Essential DSLR Gadgets

DSLR: Essential Gadgets

Canon’s 5D/7D Family vs. 35MM Film: A Cost Comparison

Hello loyal readers, it’s Andrea here to discuss the cost differences between 35MM film and today’s easily accessible Canon DSLR cameras in the 5D/7D family. But before we discuss the numbers, let’s take a moment to consider the fundamental differences producing for either medium: Wait for it… There aren’t any. Shocking, I know. Granted, there are significant differences in cost and ease of use when using the Canon 5D/7D, as compared to shooting on 35MM film. But the process of filmmaking is relatively the same.

Or at least it should be. Lets take a minute to go over the process and then we can get into the details in budgeting.

New HD HERO2 camera

GoPro has announced the release of its new HD HERO2 camera. Twice as powerful as GoPro's original HD HERO camera, the HD HERO2 enables consumers and professionals to capture and broadcast their lives most exciting moments in professional quality 1080p HD video and 11 megapixel photos. The new HD HERO2 is now available at GoPro.com, specialty retailers around the world, and at Best Buy for MSRP $299.99.

Arguably the most versatile camera in the world thanks to its innovative mounting system, renowned durability and small form factor, the HD HERO2 surpasses its predecessor with several technology upgrades. The HD HERO2's new processor delivers twice the processing power, taking full advantage of a new high performance 11 megapixel sensor that delivers more than twice the image detail along with professional low light performance. A totally redesigned wide-angle lens was required to take full advantage of the HD HERO2's increased image-processing, resulting in a lens that’s twice as sharp as the previous model. And with the arrival of GoPro's new Wi-Fi BacPac and Wi-Fi Remote products slated for release this winter, the HD HERO2 will enable video remote control via the Wi-Fi Remote, smartphones and devices, tablets and computers as well as enabling live GoPro video broadcast from anywhere there is Wi-Fi or a mobile hotspot.

Sony Announces New Upgrade of Vegas Pro Software

Sony Creative Software, a leading global provider of professional editing and authoring applications, has announced the latest upgrade to its Vegas editing technology. Vegas Pro 11 adds significant performance improvements to the award-winning NLE, courtesy of OpenCL and highly optimized GPU hardware acceleration for video processing and rendering. Vegas Pro 11 is the world's first Windows-based OpenCL NLE, broadly supporting the open standard for core video editing operations, video effects and rendering. Other new features include NVIDIA 3D Vision support for single-display 3D computers such as the VAIO F Series 3D laptops and L Series 3D desktops, an enhanced video stabilizer tool, and new software tools for creating animated titles.

"Sony continues to be a leader in developing professional content-creation applications that are extremely powerful, yet easy to use," said Dave Chaimson, vice president of global marketing for Sony Creative Software. "With the addition of GPU acceleration, Vegas Pro 11 streamlines the video editing experience by providing smoother previews and faster rendering times, ideal for industry professionals who work on tight deadlines where every second counts. Utilizing the OpenCL standard, customers will find that even very affordable GPU solutions from AMD and NVIDIA offer workflow enhancements that provide between two and four times faster rendering speeds, with equally as impressive performance gains during video playback." Vegas Pro 11 Feature Highlights:

Free lessons from video2brain for Adobe Premiere

Free lessons from video2brain for Adobe Premiere Using Blend Modes with Video Clips Adjusting Opacity on the Timeline and mach more here http://www.video2brain.com

Understanding Video Codecs

CODEC is one of those newly invented words that's only been in the dictionary for a few years, yet what it represents may be one of the most important pieces of technology in all of AV. There are at least two derivations of the term codec - some believe it's a contraction of the words "compression/decompression," and some insist it comes from "coder/ decoder." Some people think of the set-top box attached to a videoconferencing display, and some envision a codec as a bunch of programming code. All are correct, and no matter how you interpret the word, a codec is a critical component in the process of digital audio and video signal transmission.

A video codec is a combination of hardware and/or software that creates a binary stream of data that represents the video and audio captured by a camera.

DVI HDMI Signals Over Twisted-Pair Cable

Advances in cable, connector, and driver designs make it possible to send DVI and HDMI signals over longer distances. Now that sending RGB analog video long distance over Cat 5 is well accepted, it seems only fitting that DVI and HDMI are next. Accomplishing such a feat seems almost magical considering the challenge of simply buying a good quality dedicated DVI or HDMI cable. A fundamental understanding of the challenges and guidelines of DVI/HDMI transmission is necessary in order to take full advantage of long distance extender systems.

