Canon DSLR


Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

Lockheed Airship video Shot on a 5D

My good friend Tom Myrdahl was the gaffer on this cool video about a new airship called the P-791.  Much of this material, including all the interviews, was filmed on a Canon 5D by cinematographer Eric Schulzinger, who is the head of the digital media department at Lockheed Martin. 

Click to start video:

Two of the crew members on this shoot got excited about the DSLR camera technology and decided to attend the Canon DSLR Boot Camp in order to learn more about the 5D and 7D.  I’m sure you’ll be seeing a lot more of these cameras in future Lockheed videos.

Snehal Patel
Director/DP
www.FearlessProductions.tv

Posted via email from Fearless Productions Blog

Bookmark and Share

Posted in Canon DSLR, General | No Comments

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

Inexpensive Hacked Wireless Video for DSLR Cameras – under $200

San Diego based photographer Robert Benson sent me his latest tech creation which is a wireless video monitoring solution that works off the analog signal coming out of cameras like the Canon and Nikon DSLRs. I love people that are makers who hack things together to create affordable solutions for thier professional challenges.

I was pleasently suprised at the quality of wireless video that was being sent over the airwaves by a small transmitter attached to the analog AV ouput of the camera.  Robert’s new version of this setup has an even better casing for the transmitter and 9V battery sans the black tape.  The monitor itself if a mobile DTV that used to have an analog AV input.  Robert has modified the lightweight 7″ device by dropping in an analog video reciever into the plastic casing of the mobile TV, which is powered by the same rechargeable battery that powers the LCD screen.  This reciever is routed through the AV input of the TV, making operation as simple as pushing a button.

In 16×9 mode, the screen is a bit stretched, but it’s still easy to get focus see the framing.  It’s a great tool for times when you are doing a car mount or some other special mount where you just need a simple monitoring solution to see if you got the shot right.  For on-set follow-focus operations by the A/C, I would probably go with an SDI or HD-SDI wireless solution. But at $200, it’s a great tool to have that will help you in a pinch.

Robert is giving away one of these cool monitor systems on his blog.  Also, check out the video “Fight” on his website, it’s very very awesome.

Snehal Patel
Director/DP
FearlessProductions.tv

Posted via email from Fearless Productions Blog

Bookmark and Share

Posted in Canon DSLR, General | 1 Comment

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

Why I love my RedRock Micro DSLR Rig

I’ve been using the RedRock DSLR Field Cinema Deluxe Bundle for both my work and for demonstrating in the Canon DLSR Boot Camps (www.canonbootcamp.com).  This is a shoulder-mount rig that holds allows you to shoot steady video, comes with a follow focus and is designed to be used with an external monitor.

Here are 5 reasons I love this rig:

1. Ergonomics – even with a full complement of accessories, the Deluxe rig balances well on the shoulder.

2. Ease of use – not only are the parts easy to put together, the rig can also be quickly mounted to a tri-pod for locked-down filming.

3. Quality fittings – RedRock is known for making quality parts that really feel solid. Because their gear is made of precision-machined aluminum I haven’t had any problems with plastic parts breaking or threads wearing out no matter how hard I work the rig.  Besides blue is my favorite color!

4. Adaptability – for example, with the addition of RedRock’s focus ring adapters, still lenses can be made to work with the follow focus.  Also for lenses like the new Zeiss CP.2s, you don’t have to run out an get a new follow focus because the on-board one works perfectly.  Also the rod system works with other manufacturers’ accessories.

5. Hack-ability – we were able to swap out the counterweights that came with the rig and mount a battery plate for Anton-Bauer batteries instead.  The battery is hooked up to the Marshall 7″, providing hours of use plus it eliminates the need for a batter pack on the back of the monitor. (RedRock offers a battery plate of their own design for the same purpose.)

Don’t take my word for it.  Go check out the rig for yourself or rent it for a shoot.

Snehal Patel
DP/Director

Posted via email from Fearless Productions Blog

Bookmark and Share

Tags:
Posted in Canon DSLR, General | 1 Comment

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

Latest DSLR Video on E! Daily 10 tonight!

A new video by SmoothE.tv and Fearless Productions. It will appear on E! Network’s “Daily 10″ show tonight 6:30/7:30 Central

Shot at The Association (www.theassociation.tv) with a Canon 5D MKII.  Who say’s you can’t do greenscreen with a still camera?  I filmed with good exposure and make sure the subject was in sharp focus by raising the ISO a bit so that I could stop down the aperature to 5.6/6.3.  We didn’t have much trouble at all knocking out the green in Final Cut using Primatte Keyer Pro.  I created all animation in After Effects and composited the layers in Final Cut.  Natress filters were used for the film look.

