Philip Bloom's "Hirano San"

[Wilbur Eddings]

Well... Any film maker worth a teaspoon of salt will be lovingly, patiently setting up every shot with optimal lighting placement, experimenting meticulously with blocking and DoF manipulation and then obsessively sculpting the finer details and look in post production.

The oaf that buys any camera and starts shooting anything serious without knowing it's sweet spots might as well buy an AK47 and test fire it at his own foot!
Or maybe climb on a racing horse and shout giddiyup as loud as you can! (I hope you like camping.. cos you're gonna spend a lot of time in an oxygen tent!)

I remember my first day with the Red and then the Arri D21... Hearing the same whining from the 35mm crowd as I see on these forums. My DP was even embarrassed that we only had budget for these 'toy' cameras.

Then the DSLR revolution kicks in and kids start shooting backyard movies that can be shown at the local cineplex...
The public can't tell the difference between .5k and 2k.. They either see a great story or a crap one.

Now the Af100 shows up and we can shoot 90 minute features without groveling and sucking up to investors... $5k for el cheapo Grips from India and Ta Daaa... we have fluid tracking and jibbing... uber cheap m4/3 lenses...

If you can't shoot a good movie with the Af100 you might want to consider selling houses or opening a pet store... You sure as hell are not a film maker!

This Camera is gonna give the big boys a run for their money!


As for documentaries and such... I have a friend who sells HD footage to National Geographic and a few other local channels and his cam is only HDV... (Sony Z1e).

I took the time to write this as an encouragement to those who are having second thoughts about the Af 100.
Given the simplest tool, the true artist will silence any critic! The Af100 will be more than enough for that job.

 

[Jaime Valles]

Wow. I'm kind of shocked by the responses in this thread. I have to say I really loved the footage! Can't wait to see more.

 

[Yak]

Wow, really? You must be seeing something different to me!

This thread is one of the most negative things I have read in some time. Guys, chill, relax and stop getting your knickers in a twist. I have a lot to learn from the camera in getting the best from it but some of your comments are way over the top.

Personally I was pleased with about 80% of what I shot. My picture profile wasn't right with little time to experiment. We only had one day shooting and a hurried edit.

Philip I just watch your short on your web page without blowing it up to full screen, some truly beautiful stuff and nice to see a visual story told in a short time while you were herded like cats from one place to another. Could you have done that with a RED I do not think so what about using a DSLR not without the roof tiles looking wonky ect. Please can you put up a full resolution 1920/1080 file so we can all see what the camera can do with out web compression. Thanks again for telling a story and not just shooting a resolution chart.

 

[Ticheli]

Enough of the personal attacks against those who are finding fault with the posted clip. Let's get back to reality, shall we?

I'm not attacking anyone or criticizing the cinematography skills; I see shots in this video that are simply unacceptable and since I've got an AF100 on order, I want to know what factors are responsible.

Posting comments such as, "it looks great to me," are no more useful than, "it looks terrible," perhaps less.

There appears to be unacceptable noise in some of shots. How about a definitive answer: was it due to poor compression? Camera setup? Unrealistically high ASA? What?
How about the dreadful transition into clip? Same questions. It just doesn't look like 10.5 stops of DR to me, or if so, the shape of the curve is not pleasing at the highs.

I'm in favor of a little sanity and more civility. I've asked legitimate questions. How about some answers?

Good shooting and best regards,

Leo

 

[philip bloom]

I couldn't agree more. Philip is great at the random shots thing, and creating a feel for his vids. But compared to a narrative piece, it's a different game. Philip refers to himself as a director, But im yet to see anything he's directed. (outside of the "people of vids" which isn't what I call directing. To me directing is working with actors and crew to develop a vision. When you working alone, who are you directing? yourself? Maybe he has done some work I have never seen where he is directing.

Im not trying to take away from his work. he is good at what he does. But like the above poster stated, working on an actual set is totally different than traveling around shooting random stuff and putting it over a music track.

I have absolutely NO DESIRE to start defending my work or anything to you. If you simply cannot be bothered to look into my work then don't bother commenting. Ugh.

 

[bhdfield]

Let's all stop discussing PEOPLE, and stick with the camera. We're talking images. I see things here that make me a bit concerned, as well as many of you. Neither Phillip nor Barry have addressed them yet in much detail. A high degree of clipping, or at least lack of smooth falloff has been something I've noticed from every single sample video that has come from these tests. We don't know what gamma curve we are seeing. We don't know if that characteristic is still being tweaked by Panasonic engineers. I am frankly surprised Panasonic is allowing this footage to be posted. It makes me wonder if THEY are looking for direction in how to engineer the images it produces, or whether they are rushing the camera. I will say that I am hoping to see something of the magic of the Cine-D curve applied to future test footage.

 

[dcloud]

mostly the problems i see is the settings. they're set at a bit too saturated for my taste.
although quality wise, totally fixable in grading. would love to see the flattest possible footages though overall i dont see what the others are seeing. the overexposed scenes look like video, but the most of it looks fine

 

[PaPa]

Wow, really? You must be seeing something different to me!

