Dream Camera

Steve Siegel · December 19th, 2012, 10:59 PM

Les,

Read your Crop Factor Nonsense article. Yes, he's right. It's the field of view that changes, but that's exactly what you want for shooting small wildlife. You get the desired magnification without having to schlep an 800 lb lens around. And what is this 21st century obsession with depth of field? It's like 8 track tape. Everything while it's popular, a non-starter once the glow wears off. Can't happen soon enough for me.

Les Wilson · December 20th, 2012, 05:42 AM

Yes, FOV and resolution are issues. Shallow DOF obsession has gone on a long time. Maybe slo-mo is the new fad. Come to think of it, wouldn't slo-mo and cache recording be great features for wildlife in addition to reach?

Lauri Kettunen · December 20th, 2012, 12:51 PM

Hi David, I haven't tested the BlackMagic camera, but all samples I've seen suggests it's not bad at all. Personally I find raw-images very important in wildlife shooting. Another issue is dynamics. I've also moved away from long teles and use them sparingly. The reason is, long teles create images everybody has seen over and over again. Instead have spent a lot of time processing how to manage with short lenses.

Mark OConnell · December 20th, 2012, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bo Skelmose

I am playing with a panasonic GH-3 and I must say that it make the best video quality I have ever seen from a DSLR or DSLR like camera. Maybe better than the footage from my other cameraes - the Panasonic HPX2100, Sony PMW350 and EX3. But I am still testing.

You like the image from the GH3 better then that from the EX3? Am I reading this correctly?

Mark OConnell · December 20th, 2012, 01:33 PM

Another camera to consider would be the Sony pmw 160. It's lens is equivalent to about 600mm, it shoots 4:2:2 at 50mb/s and is small and light. I'm thinking about this one.

Markus Nord · December 20th, 2012, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lauri Kettunen

Hi David, I haven't tested the BlackMagic camera, but all samples I've seen suggests it's not bad at all. Personally I find raw-images very important in wildlife shooting. Another issue is dynamics. I've also moved away from long teles and use them sparingly. The reason is, long teles create images everybody has seen over and over again. Instead have spent a lot of time processing how to manage with short lenses.

Hi Lauri, I've been thinking about the BMCC for wildlife too... I'm on the waiting list. I've seen a solution for the power there the shooter carry a battery as a charger in the backpack and hook up the camera in between shots and on the move. That way the camera staise clean and light on the tripod. The crop factor is good too. My main problem is storing the raw. I'm thinking about the solution to fix the exposure and create a nice looking shot in Resolve and conform it to a more editing friendly codec (I hope BMD will implement Canopus HQX) and then trash the raw. That would save a lot of space and that's my biggest fear, to run out of HDDs, with this camera.

Kin Lau · December 21st, 2012, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Siegel

Les,

Read your Crop Factor Nonsense article. Yes, he's right. It's the field of view that changes, but that's exactly what you want for shooting small wildlife. You get the desired magnification without having to schlep an 800 lb lens around.

The point was to help new comers, but I don't see using FOV as helping either.

Imagine the conversation "You need a lens with a FOV of 1 degree to get that nest there"... "1 degree?!? Where's the marking on my lens?" or "I have a 400mm lens, what's the FOV on that?", and we come back to the crop calculation.

Sverker Hahn · December 22nd, 2012, 02:58 PM

My dream camera is the Red Epic. Expensive. Modularity. Raw. Intelligent mounts. High resolution.

It was the dream camera without price considerations, wasn´t it?

David Rice · December 22nd, 2012, 03:14 PM

Yes any Dream Camera priced within reason. Say under $20,000 for the camera?

...and for wildlife filming, I'm talking about a camera that will be used for stocking wildlife or filming "wild" wildlife from a hide or blind.

Many so called pro's travel to Alaska and end up filming "Zoo Bears" in enclosures, or get their close-ups of marine animals in a aquarium. You can get great close-up shots of Bald Eagles with any camera, if your filming in a Raptor Center or Bird Sanctuary.

Dave

Sverker Hahn · December 27th, 2012, 02:06 PM

So, Red Epic it is (USD 19K).
Well, necessary extras makes it much more ...
Otherwise I could accept :) a Red Scarlet (USD 9K) which will make it around 20K.
Lenses from 11mm to 400mm from Tokina, Canon or Nikon.
Several batteries and a lot of storage for many days in the wilderness.
But still dreaming ...

