M2 lighting test

Yeah, I agree with you too slimothy.

Thanks John, but as I said, it wasn't really a lighting test. I just popped a reflector so I could shoot the motion test. Cool thing though, is that with the 35mm adapters, direct hard light is not as bad as it is in video, as I could accidentally see with this test. But I was really surprised with how sharp it turned out, since I really didn't spend too much time setting it up this time...

Still, thanks!

I hope I'll be able to show you some good material with the M2 shortly!
 
So why did the original images lack so much contrast? Was it the lighting or was it the low contrast properties of the focusing screen?
 
I hate to say it but it looks like a few of the shots above were shot as if the GG wasn't spinning. Or the battery was almost dead and the GG wasn't spinning fast enough.

Those images are examples of how not to shoot with a 35mm adapter.
 
HansK said:
I hate to say it but it looks like a few of the shots above were shot as if the GG wasn't spinning. Or the battery was almost dead and the GG wasn't spinning fast enough.

Those images are examples of how not to shoot with a 35mm adapter.
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I have to agree with you.....a 35mm adapter is not just a throw on and get the look. Gotta pay a lot of attention to details with that baby.
 
On another hand, I kind of like the look. frames 1 and 4 are quite cool. I could do a music video like that. Very super8'ish!
 
Slimothy said:
I've seen some awesome stuff from the M2. I think most people probaby don't know how to use it properly.
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I hope that is the case. Do you have any links for decent footage from it? I can't say the footage on their own site looks that good to me (only my opinion). It's soft and super 8 looking.

I guess looking at McGregors footage with the G35 and how well he shot with it using good lighting and decent post work makes a lot of stuff look like crap.

I'd love to see something that was that well done..like the shots in Similo from the Redrock adapter.

Links please!:)
 
Angrius said:
I hope that is the case. Do you have any links for decent footage from it? I can't say the footage on their own site looks that good to me (only my opinion). It's soft and super 8 looking.

I guess looking at McGregors footage with the G35 and how well he shot with it using good lighting and decent post work makes a lot of stuff look like crap.

I'd love to see something that was that well done..like the shots in Similo from the Redrock adapter.

Links please!:)
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do you know what super 8 footage looks like? it's very grainy and contrasty at times, and when projected it almost looks archival as in historical. I'm a big fan of super 8 films and i shoot super8 as well. M2 doesn't turn out grain like that. I would suggest being more precise with comparisons. I think there is a clip called "the letter", and another one that is a music video as well.
 
Angrius said:
Do you have any links for decent footage from it? I can't say the footage on their own site looks that good to me (only my opinion).
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First, I recommend that you post some grabs of footage that you consider "looks good". From any source and shot with any digital or film. That would give us a baseline to what your opinion of "good" is.
 
I hope that is the case. Do you have any links for decent footage from it? I can't say the footage on their own site looks that good to me (only my opinion). It's soft and super 8 looking.
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I think these pieces look amazing, shot with the M2:

http://www.redrockmicro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1401

http://www.redrockmicro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1083

I'm sure you guys have probably seen these before, but I know Angrius would like to see some proof that the M2 can be impressive, just like me.
 
nycfilmmaker said:
do you know what super 8 footage looks like? it's very grainy and contrasty at times, and when projected it almost looks archival as in historical. I'm a big fan of super 8 films and i shoot super8 as well. M2 doesn't turn out grain like that. I would suggest being more precise with comparisons. I think there is a clip called "the letter", and another one that is a music video as well.
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Of course I know what super 8 looks like..who doesn't..it looks like shlt unless you want to produce nostalgic images in your production. It was a general reference to grain in most of the images I've seen with the M2. Although, I could easily output that super8 to look like those images. You just have to know how to clean it up properly.
I thought you might have picked up on that but perhaps I should have said it has more of a 16mm look. I've looked at all their clips on their website and they just aren't that great in my eyes. Sorry but maybe it's just the shooters that suck.

Hansk check out any work Mcgregor or Norm Li has done with the G35. Go to cinemeks site and look there for examples. What I've seen from the M2 just doesn't even come close. Once again though it could be from the people that use lighters and flashlights to light their scenes and don't know jack about lighting that is making the m2 look less than steller.

