Richard J. Johnson
Joystick Member
You got that right.
are there any reason NOT to buy a 5D?
- Thread starter Richard J. Johnson
- Start date
You got that right.
Of course...
Buying a 5D won't make you a better filmmaker, just like buying a RED One won't make you Peter Jackson. The majority of films shot on the 5D would not be any better on an Arriflex 435. The camera does not make the film, it's the talent in between.
What the 5D will do is give you powerful tools to tell your story.
Here is a Vimeo channel with some narrative videos I put together from some bookmarks on my system.
http://vimeo.com/channels/47418
.. I'm not sure I understand.. Are you suggesting it's not narrative? For a film to be narrative you don't have to have dialog. The criteria for determining the presence of narrative is a series of events in some cause and effect order. It's not a radio show, you tell the story with moving pictures.
If I misunderstood I apologize.
If anything, the more "powerful" the camera the easier it is to see the lack of attention paid to other aspects of production. Out of the handfuls that I've been linked to, including the Vimeo channel, about five are tolerable beyond five to ten seconds.
Good thing with these new VDSLRs is that everyone is going to have to step it up even more. Just throwing backgrounds out of focus won't cut it.
I agree with Kholi.
IMO this camera is dangerous in inexperienced hands because it really encourages people to become careless.
There are many good reasons for why you should not shoot under natural lighting & unbalanced practicals. Unless you really know what you are doing.. Just because your camera can does not mean you should.
Just because the camera is light enough to shoot hand held does not mean you should.
Just because you can shoot with the lens wide open does not mean you should.
Technical issues aside, the reason things shot on expensive cameras often look great is because it is used by professionals. I have seen some horrible things shot on the RED One and 35mm film too.
IMO this camera is dangerous in inexperienced hands because it really encourages people to become careless.
There are many good reasons for why you should not shoot under natural lighting & unbalanced practicals. Unless you really know what you are doing.. Just because your camera can does not mean you should.
Just because the camera is light enough to shoot hand held does not mean you should.
Just because you can shoot with the lens wide open does not mean you should.
Technical issues aside, the reason things shot on expensive cameras often look great is because it is used by professionals. I have seen some horrible things shot on the RED One and 35mm film too.
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Indeed. Double-Edged Sword. I'm a handheld lover. Not just willy-nilly whatever-goes handheld, but structured handheld. It's efficient on all levels and applicable to the type of work I like to do.
For this reason, the VDSLR is both my worst enemy and best friend. I have yet to find a truly stable rig that's discreet enough to call workable, I'm still digging. Even the slightest shake or jiggle can ruin a shot on ANY of these cameras. Not just the MKii, but all VDSLRs because it NEVER looks INTENTIONAL.
Camera Operation is an intentional facet of image acquisition and storytelling. Anything that looks unintentional is damned-near blasphemous to the eyes.
That's a major reason why I won't post a lot of random footage, because I have yet to tame my hands and the weight of this thing, or find a truly stable enough rig that'll allow me to pull focus and operate at the same time.
I got close with the Thrift Store stuff, it'd be nice to break the 50mm Focal Length Barrier with handheld work though.
This is yet another reason why I took the easy and cheap route out for the feature, two RED's instead of VDSLRs. Stabilizing these things is an outright nightmare and I have no time for sticks, spreaders, etc on a nano-budget piece.
Shooting Wide Open just because you can, or using fast glass on cameras that are fast as hell to begin with is a can of rotten worms that needs to be spilled as well.
joe 1008
Veteran
Daniel & Kholi: That was what I've seen, too. Just would add editing - though it has nothing directly to do with the camera (well, maybe if you want to make some RS unseen). Bus especially handheld looks only good if you know how to edit it - for example like the thriftstore director's cut 
Now that manual controls exist, for me the f/4 24-105 lens seems to be a good candidate for handheld because of it's IS. And the Redrock hybrid rigs look right for getting the jerk outof these DSLRs. Or the Zakuto rigs, but: $$$$$$$$$$...
Now that manual controls exist, for me the f/4 24-105 lens seems to be a good candidate for handheld because of it's IS. And the Redrock hybrid rigs look right for getting the jerk outof these DSLRs. Or the Zakuto rigs, but: $$$$$$$$$$...
Daniel & Kholi: That was what I've seen, too. Just would add editing - though it has nothing directly to do with the camera (well, maybe if you want to make some RS unseen). Bus especially handheld looks only good if you know how to edit it - for example like the thriftstore director's cut
Now that manual controls exist, for me the f/4 24-105 lens seems to be a good candidate for handheld because of it's IS. And the Redrock hybrid rigs look right for getting the jerk outof these DSLRs. Or the Zakuto rigs, but: $$$$$$$$$$...
Editing goes a LONG way. I've seen some people save my own shoddy handheld work and had to thank them severely. I'm still learning myself. It's kinda like the "don't do it in post!!!" thing, in the end.
Get it right in camera, save yourself the headache AND money -- if:time=money
I'm with you on the 24-105/4 as well. IS is going to go a long-ass way. I've been looking at Sigma zooms for general purpose work. They have some nice glass for the price and lots of their zooms feature image stabilization as well.
http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3347&navigator=3
Perfect speeds for MKii/GH-1 action outdoors in broad daylight. Take a look at the list to the left-bottom, see what they've got. I'm considering a LOT of Sigma glass these days.