Snehal Patel
Director/DP

Posted via email from Fearless Productions Blog

Bookmark and Share

Posted in Canon DSLR, General | No Comments

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

Zeiss CP2 lenses reviewed

Zeiss was kind enough to send over a set of five Compact Prime Lenses with Canon EF mounts for evaluation.  They are meant for professional DSLR filming in HD.  The lenses are called CP.2 for short and MSRP is $3,900 for each lens.  The full set of seven lenses includes the following: 18mm T3.6, 21mm T2.9, 25mm T2.9, 28mm T2.1, 35mm T2.1, 50mm T2.1 and an 85mm T2.1.I decided to use the lenses for a web commercial I was shooting for a board game with comedian Eric Shwartz of www.smoothe.tv .  I paired them up with my Canon 5D and used the following setup to shoot: RedRock Micro shoulder rig & follow focus, Marshall 7″ HDMI monitor, Sachtler sticks and head.

The first thing you notice about these lenses is that they are all the same dimension and weight about the same (1 kg each).  That’s great for when using a Matt Box or electronic accessories on the lenses.  Also, the one thing that sets these lenses apart from the Canon still lenses is the geared iris ring which allows for smooth iris control.  Also the focus rotation is large, allowing for more precise markings and an easier time for the AC.

The lenses worked beautifully.  They covered the full frame of the 5D sensor and I could easily swap out from a 21mm wide to an 85mm for close-ups without having to adjust my rig at all.  Even the follow focus can be locked in place while swapping.  That’s so different from when I work with Canon L-series primes which are all kinds of different shapes, requiring different rings to work with my RedRock follow focus.

The image quality of the lenses is quite nice.  The sharpness and detail are great plus I didn’t see the lenses breathe at all when I racked focus – which was a concern with the Zeiss ZE series.  Also, I didn’t see any color aberrations or vignetting on the edges of the image.

Overall I am very pleased with the Zeiss CP.2 lenses because they provide a very cinematic workflow for the cinematographer and AC while being rock solid and precise.  I do recommend you check them out as an option to using PL mount film lenses on a converted 5D or 7D body.

I’ll post the web commercial once it’s online.

On-set stills courtesy of Tom Myrdahl of www.myrdahlhdvideo.com

Snehal Patel

Posted via email from Fearless Productions Blog

Bookmark and Share

Posted in Canon DSLR, General | 2 Comments

Monday, June 28th, 2010

Erika’s Call – scene filmed during Canon DSLR Boot Camp Level2

This scene was filmed by participants of the Canon DSLR Level 2 Boot Camp on May 29, 2010.

The boot camp is put on by The Association and instructed by Snehal Patel of FearlessProductions.tv

http://www.canonbootcamp.com

The video was shot on a mix of Canon 5Ds and 7Ds. One of the cameras used was a converted 5D with a PL mount and Zeiss lens provided by Hot Rod Cameras.

Audio was recorded in-camera using a mixer and Beachtek pre-amps. Marshall Monitors were mounted on a couple of Red Rock Micro shoulder-mount rigs for hand-held shots. In the opening sequence, we utilized a Micro-Dolly while the second scene was filmed with a Losmandy Port-a-jib. Manfrotto 6′ suction cups were used for the car mounts.

The Canon 5D and 7D footage was transcoded in Final Cut Pro using the EOS1 Plugin from Canon into ProRes422 files. Grading done with Magic Bullet Looks. Post completed by Snehal.

A special thanks to our DSLR partners who contribute products and services for our Boot Camps:
http://ProHDRentals.com
http://GreenScreenLA.com
http://LCDracks.com
http://redrockmicro.com
http://litepanels.com
http://zeiss.com
http://beachtek.com
http://canon.com
http://hotrodcameras.com
http://hoodmanusa.com
http://productionhub.com
http://digitalcinemasociety.org

Posted via email from Fearless Productions Blog

Bookmark and Share

Posted in Canon DSLR, General | No Comments

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

Zeiss sent Compact Prime lenses for evaluation

Zeiss sent over a set of CP2 Compact Primes with Canon EF mounts for us to evaluate.  I’m shooting a commercial spot tomorrow and I will try these lenses on a Canon 5D.  The CP2s were designed for film-style shooting so they have film-style gears and focus markings, cover the full frame of the 5D sensor (no vignetting), are made in a cine style housing and connected to a EF mount, PL mount or F mount depending on your application.  Best of all, they are not that expensive compared to other quality film lenses.I’ll post my evaluation after the shoot and those coming to workshop on Saturday can see the lenses first hand: http://www.canonbootcamp.com

Snehal Patel

Posted via email from Fearless Productions Blog

Bookmark and Share

Posted in Canon DSLR, General | 1 Comment

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

Janina’s ‘Love Lockdown’ goes viral

Music video for Love Lockdown performed by Janina Gavankar.

Directors: Caitlin Pashalek & Ian Lyman
http://www.thedmp.com

D.P.: Logan Schneider
http://www.youtube.com/user/LoganSchneider

Ian says, “Shot in Los Angeles in early 2010 with Canon 5Dmk2 & 7D. Street stuff we used a doggiecam body rig.”

