My first real manual shoot with the 5D

[BillGrant]

Hey all,
I just got this one posted that we shot last Wednesday night. This was in the parking lot of a notel motel accross the street from Heartbreaker's Gentlemen's Club. I wanted to test the viablity of the 5D on a shoulder mount and at night, and Matt wanted another video... so here we are... This was using the 50mm 1.4 and as you can see at a few spots, the focus was off, but in general I think it performed well. I used the CB-105 shoulder mount. This was 1/60 at 3.2 and 3200 ISO. It is black and white because the orange lights were rediculous, and I couldn't get a decent white balance. Audio was Senn G2 into the mic in on the Zoom H2. Anyway, boneshow #19...
http://vimeo.com/5075587

Bill
Grant Photo & Video

[HankCastello]

Decent considering it was a casual, spur of the moment shoot.

Personally, I didn't like the framing in places, like cutting legs off between ankles and knees (that's gotta hurt!), and I'd prefer to use the actual audio only to help keep the synch and have things properly miked in a studio setting, replacing the original track.

Still, to think that this was shot with a "still camera"!  I couldn't find any fault with the video quality.  I've read that those cameras don't have manual settings, is that true?

[BillGrant]

Hey Hank,
Thanks for the comment. The concept of this is the performance. It is about getting out of the studio and breaking out of the box. That's the reason I show him practicing walking across the parking lot, and starting over when he screwed up the opening. It's about finding those interesting things that happen when it is really "live". This was an experiment with this camera to see how it would react to a handheld situation, how it would really do at 3200 ISO and how the audio would work. I learned a few things with it. Number one this was a 50mm 1.4 so my framing was controlled by my moving which I wanted to minimize to reduce the CMOS wobble which is a real danger. And yes there are now manual controls (as of last Monday) to this camera. The audio is unuseable from the camera because of the ambient noise. The on camera audio is rediculously noisy, where the G2 just hums right into the H2 and works like a charm. So, if you find no fault with the video quality, then it is a success! Thanks again for hte comment...
Bill

[k_shipsides]

This camera is a blast!!!  Looks good.  I think the camera is amazing in low light.  We just got ours after they announced the completely manual update.  We have been taking ours everywhere and shooting everything we can.  What lens do you have? We got the 70-200 zoom F 2.8 and 100 macro lens but we need to invest in some primes.  Do you use the canon primes?  We are just borrowing the primes from a friend until we decide on what we want.  I agree that the Jello is not good but it is pretty easy to avoid. Have you used the camera on a wedding shoot?

[BillGrant]

K,
I have 2 lenses at this point. i have the 50mm 1.4 and a 28-75 2.8 Those seem to be pretty good. I'd like a zoom but I can wait on that. I have used the camera on 3 weddings but haven't started editing yet, so we'll see... Thanks for the comments...
Bill

[kwshaw1]

I think the camera is amazing in low light. 

Can you post a short sample clip which shows this in a dim indoor setting, and maybe a matching shot taken with any decent prosumer video camera? I've heard lots of good comments on the low-light response but haven't seen anything I'd call typical of a dark wedding reception.

[BillGrant]

Kevin,
I have some stuff, and it is truly amazing. I'll have to get it rendered out to post it. and I haven't gotten to the edits yet. I can say that this camera is like nothing I have ever seen in low light. It equates the human eye.
Bill

[k_shipsides]

We filmed our first wedding this Saturday so I will have some samples shortly.  This was my first time using the cannon 5D mark II in almost complete dark.  At the ceremony someone turned the lights down so low just moments before the wedding started and there was a reader with super dark complexion.  My husband and I both just saw a shadow on our LCD.  He was on a EX 1 and I was using the Cannon 5D Mark II When we were reviewed the footage were were amazed that I got her features and she looked just like she did with the human eye on the cannon. Still darker than I would have hoped but she had no lighting so I was amazed.  In hinesight I would have a camera with a light on it closer to her but we are still have much to learn about wedding videography.

