New Music Video shot on Sony HDR-FX1E and 35mm adapter

Nicholas Bartleet · October 3rd, 2005, 10:37 AM

Hi again Anhar,
I have lookad at the video you mentioned, and as I had assumed, there is quite a lot of artificial in camera sharpening going on there. No offence, this is nice work, but this isn't really a look I could get away with. Please take a look at this JPG for further explanation.

http://www.pixelloft.com/sharpening.jpg

Anhar Miah · October 4th, 2005, 07:22 PM

True, I guess its all a matter of taste... kind of like Marmite!! ("you either love it or hate it", that was a stroke of advertising genius)

Anhar

Richard Entwistle · October 4th, 2005, 07:59 PM

Nicholas,

Enjoyed your video except for the lack of lip-sync. Perhaps I am getting too old, but too distracting for me with so much singing taking place. I know you would have to shoot lots and lots of takes to cover your cutting, but perhaps could have had less 'singing' to avoid this.

You are really showing how good the FX1/Z1 can be. Well done. Appreciate your comments on the artifact free movements. Many of us seem to be obsessed with this 'problem' that many do not suffer. :)

And your comments on turning off the sharpness is useful. What do you mean by 'off'? Zero? Or something lower than default? Adam Wilt made same comment in his online DV seminar, but he was still using a setting mid-range or thereabouts.

Jerry Porter · October 5th, 2005, 01:06 PM

Looks great

Jerry Porter · October 5th, 2005, 01:08 PM

Looks great. I can't stand Rap and still watched it all the way through. Good work.

Rhys Davies · October 5th, 2005, 01:11 PM

Richard - i guess Nicholas means 0. However i think its best to just try different settings and see whats best in different circumstances. I agree with your comment about getting obsessed with the possibility of artifacts. All cameras have their downpoints which we have to get around - this goes back to Nicholas's central point earlier that a good understanding of cinematography, production and post production techniques are key.

Nicholas - loved the video ! To me the look you create in this plus 'The Riddle' is spot on. As to your dolly offer - yes please post some pics !

Nicholas Bartleet · October 6th, 2005, 12:10 PM

Hi guys, thanks for your comments, i'm glad that most of you seem to like the video. I did turn the sharpness down to 0 and have found with some careful post sharpness using a plugin such as sapphire for after effectsyou can regain the sharpness lost with dialing the in camera sharpness down, but without the addition of those horrible lines. The addition of some slight noise removal should see to any grain created by the slight sharpening.

I have due to comments on the lens flares, re graded the beginning sequence and sharpened up the video slightly, which has worked well on a subtle level i think, anyway, the new one is uploaded, but it is much the same.

I totally appreciate your point on cutting and finding other, narrative based shots to make the piece more interesting, and this is something which was restricted due to time and budget really, but i will ensure that my next piece has a stronger narrative, and perhaps not quite so much singing. Hopefully this will make it a bit more interesting, not just visually but on a more intelectual level.

I will try to take some pics of the dolly and get them posted next week if i have a moment.

Thanks again guys for your comments.

Bryan McCullough · October 6th, 2005, 01:13 PM

Man this looks wonderful.

I love seeing what the FX1 can do, but then I feel bad that I'm not doing anything near as nice with mine. ;)

And I'd love to hear more specifics about your adapter.

Daniel Rudd · October 8th, 2005, 09:12 AM

Very well done. That's all I can say. I watched the Riddle too. Nice work

Dennis Hingsberg · October 8th, 2005, 01:43 PM

How did you build your follow focus system? I use Nikons with mini35 and am looking to do the same thing.

Are your lights fresnel or open face? I didn't recognize them from the behind the scenes pics.

Many thanks.

Dennis

Daniel Rudd · October 11th, 2005, 08:47 AM

I may have missed this on your site, but did you do "The Riddle" with the same gear?

--looking forward to seeing those dolly pics

Dennis Hingsberg · October 11th, 2005, 09:05 AM

The behind the scenes pictures show a Canon.

Jim Rog · October 11th, 2005, 09:11 AM

Hello

How many cameras did you use to shoot this with? How did you get all the different angle shots? Did you pause the video then move the camera into a different position?

Thanks

Nicholas Bartleet · October 11th, 2005, 09:29 AM

Thankyou everybody for all of your comments, its much appreciated. I did dhoot the riddle on an XL1s.
My follow focus system was built using a bevelled gearbox, with a handel attached to one end and a gear attached to the other. This is attached to the support rods.
HERE IS THE SECRET EVEYBODY WANTS TO KNOW
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...3541&doy=11m10
THIS IS YOUR MAIN COMPONENT
As for pics of the dolly, really sorry i havn't uploaded any yet, ive been really busy, desparatly trying to get more work Arrrgh! Sorry, i will try and get some this week.

Thanks again Guys

Viktor Bludov · October 12th, 2005, 02:33 PM

The video looks great, the "sharpness", the focus depth is just perfect.
I enjoyed watching it. Thanks for your work.

Can you share some information on where I could find some info about 35mm adapters. in terms of what they are and how it's built ?