This thread is one of the most negative things I have read in some time. Guys, chill, relax and stop getting your knickers in a twist. I have a lot to learn from the camera in getting the best from it but some of your comments are way over the top.

Personally I was pleased with about 80% of what I shot. My picture profile wasn't right with little time to experiment. We only had one day shooting and a hurried edit.

ditto, pretty nasty comments here.

Phil, if you get to reading this post, would you mind sharing with us the gamma settings or picture profile settings from the camera?

 

[Petros Kolyvas]

I'd be very happy if in one single day I could produce something like that. No, scratch that. Three days. Maybe four.

Very well done.

I was surprised at how well the codec held up with the water footage. I've found even DVCProHD can struggle with shots of busy streams and the like.

 

[pathfinder]

If you mean random shots laid to music and uploaded to Vimeo or Youtube - yes he is good at that. However, telling a compelling story that captivates a paying audience and that gets rave reviews with real film critics is another thing. We all have done, I am sure, the kind of crappy video that has meaningless nice pictures that make us all feel like filmakers. Most people on these forums have developed into filmakers who have come to worship at the altar of BOKEH.

But when it comes to the real DOPs on movie sets that is a whole new ball game my friend. They are not the guys who spend time on online forums discussing the merits of low end stuff - the cameras they use work well in most areas or they find something that does.These guys use light meters, focus pullers, camera assistants and have big budgets. I am one of the wannabes myself and that is why the AF100 was compelling. I have just realised that I am becoming as picky as a real DOP would be. It's not always about the specs but when the specs ruin a few shots - then it is a problem.


On an aside - I would use the word genius sparingly my friend.....there are very few of those in the world............... and they tend to win Academy awards.

I disagree wholeheartedly. There are those of us who enjoyed beautiful random shots put together with music along side those big budget compelling hollywood movies made by the big boys whom have traveled the same road as some of us in here before they get there.

What makes Phillip Bloom or any who are not in "hollywood" or not receiving any awards any less "real" than the big boys of hollywood? I've seen lots of craps shot by "real DOPs". The truth is, some "real DOPs" are not as picky as some of us in here who can hardly afford a decent camera the price of a DSLR. It is natural to select top of the line gear if you have the top dollars at your disposal. I doubt that most of us do. Otherwise, we wouldn't even be talking about the AF100 in the first place.

Me, for my budget and the size of my productions for the audience I'm targeting, the AF100 is good enough and a fulfillment of what I'm hoping for... for now. I will not be fussy and acting like a cry baby for what it lacks.

 

[bhdfield]

And I will clarify that I am surprised Panasonic are letting test footage be posted not because of the quality of composition or skill of camera use. Phillip is obviously a talented shooter. I am referring to Panasonic letting less than finished images into the hands of consumers who do....well exactly what we see them doing on this thread. Rushing to judgment without all the facts.

 

[philip bloom]

and I wonder why i frequent DVXuser less and less these days. Trying to have rational conversations with people is becoming harder and harder. This is graded as the description says so do not judge the dynamic range from this. This was me trying to make the best looking footage from what I shot. Yes some was at ISO 3200 because I needed to see how it was, did I have the best PP settings? No...neither Barry or myself knew what was best so it was pure guess work. I think some of the shots look to video for me where others don't. Also a wide variety of lenses were used from different manufactures. So many variables...

I have been promised more time with the camera in future, then I will get to know it better. Until then, please just back off a bit will ya? A lot of effort has gone into getting this done and it's sad to read such negative and nastiness here. Totally unnecessary.

 

[Kellar42]

Imagining what it looked like out the NLE on the 25' screen, I think it's a beautiful little short. Internet compression really does ruin the finer points of footage.

I'm not sure how much influence these forums have on overall sales...but certainly this has been a rocky process for Panasonic. The 'proper' model for the social media era seemed to be to get the camera into the hands of people like Phillip Bloom and be very open with the community, but in attempting to do so Panasonic has gotten hammered from folks because...what....it's not 35mm film or a Red Epic for $5,000? It's just better than everything we've been using in the same price range (think of what a 5D actually costs to go video ready) for the last couple of years.

The funny thing is I'm not sure there is a marketing solution at this point. RED gets hammered for the way they release things and Sony for all sorts of reasons, and yet people are mentioning RED products that don't exist and Sony products that cost 4 times as much and haven't been tested yet in comparisons to the AF100. What? Rough time to be building cameras....except of course I'm sure reason will prevail and these things will sell like hotcakes.

 

[Finster]

Maybe I'm odd, but I'm totally digging the footage and the camera.

I miss the old days on DVXuser when the DVX was just out and everyone seemed to appreciate the tool we had for what we could do with it - not what we couldn't.

Now, it seems like there is a whole bunch that just comes on to complain and nitpick.

