Short educational video - would love some feedback (AF100 shoot)

ryangschultz

ryangschultz

Active member
So I am a junior in college and I'm starting to do more freelance work to build up my portfolio once I graduate. This is the result of a video I created over the course of this semester and I would love your feedback. It's also my first production with the AF100 (I used to shoot with a SONY AX2000).

Notes:
-I shot with a Lumix 20mm f/1.7 and Lumix 14-140mm/f4-5.8 (the only lenses I had at the time, since then I've purchased some Nikon primes and sold the 14-140)
-I used a shotgun off camera for the interviews
-First video I've made where I actually went and got the rights to copyrighted music, woohoo!! Usually I use free stuff I can find

A couple things I noticed:
-The focus during interviews with the 14-140mm f/4-5.8 was a little soft, I was kind of disappointed but I used a sharpen filter and it cleaned it up nicely
-Obviously compression did a number on it when you full screen, wish you could see the ProRes version

 
I looked great, the interviews were well lit- looked sharp to me.
BTW- when he says: "fighting to get to the finals" @2:15 looks like there is a small glitch- did Vimeo do that?
 
Looks quite good.

The only thing I would change would be the color grading in the class-room exercise shots. ( a little too green and hilights are a little washed out )
 
Ed Kishel said:
I looked great, the interviews were well lit- looked sharp to me. BTW- when he says: "fighting to get to the finals" @2:15 looks like there is a small glitch- did Vimeo do that?
Click to expand...
Thanks a lot guys, I really appreciate the feedback. Ed, I noticed the glitch too...from day 1. Unfortunately that happened right in the camera, it was like that when I ingested the footage, which is pretty upsetting. It's happened on one other occasion to, I don't know what causes that but it's frustrating.And yes, it was kind of green, I was dealing with fluorescent lights and the room was green too so it was tricky, but next time I'll try some grading to take care of that.
 
I loved the content, but really hated the shallow DoF - I find it very distracting to be able to see the instructor clearly, but have the others very soft - same with scenes shot from the rear, where the over the shoulder shots are out of focus. I know it's the current fashion and the popular must have - but it's cinematic not really documentary. The content of the shots is important here, so should all be in sharp focus. I can't imagine the news or even things like "how does it work" using shallow DoF - it just doesn't look right. I do understand loads of people are spending huge amounts of dish on large sensors and prime lenses, but have to ask why - when it's a factual documentary style programme. It's just me on my own on this, I'm quite sure, but for me, the soft focus doesn't say accuracy, it says art.
 
I can respect that, I understand where you're coming from. This is actually my first real documentary like video, I usually do more creative artistic things which is why I tend toward the shallower DOF. Thinking technically though, it would have been hard to have everything sharp because the lighting I the room wasn't that great so to get those close ups I was limited to my 20mm f/1.7, if I closed it down I would have had to bring my ISO up and sacrifice quality, but I prefer the shallow DOF look anyway. thanks for your input though, you make a valid point. If I do more work in this style I'll definitely take it into consideration.
 
Dude I don't know if you've tried it yet but the AF-100 has insane low light capabilities with its high ISO without losing too much quality. Try it sometime and see if you can get the deep DOF with your 20mm in low light (unless you already have, of course).

Question about the glitches; what SD cards were you shooting on? Class, brand?

Thanks.
 
Tyrant Lizard said:
Dude I don't know if you've tried it yet but the AF-100 has insane low light capabilities with its high ISO without losing too much quality. Try it sometime and see if you can get the deep DOF with your 20mm in low light (unless you already have, of course).

Question about the glitches; what SD cards were you shooting on? Class, brand?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I've actually done quite a bit of testing with the AF100 in low light, and once you go above ISO800 you begin to see grain. I didn't want any grain and I was already pushing ISO 800 with the 14-140. If I were outdoors then yes, I could just use the ND filters with either lens and close them down enough to det a deep DOF, but I was limited with indoor light.

The cards are fine, transcend class 10, I don't think they're the issue. I have used them for years with other cameras and have never had an issue.
 
Hmm, interesting. Don't know what could have caused the glitches. How did you import the footage?

I guess our definition of acceptable grain differs. No big deal!
 
if you have the original .mts file on the card, see if it plays back in camera with the glitch. Then you know if it was the cam/card or if FCP choked on it during log and transfer.
Re: the DOF- I didn't find it objectionable, but can see why some viewers might see it that way. We tend to associate shallow DOF with narrative (scripted) pieces, and with documentaries (reality)- deep focus. I think that comes from watching the news and reality shows that are primarily shot deep focus.
 
I didn't think the DOF was that distracting. I mean the video is about this teacher, so the shots where he's teaching are about him teaching, so we just see him. I think it's really a preference thing.

I think I would have liked to see a low angle wide shot on sticks just watching him teach the class for a few minutes.
 
Ed Kishel said:
if you have the original .mts file on the card, see if it plays back in camera with the glitch. Then you know if it was the cam/card or if FCP choked on it during log and transfer.
Re: the DOF- I didn't find it objectionable, but can see why some viewers might see it that way. We tend to associate shallow DOF with narrative (scripted) pieces, and with documentaries (reality)- deep focus. I think that comes from watching the news and reality shows that are primarily shot deep focus.
Click to expand...

I went back and looked at the original .MTS files...FCP hiccuped. I can't believe I just ignored it, I could have fixed it by re-ingesting that clip and replacing the old one...actually just that one frame even. Bummer, lesson learned.
 
You came. You asked questions. You listen. You show your work. Welcome to the community!

For what it is it’s good. You didn’t do anything cheap. Thats a big deal! I like the overcranked shots. Interviews looked great. Keep it up!
 
Somehow I missed these posts, thanks so much for the kind words! I really appreciate all the feedback. I'm hoping to find some really interesting stories in the future so I can do some more creative work, after all this is my passion!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top