Thanks for that link Disjecta. I will say these are better..mind you they look like they were shot on a pretty damn bright day too.

rauschelbach that video Rich did looks okay. I assume Rich knows what he is doing and it looks fine but still there is a grainy washed out look to it. I'll have to email him and see what he thinks of it. If you're going for that old 16mm look then great. I just want something sharper and with less grain. If I wanted a 16mm look, I'd just go fire up the one I have in my closet!:) Honestly half the guys here who are making their own for a coulple hundread bucks are producing just as good of an image. Makes you wonder.

Thanks for the feedback guys. I'll keep watching the M2 and see if my opinions change. It may just come down to who is behind the camera.
 
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as hansk said, i recommend posting footage u would call 'good', angrius.

the m2's demo footage, yes - especially 'the letter', looks spectacular.

some people have the weirdest comments....
 
yes angrius the g35 has nice demo footage as well but where do you see it being soooo much better than the m2??? i'd say they both look very good; and actually see a bit more grain in the g35.

i think the g35, m2, brevis, and maybe go35pro/hd look like they are all going to be in the same league and only a properly done shoot out will show the discrepancies in quality.

and yes, who shoots the demos, with what lighting, editing, etc can make a world's difference....if my mom shot something with the p+s technik... it probably wouldn't be winning an emmy for cinematographic beauty!!!
so bashing one or another of these adapters, unless you've used it yourself, or seen dvd quality footage of them on a large monitor/tv.....is a bit silly... and insolent.
 
I think you're right, Angrius, Norm Li's stuff on the Cinemek's site look great, probably the best adapter stuff I've seen. But I got a feeling that's 90% Norm Li, 10% G35. I bet if you gave him the M2 he could produce some amazing images. But I do have to say the G35 stuff I've seen does consistantly look better than the M2. Still, I would have to go with the M2 just because it actually exists, unlike the G35... I won't start that conversation again, sorry.

But, Angrius, I don't know if you'll ever find an adapter that's gonna look better than 16mm(ok, I know you said old 16mm), not until video camera behind it has better resolution or grain than 16mm, right?
 
footage shot on decent 2/3" CCD cams comes right in between 16mm and 35mm as far as i'm concerned. many tv commercials today are shot on these cameras, and although most people in this forum could see (perhaps with a bit of effort) that they are video, the feel of them is a kangaroo leap ahead of any 1/3" CCD cams, including the best HD ones. these cameras have limitations, but we need not forget that a few years ago people would have killed for any kind of affordable 24p cam....i still love my dvx!!
 
Probably true Rauschelbach. I still feel that McGregors footage was not that bad in the end. He has said he has done some post (but you should be doing that anyways). I do think it comes down to a few things in the end. The person holding the camera, the camera itself the lighting and the glass. All play an important role. For most people just fooling around, they'll never go out and buy a fast lens (other than an old f series 50mm 1.4 or some junk) and probably never understand how lens really work in the first place.
The guys using the G35 are using a non-vibrating unit so I'm interested in seeing what is going to be produced when they come out with their new adapter over at Cinemek.

Davidpula most big time commercials are shot on film or HD. I know this because that's what I work in. 2/3 ccd cams are low budget no money commercials. The quality still isn't there for more companies to put their image and vision too.

Over and out.
Angrius
 
davidpula said:
yes angrius the g35 has nice demo footage as well but where do you see it being soooo much better than the m2??? i'd say they both look very good; and actually see a bit more grain in the g35.

i think the g35, m2, brevis, and maybe go35pro/hd look like they are all going to be in the same league and only a properly done shoot out will show the discrepancies in quality.

and yes, who shoots the demos, with what lighting, editing, etc can make a world's difference....if my mom shot something with the p+s technik... it probably wouldn't be winning an emmy for cinematographic beauty!!!
so bashing one or another of these adapters, unless you've used it yourself, or seen dvd quality footage of them on a large monitor/tv.....is a bit silly... and insolent.
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Well I would hardly say I was bashing or being overbearing. I'm sorry but are we not allowed to have our own opinions on what we see here? Last time I checked that's what a lot of this forum was all about.

Try reading the forums a little closer. You'll notice a lot more people have the same view on this as myself. Is everybody being overbearing? I think not. They are opinions. Hillarious!:) Okay I'm wasting too much time on here...adios!
 
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