Sverker Hahn · December 27th, 2012, 02:10 PM

... the most important accessory would be the guy carrying the equipment ...

Lauri Kettunen · January 4th, 2013, 12:41 PM

There's a review of the BlackMagic camera in HDMagazine HD Magazine - HD Mag

Here's the review which is rather positive.

Sabyasachi Patra · January 6th, 2013, 01:51 AM

I am filming with the Canon C300 in some extreme low lights and at times with a little bit help from a torch light. I wish for the next version of the C300 when the sensor is just two stops more sensitive so that I can peacefully shoot in the night. Ofcourse, then I will ask for sensitivity to shoot in no moon nights. :)

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

December 19th, 2012, 10:59 PM	#16
Steve Siegel Major Player Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA Posts: 839	Re: Dream Camera Les, Read your Crop Factor Nonsense article. Yes, he's right. It's the field of view that changes, but that's exactly what you want for shooting small wildlife. You get the desired magnification without having to schlep an 800 lb lens around. And what is this 21st century obsession with depth of field? It's like 8 track tape. Everything while it's popular, a non-starter once the glow wears off. Can't happen soon enough for me.

December 20th, 2012, 05:42 AM	#17
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	Re: Dream Camera Yes, FOV and resolution are issues. Shallow DOF obsession has gone on a long time. Maybe slo-mo is the new fad. Come to think of it, wouldn't slo-mo and cache recording be great features for wildlife in addition to reach?

December 20th, 2012, 12:51 PM	#18
Lauri Kettunen Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Kangasala, Finland Posts: 445	Re: Dream Camera Hi David, I haven't tested the BlackMagic camera, but all samples I've seen suggests it's not bad at all. Personally I find raw-images very important in wildlife shooting. Another issue is dynamics. I've also moved away from long teles and use them sparingly. The reason is, long teles create images everybody has seen over and over again. Instead have spent a lot of time processing how to manage with short lenses.

December 20th, 2012, 01:33 PM	#20
Mark OConnell Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 420	Re: Dream Camera Another camera to consider would be the Sony pmw 160. It's lens is equivalent to about 600mm, it shoots 4:2:2 at 50mb/s and is small and light. I'm thinking about this one. __________________ http://www.markoconnell.org

December 22nd, 2012, 02:58 PM	#23
Sverker Hahn Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 157	Re: Dream Camera My dream camera is the Red Epic. Expensive. Modularity. Raw. Intelligent mounts. High resolution. It was the dream camera without price considerations, wasn´t it?

December 22nd, 2012, 03:14 PM	#24
David Rice Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sitka Alaska Posts: 470	Re: Dream Camera Yes any Dream Camera priced within reason. Say under $20,000 for the camera? ...and for wildlife filming, I'm talking about a camera that will be used for stocking wildlife or filming "wild" wildlife from a hide or blind. Many so called pro's travel to Alaska and end up filming "Zoo Bears" in enclosures, or get their close-ups of marine animals in a aquarium. You can get great close-up shots of Bald Eagles with any camera, if your filming in a Raptor Center or Bird Sanctuary. Dave

December 27th, 2012, 02:06 PM	#25
Sverker Hahn Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 157	Re: Dream Camera So, Red Epic it is (USD 19K). Well, necessary extras makes it much more ... Otherwise I could accept :) a Red Scarlet (USD 9K) which will make it around 20K. Lenses from 11mm to 400mm from Tokina, Canon or Nikon. Several batteries and a lot of storage for many days in the wilderness. But still dreaming ...

December 27th, 2012, 02:10 PM	#26
Sverker Hahn Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 157	Re: Dream Camera ... the most important accessory would be the guy carrying the equipment ...

January 4th, 2013, 12:41 PM	#27
Lauri Kettunen Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Kangasala, Finland Posts: 445	Re: Dream Camera There's a review of the BlackMagic camera in HDMagazine HD Magazine - HD Mag Here's the review which is rather positive. Last edited by Lauri Kettunen; January 4th, 2013 at 02:36 PM.

January 6th, 2013, 01:51 AM	#28
Sabyasachi Patra Major Player Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: New Delhi, India Posts: 507	Re: Dream Camera I am filming with the Canon C300 in some extreme low lights and at times with a little bit help from a torch light. I wish for the next version of the C300 when the sensor is just two stops more sensitive so that I can peacefully shoot in the night. Ofcourse, then I will ask for sensitivity to shoot in no moon nights. :) Cheers, Sabyasachi __________________ Wild Tiger Productions http://www.indiawilds.com/about.htm