WHY THE DIFFERENCE IN CABLES?

EDIUS 6 Tutorial - Color Grading

EDIUS 6 Tutorial - Color Grading - Episode 5 of 5 from [MTS]FILMS on Vimeo.

STEVE JOBS 1955 - 2011

Steve Jobs is the Chairman of the Board of Apple, which he co-founded in 1976. Apple is leading the consumer technology world with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, its family of iPod media players and iTunes media store, and its Mac computers and iLife and iWork application suites. Apple recently introduced iPad 2 which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

Steve also co-founded and was the CEO of Pixar Animation Studios, which created some of the most successful and beloved animated films of all time including Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars and Ratatouille. Pixar merged with The Walt Disney Company in 2006 and Steve now serves on Disney's board of directors. http://www.apple.com/pr/bios/steve-jobs.html

Free Webinar: Final Cut Pro X Road Blocks

On October 6th, Oliver Peters will be presenting a free 90-minute webinar entitled Final Cut Pro X Road Blocks. The description from FilmmakingWebinars.com, "This webinar will explore the missing elements that have caused FCP X to be considered less-than-ready for the daily tasks currently tackled by Final Cut Pro 7. In addition, we'll look at whether some of these are merely temporary missing features that can be added later - or - whether the inherent design of the application prevents potential future updates that are adequate."

The live webinar will run from 10:00 AM PDT - 11:30 AM PDT. An on-demand version will be made available for $15. Read more and register here.

'Like Crazy': The Romance and Reality of HDSLR Filmmaking .From http://www.dv.com

Director Drake Doremus and cinematographer John Gulesarian initially planned to shoot the indie love story Like Crazy with a combination of RED ONE and Canon EOS 7D cameras: RED would be the primary tool, and the 7D would serve as a B-camera for grabbing shots on the run or getting very close to the actors in small spaces.
7D fitted with ARRI Ultra Prime lenses, however, they decided that they had the look they wanted for the entire feature.
Director of photography John Guleserian
Photo by Fred Hayes
Like Crazy tells the story of Jacob (Anton Yelchin) and Anna (Felicity Jones), who fall in love while attending college in L.A. and try to keep the magic going after British citizen Anna is forced to return to London. Doremus had developed a style of working with actors on his previous effort (his debut feature, Douchebag) of not formally blocking anything, instead allowing the actors to find their space on their own. Recalling their preproduction period, Guleserian says, "We realized that we could shoot the entire movie on the 7D and it would really add to the aesthetic Drake was after."

(L-R) Director of photography John Guleserian, Anton Yelchin, Felicity Jones
Photo by Fred Hayes

Apple starts to fine-cut Final Cut Pro X

Final Cut Pro X 10.0.1 and beyond
Available as an update through the App Store, Final Cut Pro X 10.0.1 adds several much-requested features, including support for full XML import/export of both project and event information; intelligent stem export for both video and audio files using a new feature called Roles; and Xsan integration, allowing editors in different locations to work with the same files, events, and projects.

final Cut Pro X has received criticism from professionals for being too iMovie-like, not offering the import/export features of its predecessor. 10.0.1 seeks to improve upon that.
“The professional [editor] is critical to Apple, and it’s a customer we don’t want to lose,” said Richard Townhill, Apple’s director of pro video product marketing, in a conversation with Macworld. Comparing Final Cut Pro X to Apple’s transition from OS 9 to OS X and the switch from PowerPC to Intel processors, he called the June 10.0 release “the first foundation stone in a building that’s going to be assembled over the next ten years,” with Tuesday’s updates providing the next brick.

How to Use Your Laptop as a Free External Monitor for Your Canon DSLR

Did you know there's an easy way to hook up your Canon DSLR to your laptop monitor via USB? All you need is the free EOS Utility software which is on the Canon CD-ROM that came with your camera. The Utility also gives you live RGB histograms and focusing controls. Go here to NoFilmSchool.com for full downloading instructions.