October 4th, 2005, 07:59 PM	#18
Richard Entwistle Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 28	Nicholas, Enjoyed your video except for the lack of lip-sync. Perhaps I am getting too old, but too distracting for me with so much singing taking place. I know you would have to shoot lots and lots of takes to cover your cutting, but perhaps could have had less 'singing' to avoid this. You are really showing how good the FX1/Z1 can be. Well done. Appreciate your comments on the artifact free movements. Many of us seem to be obsessed with this 'problem' that many do not suffer. :) And your comments on turning off the sharpness is useful. What do you mean by 'off'? Zero? Or something lower than default? Adam Wilt made same comment in his online DV seminar, but he was still using a setting mid-range or thereabouts. __________________ Richard Entwistle Hong Kong

October 6th, 2005, 12:10 PM	#22
Nicholas Bartleet Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: upton uk Posts: 104	Hi guys, thanks for your comments, i'm glad that most of you seem to like the video. I did turn the sharpness down to 0 and have found with some careful post sharpness using a plugin such as sapphire for after effectsyou can regain the sharpness lost with dialing the in camera sharpness down, but without the addition of those horrible lines. The addition of some slight noise removal should see to any grain created by the slight sharpening. I have due to comments on the lens flares, re graded the beginning sequence and sharpened up the video slightly, which has worked well on a subtle level i think, anyway, the new one is uploaded, but it is much the same. I totally appreciate your point on cutting and finding other, narrative based shots to make the piece more interesting, and this is something which was restricted due to time and budget really, but i will ensure that my next piece has a stronger narrative, and perhaps not quite so much singing. Hopefully this will make it a bit more interesting, not just visually but on a more intelectual level. I will try to take some pics of the dolly and get them posted next week if i have a moment. Thanks again guys for your comments. Last edited by Nicholas Bartleet; October 6th, 2005 at 01:45 PM.

October 8th, 2005, 09:12 AM	#24
Daniel Rudd Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: North Muskegon, MI Posts: 213	all of my thumbs and fingers up Very well done. That's all I can say. I watched the Riddle too. Nice work

October 8th, 2005, 01:43 PM	#25
Dennis Hingsberg Trustee Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,055	How did you build your follow focus system? I use Nikons with mini35 and am looking to do the same thing. Are your lights fresnel or open face? I didn't recognize them from the behind the scenes pics. Many thanks. Dennis __________________ Blog: www.hingsberg.com Ultimate Exposure Guides for FS5/F7S/F5/F55 Last edited by Dennis Hingsberg; October 8th, 2005 at 02:37 PM.

October 11th, 2005, 09:05 AM	#27
Dennis Hingsberg Trustee Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,055	The behind the scenes pictures show a Canon. __________________ Blog: www.hingsberg.com Ultimate Exposure Guides for FS5/F7S/F5/F55

October 3rd, 2005, 10:37 AM	#16
Nicholas Bartleet Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: upton uk Posts: 104	Hi again Anhar, I have lookad at the video you mentioned, and as I had assumed, there is quite a lot of artificial in camera sharpening going on there. No offence, this is nice work, but this isn't really a look I could get away with. Please take a look at this JPG for further explanation. http://www.pixelloft.com/sharpening.jpg

October 4th, 2005, 07:22 PM	#17
Anhar Miah Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: United Kindom, England Posts: 290	True, I guess its all a matter of taste... kind of like Marmite!! ("you either love it or hate it", that was a stroke of advertising genius) Anhar

October 5th, 2005, 01:06 PM	#19
Jerry Porter Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Satellite Beach, Fl Posts: 784	Looks great

October 5th, 2005, 01:08 PM	#20
Jerry Porter Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Satellite Beach, Fl Posts: 784	Looks great. I can't stand Rap and still watched it all the way through. Good work.

October 5th, 2005, 01:11 PM	#21
Rhys Davies Tourist Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1	Richard - i guess Nicholas means 0. However i think its best to just try different settings and see whats best in different circumstances. I agree with your comment about getting obsessed with the possibility of artifacts. All cameras have their downpoints which we have to get around - this goes back to Nicholas's central point earlier that a good understanding of cinematography, production and post production techniques are key. Nicholas - loved the video ! To me the look you create in this plus 'The Riddle' is spot on. As to your dolly offer - yes please post some pics !

October 6th, 2005, 01:13 PM	#23
Bryan McCullough Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 842	Man this looks wonderful. I love seeing what the FX1 can do, but then I feel bad that I'm not doing anything near as nice with mine. ;) And I'd love to hear more specifics about your adapter.

October 11th, 2005, 08:47 AM	#26
Daniel Rudd Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: North Muskegon, MI Posts: 213	I may have missed this on your site, but did you do "The Riddle" with the same gear? --looking forward to seeing those dolly pics

October 11th, 2005, 09:11 AM	#28
Jim Rog Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: PAL Zone Posts: 188	Hello How many cameras did you use to shoot this with? How did you get all the different angle shots? Did you pause the video then move the camera into a different position? Thanks

October 11th, 2005, 09:29 AM	#29
Nicholas Bartleet Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: upton uk Posts: 104	Thankyou everybody for all of your comments, its much appreciated. I did dhoot the riddle on an XL1s. My follow focus system was built using a bevelled gearbox, with a handel attached to one end and a gear attached to the other. This is attached to the support rods. HERE IS THE SECRET EVEYBODY WANTS TO KNOW http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...3541&doy=11m10 THIS IS YOUR MAIN COMPONENT As for pics of the dolly, really sorry i havn't uploaded any yet, ive been really busy, desparatly trying to get more work Arrrgh! Sorry, i will try and get some this week. Thanks again Guys

October 12th, 2005, 02:33 PM	#30
Viktor Bludov New Boot Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 21	Very nice work The video looks great, the "sharpness", the focus depth is just perfect. I enjoyed watching it. Thanks for your work. Can you share some information on where I could find some info about 35mm adapters. in terms of what they are and how it's built ?