I've tried it out just a little bit, looks great so far. I guess I need to get 1 TB SSD:s for the O7Q.
VaricamLT: Varicam LT for Solo Owner-Operator?
- Thread starter jaypass
- Start date
I've tried it out just a little bit, looks great so far. I guess I need to get 1 TB SSD:s for the O7Q.
In what regard do you think that the highlights are more recoverable on the F55? There's info everywhere in the highlights on the original file, as far as I can see.
On the WFM nothing is clipped but there is no detail in the sky that you can reveal by pulling some gain.
Well, there wasn't much detail in the sky in the first place. It was very even. In ACES 1.0 in Resolve it's actually not that difficult to see that there is detail in the sky, at least it isn't when I try it.
abreu-canedo
Well-known member
Nice images attached. I can't speak to the highlights being clipped or recoverable, since I have not looked into it with detail, but good photography, nonetheless!
That may very well be the case. Just so you know what I'm talking about, if you look at your sky on the WFM it's a very thin line, almost perfectly horizontal at about code value 970. All the texture of the sky is contained within a very narrow band of code values. Often when I see that, it's because the shades at the top of the range have been compressed and I can expand that area to reveal some highlight details.
Alex Derrick
Active member
Hey Morgan, I would be interested in hearing your opinion on the Ursa Mini compared to shooting with the Varicam LT.
In regards to weight, and single operation, I want to share my experience with the Ursa Mini which weights more than the Fs7
I carried a Mini around w/ 2 Vlocks, Blackmagic EVF, Sigma 18-35 & 50-100, Canon 85mm, and an old and heavy aluminum tripd during monsoon season in rural India for 14 days by myself. It was over 90 degree every day, the humidity was 95%, and many days there was an omnipresent light mist/steam all day. Insects were constantly biting, monkeys, water buffaloes wild dogs and cows were running wild, and villagers were crowding around whenever I set up. Those conditions I consider to be some of THE MOST DIFFICULT in the world, with the exception of very extreme weather like polar regions. Certainly more difficult than anything anybody would encounter in a white country.
I am a pretty skinny guy, if I can manage my porta-brace kit with joy, I am pretty certain anyone who has sufficient will power won't have any problems as a single operator of the Varicam LT. Also let me add it is balanced way better than the Ursa Mini, has a better should pad, and the hand grip is much more ergonomic. So it is much easier to operate as well.
End of story.
To be honest, if I had the money I would buy a Varicam 35. After a little hands on with it last week, I didnt' think it was that big. If you consider an Amira which Arri designed to be the premier doc camera, the LT is a cake walk for anyone who really loves film making (as much as I do).
If (when) Panasonic rewrites the firmware to remedy or speed up the rebooting when changing codecs, it will be that much more awesome. For now atleast you can work with the viewfinder a few seconds after rebooting, to set up your shots while the rest of the OS loads up. But I would have to imagine this is priority for their software engineering team. Since this one change would put the camera in a totally different class for operators.
Great conversation!
Reminds me of my days living in Tokyo, shooting around asia. Those summer months were killer. Humidity basically meant the minute I left air con in any hotel (assuming it had it), that I was wet all day. Sweat constantly dripping into the EVF, change evf chamois every second day almost. Packing sealable bags into my camera bag packed with little bags of silica gel. Good times!
jaypass
Well-known member
I just used a fully kitted-out FS7 again this week...Definitely isn't a cake walk, but I do think that once you get to a certain weight range, the difference is negligible. I don't think I'm going to be bothered too much by the difference between 12lbs and 16lbs, assuming the difference is 3-5lbs. The important thing is how it rests on the shoulder, and I've never gotten 100% comfortable with the FS7. I used it with the extension unit and a brick battery once, and that actually felt a little better balance-wise. I'll see if I can feel a difference when I get my hands on the LT next week.
And thanks for the footage Milan! I've been swamped this week but I found some time to tinker with it a bit, it definitely looks like there's plenty of color/detail there.
And thanks for the footage Milan! I've been swamped this week but I found some time to tinker with it a bit, it definitely looks like there's plenty of color/detail there.
I'm glad if I can be of some help.
I'm going to a town in northern Sweden on Tuesday and will be shooting a couple of interviews but also getting some shots of the town. Hopefully I can make some of them available to you.
NorBro
Major Contributor
First rebates available for packages...
Here's one with the viewfinder pretty much for free:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1236191-REG/panasonic_varicamlt_vf_varicam_lt_vf_package.html
It's only a matter of time until the body drops in pricing. :thumbsup:
Here's one with the viewfinder pretty much for free:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1236191-REG/panasonic_varicamlt_vf_varicam_lt_vf_package.html
It's only a matter of time until the body drops in pricing. :thumbsup:
b&h site says "non-returnable".
i wonder why that is part of purchasing this camera.
no phony sales but cheap rental?
the LT is out of my price range but i sure wish it wasn't!
be well.
rob
smalltalk.productions
Mitch Gross
Veteran
A few years back a guy wrote about how he made his zero-budget indy movie and part of it was that he bought a camera from a store with a standard 30-day return policy. He shot the movie in 29 days and then returned the camera. So now B&H and other retailers have to spell out this rule to the a-holes of the world who would try to take such ridiculous advantage of policies meant to protect consumers.
Which makes it a Pam Anderson of cameras.
People have been doing that crap forever. I first heard about this in the mid-80's - which means that it took place even earlier - when some guy "rented" a full size VHS camcorder (from the store/chain where I was working) for a summer vacation video. When the vacation was over, he returned the camcorder and kept the tape he made. And got the full refund back too.
Returns and refunds are cost of being in the retail business. I had a $4,000 - big money back in the late'80's/early'90's - big screens returned because the customer's wife didn't like their kids sitting in front of it instead of playing in their backyard. The customer was a VP of Legal Affairs at Warner Brothers'. A big ass mansion in Hancock Park. But the TV had to go back.
Run&Gun
Veteran
Reminds me of the stories of jack@$$es that go and buy a big TV the week of the Super Bowl and return it the Monday after.
How many people bought a D600, F900 or ALEXA and then returned it within 30 days? No one that I know or have even heard of. At a certain level, you should KNOW if you need a piece of gear. If you have any questions about something like that, get a demo or rent it.
And I don't agree with the argument that B&H is a "giant". Just because they're a big business means that it's ok to abuse them and take advantage of them? They have a very good and almost effortless return policy on most items, but they're not selling thousands of these cameras. I'm very good friends with a rep at a big equipment vendor. They don't have a huge mark-up on these items.
How many people bought a D600, F900 or ALEXA and then returned it within 30 days? No one that I know or have even heard of. At a certain level, you should KNOW if you need a piece of gear. If you have any questions about something like that, get a demo or rent it.
And I don't agree with the argument that B&H is a "giant". Just because they're a big business means that it's ok to abuse them and take advantage of them? They have a very good and almost effortless return policy on most items, but they're not selling thousands of these cameras. I'm very good friends with a rep at a big equipment vendor. They don't have a huge mark-up on these items.