Brevis Flip w/Canon Xh-A1 Interview clip...

FatDaddy

FatDaddy

Veteran
This is my second interview set-up with a new Brevis 35 flip unit (and new to adapters). Shot with the Canon- XH-A1 in SD 4x3 (say yuck, but this pays the bills!). I used a small Rifa 55 soft light and one pro light opposite for hair/shoulder. In a dark small room letting natural light in and adding CTO to my two lights. Not a big long set-up, but exactly the reason I purchased a 35 adapter - to drop the background out of focus a little. I am trying Vimeo as a web delivery system on an up coming international project (leave Friday). Vimeo address as:
http://www.vimeo.com/690068
You can watch the clip compressed or download the clip the the lower right hand part of the screen. It is compressed for web at 640x480 at 5 megs (more compression from the Vimeo on the one that plays back on the website).

Also blog site for daily updates overseas is:
www.globalfilmmaking.blogspot.com

Lens used was a Nikkor 105 2.5 that I just purchased used from Penn cameras. Very happy with the Brevis.

Enjoy!

John
 
I was wide open at this point in the interview (2.5 on the lens). A little earlier I was at 4 on the lens with more light coming in from the window (his left our right), but liked the look better letting less natural light in and opening up. This clip is color corrected :-) I shot it pretty flat worried about his white hair. Just running out the door to deliver the project. Final clip is slightly less hot in the whites (just a pinch).
 
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What you'll find is that the XH-A1 is actually cleaner with your flip unit than without. It's the first time I've ever been able to say that about any camera (and it may be true of others) but we've analyzed the XH-A1 very carefully on a DSC labs rear illuminated 1200 line res chart to arrive at that conclusion.

105mm to 200mm lenses are my absolute favourite for use with interviews. We used a 70-200 f2.8 (constant aperture) Canon EOS zoom last week, and I instantly fell in love with the look at 200mm. While in Toronto last week for stillmotion.ca's studio opeing, I realized they used the Brevis flip 100% of the time I was there on all of their XH-A1 cams...they never shot "bare".

Enjoy the unit :-)
 
Thanks Matt. Good to move back to the area (I use to live in Alexandria, now out in the country - Berryville!)

Yes Dennis I would agree about the lens focal lengths. I am tracking down a used Nikon 80-200 2.8 ED lens right now and I think this will be my interview lens. The primes are fast and look great, but I already miss (I've only used it twice for interviews, so take this with a grain of salt) the ability to move in on a subject during interviews. I have a series of couples to interview and will set it up with the 80 as my wide two shot and use the zoom to pick up individual shots. I hate the two shot "other person lost in their own world while they talk" syndrome. At least all of this is my plan :-).

The good thing about the Brevis is that a nice fast zoom looks great with no real issues. I have only tested this with a couple of 2.8 mid range zooms; not enough reach but it looks like it should work the 80-200 2.8. And since getting the Brevis I will stick with Nikon for photography and can buy certain lenses to use with both systems.

More toys to buy...
 
Even the slow zooms work surprisingly well. I've got a 28-200mm f4.5 that works perfectly from 28mm to 200mm. Having tried the EOS f2.8 70-200mm zoom, the f2.8 300mm, and the f4 500mm, I'd use any of them in a heartbeat for interview work...although the 500mm would need to be 30ft back! You simply can't beat a fast long lens for creamy bokeh.
 
I don't know if shooting SD on a HD camera can even cause this (doubt it), maybe it's just my misperception, but at 105mm at F2.5, shouldn't that background be more out of focus, or is it just really close to the subject?
 
Yes it was a small room. I am probably about 7ft from him and he is 6ft from the wall behind him. Also, I have been using the spacer with the flip unit and have found out I don't need the spacer unless I am working with the non-flip unit. I leave in a couple of hours for Turkey, Morocco and France with the Brevis (non-flip) a 50 1.4 and the 105 2.5. Will bring the spacer ring for the A1 and also have a HV-20 I will try some shots with. Did not get to pick-up the 80-200.

Should be fun!
 
Correct, no camera out there needs our spacer when using the flip unit. The flip achromat really should be used at its design distance only ... meaning no spacer. In this mode most cameras will be able to zoom right up to 100%, making S16 format lenses now usable on the Brevis :-)

The only exception is the EX1, which will be getting a corrective lens similar in outward appearance to a UV filter that will add to our standard flip achromat.
 
Just saw in your other Vimeo video that Fedex screwed you on delivering your tripod!


If that happens again dude, just give me a ring, you could have taken one of my backups!
 
Hey Matt.

In Turkey now, sitting in the home of an American doctor who has high speed wireless internet - it feels just like home! (outside of the snow and blowing wind). Actually, as I will update tonight on the the blog (sorry it's night for me) my local FedEx guy came through and pulled the package for me even though FedEx said it was against policy because B & H does not allow it unless they say it is okay by phone. The wife went and picked it up. The bad news, I could not fit the Brevis unit in with my small and light travel set-up. I am in tourist mode for shooting and would use the Brevis for interviews, but I was not able to score the 80-200 and will be doing half the interviews as two person. So it was the Brevis unit or a HV-20 and I opted for the HV-20. I will use it for some tourist looking b-roll shots, behind the scenes stuff and as a backup in case the A1 goes down, gets stolen or the police want to keep it.

I will be out and about next month in Liberia, Dominican Republic and other parts of the world shooting a large project and will bring all my stuff for that one.

Also Matt, looking for a potential sound guy/second camera person for the trip just mentioned. know anybody in the DC area that might be interested?

Dennis - Hubert sent me an email wit the set-ups. I don't know why I started using the spacer with the flip? Oh well, now I know! How about a one page two half pictures (top and bottom) of a set-up system to throw in with new kits. Could have little arrows pointing to the parts with names?

Just a thought.

Thanks,
john
 
Damn, I'd go on a heartbeat....do you have specific dates?

I have a full sound rig and 2 HVX200s....


If the dates don't work out i DO know some other people.....
 
Dates are on the bubble as of two days ago. It was set for Liberia, West Africa the last week of March (shooting the week of the 24th). I worked on a small project (from the Brevis clip) and handed it to them before I left and they said not they are not sure if the dates will stick but the location will. They also have other locations around the world that I will be going to visit. I probably will not know until I return in about two weeks. Although, wireless internet makes it seem like another day at the office :-)
 
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