[BillGrant]

Here's a little bit of dancing footage I got in this very dark reception. Now, this is not perfect, and I just threw it together in a few minutes, but it is an example of what the camera can do. This was on a shoulder mount with the 50mm 1.4, ISO 3200, 1/60, f3.2.
http://www.vimeo.com/5275657

Password anna

[k_shipsides]

That came out really nicely  I am looking forward to editing our footage. Let me know when you have more.  I am interested is see it!

[damian]

What is the true advantage to using this still as a video camera?  Certainly, when shooting using my Nikon, I many times wish the video looked a 10th as good in certain conditions.  I can see the advantage to using still lenses (50mm with 1.4 ap), but is this the true reasoning behind it?  What role with this camera truly take when shooting weddings...is it more for still or video?  Does the shoulder mount make it in any way manageable like a larger video camera?

I guess I'm just kind of looking for answers and am having a hard time compiling the questions....lol. 

[BillGrant]

Hey Damian,
There is one reason to use this camera at weddings. Low light. There are alot of reasons not to use it. It is clumsy, you HAVE to have it stabilized for the shots to be useable. You have very few options when it comes to framing and reach unless you have alot of lenses. The audio is basically unuseable. BUT the low light ability and image quality trump EVERYTHING that is out there. Even the mighty EX1. I'm not so worried about shallow depth of field, in fact there's another issue, focus. But the low light ability is worth the price of admission. Period. Feel free to call me if you want to talk about it.
Bill
803.360.9164

[damian]

Well, your posting here led me into hours of reading until the sun rose into the sky.  I'm making the HD transition this year, and I have to do it very strategically and carefully.  I'm looking into purchasing a Sony FX1 used, and then a Canon 7D.  The canon 7d shoots in 24p and would be able to replace my Nikon for periodic still shots that I need.  I used a glidecam....a lot at weddings, so using the 7d on there wouldn't be a problem.  I also build a linear track that I could use it on.

When shooting still with an SLR, the autofocus points take care of things generally.  My question is, when shooting in video mode, with narrow depths of field when running a big ap lens, does this thing constantly autofocus or is it locked?

I saw your test video, and low light performance is clearly....ridiculous.

[BillGrant]

DAmien,
There is NO useable autofocus in video mode. ALL focus is manual. I am using an L series lens always to maintain focus. The other lenses don't allow for maintenance of focus nearly as well. the 7D is not a good primary camera (nor is the 5d) for ceremonys. For ceremonys and certain parts of the reception you still need the ability to have a decent autofocus track entrances and the ability to synch audio through several cameras. Keep in mind when you talk about the 7d shooting 24p that the FX1 does not and therefore will not match well in post. Also consider that the difference in image between the standard video cam and 5D is so great in low light that they look like different TYPES of images. Almost as big as the jump from SD to HD. Here's a highlight I did that mixed the 5D and A1 in the reception. the entrances and first dances at the reception were A1 and the rest is 5D.
www.grantphotovideo.com/lindseytim
Bill

[damian]

I thought certain the FX1 shot in 24p via search...hmmm.  Well my shooting format is going to change...HEAVILY this year.  I've had a lot of responses by brides wanting to cut the ceremonies short and make it more watchable.  I'll actually be entirely reevaluating how I shoot and what I shoot.  To add, there will be a second FX1 on board, but my initial buy will be the two.  This is going to be a transition year for me, where I experiment with some ideas and really try to establish a new base for next year.

I'd imagined the images would be very different, as the FX1 drops off color saturation and clarity in lower light.  With the shot plan I have though, both will work together.  Suffice to say though 2 hour wedding videos and I are finished.  I'll now offer a 25-35 minute mix/highlight covering the best of the day (all day coverage standard), while I'll then offer an unedited single camera coverage of the ceremony as an add on.  I'll then use initial interviews with the couple and pre-event screening to understand if there is a desired prolonged focus on any one event that I should be aware of.  The goal is to HEAVILY drop time in post, create a more desirable product, and truly create something that is highly artistic/cinematic feel that can truly be watched start to finish.

I appreciate your input though...just doing my research before I start spending.