Matrox MC-100

Matrox Video Products Group has announced Matrox MC-100, a dual SDI to HDMI mini converter that supports a wide range of display resolutions through 3G, Dual Link, HD, and SD-SDI. Priced at $495, this single portable unit can be used as an HD-SDI switcher, a distribution amplifier, a multiplexer and a 3D processing unit, making it the most versatile mini converter on the market

"Broadcast engineers and A/V professionals have diverse needs when it comes to managing SDI signals within their environments — for monitoring, distributing, switching, multiplexing, and converging 3D," said Alberto Cieri, senior director of sales and marketing at Matrox. "Until now, they have been forced to purchase different devices to perform these tasks. The new Matrox MC-100 solves all these challenges in one inexpensive, easy-to-use device. It should be in every video professional's toolbox."

A very nice guide Steadicam Setup from Magnanimous Media

Steadicam Pilot - Magnanimous Media from Magnanimous Media on Vimeo.

Enjoy end-of-summer savings when you upgrade to Avid Studio or Pinnacle Studio HD Ultimate Collection v.15‏

Summer's almost over—but your chance to save starts now. For a limited time, enjoy a $10 discount, a complimentary user guide, and free shipping when you upgrade to Avid® Studio or Pinnacle Studio™ HD Ultimate Collection v.15. These powerful software suites bring trusted Hollywood video technology into your home—empowering you to edit like a pro and elevate your movies. Don't wait—this special offer ends 9/28/11.

To redeem this offer, add the user guide to your cart and enter "STUDIOGUIDE" in the promo code field during checkout.
by avid

Magnanimous Media

FS100 5DMkII AF100 - Low Light - Magnanimous Media from Magnanimous Media on Vimeo.

FS100 5DMkII AF100 - Cinematic Comparison - Magnanimous Media from Magnanimous Media on Vimeo.

Blackmagic Design & UltraStudio 3D

Blackmagic Design has announced the release of a new product for portable capture and playback, the UltraStudio 3D. The company claims that this is the first such product ever to incorporate Thunderbolt interface technology.

The UltraStudio 3D allows dual stream 3D capture with full resolution, supporting resolutions of up to 1080p60 in SDI and component analog, as well as 2K support.

FS100 5DMkII AF100 - Crop Factor - Magnanimous Media

FS100 5DMkII AF100 - Crop Factor - Magnanimous Media from Magnanimous Media on Vimeo.

New DSLR from sony " a77 "

24.3 effective megapixels - Ultra-high resolution Exmor™ APS HD CMOS Sensor plus 2-step noise reduction for flawless, low noise still images and HD video
Revised BIONZ processor - Enhanced processing engine handles enormous amounts of sensor data to allow very high-speed shooting of superb, low-noise images

Translucent Mirror Technology - Replaces DSLR moving mirror with fixed translucent mirror: enables ultra-fast shooting with speedy, accurate phase detection AF
Class-leading shutter lag time - Ultra-fast shutter lag of just 50msec rivals the performance of high-end professional cameras: ideal for high-speed action shots
DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM lens - Includes very high quality telephoto zoom lens with smooth, silent autofocus and bright F2.8 maximum aperture for general shooting

The new Handycam NEX-VG20 camcorder from Sony

The new Handycam NEX-VG20 camcorder from Sony allows videographers to explore the artistic potential of the growing range of E-Mount lenses for shooting cinematic Full HD video and high-resolution still photos. The new camcorder offers several enhancements over Sony's acclaimed NEX-VG10 – the world's first consumer HD camcorder with interchangeable lenses – including comprehensive manual controls, improved imaging quality and upgraded sound. Significantly refined ergonomics include enhanced grips for balance and low-angle shooting, and a second record button, among many others.

"Whether you're shooting video or stills, this camcorder's large sensor rivals the expressive picture quality of a DSLR camera," said Andy Bubala, director of camcorders at Sony Electronics. "We've also made several enhancements to deliver the type of camcorder that video enthusiasts will love."

Depth of Field Comparison: FS100, 5D MKII & AF100

FS100 5DMkII AF100 - Depth of Field - Magnanimous Media from Magnanimous Media on Vimeo.

In Review: GenArts Sapphire Edge

A good script or compelling documentary subject is the beginning. Of course, having well composed, exposed and creatively shot visuals helps. And don’t forget audio. Bad audio is a surefire way to lose your viewers. But it is the “look” that conveys the true feel of any piece.