Zacuto has it right with their rig where the Gunstock Arm is concerned. Also, Dan (Puredrifting)'s rig has me salivating. I can't wait to see footage from this sucker:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showpost.php?p=1655791&postcount=1
The Brace can be articulated as well for a semi-low mode, I'm excited about that prospect because it puts it below my chest instead of forcing me to keep face-height all the time.
Only thing that I'm worried about is gettin' shot by someone thinkin' I've got a weapon.
joe 1008
Veteran
No problem, just have a look here: http://www.bulletproofclothing.co.uk/jackets/
The possibility to wear that rig low is nice. Personally, I'm too tall for shouldermount. Will have a closer look. Will you go with screw on filters or with a matte box? What about follow focus?
Same boat. I'm too tall for shoulder mount situations in general. Got a real good plan for RED on this feature though, can't wait to execute out of sheer fun-factor.
I've already got my setup pretty much as far as camera support goes. I think a Mattebox on these things is overkill, but that's just me. It'll come in handy for glass that has rotating front elements, no good for Polarizers, but otherwise it just calls too much attention to itself IMO. I went this route:
- Converted all lenses to 77mm Thread through step-up rings
- Purchased all 77mm Circular NDs, Polarizer, Softies
- Purchased Generic 77mm Lens Caps on ebay in bulk
- Paper Tape + Sharpie Marker
- Set of Diopters
- 3 77mm screw on Hood Shades (I think I should have gotten clip on though)
Still building, think I need to get another set of Polarizers as well.
joe 1008
Veteran
Nice, worth to consider. So you will focus by hand? And with all those screw on filters, won't you have a problem stacking them? You easily will get up to 3 filters in front of your camera. And what kind of diopters? For macro focussing?
Definitely Focus by hand. Most of the focus work I do on any camera, including RED, is by hand unless I can't reach the barrell, then it's Wireless FF. I personally like the feedback and direct feel of rolling the barrell, it's more intuitive to me. It's how our forefathers did it as well, lol.
Primiitive? Perhaps. But I like it.
But, you can add a follow focus, I don't think that'll be too much trouble. The Zacuto Follow Focus is actually a pretty good workout for these things do to the small footprint. I just wish I didn't have to deal with add-on rings or the like. =T
That's what makes the RPlens (www.rplens.com) look so nice, because they've got attached IS gears.
As far as stacking filters, that's why I think I need more NDs or actually stronger NDs. It'd be nice to not have to stack more than two ND's at a time. Say a .9 and a .6 or, even, two .9's if ultra shallow is needed. Ideally, though, you'd have a lens that's slow enough to begin with for broad daylight work where you wouldn't have to worry about stacking too many filters.
At max say a .6 and a Polarizer to protect the beautiful sky. Me love sky. Then you've got your screw on hood and you can shoot it up.
Yeah, I got a set of Tiffen Diopters from a friend who didn't need them anymore. +1, +2, +4 to change glass up for close focusing abilities. Just an extra bit to have that didn't cost much, you never know when you'll need them.
Next, Split Diopters and a few more neat-o-matics. VDSLRs are a lot more fun than 35mm Adapter Rigs and hell, even RED to be honest. Can't wait to get my GH-1 back to Panavise and PL mount that sucker.
weee.
Ian-T
Veteran
You are not the only one. I ahve been doing the exact same thing as you and came to the same conclusion. But 90% of the stuff that Daniel linked I've never seen before.
So thanks Daniel.
I couldn't either, man. You guys dont' feel bad. LoL. I started a thread a bit back askin' for narrative cause I couldn't find DIDDLY.
Fortunately, I'm a fan of ducth angles. LOL. If you ever find aliasing, notice that if you begin to clock the camera the aliasing characteristics change. Find the right angle and they vanish, but it won't work in every situation.
Other than that, I guess just ignore it? Turn the other cheek. We've been doing it with a LOT worse for how many years now? HVX200 footage and noise... that was the biggest cheek turner ever.
Richard J. Johnson
Joystick Member
LOL. You misunderstood. I just thought something was wrong. I think I worded the post wrong. I Wanted to see narrative WITH dialog. That's what I should have said. Either way taking the time to post that was a great help. thank you.
Richard J. Johnson
Joystick Member
Damn you and your dutch angles! I never really noticed them in abundance before you started talking about it. Now I see them everywhere. Not that I don't like them. But now I notice them and that bothers me. Thanks Kholi for ruining my Michael Bay experience! :beer:
All the same things film shooters said in the 1990s when DV showed up on the scene and everybody became a 'filmmaker'. Nobody with a VHS camera pretended they were 'filmmakers' but when DV showed up, oh mammy! "Film is dead!!!!!"
The more things change, the more they stay the same
squig
Veteran
have a look at the stuff I'm posting later this week. all shot with a 35mm nikon ai and mounted on the steadytracker. I'll shoot something @ 50mm as soon as my new russian 50 arrives. I've got an 85mm coming too so I'll see if I can get some jello going with that.