Agree.

 

[EidolonFilms]

and I wonder why i frequent DVXuser less and less these days. Trying to have rational conversations with people is becoming harder and harder. This is graded as the description says so do not judge the dynamic range from this. This was me trying to make the best looking footage from what I shot. Yes some was at ISO 3200 because I needed to see how it was, did I have the best PP settings? No...neither Barry or myself knew what was best so it was pure guess work. I think some of the shots look to video for me where others don't. Also a wide variety of lenses were used from different manufactures. So many variables...

I have been promised more time with the camera in future, then I will get to know it better. Until then, please just back off a bit will ya? A lot of effort has gone into getting this done and it's sad to read such negative and nastiness here. Totally unnecessary.

Philip I thought the footage looked great. I loved the taxi driver shots, and the tea scene I thought was very artfully done.

Now, this is my first post here, long time lurker. I make a living producing documentary independently and for non-profit clients, and I cannot wait to get the AF100. I was one of the first to pre-order, and it still stands. I never jumped to DSLRs for film-making, so maybe my perspective is skewed, but the AF100 is a huge leap for me. Watching Philip's clip, I didn't find any of these crazy pixel peeping issues. Perhaps I just don't watch clips with the same attention to every detail as some. I watch for the overall image/feelin/story being told. And I think this is how the vast majority of people watch clips/movies. If you watch these clips only looking for issues, then you will find them, even in Hollywood features. So if the AF100 has issues that are simply unacceptable to you, then don't get it. I don't see why so many come here to say how bad it is, or how many issues there are, "canceling my pre-order..." etc. If you don't like it, then why spend so much time explaining to us why you don't like it? Do you go around explaining in detail to people why you don't like pistachio gelato?

 

[Billy Barber]

Phillip

As someone from, as Lyndon Johnson used to say, the Silent Majority, I'd just like to say thanks and sorry you have to wade through this stuff. Somehow when people sit down at a computer they sometimes forget there are actual people on the other side how are reading what they say at face value. Frankly I subscribe to the theory that half the population shouldn't be allowed to leave their homes but...I digress. Besides that wouldn't help us here.

Just want to say thank you for keeping your eye on the prize which we all know for you is capturing beautiful images and instilling confidence and inspiration in the rest of us.

 

[NinoI]

Yes, this camera is "only" 5k $. Yes, you can't get anything better in that range. Yes, the shooters were in a hurry and they had not time to know the camera better and to find better settings. Yes, the camera is only 95%. Yes "My picture profile wasn't right with little time to experiment. We only had one day shooting and a hurried edit." Yes, I understand all that. And so I'll wait for something better out of this camera. Really. The 5D is so wonderful for certain things that at least we can say it's a pity it is so ugly for others... But what can we say about the AF100? So far it just looks.... mediocre. So, YES, I understand why most people on this site are disappointed... they hoped to have a real tool for film making at a cost they could afford. Simple reality is it is probably not.

 

[alpi69]

and I wonder why i frequent DVXuser less and less these days. ..... This was me trying to make the best looking footage from what I shot.

What did you expect? Everyone here is waiting for ungraded footage. To be honest I didn´t read what you wrote on vimeo and probably many did. So I didn´t realize you sent it through MB. It explains a little, because Magic Bullet does sometimes not help footage (as you know now after the response here).

I hope you will show us some of the shots ungraded so we can really see what this camera is all about.

 

[philip bloom]

What did you expect? Everyone here is waiting for ungraded footage. To be honest I didn´t read what you wrote on vimeo and probably many did. So I didn´t realize you sent it through MB. It explains a little, because Magic Bullet does sometimes not help footage (as you know now after the response here).

I hope you will show us some of the shots ungraded so we can really see what this camera is all about.

What do I expect? Some civility would be a bloody good start! Loads of cool, calm, rational people but the attitude amongst many leaves a lot to be desired.

you have my south piece which is ungraded which is very rare for me. I am not going to show you an ungraded piece of work. for me grading is part of the process. Sorry. Am sure others will, am sure Barry will given you some but I grade my work, then show it. That is how I do things.

 

[BobDiaz]

Maybe I'm odd, but I'm totally digging the footage and the camera.

I miss the old days on DVXuser when the DVX was just out and everyone seemed to appreciate the tool we had for what we could do with it - not what we couldn't.

Now, it seems like there is a whole bunch that just comes on to complain and nitpick.

I agree with you on all the nitpicking. I wonder, IF Panasonic could produce the AF-100 with P2 and 4:4:2, how many would still gripe, because it's not 4:4:4 and uncompressed. :happy:

A camera is a tool and like any tool has it's good points and limits. As I said in another thread, I will look forward when comparison tests can be made on other cameras in the same price range. Anyone have any ideas on which $5,000 camera will give the AF-100 a run for its money?


I'm also troubled by all the nit-picking on Philip Bloom's work. Really, one day to do it and people are expecting something epic.



Bob Diaz