I’m really proud of these guys.  It’s a great looking video and Janina is awesome as usual.  Nice use of a body rig and also – did I catch a glimpse of Timo Chen bumping into Janina? http://t-monicmusic.com

Snehal

Posted via email from Fearless Productions Blog

Bookmark and Share

Posted in Canon DSLR, General | No Comments

Monday, June 21st, 2010

Canon 5d Bootcamp Offered At Loyal Studios

Canon 5d Bootcamp Offered At Loyal Studios

Intense one day instructional for cameramen to be offered at Santa Monica studio to educate professionals on shooting live action with the industry’s hottest camera, Canon’s 5D.

Snehal Patel at Canon 5D Boot Camp

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – Jun 21, 2010 – DSLR instructor and aficionado Snehal Patel, in collaboration with The Association and ProHD Rentals, will be offering an intensive five hour boot camp seminar this coming Saturday, June 26, for industry professionals still unfamiliar with the Canon 5D, the most in-demand digital media camera today.
“The technology is amazing and has grown in popularity tenfold,” Bob Bekian, president of ProHD Rentals explains.  “So we wanted to provide a learning environment where cinematographers can master the new technology and use the information in a real world environment.”  To support the Boot Camp Bekian has provided his Santa Monica  stage at Loyal Studios as the hosting site of the event.  The attendees will have the opportunity to test the 5D in a myriad of environments and work conditions that Loyal Studios will provide, including a green screen stage, a New York street set on stage, and a practical exterior location.  “We love hosting the seminar at Loyal Studios,” adds Patel, who runs the hands-on experience.  “Students get to use the cameras in a variety of lighting situations with an actress that we provide for the event.  It’s not just a lecture, but a valuable experience where the students can immerse themselves in real world situations.”
The Boot Camp will also provide educational information and practical usage of support gear for the Canon DSLR, including Zeiss lenses, Red Rock Micro accessories, Nikon lens adaptor kits, Apple Final Cut Pro integration, and Lite Panels lighting equipment.  “Understanding how the 5D works isn’t enough,” Bekian says.  “Cinematographers and camera crew members need to know how the Canon integrates with the necessary accessories to gain a complete experience.”  ProHD Rentals, an expert in the Canon 5D realm, has embraced the success of the Canon 5D and 7D DSLRs as they continue to focus more equipment rental support in this area.  “Students need to know more than just how the camera itself works,” Patel confesses.  “That’s why we provide so many manufacturers’ accessories at the Boot Camp to use, so the take-away from the event is a complete understanding and mastery of the 5D and the support system behind it.”
Past Boot Camps have proved an invaluable resource for even the most experienced cinematographers.  In the fast-paced evolution of digital technology it is critical to stay current so that you remain relevant.  Daniel Pearl, member of the American Cinematographers Society, explains, “Although I have a lot of experience as a cinematographer and I understand a lot about cinematography, I knew very little about digital capture and it [5D Boot Camp] was great.”  Traditional motion picture acumen doesn’t always apply to new technology, especially when the quality of HD capture is perfected in a digital SLR camera such as Canon’s 5D.  “There is a paradigm shift taking place in the world of filmmaking,” explains Fletcher Murray, co-founder of The Association which is co-sponsoring the event.  “Take a look at the show “House,” the season finale was shot entirely on 5Ds.”
The June 26th event is just the first of several Boot Camp opportunities to be offered by The Association and ProHD Rentals this coming summer.  It is Patel’s intention to demystify and educate the camera community about the value of the industry’s newest favored son, the Canon 5D.
For more information regarding the Canon 5D Boot Camp or to register for this event, go to http://www.theassociation.tv/canonbootcamp.php.

# # #

ProHD Rentals is a digital equipment and studio provider for media production and content, including green screen stages, Canon 5D DSLR, RED camera, Panasonic P2 and Sony digital equipment.

— end —

via prlog.org

Posted via web from Fearless Productions Blog

Bookmark and Share

Posted in Canon DSLR, General | 1 Comment

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

I love my Canon DSLR Boot Camp

I really enjoy teaching others what I know about these cool little cameras.
Here’s a few nuggets for you to enjoy:
1. The 7D’s sensor size is almost the same as a super 35mm film frame so film lenses behave almost the same, unlike on the 5D which has a larger sensor, making film lenses behave like they are wider by a 1.6x zoom factor.  Plus the 5D’s larger sensor creates a shallower depth of field, meaning you have to stop down a bit to get the same DOF you would get on a 7D.
2. I tried a beta piece of software from www.rarevision.com/5dtorgb/ that is supposed to provide a better way to convert Canon EOS files to ProRes.  The site boasts the software squeezes more quality than a quicktime conversion of the h264 files coming out of the camera, but my tests show their conversion also effects the color, changing light levels during transcoding.  I’ll stick to the Final Cut plugin for now so that I get a match between what I see on the camera’s LCD and in my edit software.
3. There is a exponential increase in the number of mainstream television shows and feature films that will be utilizing Canon DSLRs this year.  Look out for a lot more of that 5D/7D look this fall.
I’m having another Boot Camp on June 26th: www.theassociation.tv/canonbootcamp

Snehal Patel

Posted via email from Fearless Productions Blog

Bookmark and Share

Posted in Canon DSLR, General | No Comments

« Older Entries