. Can you email me the doc? .

Cheers

treefrog

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 08:01:58 +1200

err, sorry, my bad, try this

and yep, doc on its way, hungrypencil.

treefrog

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:00:11 +1200

Oh for goodness sake, get your own DSLR Document from here....

https://rapidshare.com/files/459194745/DSLR_Cinematography_Guide.pdf

Its free and spam free. Just click slow download, it'll only take a minute or so.

And while you're at it, leave my bloody bandwidth alone! :-)

zzzzzzz

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 14:19:35 +1200

Hey Mike,

I didn't run into any issues with magic lantern. Found some youtube video walking through it for mac users. Followed it, and viola.

As to "uninstalling", the firmware in the camera only has a tiny change to it that tells it to look onto the sd card and…

mikedensem

Fri, 06 May 2011 20:34:06 +1200

Hey zzzz(etc),
I installed ML on my 550D. It seems ok. The audio features are the most useful to me.
There seem to be many many builds though so I may look into other useful features in another release.

veli

Sun, 08 May 2011 07:29:56 +1200

hi people,

take alook into technicolor cinestyle pf too;
http://www.technicolor.com/en/hi/cinema/filmmaking/digital-printer-lights/cinestyle

I find s-log potentially dangerous on dslr but gonna try it anyways.. you'll need a LUT to view it in rec.709 w/ lut buddy f.ex. in FCP etc.

I've also used Shawn's gamma curves (www.lightillusion.com) and several others that are…

mikedensem

Sun, 22 May 2011 22:12:33 +1200

Ok, so that all worked fine.
Camera – 550D
Transcode to ProRes 422
Edit in final cut – with ProRes sequence (48khs)
Export to H.264 etc.. (40 min)

Got it in with 45min to spare.

No grade, no effects, quick musical score.
NEVER WORK WITH CHILDREN...

Giles

Mon, 23 May 2011 12:26:16 +1200

I used magic lantern on my 550D and it was flawless. I love it. You really have to update it to the latest build though. Some of the functions in the older builds are a bit glitchy.
For the 48 hours, it's great to be able to record sync sound…

mikedensem

Mon, 23 May 2011 16:34:43 +1200

Yes I used ML as well. Mainly for the clean audio. I had to get rid of all the onscreen helpers as they were lagging quite badly.
It's a great tool – and looks to be getting better all the time.

I made sure, once I'd set all my prefs…

EdAish

Mon, 23 May 2011 22:05:44 +1200

Used 7D & 5Dmkii Awesome cameras – Amazing images when shot with good lenses.
Have to have monitor when shooting at f1.2 :) used 9" SmallHD and audio through Zoom-H4N. Transferred to ProRes to edit in Final Cut Pro. Never have any issues with "jellocam" and I shoot with them all…

mikedensem

Tue, 24 May 2011 11:45:38 +1200

What filters?

EdAish

Tue, 24 May 2011 12:59:46 +1200

I will hunt out the names of them – Never used them but read about some recently for Final Cut Pro that reviewed well. The only time I have noticed it is when trying to make it happen (whip panning back and forward like an idot) or filming a train…

EdAish

Tue, 24 May 2011 13:09:00 +1200

Core Melt Lock & Load X is what I have heard good things about if you are really having issues with rolling shutter.

Viva La Booba

Tue, 24 May 2011 21:48:23 +1200

shot a couple of time lapse sequences (1sec per frame) on a Nikon D700 and the editor dropped onto the time line in Premiere. Looks really nice.

Pastor Thug

Tue, 24 May 2011 21:55:47 +1200

I use a Canon 7D with a 5.6" Small HD monitor and a DT454 Juiced Link pre-amp with AGC disabler.
I was using a Zoom H4, but the extra time matching in post was doing my head in.
I'm using old school Nikon lenses.

EdAish

Tue, 24 May 2011 22:23:53 +1200

Plural eyes plug in for fcp synced all my audio in about 30 seconds it is amazing and completely removes the hassle of recording audio on my h4n. Highly recommend it. It just uses cam audio as a ref and 99% of the time achieves perfect sync.

mikedensem

Wed, 25 May 2011 10:20:26 +1200

FYI: DSLR eye piece on trademe (not my auction)
I have a Zacuto and find it fantastic for getting focus etc when outside in bright conditions. Also works well when using my hand-held rig.

Carry Speed LCD View Finder (LVF-43)

Note: I can't vouch for this specific item (my Zacuto…

themorgan

Wed, 25 May 2011 14:49:34 +1200

Hah. Just realised I didn't even bother using my view finder, didn't miss it either.

rollowenlock

Thu, 26 May 2011 07:13:44 +1200

Hi Mike,

we also shot on the 550D. We had a homemade rig that i'd made form wood and a camera clip from trademe and a box of old stills film lenses i've been buying off trademe for the last year.

If you turn the contrast all the way down…

mikedensem

Thu, 26 May 2011 14:26:19 +1200

Nice.
We ran out of time to grade. Shame really as it is so nice to play with the 550's footage in Color.
On the whole I found the experience to be really enjoyable, even with a few work-arounds.

mikedensem

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:11:08 +1200

You can get a decent quality Canon 50mm lens @ 1.8f

I ended up buying a Canon 50mm prime @ 1.8f – great lens for really short dof and in low light , BUT on my 550D it turns into a 80mm which isn't quite wide enough (although tiny dof).…

mikedensem

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:21:19 +1200

Shane Hurlbut said recently that Canon are the only cameras to give a true cinematic look. The others (incl. Panasonic AF100, Sony F3) are just a video camera with a large sensor.

Craig Parkes

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 16:37:44 +1200

I think Shane must have a contract with Canon.

There is a show in the edit suite next door to me right now editing with footage shot on both Canon 5D and the Panasonic AF100, all going for quite a cinematic look.

They have different looks, certainly, but I wouldn't…

NITRO

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 19:07:55 +1200

Shane Hurlbut said recently that Canon are the only cameras to give a true cinematic look

Exactly why is it that we want a true cinematic look.... to me it's like trying to get your HD LED tv to play in 320x240 for that true pal retro look.

The only…

mikedensem

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 16:36:11 +1200

Anyone used the Sony NEX-FS100?
I always felt the DSLRs were a transition technology – and now there are a few dedicated systems it may be quicker than expected.

Fs100 Review-ish

mikedensem

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 17:10:57 +1200

Oh, and the Great Camera Shootout 2011 is up.

Allan George

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 20:16:15 +1200

There we a few F3 films in Auckland this year, saw a few in the heats. Also quite a few Panasonic 102 films up here too.

Allan George

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 19:11:34 +1200

Whats the news on the DSLR front? Anyone got any videos they would like to share or anything else? Been a bit quiet around here!

mikedensem

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 15:11:29 +1300

(tumbleweed)

Allan George

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 15:29:50 +1300

Something from our Youtube page,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yViO92cXiVs

mikedensem

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 20:01:49 +1300

So the new Canon 5D Mark III is out and has new video features including reduced moire and artifacts. Who's getting one?
I see a lot of Mark IIs on trademe...

debzk

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 20:34:48 +1300

Thanks for the tip off on the DSLR guide :)

Allan George

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 23:29:58 +1300

Hey guys, check out the Camera Clash Promo. Canon 60D vs Panasonic AF102!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNloSmpvJOk

Episode 1 is being released on the 23rd!