New Year's Resolution?
 

I always take my steadicam to weddings and hardly ever get it out. Lack of confidence and not having a dedicated camera (causes me a little stress when time is tight) is the reason. I'm using my winter down time to practice-practice-practice!!! I take it now on every daily dog walk and film my little border collie - she's so embarrassed!!!!

I intend to get it out and use it at every single wedding next season!

Re: New Year's Resolution?
 

Aren't you glad we don't have to introduce ourselves to each other the way dogs do?

I don't do New Year resolutions because in my entire life I've never kept one.

Re: New Year's Resolution?
 

My New Year's Resolution is for everyone else in the world to get their act together.
There are far too many people just going through life in an existence.

Imagine the UTOPIA if people could just give another 10% and stop eff-ing up.

;-)

Re: New Year's Resolution?
 

Good idea Pete

The great Charles Papert posted a phrase once that inspired me as it was "Every time I use the stedicam I find out that I suck a little less" ...(and he is a master!!)

The more you use it, the easier it becomes and when the next wedding comes up you will find that you will see a huge improvement!

Maybe toss us a bit of footage once Spring arrives???

Chris

Re: New Year's Resolution?
 

You definitely need a dedicated camera on a steadicam during weddings so it becomes a grab and go device.

Re: New Year's Resolution?
 

That's my plan Noa - I'm getting the new A7s II and relegating my old one to my Merlin with a 16mm lens and wide adapter - I'll keep it on hand from the reception onwards and force myself to use it :)

Re: New Year's Resolution?
 

Not to point my camera at lasers. This results in a broken sensor.

Re: New Year's Resolution?
 

To attach a toy water gun next to my camera. So anyone gets in front of me gets the squirt.

Re: New Year's Resolution?
 

Not off to the best start - kids belting around at weddings always seem to be asking to be steadicam fodder so I thought I'd practice a little angled down running - oops!! No sympathy from the dog though!

Re: New Year's Resolution?
 

Hey Peter, where did he bite you ?

Re: New Year's Resolution?
 

A taser is more effective + you get some great bloopers in that way.

Re: New Year's Resolution?
 

Wouldn't we all love to use it during that "Watch me whip... watch me nene" song ;)

Re: New Year's Resolution?
 

Wait... did you say 16mm AND wide angle adapter???

I find that they are great for a few 'wow' shots, but that they are also great for guest footage.

Just walk around the tables at the meal etc... If you are lucky.. people will wave or give a thumbs up. Brides love that stuff, and very easily, you have covered more of your timeline in edit!

Re: New Year's Resolution?
 

I use the sony 16mm on the a7s which puts it into aps-c mode giving a fov equal to 24mm full frame - i like a little wider for dramatic effect so use the sony .75x adapter

Re: New Year's Resolution?
 

I understand!

I also have used the 16mm in aps-c mode, but no wide adapter. I recently bought the 28mm just for the f2 even though it's not as wide.

I'm finding though that the 16mm in apsc was performing better in terms of continuous autofocus.

I *think* it may be a little spoke of advantage of the a7rii actually. Totallyoff topic here, but I wonder if the way more focus points on the a7rii makes video autofocus much better.

You dont often see it tested on youtube, but more and more gimbal/steadycam users are dabbling with autofocus.

Still not quite there sometimes for me, but I'm persisting regardless!

Re: New Year's Resolution?
 

Clive I'm assuming you are using the Sony pancake 16mm? I find it not quite wide enough so use the .75 adapter which in theory should give a FOV equal to 12mm on a 35mm frame. Having said that it's not as wide as my Samyang 14mm on the same camera so I'm missing something there. The Sony lens combo is just that bit sharper than the Samyang so that's why I use it - plus I can use AF with this lens if I need it.

I'll be upgrading to the A7s II soon which has improved AF so that will be interesting to compare!

Re: New Year's Resolution?
 

I guess, apsc mode means it's less shallow, and combining that with a super wide focal length probably aids autofocus... in that it doesn't have much to do. Hyperfocal distance is probably between 1 and 2 metres.

That said, my 28mm f2 when the autofocus works well does throw the background out of focus a little which is a nice look.

I was surprised to see this part of BandH comparison video. Look how much quickly the a7rii focuses in video mode at 5:57...


I currently have an a7sii in my hands with an a7s on my gimbal. I'd be tempted to replace my a7s with an a7rii if my a7s was in better condition. I'd be lucky to sell it for a grand it's got so many bangs and scuffs! Must take better care of my mark2!

Re: New Year's Resolution?
 

Clive Sony claim the A7s II focuses quicker than the A7s - any chance you could do a quick and dirty test? also I'm assuming low light capability is the same - again if you could do a very quick test I'd be grateful - I'm currently deciding on whether to get a mark II or another mark I and spend the difference on a AX100

Pete

Re: New Year's Resolution?
 

No resolutions as such but going to use the downtime at the start of this year to get some things sorted out. Want to incorporate some new delivery methods and also put together a kind of deluxe box set type of thing. Also want to get a couple of projects finished off and take a proper look at Final Cut X. Still rolling along on 7 but want to start taking advantage of 4k in the edits so will need to make a change.

Re: New Year's Resolution?
 

I'm the same. Several things I'd like to change in my business, so using the next 3 months to get it dealt with. I've been running 4K timelines and encodes on CS6 for over a year, but it can be a pain. Especially with multiple 4K cameras.
Hoping to update my USB delivery and reduce my DVD delivery - that and updating my website are the closest things I have to resolutions for the year.