GenArts recently released Sapphire Edge, a $299 collection of some 350 customizable looks presets combined with a one-year subscription to its new FX Central service. Now some readers might say, “There are tons of free looks out there on the Web, and besides, I can create my own.” Both are true. However, what sets Sapphire Edge apart from many albeit well constructed homebrew looks is the Sapphire render engine. Sapphire plug-ins have always ranked among my favorites, and the GenArts product line is used extensively in film and broadcast projects. The Sapphire engine is fast and its rendering is precise. It is the Sapphire core that makes Edge well worth the price of admission.

In Review: Red Giant Software Magic Bullet Suite 11

Red Giant Software is taking both a bundled and unbundled approach to its latest update of the Magic Bullet line of plug-ins. The Magic Bullet Suite consists of nine applications that can be bought separately or in the $799 bundle. The bundle represents the best buy, since individually those packages would cost more than $1,500. Included are Colorista II, Denoiser, Grinder, Instant HD, Looks 2, Mojo, Cosmo, PhotoLooks and Frames.

We’ve reviewed Colorista II (DV, September 2010), and I concur with my colleague Oliver Peters, who ranked it above other color correction plug-ins. Within FCP, it is my go-to color corrector.

Is DSLR Video User Friendly?

JOHNSTON, IOWA—When I was in the 6th grade, I received my first 35mm camera, an Edixa Reflex. It was a completely manual camera and as I recall it had a split image focusing screen which I still fondly remember as being the easiest way to focus a camera. (OK, my Polaroid Swinger did actually light up and say "YES" when the image was in focus but the finished product from the Swinger couldn't hold a candle to what came out of the Edixa.) I used the Edixa all through high school and into college but the camera mechanics were worn and finding lenses became a challenge so I moved to a Konica and then a Minolta. Now I am in the market and once again I am looking at a 35mm still camera and I recently had an opportunity to try out a Nikon D5100.

From now on our articles are in English only.

After the statistics we received from our blog has a great impact from the outside so that, from now on our articles are in English only, thank you for understanding from the Greek public.

Grass Valley Updates EDIUS 6

Grass Valley has announced the latest update to the company's nonlinear video editing software, EDIUS 6.

The update (version 6.03), distributed free of charge to registered version 6.xx users, brings new video file formats and hardware-assisted H.264 encoding, as well as support for Grass Valley’s EDIUS NX, SP, and HD legacy hardware.

This latest update supports both 50p and 60p file import (supported by JVC and Sony camcorders), allowing for a smoother workflow within EDIUS 6, according to the company.

For users of Intel’s Second Generation Core Processor, EDIUS has extended support for Quick Sync Video Hardware H.264 video encoding of MP4 files to complement the AVCHD acceleration introduced in EDIUS 6 version 6.02. Users will be able to enjoy faster than real-time encoding of videos for iPhone, Play Station Portable, as well as H.264/AVC videos up to 1920x1080p 50/60.

EDIUS 6.03 now also supports the legacy EDIUS NX, SP, and HD editing platforms, in addition to the current STORM range of editing hardware.

The latest update for EDIUS 6 version 6.03 will be available for download free of charge from the Grass Valley

Το μέλλον στον κινηματογράφο με DSLR ?

Είδη μερικές μεγάλες παραγωγές στο Hollywood χρησιμοποιούν και dslr φωτογραφικές για τα γυρίσματα των ταινιών. Διαβάστε τη λέει ο σκηνοθέτης ταινίας και δίνετε πως χρησιμοποιεί dslr φωτογραφικές για τα γυρίσματα.

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"This is the future: a $700 3D rig." So says Philip Bloom in this behind-the-scenes footage from Lucasfilms' upcoming feature Red Tails. As PetaPixel puts it, the video "gives an interesting glimpse into what it looks like when pretty ordinary DSLR gear meets the big budget world of Hollywood filmmaking."

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Ikan VL7 HDMI LCD Monitor

The VL7 monitor makes a cost-effective and convenient HD viewfinder for use with DSLRs or HDMI-equipped camcorders.

Nothing beats a compact high-resolution field monitor for improving focus, color balance and framing.

Sapphire Edge Demo: Live Online Event

GenArts is providing three live online demos of its popular visual effects software Sapphire Edge. The demo will be with GenArts's "product guru" Todd Prives and will walk users through the software's features which include an innovative preset browser, a streamlined set of parameters that cut down on design complexity and production time, and access to new monthly presets.

The demos will take place on August 2, 3 and 4th at 12:00 PM EDT. Register here.